.
Acura TL Review
The Acura TL was introduced in 1996 as a mid-sized luxury car from Honda Motor Corporation’s luxury Acura brand name. A true sports luxury sedan, the Acura TL provides sharp looks, V6 power, cutting edge technology, and a great driving experience. It is no wonder the TL is Acura’s best selling car.
New for 2007, Acura brings even more performance to the TL with the return of the type-S trim. With an even more aggressive look, 286 3.5-liter V6 engine, sport tuned suspension, Bridgestone Potenza RE030 tires (235/45R17 93W), and subtle interior changes, the Acura type-S offers that extra performance edge to the sports car enthusiast.
See also the main fact sheets for the Acura TL.
High Points
- Fantastic performance
- Powerful and responsive engine
- Voice activated navigation system (with Bluetooth) is easy to use and understand
Low Points
- Voice recognition system often mis-interprets voice commands
- Steering wheel feel is stale--not up to the level of a true sports sedan
- The trunk trim is minimal inside
- Some interior parts appear too plain for a luxury car
Performance and Handling
The V6 engine delivers its abundant power smoothly, pulling strongly all the way to its 6800-rpm redline to the accompaniment of a deliciously tuned exhaust note. Even with traction control active, the front tires can be made to chirp while accelerating out of corners, or when mashing the gas pedal from a full stop. One of the few dynamic complaints we had with the TL torque steer, has been addressed in the 2006 model. Revised engine management system and steering angle sensors combine to help reduce this phenomenon, common among powerful front-wheel-drive cars.
TL is powered by a 3.2-liter, single overhead camshaft, 24-valve, 60-degree V6 with Honda's F1 racing-developed variable valve timing and lift system (VTEC). It's rated at 258 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is an EPA-rated 20/30 mpg City/Highway when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission. The engine meets California's LEV-2 ULEV standards, the second most stringent in the nation for gasoline-fueled cars and exceeded only by limited production, small-engine subcompacts and hybrids (some of them Hondas).
The automatic transmission works well. With the SportShift left in auto mode, gear changes are almost imperceptible, slicker and smoother than in some cars costing more than twice the TL's price of entry. After shifting the automatic into the manual mode, only the upshift from first is automatic, occurring just south of 5000 rpm. Higher gears are held right up to the rev limiter, which steps in around 7000 rpm.
The shift linkage on the manual gearbox is taut and precise, though clutch takeup requires a little getting used to.
The variable-assist steering reacts to road speed and driver input to make for effortless parking and sure tracking on the highway. Hours spent in the wind tunnel reduced to a whisper the inevitable whistles around the outside mirrors. Barely noticeable hissing around the side windows' trailing edges could well have been more reflective of the test car's early production status than of any design shortcoming.
The TL feels comfortable and relaxed at speed on the Interstates, although there is more road noise with the fatter, stickier tires on the six-speed model. On two-lanes, the standard setup was no slouch, feeling ill at ease only when taken where most drivers will never go, and by which time all the assorted active safety technologies will have been alerted. At these extremes, the sportier version delighted, its Brembo brakes confidently hauling it down from mildly irresponsible speeds before it tracked unerringly and with aplomb through tight corners over sometimes bumpy pavement. Perhaps, just maybe, Acura has unearthed the secret to BMW's vice-like grip on the top rung of the sports sedan ladder. Unlike BMWs, though, the TL is front-wheel drive, and the front washes out when accelerating hard around a bumpy corner, a point at which the TL does not feel like the ultimate driving machine.
On a track, the SportShift and the all-season tires prove to be a good match. Only carelessness or inattention could get somebody in trouble with this package. The six-speed manual works well, too. Its six, close-ratio gears allow the engine to work in its powerband's sweet spot. And the limited-slip front differential properly apportions the power between the front tires while negotiating fast, sweeping curves and tight, power-sapping, left-right-left esses. The brakes never evidence the slightest fade, despite the ever-present bouquet from super-heated pads at the end of an on-track session. But the suspension is lacking a bit in quick turn transitions on a track. The experience is no where near egregious or over-the-top, just enough to invite a little earlier brake application and a gentle feathering of the throttle the next time around. In the race to catch BMW, Acura is close, but no cigar. Not yet. Perhaps it's the difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.
Gas Mileage
As seen on Autos.com, in the near-luxury car MPG rankings, the 2006 Acura TL is in 13th place with 20/29 MPG.
Safety
The Acura TL comes standard with the following features:
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist
- Vehicle Stability Assist
- Traction Control System
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Rearview camera
- HID headlights
- Front and rear crumple zones
- Side-impact beams
- Energy-absorbing impact pads in frame
- Front air bags
- Front side air bags
- Side curtain airbags
- Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
- Anti-Pinch feature on all windows and moonroof
- Remote keyless entry
Reliability and Maintenance
Because the Camry Solara is based off of the Camry sedan platform, it also carries on the same long reputation of reliability to its owners. Above and beyond regular scheduled maintenance, the Camry Solara needs little more to keep it running trouble free for many years.
Interior and Comforts
The Solara adds a dash of panache over the Camry sedan’s interior with a sweeping console that invokes the intimate atmosphere of a sporty coupe. The seats are relatively flat, which makes sliding in and out easy, but a little more side support would be nice. The cloth is of good quality, though it's a bit bland. But the faux wood in the Solara convertible looks a bit like plastic and some of the silver reflective material on the lower center stack might be too reflective for some tastes.
In sharp contrast to the sedan's flat dash, the Solara's shapely instrument panel suggests separate nacelles for driver and passenger, giving it more of a cockpit feel. Instrumentation is divided into three pods, with a five-function trip computer sharing the left pod with the tachometer. A futuristic, multi-function display dominates the bulging center stack. The separate HVAC (heater) controls are easy to operate. On V6 models, a gated shifter for the automatic transmission allows manual gear selection.
The rear seats are surprisingly roomy, though less so than in the Camry sedan. Compared to the Honda Accord coupe, the Solara provides significantly more rear-seat hip room (50.3 inches vs. 46.1) and leg room (35.4 vs. 31.9) and a bit more headroom. The convertible is roomy as well. With the top up, there's actually 2 inches more rear-seat headroom than in the coupe. (And with the top down, there's lots more headroom.)
The Solara coupe can carry a tad more luggage than the Accord coupe, 13.8 cubic feet vs. 12.8. And the rear seats fold down to reveal a big pass-through.
The Solara convertible features a glass rear window but rearward visibility is hampered when the top is up by the small window and rear headrests. Release a pair of latches and the power top folds down in just 10 seconds. One touch of a button lowers all four windows. A vinyl boot cleans up its appearance when the top is down, but installing it is a hassle. And it takes up a lot of space in the diminutive trunk when not being used.
Exterior
The Solara shares the sedan's 107-inch wheelbase, but is 3.3 inches longer overall than the Camry, measuring 192.5 inches from bumper to bumper.
The Solara coupe looks like a stylized version of the sedan. It's a more adventurous design. The roofline is sleeker and the rear is totally different from the Camry sedan's, reminding us of the Lexus SC 430. The arc-shaped theme features a continuous line from the front bumper, over the roof, and down to the rear bumper. Just below the beltline, a character line flows in a gentle S-curve from the teardrop headlamps to the teardrop taillights. The Solara looks aerodynamically efficient, and it is, with a drag coefficient of just 0.29 Cd, making it slip through the air much more easily than the previous Solara, good for wind noise, gas mileage, and speed. The outside door handles are easy to grab, much better than lever-style handles.
Toyota says the convertible's body structure was designed from the ground up for topless motoring, unlike the previous-generation convertible, which was adapted from the then-current coupe. The current Solara offers improved torsional rigidity over the previous model, which translates into a more solid feel and a quieter ride. The Solara was designed and engineered in the U.S. and is built in the U.S.
Styles and Options
The Toyota Camry Solara is available as a coupe or convertible. There are 3 trims available: SE, Sport, and SLE.
SE
The SE is your base model coming standard with:
- Power automatic door locks and windows
- Remote keyless entry system
- Cruise control
- Steering wheel audio controls
- AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability
- 16-in. aluminum alloy wheels with P215/60R16 tires
- Silver metallic-style interior trim
- Multi-function trip computer
SPORT
The Sport offers sportier looks and performance including:
- 17-in. aluminum alloy wheels with P215/55R17 tires
- Front and rear underbody spoilers and side rocker panel moldings
- Sport-tuned suspension
- Rear sport spoiler
- Stainless steel exhaust tip
- Black graphite-style interior trim
- Unique sport gauge cluster
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake handle
- Chrome-accented parking brake button and air vents
- Aluminum sport pedal covers
SLE
The most expensive SLE offers a more luxurious interior with:
- Wood-grain-style interior trim
- Power-adjustable driver seat
- Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade
- JBL premium AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability
- Heated outside mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming feature
- Front-console illumination panel
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass
- Hands-free phone-calling capability via Bluetooth
- Anti-theft system
Main Competitors
External Links
WikiCars Contributor Favorites
Toyota Manufacturer Sites
- Toyota Camry Solara - Official US Site
Community Sites
- Solaraguy.org - a site dedicated to the Camry Solara
- Toyota Nation Solara Forum
