Driving Peace of Mind
The
Acura EL is a plain-Jane kind of car, in my opinion. It offers reliable and comfortable transportation with a few extra
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| While the Acura EL is sort of a plain-Jane car, my driving experiences with it have always been pleasant and relaxed. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
goodies like an optional leather-trimmed interior and such amenities as power windows and locks, keyless entry, optional power-operated moonroof, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD, alloy wheels, air conditioning and cruise control, but it's not a vehicle that knocks my socks off. However, my driving experiences with the EL have always been pleasant and relaxed. The EL I drove most recently came equipped with an optional four-speed automatic transmission, featuring grade logic control and a lockup torque converter, which was linked to the 1.7-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder SOHC engine that produces 127 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 114 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The
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| The EL I drove most recently came equipped with an optional four-speed automatic transmission, linked to the 127-hp 1.7-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder SOHC engine. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
engine doesn't have a ton of power, but it's extremely refined and refreshingly fuel efficient, ideal for city driving and highway coasting. I have to admit to being kind of relieved that I had an automatic transmission, which is an unusual thing for me to say, but the last few cars I tested were manuals and I just wanted a break from shifting. Because of the nominal horsepower and even lower torque, the engine often gets a little loud or revy when needing to accelerate a little faster, especially ascending up hills, which I do often since I live near one, but the gear transitions were always smooth and never jerky.
