Our Top Pick: The Forgotten 300-HP Acura RL With Supercar-Style Torque Vectoring
Used performance sedans under 20k are depreciated luxury four-doors that now cost family-car money while offering power and handling that once rivaled contemporary sports cars, making them smart choices for enthusiasts who want everyday usability and genuine thrills without paying supercar prices. For most buyers, the second-generation Acura RL is the one to target. This forgotten Acura model hides a 3.7-liter transverse-mounted V6 with 300 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, driving through a five-speed automatic transmission. More importantly, it debuted Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, a torque vectoring sedan technology that can send up to 100 percent of available rear torque to the outside rear wheel and even spin that wheel faster than the others to cut understeer. According to the original technical overview, “the second-generation RL is one of the more overlooked bargains in the used luxury sedan market”.
Why This Understated Acura Belongs At The Top Of Your Shortlist
The second-generation RL represents a forgotten performance segment born when full-sized luxury sedans lost attention to SUVs, leaving an entire generation of flagship four-doors with pioneering technology and soft resale values. Those who drive one get a potent and dependable V6, SH-AWD cornering performance, and classic Honda-style overengineering wrapped in modest styling that still flies under the radar. This is not a cosmetic-only throwback with 1980s-style body kits; the engineering is where the value sits, especially for buyers who want an underrated performance car that doubles as a comfortable commuter. The main downside is that the RL never dominated sales charts, which means limited awareness and sometimes thinner parts support than volume models. Still, if you want a torque vectoring sedan that feels special each time you lean on the throttle and steering, this is the confident first recommendation.
The Wild Card: Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder, A Halo GT With Too Much Hardware
If you want something more dramatic than a sedan, the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder sits at the opposite end of the underrated performance cars spectrum. Its flagship specification used twin turbochargers on a 3.0-liter 6G72 V6 producing 320 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque, combined with all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and a six-speed manual transmission. Then it added ASC’s power-retractable metal hardtop, turning it into a technical showpiece rather than a bare-knuckle sports car. This car answered the 1990s engineering contest with hardware instead of lightness, packing electronically controlled chassis systems and luxury equipment that made it feel closer to a grand tourer than a track toy. The clear downside is that the VR-4 Spyder cost too much and carried too much weight, a combination that hurt its appeal when new and still defines its character today.
Sedan Versus Halo GT: How The Specs Stack Up
| Spec | Acura RL (2nd gen) | Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.7-liter V6, transverse-mounted, with VTEC | Twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter 6G72 V6 |
| Power / Torque | 300 hp, 271 lb-ft | 320 hp, 315 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | Super Handling All-Wheel Drive with torque vectoring | All-wheel drive with four-wheel steering |
| Transmission | Five-speed automatic | Six-speed manual |
| Character | Understated torque vectoring sedan and daily driver | Heavy halo grand tourer with retractable metal roof |
Both cars prove that this forgotten performance segment is about engineering, not appearance. The RL leads as a practical torque vectoring sedan that hides Ferrari-style thinking in a family-friendly body, while the 3000GT VR-4 Spyder is an over-specified experiment whose weight and price held it back even with such a strong spec sheet. Neither relies on cosmetic-only body kits from the 1980s for its appeal; the draw is the hardware: SH-AWD torque vectoring on the Acura side and twin turbos, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and a powered steel roof on the Mitsubishi side. For most buyers, the RL’s balanced mix of performance and daily usability makes it the sensible, confident choice among used performance sedans under 20k.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Acura RL if you want an underrated performance car that feels like a normal luxury sedan until its SH-AWD torque vectoring wakes up in fast corners.
- Skip the Acura RL if you care more about name recognition and resale image than hidden engineering and are wary of a flagship that never dominated sales charts.
- Buy the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder if you want a halo car with twin turbos, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and a power-retractable hardtop packed into one dramatic grand tourer.
- Skip the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 Spyder if you prefer lighter, simpler sports cars and see added weight and complexity as downsides rather than part of the charm.
- Buy the Acura RL if your priority is a torque vectoring sedan you can daily, with dependable V6 power and understated styling that keeps insurance and attention in check.
- Skip the Acura RL if you want a tuner-friendly platform with more aftermarket support and are willing to accept fewer luxury features to gain easier modification options.
