1996 Acura SLX Walkaround Review at Automotive.com
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Acura
SLX
1996

1996 Acura SLX Review: Exterior

Below is a full, detailed 1996 Acura SLX review and road test from New Car Test Drive. A full evaluation of price, equipment, the driving experience, and specs are all here in a structured, easy-to-navigate format from journalists with limitless expe ...     read more
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1996 Acura SLX Review

Acura gilds the Isuzu Trooper.
Walkaround
At a towering 72.2 in.--that's one inch taller than Isaiah Thomas--the Acura SLX is one of the tallest sport-utes on the market. That height is clearly a boon in terms of the interior space and the driver visibility it affords. But in concert with its relatively narrow width--72.4 in.--the SLX is not quite as aesthetically pleasing as the shorter, more muscular-looking entries like the Ford Explorer and new Nissan Pathfinder. On the other hand, the exterior styling of the SLX and the Trooper is sophisticated, smooth and clean.

The front view is more impressive. The imposing grille, beefy front bumper and flared fenders give the SLX and Trooper the kind of go-anywhere presence that's a hallmark of this breed.

In the back, the rear hatch doors swing outward instead of up or down. Though this is a matter of individual preference, the sideways-opening design doesn't afford the weather-protection advantage of the upswinging gate on some other sport-utes. Also: The rear-gate window doesn't open, so the entire gate must be unlocked and opened to load even the smallest of items.

A plus, however, is that the rear gate employs a 70/30 split design that's handy in cramped quarters like garages or shopping-mall parking lots.

When turning, side cornering lights illuminate tight parking spaces and dark corners. And the powerful foglights came in handy on several nights when we were crossing multiple railroad tracks in a dense Detroit riverfront fog. Next Page


1996 Acura SLX