Still, like every Honda and Acura that has Bluetooth connectivity, the process for hooking up my cell phone is slow. And having to press the ‘talk’ button every time I give the voice recognition system an order, even when it’s only to confirm something I already asked, is unnecessarily fussy.
Front-seat space is adequate, but rear-seat headroom is limited by the hunchback shape of the car. And although there is a seat belt for a middle passenger back there, the bench seat is clearly designed for only two posteriors. Trunk space is average, and so is the trunk opening.
Ready for blastoff
Thanks to the new 3.7-litre V6 engine, the TL cooks. With 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, the TL is the most powerful Acura ever built. The extra grip of its optional all-wheel drive system and a diet of premium fuel help the car rocket to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The car is also blessed with great handling and minimal body roll, although its ride quality suffers a little. The steering is precise but not twitchy, so the TL is a blast to drive, but when you want to cruise with a more relaxed pace, it will happily oblige.
Competition
The front-drive Acura TL with a 280-hp, 3.5-litre V6 starts at $39,990, while our top-of-the-line SH-AWD Technology model costs $47,990.
This loaded TL rivals the following sports/luxury sedans:
Audi A6 3.0 TFSI quattro, 300 hp, $62,700
BMW 535i xDrive, 300 hp, $68,900
Cadillac STS V6 AWD, 302 hp, $64,090
Dodge Charger R/T AWD, 368 hp, $42,095
Ford Taurus SHO, 365 hp, $48,199
Infiniti M35x, 303 hp, $54,900
Jaguar XF, 300 hp, $59,800
Lexus GS 350 AWD, 303 hp, $53,900
Lincoln MKS AWD, 270 hp, $48,299
Saab 9-5 Griffin, 260 hp, $45,760
Volkswagen Passat CC V6 4MOTION Highline, 280 hp, $44,975
 |
| With 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, the TL is the most powerful Acura ever built. |
Front-seat space is adequate, but rear-seat headroom is limited by the hunchback shape of the car. And although there is a seat belt for a middle passenger back there, the bench seat is clearly designed for only two posteriors. Trunk space is average, and so is the trunk opening.
Ready for blastoff
Thanks to the new 3.7-litre V6 engine, the TL cooks. With 305 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, the TL is the most powerful Acura ever built. The extra grip of its optional all-wheel drive system and a diet of premium fuel help the car rocket to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The car is also blessed with great handling and minimal body roll, although its ride quality suffers a little. The steering is precise but not twitchy, so the TL is a blast to drive, but when you want to cruise with a more relaxed pace, it will happily oblige.
Competition
The front-drive Acura TL with a 280-hp, 3.5-litre V6 starts at $39,990, while our top-of-the-line SH-AWD Technology model costs $47,990.
This loaded TL rivals the following sports/luxury sedans:
Audi A6 3.0 TFSI quattro, 300 hp, $62,700
BMW 535i xDrive, 300 hp, $68,900
Cadillac STS V6 AWD, 302 hp, $64,090
Dodge Charger R/T AWD, 368 hp, $42,095
Ford Taurus SHO, 365 hp, $48,199
Infiniti M35x, 303 hp, $54,900
Jaguar XF, 300 hp, $59,800
Lexus GS 350 AWD, 303 hp, $53,900
Lincoln MKS AWD, 270 hp, $48,299
Saab 9-5 Griffin, 260 hp, $45,760
Volkswagen Passat CC V6 4MOTION Highline, 280 hp, $44,975
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| Rear-seat headroom is limited by the hunchback shape of the car. |