Acura RLX HYBRID (2020 year). Manual in english - page 1

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Energy Efficiency

As with a gasoline-powered vehicle, hybrid vehicle fuel efficiency and driving range is most impacted by your driving style. Aggressive 
acceleration and high-speed driving can easily trigger the system to switch the propulsion source to the gasoline-powered engine.
In addition, heavy climate control system use negatively affects vehicle range and efficiency. Either of these use patterns will more quickly 
reduce the High Voltage battery’s state of charge.

Battery Types

There are two types of batteries used in this vehicle; a standard 12-volt battery that powers the airbags, the interior and exterior lights, and 
other standard 12-volt systems; and a high voltage battery that is used to power the propulsion motors and recharge the 12-volt battery.

Regenerative Energy and Regenerative Braking

When decelerating without the accelerator being depressed or the brake pedal being applied, or while driving downhill, the electric motors 
act as generators that recovers a portion of the electrical energy that was used to accelerate the vehicle. This regenerative braking slows the 
vehicle in a manner similar to engine braking in a gasoline-powered vehicle.
When the high voltage battery is fully charged or its condition is affected by extreme temperatures or other factors, regenerative braking 
may not work.

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Auto Engine Stop/Start

Your vehicle’s gasoline engine will automatically stop and start during vehicle operation as needed to meet driving and battery conditions. 
These are some examples that could cause the gasoline engine to automatically start.

In the following cases, however, Auto Engine Stop may not activate.

●

The vehicle momentarily needs additional power for aggressive acceleration, or driving uphill or at high speed.

●

The climate control system is in heavy use.

●

The High Voltage battery temperature is high or low.

●

The High Voltage battery state of charge is low.

When in SPORT mode, Auto Engine Stop does not activate.

Sounds Unique to the SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD

®

 System

When you first start driving this vehicle, you will likely hear some unfamiliar sounds, particularly when you turn on the power system, or 
while you are driving or accelerating from a stop. Some of these sounds are unique to this vehicle‘s powertrain, fuel, and climate control 
systems; others are similar to sounds generated by conventional automobiles that typically are masked by louder noises absent from a 
vehicle of this design.
These sounds are not a cause for concern, and you will soon recognize them as normal and thus be able to detect any new or unusual noise 
should one develop.

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Safety Precautions

Do not touch the High Voltage system

Attempting to take a High Voltage system component apart or disconnect one of its wires 
can cause severe electrical shock. Make sure that any maintenance or repairs to the High 
Voltage system is performed by a Acura dealer.

If a crash occurs

●

Be careful of electric shock hazard.

u

If a severe crash damages your vehicle’s High Voltage system, there is a possibility of electrical shock 

due to exposed High Voltage components or wires. If this happens, do not touch any of the High 
Voltage system components or any of its orange wires.

●

Avoid contact with High Voltage battery fluid.

u

The High Voltage battery contains a flammable electrolyte that could leak as a result of a severe 

crash. Avoid skin or eye contact with the electrolyte as it is corrosive. If you accidentally come into 
contact with the electrolyte, rinse the exposed skin or flush your eyes with copious amounts of water 
for at least five minutes, and seek medical attention immediately.

●

Use a fire extinguisher for an electrical fire.

u

Attempting to extinguish an electrical fire with a small quantity of water, from a garden hose for 

instance, can be dangerous.

●

Anytime the vehicle is damaged in a crash, have it repaired by an Acura dealer.

Emergency Shutdown System for the High Voltage System

If the vehicle is involved in a crash, the emergency shutdown system will activate depending 
on the severity of the impact. When the system activates, the High Voltage system 
automatically shuts down, and the vehicle can no longer move under its own power. To 
return the High Voltage system back to normal operation, consult an Acura dealer.

Acura collects and recycles High Voltage batteries used in its vehicles – consult an Acura 
dealer for more information.

Do not cover the air intake.

If the air intake is obstructed 
during vehicle operation, the High 
Voltage battery can become too 
hot. To protect the battery, the 
system may limit the battery’s 
output and cause the power 
system and 12-volt battery 
charging system indicators to come 
on.

Air Intake

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Safe Driving 

(P 33)

Airbags 

(P 45)

●

Your vehicle is fitted with airbags to help protect you and 
your passengers during a moderate-to-severe collision.

Child Safety 

(P 60)

●

All children 12 and younger should be seated in the rear seat.

●

Smaller children should be properly restrained in a forward-facing child seat.

●

Infants must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child seat.

Exhaust Gas Hazard 

(P 72)

●

Your vehicle emits dangerous exhaust gases that contain carbon 
monoxide. Do not run the engine in confined spaces where carbon 
monoxide gas can accumulate.

Before Driving Checklist 

(P 37)

●

Before driving, check that the front seats, head restraints, 
steering wheel, and mirrors have been properly adjusted.

Seat Belts 

(P 38)

●

Fasten your seat belt and sit upright well 
back in the seat.

●

Check that your passengers are wearing 
their seat belts correctly.

Fasten your lap belt as 
low as possible.

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Instrument Panel 

(P 75)

System Indicators

Malfunction Indicator 
Lamp
Low Oil Pressure 
Indicator

12-Volt Battery 
Charging System 
Indicator

Anti-lock Brake System 
(

ABS

) Indicator

Vehicle Stability 
Assist

TM

 (VSA

®

) System 

Indicator

VSA

®

 OFF Indicator

Electric Power Steering 
(EPS) System Indicator

Lights Indicators

Lights On Indicator

High Beam Indicator

Immobilizer System 
Indicator

Seat Belt Reminder 
Indicator

System Indicators

System Message 
Indicator

Brake System 
Indicator (Red)

Supplemental 
Restraint System 
Indicator

Low Temperature 
Indicator

Low Fuel Indicator

Gauges 

(P 112)

/Multi-Information Display 

(P 114)

/

Head-Up Display 

(P 119)

/System Indicators 

(P 76)

Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator

Turn Signal and 
Hazard Warning 
Indicators

Keyless Access System 
Indicator

High Voltage 
Battery Charge 
Level Gauge

Security System 
Alarm Indicator

Fuel Gauge

Tachometer

Multi-Information Display

Speedometer

Gear Position 
Indicator

M

 (sequential mode) Indicator/

Sequential Mode Gear Selection 
Indicator

Electric Parking Brake 
System Indicator

Electric Parking Brake 
Indicator

Automatic Brake Hold 
System Indicator

Brake System 
Indicator (Amber)

SPORT

 Mode Indicator

Blind spot information 
System Indicator

System Indicators

Collision Mitigation 
Brake System

TM

 

(CMBS

TM

) Indicator

High Temperature 
Indicator

Road Departure 
Mitigation (RDM) 
Indicator

Lane Keeping Assist 
System (

LKAS

) Indicator

Adaptive Cruise Control 
(

ACC

) with Low Speed 

Follow Indicator

Automatic Brake Hold 
Indicator

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

U.S.

Canada

Fog Light Indicator

*

Head-Up Display

READY

 Indicator

POWER SYSTEM

 

Indicator

Auto High-Beam 
Indicator

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Controls 

(P 127)

Clock 

(P 128)

The navigation system receives signals from 
GPS satellites, updating the clock 
automatically.

You can also adjust the time manually.

a

Enter the 

Clock Adjustment

 screen.

2

Clock 

(P 128)

b

Rotate 

 to change hour, then press 

.

c

Rotate 

 to change minute, then 

press .

POWER Button 

(P 152)

Press the button to changes the vehicle’s 
power mode.

Turn Signals 

(P 155)

Lights 

(P 156)

Turn Signal Control Lever

Right

Left

Light Control Switches

Low Beam

High Beam

Flashing

*

 Not available on all models

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Wipers and Washers 

(P 163)

AUTO

 should always be turned 

OFF

 before 

the following situation in order to prevent 
severe damage to the wiper system:

●

Cleaning the windshield

●

Driving through a car wash

●

No rain present

Wiper/Washer Control Lever

Adjustment Ring

(

-

: Low Sensitivity

(

+

: High Sensitivity

MIST
OFF
AUTO

: Wiper speed varies automatically

LO

: Low speed wipe

HI

: High speed wipe

Pull toward 
you to spray 
washer fluid.

Steering Wheel 

(P 171)

●

To adjust, push and hold the adjustment 
switch to move the steering wheel to the 
desired position.

Unlocking the Front 
Doors from the Inside 

(P 140)

●

Pull either front door inner handle to 
unlock and open it in one motion.

●

Unlocking and opening the driver’s door 
from the inner handle unlocks all the 
other doors.

Trunk 

(P 143)

●

To unlock and open the trunk:

•

Press the trunk opener on the driver’s 
door.

•

Press the trunk release button on the 
keyless access remote.

•

Press the trunk release button on the 
trunk lid.

Trunk Opener

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Power Door Mirrors 

(P 173)

●

With the power mode in ON, move the 
selector switch to 

L

 or 

R

.

●

Push the appropriate edge of the 
adjustment switch to adjust the mirror.

●

Press the folding button to fold in and 
out the door mirrors.

Selector Switch

Adjustment Switch

Folding Button

Power Windows 

(P 149)

●

With the power mode in ON, open and 
close the power windows.

●

If the power window lock button is in the 
off position, each passenger’s window 
can be opened and closed with its own 
switch.

●

If the power window lock button is in the 
on position (indicator on), each 
passenger’s window switch is disabled.

Power Window Lock Button

Window Switch

Indicator

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Climate Control System 

(P 200)

●

Press the 

AUTO

 button to activate the climate control system.

●

Press the 

 button to turn the system on or off.

●

Press the 

 button to defrost the windshield.

The climate control system is voice operable. 

(P 236)

Driver’s Side Temperature 
Control Switch

Air flows from floor and 
windshield defroster vents. 
(driver’s side only)

Air flows from floor vents.

Air flows from floor and 
dashboard vents, and back of 
the center console.

Air flows from dashboard vents 
and back of the center console.

AUTO

 Button

Passenger’s Side Temperature 
Control Switch

 (On/off) Button

Driver’s Side Temperature 
Icon

Passenger’s Side Temperature 
Icon

On Demand Multi-Use Display

TM

 (Windshield Defroster) Button

Driver’s Side Mode Control 
Icon

A/C

 (Air Conditioning) and 

SYNC

 (Synchronized) Icon

Passenger’s Side Mode Control 
Icon

Recirculation/Fresh Air Mode 
Icon

Fan Control Icon

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Features 

(P 211)

Audio system 

(P 216)

For navigation system operation 

()

 See the Navigation System Manual

*1:Icons that appear on the screen vary by the source selected.

Audio/Information Screen

Interface Dial/

ENTER

 Button

 (Power) Button

CD Slot

 (CD Eject) Button

SETTINGS

 Button

VOL

 (Volume) Knob

BACK

 Button

NAV

 Button

AUDIO

 Button

INFO

 Button

On Demand Multi-Use Display

TM

PHONE

 Button

Preset Icons

*1

 (Tune Up) Icon

*1

Source

*1

 (Tune Down) Icon

*1

Tune

*1

More

 Button

Shortcuts

*1

MENU

 Button

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Audio Remote Controls 

(P 215)

●

SOURCE

 Button

Press to change the audio mode: FM/AM/
SiriusXM

®

/CD/HDD/USB/iPod/

Bluetooth

®

 

Audio/Pandora

®

*

/AUX.

●

Left Selector Wheel
Roll to adjust the volume up/down.
Radio:Shift to change the preset station.

Shift and hold to select the next or 
previous strong station.

CD/HDD/USB device:

Shift to skip to the beginning of 
the next song or return to the 
beginning of the current song.
Shift and hold to change a folder.

Left Selector Wheel

SOURCE

 Button

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Driving 

(P 371)

Electronic Gear Selector 

(P 385)

●

Always depress the brake pedal before selecting 

(

P

 or changing the gear position from 

(

P

.

●

Select 

(

P

 and depress the brake pedal when turning on the power.

●

Gear selection

Park

Press the 

(

P

 button.

Used when parking or before turning the power on or off.
Transmission is locked.

Reverse

Press back the 

(

R

 button.

Used when reversing.

Neutral

Press the 

(

N

 button.

Transmission is not locked.

Drive

Press the 

(

D

 button.

Used for normal driving.
The sequential shift mode can be used.

Gear Position Indicator

The gear position indicator 
and the shift button indicator 
indicate the current gear 
selection.

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Button 
Indicator

READY

 Indicator

On: You can start to drive. 

*

 Not available on all models

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Paddle Shifters 

(P392)

●

Paddle shifters allow you to shift gears much like a manual 
transmission (1st through 7th). This is useful for regenerative 
braking.

●

D-paddle shift mode: The 
transmission will shift back to 
automatic mode once the system 
detects that the vehicle is cruising.

●

Sequential mode gear selection: 
Holds the selected gear, and the 

M

 (sequential mode) indicator 

comes on, when the SPORT mode 
is on.

●

The sequential mode gear 
selection is shown in the 
instrument panel.

Gear Position Indicator

Shift Down 

(

-

 

Paddle Shifter

Shift Up 

(

+

 

Paddle Shifter

Sequential Mode Gear 
Selection Indicator

M

 (sequential 

mode) Indicator

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VSA

®

 On and Off 

(P 440)

●

The Vehicle Stability Assist

TM

 (VSA

®

) 

system helps stabilize the vehicle during 
cornering, and helps maintain traction 
while accelerating on loose or slippery 
road surfaces.

●

VSA

®

 comes on automatically every time 

you turn on the power system.

●

To partially disable or fully restore VSA

®

 

function, press and hold the button until 
you hear a beep.

CMBS

TM

 On and Off 

(P 461)

●

When a possible collision is likely 
unavoidable, the CMBS

TM

 can help you to 

reduce the vehicle speed and the severity 
of the collision.

●

To turn the CMBS

TM

 on or off, press and 

hold the button until you hear a beep.

●

The CMBS

TM

 is turned on every time you 

turn the power system on.

Tire Pressure Monitoring 
System (TPMS) 

(P 445)

●

The TPMS monitors tire pressure.

●

The TPMS is turned on automatically 
every time you turn on the power system.

Refueling 

(P 488)

a

Press the fuel fill 
door release button.

b

After refueling, wait 
for about five 
seconds before 
removing the filler 
nozzle.

Fuel recommendation:

Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or 
higher

Fuel tank capacity: 15.1 US gal (57 L)

Wait for five seconds

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AcuraWatch

TM

 

(P 396)

AcuraWatch

TM

 is a driver support system 

which employs the use of two distinctly 
different kinds of sensors, a radar sensor 
located in the front grille and a front sensor 
camera mounted to the interior side of the 
windshield, behind the rearview mirror.

Front Sensor 
Camera

The camera is located 
behind the rearview 
mirror.

Radar Sensor

The radar sensor is in 
the front grille.

Adaptive Cruise Control 
(ACC) with Low Speed 
Follow 

(P 402)

Helps maintain a constant vehicle speed and 
a set following interval behind a vehicle 
detected ahead of yours and, if the detected 
vehicle comes to a stop, can decelerate and 
stop your vehicle, without you having to 
keep your foot on the brake or the 
accelerator.

Lane Keeping Assist 
System (LKAS) 

(P 421)

Provides steering input to help keep the 
vehicle in the middle of a detected lane and 
provides tactile and visual alerts if the 
vehicle is detected drifting out of its lane.

Road Departure 
Mitigation (RDM) System 

(P 416)

Alerts and helps to assist you when the 
system detects a possibility of your vehicle 
unintentionally crossing over detected lane 
markings and/or leaving the roadway 
altogether.

Collision Mitigation 
Braking System

TM

 

(CMBS

TM

) 

(P 458)

Can assist you when there is a possibility of 
your vehicle colliding with a vehicle or a 
pedestrian detected in front of yours. The 
CMBS

TM

 is designed to alert you when a 

potential collision is determined, as well as 
to reduce your vehicle speed to help 
minimize collision severity when a collision is 
deemed unavoidable.

Traffic Jam Assist 

(P 428)

The traffic jam assist system uses a radar 
sensor mounted inside the front grille and a 
camera mounted to the upper portion of 
the windshield to detect and monitor left 
and right white (yellow) traffic lane lines as 
well as any vehicle ahead. Based on inputs 
from the radar sensor and camera, the 
system adjusts the speed of your vehicle to 
maintain a set interval between your vehicle 
and the one detected ahead. It also applies 
steering torque to keep your vehicle in the 
center of the detected lane when you are 
driving in heavy traffic.

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Maintenance 

(P 491)

Under the Hood 

(P 501)

●

Check engine oil, engine coolant, and inverter coolant. Add 
when necessary.

●

Check brake fluid.

●

Check the 12-volt battery condition monthly.

a

Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the 
dashboard.

b

Locate the hood latch lever, push it to the side, and then 
raise the hood. Once you have raised the hood slightly, you 
can release the lever.

c

When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly 
locked in place.

Lights 

(P 514)

●

Inspect all lights regularly.

Wiper Blades 

(P 517)

●

Replace blades if they leave streaks 
across the windshield.

Tires 

(P 520)

●

Inspect tires and wheels regularly.

●

Check tire pressures regularly.

●

Install snow tires for winter driving.