CAR GAZING
TL takes a new, edgier direction
Mid-size Acura more exciting, polarizing than ever
By Derek Price
The last generation Acura TL wasn't a bad car, but it was definitely ho-hum in some ways. It was the kind of car you drove and said, "This is a really nice Accord."
For 2009, Acura decided to go a little bit crazy with the TL. Bland styling? Gone. Mediocre engine? Disappeared. Honda-style cabin? Not any more.
This all-new car is spicier in many ways. It has the most powerful engine Acura has ever produced, making a muscle-car-like 305 horsepower. It has all-wheel drive that makes the tires grip the pavement like Velcro.
But most importantly, it actually has an interesting body.
That's a huge step for Acura, which is known for its conservative, slab-sided styling. The new TL shows the company is taking a completely different direction by making cars that demand your attention.
That's not to say everyone will like it. A massive silver grille up front, tall trunk and exaggerated fender flares are daring and different, attracting both praise and criticism depending on who you ask.
Personally, I like the look. It turns heads better than the boring old TL, but it's not too wild and outlandish. It strikes the right balance.
Acura also dramatically improved the TL's performance, taking it from acceptable to exhilarating. The all-wheel drive, firm suspension and powerful V6 engine make you want to test its limits, flinging it around tight corners on wet roads until the tires finally lose grip.
Inside, the cabin emphasizes technology. Whereas Lexus is all about silky smoothness and simplicity, the sci-fi dashboard in the TL shows off all the latest and greatest toys, including a brilliant digital display in the middle of the dash that can control most of the car's functions. Despite the button overload, it's actually a fairly simple and intuitive car once you get used to it.
It has the high-tech magic you expect in a car like this – a navigation system with traffic reports, premium stereo system and Bluetooth phone connection – along with something I always wanted but never imagined would actually become reality: you can get the weather radar to show up in your car.
Press a button, and a doppler-style radar image appears on a map, showing you exactly where rain showers and snow storms are. It's absolutely remarkable, something that makes the cabin seem more like a high-tech airliner cockpit than a normal roadgoing vehicle.
The TL starts around $35,000, which shows Acura is still targeting the value luxury shopper even after adding the new style and high-end features. That's good to see.
As a whole, this car has gone from being one of the dullest cars on the Acura lot to being among the best, rivaling the bigger and more expensive RL in terms of technology and refinement.
Let's hope Acura can bring this same excitement to the rest of its lineup
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
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