Acura was treading on dangerous ground when they decided it was time to redesign their cars, and especially the grilles. Indeed, even on a sporty and athletic TL, the new lines stir up mixed emotions. And though its driving dynamics are spoken highly of, the TL’s style hasn’t exactly generated the same enthusiasm.
Which is too bad, because if it weren’t for this questioned – and questionable – style, the Acura TL AWD has got nearly everything it takes to satisfy the most discerning of customers.
Professional profile
In point of fact, the profile of the TL itself isn’t the real bone of contention. Its lines are athletic, if a little massive, and definitely set it apart. If it weren’t for the grille, a little too in-your-face for some, the Acura would have all the trappings of the sports car aristocracy. Even more so than its big brother, the RL, which is supposed to be the brand’s flagship.
While the body is all about sharp, clean lines, the cabin has opted for a complex approach. In the image of the Acura dash boards as a whole, the entire cabin is peppered with various buttons and controls that aren’t necessarily user-friendly. Even after two whole weeks behind the wheel, I often had to tear my gaze away from the road to make sure I was thumbing the right knob.
Thankfully though, the systems are efficient: the ventilation system creates a comfortable environment in every season and the high-end stereo insistently yet precisely pipes out your music of choice. In short, the cabin approaches perfection; the only problem is that it’s somewhat difficult to find a comfortable driving position in seats that don’t offer as much support as I would’ve hoped. Acura decided to go for overall comfort instead, and the TL proves well-suited to family road trips.
A detail though: rear space isn’t as abundant as my pre-teen would’ve liked, and he complained about the relatively cramped legroom.
Lastly, note that the Acura TL wasn’t intended as a hauler: the rear seat backs don’t fold down and you have to make do with a simple pass-through opening that connects to a good-sized trunk, which nevertheless suffers from a too-high sill that makes for arduous loading and unloading. All in all, the TL is a joy to drive but isn’t a model of practicality.
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| Physically, other than a few questionable appendages, the Acura TL presents no major flaws. (Photo: Bertrand Godin/Auto123.com) |
Which is too bad, because if it weren’t for this questioned – and questionable – style, the Acura TL AWD has got nearly everything it takes to satisfy the most discerning of customers.
Professional profile
In point of fact, the profile of the TL itself isn’t the real bone of contention. Its lines are athletic, if a little massive, and definitely set it apart. If it weren’t for the grille, a little too in-your-face for some, the Acura would have all the trappings of the sports car aristocracy. Even more so than its big brother, the RL, which is supposed to be the brand’s flagship.
While the body is all about sharp, clean lines, the cabin has opted for a complex approach. In the image of the Acura dash boards as a whole, the entire cabin is peppered with various buttons and controls that aren’t necessarily user-friendly. Even after two whole weeks behind the wheel, I often had to tear my gaze away from the road to make sure I was thumbing the right knob.
Thankfully though, the systems are efficient: the ventilation system creates a comfortable environment in every season and the high-end stereo insistently yet precisely pipes out your music of choice. In short, the cabin approaches perfection; the only problem is that it’s somewhat difficult to find a comfortable driving position in seats that don’t offer as much support as I would’ve hoped. Acura decided to go for overall comfort instead, and the TL proves well-suited to family road trips.
A detail though: rear space isn’t as abundant as my pre-teen would’ve liked, and he complained about the relatively cramped legroom.
Lastly, note that the Acura TL wasn’t intended as a hauler: the rear seat backs don’t fold down and you have to make do with a simple pass-through opening that connects to a good-sized trunk, which nevertheless suffers from a too-high sill that makes for arduous loading and unloading. All in all, the TL is a joy to drive but isn’t a model of practicality.
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| The ventilation system creates a comfortable environment in every season and the high-end stereo insistently yet precisely pipes out your music of choice. (Photo: Bertrand Godin/Auto123.com) |