Acura RL · Engine family

Acura RL 3.5L six-cylinder

The J35A8 is the most common engine code the VIN decodes to on the 3.5L six-cylinder configurations below; hybrid variants of the same displacement carry their own code. Rated at 210–300 hp. We decode it on 12,502 VINs across 27 factory builds, and 78 listings are reported active. The configuration price reference is $5,999.

Cylinders
6
Power
210–300 hp
Induction
Naturally aspirated
Fuel
Gasoline
Fitted
1996–2008
Gearboxes
Automatic

◷ Updated September 28, 2026 ▤ National asking prices, refreshed nightly

$5,999
Configuration price reference
78
On sale today with the 3.5L 6-cyl
1996–2008
Model years it was fitted
27
Factory configurations
12,502
RL VINs decoded with it

The price reference is the median of configuration medians, not the median of all active cars. Each configuration has equal weight. Configurations with at least 3 priced listings are used when available; otherwise the reference uses the configurations with a recorded price. Model years, mileage and condition vary. Open a model-year report below for its asking prices across all engines.

Which RL years got a 3.5L 6-cyl engine

Every model year this engine was fitted to, newest first. The bar is how much of the family's VIN volume sits in that year — long bars are the years this engine was everywhere.

Year Share of VINs VINs On sale Builds
2008 1,071 8 2
2007 879 13 2
2006 2,104 14 1 2005 3,195 24 2
2004 896 3 1
2003 306 3 2
2002 1,275 6 2
2001 229 — 2
2000 924 1 2
1999 541 2 2
1998 509 1 4
1997 354 3 3
1996 219 — 2

VIN counts come from our decode of the model's build patterns, not from live listings. A year link opens the full RL report for that year — every engine of the model, not just this one.

27 factory configurations with this engine

Each one is a distinct build as the VIN decodes it — trim, body, gearbox and equipment. Open a build sheet for its full spec and the VINs recorded on it.

2008

2 builds
2008 RL Tech jh4kb166 Sedan · Automatic · 290 hp 2008 RL Trim not recorded jh4kb165 Sedan · Automatic · 290 hp

2007

2 builds
2007 RL Tech jh4kb166 Sedan · Automatic · 290 hp 2007 RL Trim not recorded jh4kb165 Sedan · Automatic · 290 hp

2006

1 build
2006 RL Trim not recorded jh4kb165 Sedan · Automatic · 300 hp

2005

2 builds
2005 RL Trim not recorded jh4kb165 Sedan · Automatic · 300 hp 2005 RL Trim not recorded jh4kb163 Sedan · Automatic · 300 hp

2003

2 builds
2003 RL 3.5 jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 225 hp 2003 RL 3.5 jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 225 hp

2002

2 builds
2002 RL 3.5 jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 225 hp 2002 RL 3.5 jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 225 hp

2001

2 builds
2001 RL 3.5 jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 2001 RL 3.5 jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

2000

2 builds
2000 RL 3.5 jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 2000 RL 3.5 jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

1999

1 build
1999 RL 3.5 jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

1998

3 builds
1998 RL W/Moonroof &Traction Control jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 1998 RL Moonroof & Traction Control W/California Navigation jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 1998 RL Moonroof & Traction Control W/Florida Navigation jh4ka968 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

1997

3 builds
1997 RL W/Leather jh4ka964 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 1997 RL W/Premium Package jh4ka966 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 1997 RL Premium Package jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

1996

2 builds
1996 RL Premium Package jh4ka965 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp 1996 RL Trim not recorded jh4ka964 Sedan · Automatic · 210 hp

Showing the 24 most-built configurations of 27. Every 2008 RL build →

The 3.5L 6-cyl RL: common questions

Which RL years have the 3.5L 6-cyl?

1996–2008, without a break — 13 model years in our VIN decode, across 27 factory configurations and 12,502 VINs.

What does a 3.5L 6-cyl RL cost?

$5,999 is a configuration price reference: the median of configuration medians, with each priced configuration weighted equally. It is not a listing-level median or a valuation of an individual car. The year-by-year ladder shows VIN and inventory counts; its links open model-year price reports covering all engines.

What is the engine code, and does it matter?

J35A8 — the code the VIN decodes to on the configurations on this page. It matters when you order parts or read a service history: the same displacement badge on another model can be a different code with different outputs.

3.5L 6-cyl RL on the market

Individual vehicles carrying this engine, each with its own listing-history page. The sample is pinned to fixed VIN buckets, so it does not reshuffle day to day.