The Bottom Line: I'm very happy so far. I researched the cars most people would compare this car to and I found the TL superior in many ways. I would recommend this car.
The TL was completely re-engineered for the 2004 model year. There have been few if any changes to the 2005 model. This is the fourth generation of Acura’s mid-sized sedan based on the Honda Accord platform. Originally called the Vigor, the name was changed to TL when Acura scrapped individual names for its models and replaced them with letter designations. It was originally equipped with either an in-line 5 cylinder engine or an optional V-6. This generation uses a 3.2 liter V-6 exclusively that features 24 valves and Honda’s VTEC technology which improves the flow of air and fuel into the cylinder. This engine puts out 270 hp with 238 lb/ft of torque.
The TL is a front-wheel drive sedan with 4 wheel independent double-wishbone suspension. The weight split from front to rear is 60/40. Front-wheel drive is advantageous in snow and rain but some enthusiasts claim it is inferior to rear-wheel or all-wheel drive on normal roads under normal conditions. Torque steer, the tendency for a vehicle to pull to one side under heavy acceleration, is a risk on front-wheel drive cars, especially when equipped with powerful engines.
The TL is available with either a 6 speed manual transmission or Honda’s 5 speed Sequential SportShift automatic. The automatic is what is commonly known as a ‘manumatic’. This means that you can use it just like a traditional automatic transmission; shift into drive and let the transmission choose the optimum gear for the conditions, or you can put it in manual mode which allows you to control gearshifts by tapping the lever down for downshifts and up for upshifts, all without a clutch.
The Acura line is known for technical innovation and the TL is brimming with features. The TL is what Honda calls a ULEV which stands for Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle. Standard features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) which adjusts brake pressure and engine power to help correct understeer or oversteer, traction control which monitors wheel slip while accelerating or driving on slippery surfaces, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) and drive-by-wire throttle control.
Interior features include voice activation for the audio, temperature control and navigation systems; Bluetooth connectivity; Homelink, which allows you to operate up to three different remote features (garage door opener, gate entrance, etc.) without having to use separate remotes; memory settings for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors; power heated drivers and passenger seats (driver’s seat comes with lumbar support); one touch up and down for both front windows; steering wheel mounted controls for the stereo and cruise control; security system; automatic day/night mirror; multi-function display that shows outside temp, miles until empty and other information; tilt and telescope steering wheel and dual zone climate control with separate controls for driver and front seat passenger. The TL has full front, side and curtain airbags. The stereo system features an XM tuner, a 6 disc changer, 225 watt amplifier with 8 speakers, surround sound and the ability to play DVD audio.
The exterior features 17 x 8 inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, Xenon headlights and power glass moonroof.
After 5 years and 100,000 miles, it was time to trade in my Subaru. After considering different vehicle types, I decided that a premium mid-size four door sedan would best suit my needs. In addition to the Acura, the other car I considered very carefully was the Nissan Maxima. For comparison, I researched but did not drive the Infiniti G35 sedan and the Lexus ES330.
Engine & Performance:
The TL has a 3.2 liter V6 that puts out 270 hp. The Maxima and the G35 both use Nissan’s excellent 3.5 liter V6. In the Nissan it is tuned for 265 hp while in the Infiniti it pumps out 280 hp. The ES330 has a 3.3 liter V6 that was slightly underpowered by comparison with 225 hp. The Nissan and Infiniti each beat the Acura with 270 lbs/ft of torque while the Lexus matched the Acura’s 238 with 240 of its own. According to Motor Trend Magazine, the TL will go from 0 to 60 in 6.3 seconds as does the Maxima (with manual transmission) while the G35 does it in 6.2. According to the Lexus website, the ES330 does it in 7.2 seconds. Note that only the Acura recommends premium fuel. The operator’s guide tells you that you may use a lower octane fuel with no damage to the engine but the performance will suffer as a result. In driving the Acura and the Nissan, they both felt similarly quick. Both accelerated briskly, especially from mid-range which is important for merging onto freeways. The Lexus creates its peak horsepower and torque at a much lower RPM than do the other three, so it can be expected to be quieter. The Acura and Nissan engines both sounded throaty under hard acceleration with dual exhausts providing a sporty tone.
Transmission:
All 4 vehicles compared are equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions. The Lexus was the only one that did not offer the ability to shift for yourself in manumatic mode. The dual mode transmission in the TL seemed perfectly matched to the engine. Upshifts were smooth and there was no ‘hunting’ for the right gear as can happen with automatics. Using the semi manual mode was easy. When in “D” for drive, simply move the lever to the left into a separate gate. When in that gate, just tap the lever down (toward you) to downshift and up (away from you) to upshift. This allows you to select which gear you want and it stays in that gear until you shift up or down. This is handy if you’re going to be pulling a trailer, driving on icy or snowy roads, or for when you want more control in the curves.
Handling:
The Acura, Lexus and Nissan are front-wheel drive while the Infiniti was the only one in the group with rear-wheel drive. The torque steer is noticeable on the Acura but certainly not to the point of being a problem. A careful driver with both hands on the wheel will have no problem even under hard acceleration. The TL weighs in at 3564 pounds while the G35, Maxima and ES330 are within four pounds of each other at 3468, 3470 and 3472 pounds respectively. Although the G35 is the only one of the four available with all-wheel drive, for comparison I used the rear wheel drive model. Either version would cause the Infiniti to have different handling characteristics than the others. Using a route I mapped out that includes medium and high speed curves as well as freeway and regular surface streets, the Acura provided a better balance of handling and ride than the Nissan did. The Acura was able to carve curves more neatly than the Nissan as well. The Acura remained flat throughout the curves with a minor amount of understeer. According to Motor Trend Magazine, the Acura generates .65g’s in their handling course, which compares to the Infiniti and Nissan both at .66 g’s. Motor Trend did not test the Lexus and the Lexus website does not list a handling measurement. Both cars are considered sports sedans and provide a taut ride without any over-damping but the Acura felt more solid, a result of it being torsionally stiffer than the Nissan.
Features:
Electronically, the TL has most every gadget or feature you can think of. Starting with the big features first; the TL has voice activation for the audio, temp control and navigation system. A button on the side of the steering column allows you to; for example, change the radio station by simply calling out “FM 88.3” or whatever channel you wish. Similarly, the command “Temperature 72 degrees” causes the temp control system to adjust accordingly. The voice activation also works with the navigation system which is a feature not found on most other vehicles with nav systems. The system will plot your trip, but will also tell you things like the location of the nearest gas station by brand, the nearest ATM and the nearest restaurant by cuisine type. The TL also is Bluetooth enabled. When paired with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, you can make hands-free calls without using your telephone. Simply program your numbers into the system and then press the button on the side of the steering wheel for voice activation. Once connected, you will be talking using the stereo speakers and a small hidden microphone. The stereo plays DVD Audio which allows the manufacturer to include 5 times as much data on the same size disc. Acura provides a demo CD that has a conventional CD version of Steely Dan’s ‘Time Out Of Mind’ along with a DVD Audio version of the same song and the difference is significant. The XM radio provides over 100 channels, most of which are commercial free and Acura pays for the first 3 months subscription fees.
Interior:
This is where the Acura truly shines. Styling is subjective but to my eyes the Acura had the most pleasing, modern, luxurious look of the 4 vehicles compared. I’ve always thought that Audi had the nicest interiors, but the TL has a similar look and feel. The Lexus has what I would call a more ‘organic’ design with curvy lines. The Nissan has a very unique looking interior with a very interesting design but the materials had a cheap look to them. The Infiniti and the Acura each have a very tailored looking interior but the Acura looks richer with nicer surface finishes and a very plush looking woven headliner that stretches down the inside A and C pillars. When you open the door, the electro-luminescent blue lights on the gauges light up which really catches your eye.
With the parchment or camel (a reddish-brown) colored interiors, imitation wood trim comes on the console and on the doors. With the black or quartz (gray) colored interiors, the console and doors are trimmed with imitation black carbon fiber. The headliner is made of woven fabric. The seats are leather trimmed. There are dual cupholders front and rear and numerous cubby holes. The model I chose has the parchment colored upholstery so the console and doors are trimmed with simulated wood (I’m no tree expert but I think it’s supposed to be burled walnut) that looks as close to the real thing as any I’ve ever seen and gives a warmth to the interior that the Nissan and Infiniti don’t share. Alongside the wood trim is a textured aluminum strip that adds to the luxury feel. The seats are comfortable with the driver’s seat enjoying a 10-way power adjuster and adjustable lumbar support. Even the passengers seat is power operated.
The materials are all top-notch. The plastic on the dashboard above the instrument nacelle is finished in a matte style with perforations that feels like neoprene - very nice. The armrest on the console is adjustable fore and aft in case you have long arms and is covered in vinyl that feels as much like leather as the actual leather on the seats. The steering wheel is thick and covered in leather and has switchgear for the cruise control, redundant controls for volume, band and channel for the AM/FM/XM radio, voice activation and hands-free link to the Bluetooth system all of which makes it easier to keep both hands on the wheel while driving. You can choose to have either one of the outside rear-view mirrors tilt down when you shift into reverse so you can see the road and curb when backing up.
Honda has a reputation for good ergonomic design and the TL doesn’t disappoint. Everything is where you expect it to be and you don’t find your eyes wandering looking for the switch or button you need.
Warranty:
The Acura has a 4 year 50,000 mile basic warranty as does the Lexus. The Infiniti has a 4 year 60,000 mile warranty and the Nissan offers a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty.
Price:
The Acura has a list price of $35,670. The comparable Nissan lists at $34,880, the Lexus at $36,995 and the Infiniti at $37,960.
Conclusion:
This research was not done simply for the pleasure of writing an article for Epinions. I was making a decision affecting about 35,000 of MY dollars! In comparing all 4 vehicles, it came down to this for me; the Infiniti is a rear-wheel drive vehicle with different handling dynamics than I wanted. A lot of auto enthusiasts say that rear-wheel drive vehicles handle better but unless you plan on doing 4 wheel drifts or racing on Mulholland Drive there’s not much of an advantage while the tendency for the car to go into a skid in wet weather causes me to prefer front-wheel drive. It’s ‘comparably equipped’ price was more than $2,000 more than the Acura. The Lexus has a reputation for luxury and quality that is unsurpassed but the ES330 has bland styling in my opinion and it did not have the sporty image that the others had. The Nissan was a very nice car, but the interior materials looked cheap. It is not a premium brand vehicle and the slightly lower price is balanced by a lesser warranty and a less satisfying dealership experience. For example, the Acura, Infiniti and Lexus dealers all offered free service loaners while the Nissan did not. The performance of the TL is comparable to its competitors. It is powerful with a sporty feel. The electronic features are what place this car above the others in its class. After researching all 4, comparing price and features, I chose the Acura. I’ll add comments about the ownership experience after I’ve had it a while.
UPDATE - 02/03/06 - I've had the car about a year now. It has proven to be everything I hoped it would be. It is powerful, comfortable, loaded with features, and impresses the heck out of dates. The Acura dealer network has been nothing less than superb. I've been treated like royalty by the selling dealer and also by another dealer that I have used for service. There have been absolutely ZERO problems with the car. Over the past year, I've averaged just over 20 mpg. I do NOT drive in an economical manner, so a more careful driver could beat that number.
One thing needs to be said, however. When researching the purchase of the car, I labored under the presumption that front-wheel drive was suitable for a sporting car. This car is an absolute joy to drive. It handles very well. However, the reality is that front wheel drive does compromise handling at anything past about 7/10ths performance limits. Since purchasing the car, I have moved up to the mountains and have a 26 mile drive on twisty roads. The TL is a pleasure to drive fairly briskly, but the understeer is quite noticeable at any pace beyond that. However, the weight is also partly to blame, as a loaner TSX (somewhat smaller and lighter than the TL) ran through those twisties at a faster clip than the more powerful TL.
Having said all that, the TL has been such a delightful car to own and drive. Looks are subjective, but every time I look at the car I get goosebumps.
The sad postscript is that my new life up in the mountains required me to have a 4 wheel drive truck, and the Acura has become an extra car that rarely gets driven. As a result, I have just sold the car back to the dealer but the bright spot in that is that the resale value is so strong on the TL that the dealer offered me a price that was only $2,500 less than I paid new for it.
I would recommend the TL, or any Acura product, wholeheartedly. I would definitely consider buying another one, if and when my lifestyle changes.
Recommended
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 33,700
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Navigation System
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 33,700
Condition: New Model Year: 2005 Model and Options: 5 speed Automatic with Navigation
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.