Acura TL Review

Summary

With all of its standard features and great performance, the TL is the bargain of its class.

High Points

Performance is fantastic. The engine is powerful and responsive. The voice activated navigation system (with Bluetooth) is easy to use and understand.

Low Points

The transmission tends to grab (downshift?) when descending on hills. It is supposed to contain grade logic to help the car slow down, but it feels too abrupt. Some of the interior trim materials feel like they were borrowed from the Civic, others appear to be first quality. The storage compontents in the dash scratch easily, as does the key fob.

Performance and Handling

The car is solid through the turns, and powers swiftly with it's drive by wire drive throttle system.

Gas Mileage

20 MPG city, 29 MPG highway. Requires Premium fuel.

Safety

• Dual stage, dual threshold front airbags
• Front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)
• Side curtain airbags
• 3-Point height adjustable seatbelts with load limiters and Automatic Tensioning System (front)
• 3-Point Seatbelts (rear)
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child-seat mounting system
• Front seatblelts with pretensioners
• childproof rear door locks
• 4 wheel anti-lock braking system with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control
• Tire pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with location and pressure indicators
• Theft deterrent system with electronic immobilizer
• Remote entry system with driver recognition
• Impact absorption crumple zones (front/rear)
• Side-impact door beams
• LED taillights, brake lights, side marker lights and Center High Mount Stop Light
• 5-MPH bumpers (front and rear)
• Pestestrian Impact Protection
• Rear outboard head restarints
• Phosphorescent emergency trunk opener
• Collapsible steering column
• Breakaway inside rearview mirror
• Safety glass

Reliability and Maintenance

It is assembled by Honda in their Marysville, OH plant. All models come with a 4 yr/50,000 mile limited warranty as well as a 6 yr/70,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Interior and Comforts

• Acura/ELS preminum 8-speaker surround sound system with an 6-disc CD, DVD-audio, and DTS changer, AM/FM tuner, Dolby casette
• XM Satellite Radio
• Power windows with driver's and front passenger's auto-up/down, auto-reverse and key-off operation
• Exterior temperature indicator
• Ambient cabin lighting
• HandsFreeLink wireless telephone interface
• Perforated leather-trimmed seats and door panels
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob
• Aluminum with simulated wood-grained console and door-trim (with Camel and Parchment interiors)
• Aluminum with simulated carbon-fiber console and door-trim (with Ebony and Quartz interiors)
• Driver's 8-way power seat with power-adjustable lumbar support
• Front passenger's 4-way power seat
• Heated front seats
• Adjustable front and rear headrests
• LED backlit gauges with progressive illumination
• Front center console with adjstable armrest, dual-level storage compartment and coin holder
• Rear-seat center armrest with locking trunk pass-through and dual beverage holders
• Carpeted floor mats
• Dual zone, dual-mode automatic climate control system
• Rear compartment heat/air conditioning vents
• Acura Navigation System with voice recognition
• Illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio, phone, voice recognition and cruise controls
• Remote- and driver's door lock-operated windows-open function
• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Speed sensing, intermittent windsheild wipers
• Overhead map lights (front and rear)
• Reverse tilt feature on both side mirrors
• User-programmable interior lighting
• Keyless memory settings
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Illuminated driver's and front passenger's vanity mirror HomeLink
• 12V power outlets (front and rear console areas)
• Front storage compartments with sunglasses holder
• Trip computer
• Multi-information display
• Side-window defoggers
• Remote trunk/fuel door release
• In-trunk storage tray, shopping bag hook and cargo net

Exterior

LED Taillights in the rear, and a large metallic grille in the front are the key design elements. The side character line starts and ends with side markers and engulfs the same line as the front and rear door handles. Xenon headlamps are standard, along with alloy wheels and low profile tires.

Styles and Options

The voice activated navigation system, 6-speed manual transmission, and summer performance tires (with the M/T) are the only options available.

Main Competitors

Lexus ES 350, Infiniti G35, BMW 3-series