Acura TL Makes the Grade

Introduction:
Let me start this review by saying that I spent a significant amount of time researching and test driving numerous vehicles in the Luxury-Sport Sedan market. There are many great choices out there from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Mercedes Benz, and Lexus, and frankly, it's hard to make a bad decision in this elite crowd.

Exterior:
Though this body style has remained the same since the release of this model in 2004, I still consider this the most aggressively styled of all the Acura products. Of course, this is probably not saying a lot, as Acura and Honda are not known for taking huge risks in the styling department; however, the lines are aggressive, and I strongly believe the styling will stand the test of time.

One area of disappointment was the aluminum alloy wheels which are the 5 pointed star styles. The A-spec wheel, which requires an 18" wheel, is a very attractive option, but the tire required for these wheels would is a 235-40 profile, which would almost guarantee a harsh ride. My main point is that the alloy wheels are a little old in the tooth, but should be acceptable by most.

Interior:
I prefer the Ebony interior, and I have to say that the aluminum and faux carbon fiber pieces are very nicely integrated into the interior. I have had bad experiences with a Neutral interior before (kids and dogs), and it is too difficult to keep this kind of interior clean. However, the faux wood pieces that come with lighter interiors are really very classy looking. Fit and finish is very impressive, I think Lexus has a slight edge here, but when it comes to ergonomics all the controls seem to be intuitively located, and have the right feel...detents and resistance. The instrument pod is brightly back lit with blue led's. The tilt-telescoping wheel is a fantastic feature. Curiously, there are two blue led's located near the main lighting pod that turn on when the front head lights are on. It might be a little over the top, but it does gives the interior a nice ambiance at night....think the "Fast and Furious".

The ELS stereo system employs the 5.1 digital standard. Too bad there aren't many DVD-A titles available; this format is awesome but doesn't seem to be getting a lot of support from the studios. This truly is a high quality, high end stereo. I've read reviews complaining about this system, but there is no doubt that this setup is probably better than 95% of the home theater systems people have in their homes, that would include mine too. I'm not a snobby audiophile, but I believe this is the finest factory system available, bar none, including the Lexus ML sytem. The downside is that XM satellite and DVD-A sound great, but regular FM sounds quite ordinary vanilla. It's very similar to watching HDTV and changing the channel to standard resolution channel. This stereo really unmasks the weakness of FM over Satellite radio.

The Navigation system is extremely intuitive and nicely integrated with the stereo system. The option is expensive, $2K, but after spending a week with the system and learning all the utility at one's fingertips, it is a must purchase. However, do not fear, TL's without the Navigation system have a nicely integrated display.

Powertrain:
The 3.2 liter SOHC V-6 loves to rev, and is extraordinarily refined. The engine is silky smooth, free of noise, vibration, or harshness; I had to turn down the ELS stereo to hear the engine. With the manual transmission one has to carefully watch the tachometer, since the engine loves to rev and does not exhibit any vibration at high rpm's, and it is very, very easy to hit the rev limiter. The 3.2 VTEC is a fantastic engine that is as refined as anything I have driven from BMW or Lexus. The automatic transmission, which is a 5-speed, tends to expose this engines main weakness, no down low dirty torque. However, the manual 6-speed is perfectly matched with this engine. The car feels totally different with a manual transmission. Clearly, the primary difference is the gear ratio differences between the manual and automatic. The manual is geared to accelerate, while I suspect the automatic was geared to control torque steer and increase fuel economy. The manual transmission has limited slip while the automatic does not. I don't understand why Acura would not make this standard regardless of transmission. One disappointment with manual transmission is the clutch take up is quite abrupt-digital, and takes time to get used to. It's very difficult to make smooth shifts for the novice, but after several drives I mastered the technique. Without doubt, Acura has taken FWD to the absolute limit, this is a very quick car...expect mid-14 second quarter mile with a manual, and a flat 15 seconds quarter mile with an automatic.

The Acura TL is a very rigid platform and has a shock tower brace above the engine, and a maze of bracing behind the rear seats. It's a shame that the rear seats do not fold back, but that is the price for a rigid structure. No matter how refined the powertrain, the TL cannot hide that it is a FWD platform when pressed hard, and when pushed to the limit around corners and turns it will safely understeer. For 2006, there are sensors that detect torque steer and make corrections. I only notice torque steer with the manual transmission under an all out acceleration exhibition; they have done a nice job taming FWD torque steer. My impression is that driven aggressively at 8/10ths of its capability, 10/10ths would be all out road racing, the Acura TL is well mannered, predictable, and quite rewarding. For 90% of the people the performance envelope will be more then adequate. The other 10% will probably have their licenses at risk, or need to drive directly to the Infiniti or BMW dealership.

Bottom Line:
The Acura TL absolutely lays waste to any competitor when it comes to the value quotient. The vehicle content is awesome: Beautiful interior with perfect ergonomics, ELS Stereo, Satellite Radio, Ease of Use Navigation System, Voice Activation, Blue Tooth, Heated Seats, HID headlights. Look at any rival vehicle brand and expect to add at least $5-7K to the price of the vehicle to meet the standard vehicle content.

The engine is fantastic, and the car has a rock solid record for reliability. In my opinion, the Acura TL excels in all categories. It is good at everything, and the best value out there for an entry level luxury performance sedan. However, there will be a small group of enthusiasts, that won't be able to look past the FWD. When Acura decides to add AWD and 40 more Horsepower, this car will be the world beater. Until then, consider this a great option in a very crowded field of excellent cars.