The 1999-2003 Acura TL was never the premier car in the entry-level luxury sedan segment, but we always counted this midsize sedan among our favorites. Particularly in Type-S form, it offered consumers an appealing blend of performance, luxury content and value. Sure, it wasn't as fun to drive as a BMW or Audi, or as opulently outfitted as either one, but with a fully loaded price under $30,000 for the regular TL and right around $34K for the Type-S, it didn't need to be. Still, the company knew that it was missing out on customers who really did want a bona fide sport sedan and/or a true luxury experience. With the introduction of a redesigned TL in 2004, Acura made a serious bid for these customers.
Inside the cabin, just about every feature anyone would want in an entry-luxury sedan comes standard, while the overall design and the materials used give up nothing to the Europeans. Peer inside and you'll find a shapely dash generously trimmed in real aluminum. Bright blue electroluminescent gauges recessed in three pods and blue backlighting throughout the cabin heighten the cool metal motif. Unlike the previous TL, this one leaves no doubt about its luxury sedan status: Most surfaces are soft to the touch and finished with upscale grain patterns that would be just as acceptable in an Audi or BMW.
Meanwhile, firmer suspension tuning makes this TL quite entertaining out on the road without compromising the nameplate's reputation for a smooth and accommodating ride. The 258-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 offers plenty of power at any engine speed, and when paired with the excellent six-speed manual transmission, this midsize sedan is a blast to drive on curvy roads. If you plan to spend $30,000 to $40,000 on your next sedan, we'd suggest a visit to your local Acura dealership.
Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels and all-season tires, HID headlights, leather upholstery, aluminum trim, a 10-way power driver seat, a four-way power front-passenger seat, heated seats and a telescoping steering wheel. A 225-watt 5.1 surround-sound audio system that can play both CDs and DVD-Audio discs is also included, along with satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone compatibility, steering wheel audio controls and a power sunroof. In addition, manual-shift TLs have front Brembo brakes and larger stabilizer bars. Among the few options are high-performance tires on manual-shift TLs and a DVD-based navigation system with an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition technology and solar-sensing technology that enhances the performance of the climate control system. Also worth consideration is the dealer-installed A-SPEC kit, which adds performance springs and shocks that lower the car about an inch, 18-inch wheels, an aero body kit, a rear spoiler, a sport steering wheel and special exterior badging. Automatic-equipped TLs also pick up the Brembo brakes when equipped with this package.
Standard safety features include four-wheel antilock disc brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist, as well as stability control, seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants and side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants. In front-offset crash tests conducted by the IIHS, the TL earned a top rating of "Good" and a "Best Pick" designation. In government crash tests, the TL received a perfect five stars for everything but front-seat side impacts, where it earned a four-star rating.
Inside, the TL feels as luxurious as an Audi or Lexus. The cockpit has a stylish two-tone color scheme, aluminum inlays and an attractive set of bright blue electroluminescent gauges. Build and materials quality is excellent. Most surfaces are soft-touch, and the standard leather upholstery is quite supple. Bolstered front seats offer excellent comfort, and there's plenty of room for a pair of adults to ride in back. The sophisticated Panasonic audio system plays music through six channels when you load up DVD-Audio discs.
All TLs are entertaining to drive, thanks to their prodigious horsepower, but cars equipped with the slick-shifting six-speed manual are the most rewarding on back roads. In city driving situations, however, the TL would benefit from a tad more low-end torque. The suspension manages to deliver both a comfortable ride and tight handling around corners. Enthusiasts will prefer the sharper reflexes and rear-drive layout of cars like the BMW 3 Series, but in stock form Acura's driving dynamics are well balanced.
A carryover from the previous year, 2005, the 2006 Acura TL is a luxury sedan or luxury sports sedan. It has been made available in six trims that ranges from the 5-Spd AT to the 6-Spd MT with Performance Tires and Navigation System. It has four doors and has a maximum passenger capacity of five people. All trims hold a 3.2 liter V6 engine that can transform its power to 258 horsepower engine that can take up to 20 mpg for city driving and a remarkable 29 mpg for highway driving. This vehicle is a midsize entry-level luxury car from Acura which is Honda’s near-luxury brand.
The Acura TL was first introduced to the market in 1996 to replace and take over the niche that would be left behind by the Acura Vigor. Technically, the 2006 Acura TL also was meant to replace the Acura Legend coupe. The Acura TL was a large car that was very much capable of handling a soft ride. This was very much in contrast to the Acura Legends that were crafted as sports sedans with taut proportions. The first Acura TL made its way to the streets bearing a 2.5 liter SOHC 20 valve engine with five cylinders. The second generation of the Acura TL was crafted alongside the Honda Accord. These were later imported to Japan and were sold as the Honda Inspire and the Honda Saber in each dealer network.
Come 2005, the Acura TL bagged in the Passenger Airbag Cutoff indicator and some extra stitching on its front seats. Changes were also done to its seat belt anchor mount along with several minor changes. This car is quite competitive that it was seem by car critics as “Unbelievable Value for the Money”. Come this year, 2006, the Acura TL received the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (or TPMS) and a new computer logic. In North America, the 2006 Acura TL is still the best selling luxury sedan having the G35 sedan as its main competitor. Other competitors include the BMW 3 series, the BMW 5 series, the Cadillac CTS, the Cadillac STS, the Lexus ES, the Lexus GS, and the Lexus IS.
As per the Acura TL’s interior, this vehicle has LED backlit analog instruments that have been specially placed and mounted so as to allow the driver instant and easy access to information. Luxury has also been enhanced with the use of upgraded interior materials. The vehicle also sports a more spacious and stylish interior along with its standard perforated leather-trimmed seating.
What have already been scheduled for the Acura TL come year 2007 are some minor model changes. Also, for 2009, the Acura TL will have to undergo a major redesigning. Rumors have it that the vehicle will be most likely to receive new clear taillights, a redesigned front bumper and headlight, and additional horsepower with revised intake and exhaust system.
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