Acura TL
A wolf in a school uniform |
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: There’s no auto-headlight feature, the glove box is puny, and the trunk light is dim.
G-FORCES: The 270-horsepower V-6 engine is a standout. Response is immediate, and electronic-throttle technology makes acceleration whisper smooth. Handling is firm but not as crisp as on rear-drive sedans.
GIZMOLOGY: The dashboard is clean, with controls that are easy to find and use. A well-designed strip display runs along the top of the dash, minimizing the time you have to take your eyes off the road to gather basic climate or radio info. Nifty features include an armrest that slides forward and back to accommodate different-size drivers.
KID MARKS: The back seat is comfy and spacious, and easy for kids to climb in and out of. I had one annoying problem, though. The seat-belt latches are recessed into the seat in a manner that put them underneath my kids’ booster seats, making it extremely awkward to buckle them in. This was enough of an annoyance that if I were considering buying this car I’d insist on a fix, or scratch the TL off my list.
HOT OR NOT: Hot. But the styling is awfully reminiscent of the plain-vanilla Honda Accord.
ENVIROMETER: Rates either 8 out of 10 or 9 out of 10 on the EPA’s emissions/air pollution scale, depending on the state. Info: http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/
E-ACURA-TL-04.htm. Mileage ranges from 20 mpg city to 30 mpg highway.
CRASH COURSE: Government crash test data are forthcoming and should be posted at http://www.nhtsa.gov/
NCAP/Cars/2641.html.
PRICE POINTS: Base price is $33,195. Price as tested: $35,195.
MORE INFO: http://www.acura.com/models/
model_index.asp?module=tl
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Model year tested: 2004
Merging. Passing. Showing off to that babe or hunk in the next lane. The TL motivates you to find any excuse to accelerate. The 270-horsepower V-6 engine is so slick and eager to please that it awaits the touch of your foot like an expert butler: It’s not showy, but when you issue a command it’s met with instant results. And it’s far more thrilling than a martini delivered on a doily.
Acura's redesigned TL debuts on challenging turf. The market for entry-luxe sport sedans is crowded and highly competitive, with some knockout products that seem well worth the equivalent of a year at Harvard. When it comes to speed, the TL races to the front of the pack. Parent-company Honda builds some of the smoothest, sassiest engines in the business, and the TL packs one of the best. At highway speeds you can barely hear it, and when you hammer the gas and the car shoves you back in your seat, the power plant still sounds mild-mannered. The TL’s slightly angular styling, edgy by Honda’s standards, is agile and purposeful. And the interior is hip and handsome. The cool blue glow of the instrumentation is matched by neon rings around the radio dials, giving the cabin the ambience of an upscale jazz bar. The TL feels good whether you’re racing down the freeway or sitting in your garage.
It falls behind by a head, however, as the finish line approaches. Unlike the BMW 3 Series or the Infiniti G35, the TL is powered by the front wheels, which undercuts performance. The wheels tend to quiver on curves (typical of front-wheel-drive cars), and steering isn’t as predictable as in a rear-drive sedan. The cabin, refined as it is, still falls a touch short of the precise engineering for which Lexus is famed. Storage lids tend to stick occasionally, and dashboard surfaces don’t line up with the mechanical perfection found in industry leaders. None of that is not meant to disparage a fine automobile. The TL is a stimulating, satisfying car that is sure to leave purchasers with few regrets. It is simply an A student in a class filled with A+ overachievers.
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