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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
- Good 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
Interior and Comforts
Exterior
Styles and Options
The Acura TL is available in ? trims: ? and ?.
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Main Competitors
External Links
WikiCars Contributor Favorites
Acura Manufacturer Sites
- Acura TL - Official US Site
Community Sites
- Acurazine - Acura TL Forum
- DJ Dream Cars - Acura TL Specifications & Information
- All Car Garage - 2006 Acura TL
- all-car-photos.com - Acura TL photo gallery
