- 2010
2009 Acura TL
Acura TL - What the Auto Press Says
The TL has been completely redesigned for 2009. The consensus of the automotive press is that Acura's newest upscale midsize sedan is a technophile's dream, with cabin electronics that exceed anything else in its class. TLs in base trim don't challenge the handling characteristic of the finest performers in the class -- but all-wheel-drive models come close. To love this car, however, you'll have to get past its very odd appearance. Many reviewers can't.
Nearly everyone agrees that the new TL is a strange-looking car. Its huge, pointed silver shield grille is simply polarizing -- you love the look or you hate it -- but once inside, it's a capable luxury sport sedan and a showcase for the newest automotive electronics.
Even the gadget nuts at CNET are impressed, saying, "The standard TL would make a very good everyday car, and we particularly liked the upgraded cabin electronics. The TL SH-AWD proved a fun driver," though they add, "It wouldn't be our top choice for a sports car."
In standard trim, the TL's front-wheel-drive layout is a weakness -- most of the cars it aims to compete with offer a more fun-to-drive rear-drive layout. However, a new all-wheel-drive system unlike anything else on the market makes the TL a closer match for canyon carvers like the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G37.
The SH-AWD model, however, features a unique All-Wheel-Drive system that spins the outside wheels faster than the inside wheels in turns, pointing the car into corners. It makes the TL a more aggressive, yet more planted, handler. Reviewers compare it to the Quattro system in the Audi A4 -- a serious compliment to Acura.
True driving enthusiasts, however, might want to wait a year. Acura says the 2010 TL SH-AWD will offer an optional 6-speed manual transmission -- and they intend the model to challenge the BMW 3-Series, so product planners reportedly promise a sport-tuned suspension and the short-throw shifts that make hard driving fun.
The 2009 Acura TL is sold in two trim levels -- a Base trim that offers more technology than most entry-level base trims, and the SH-AWD (SH stands for "Super Handling") model.
- "The TL SH-AWD is sweet to drive but jarring to look at." -- New York Times
- "TL is packed with safety features, and the optional Technology Package provides most any gadget a buyer could want. The majority of sales should come from base models, but those who do opt for the SH-AWD will find it a refined and mature, if a bit stiff-riding, performance car." -- Consumer Guide
- "Still one for the head more than the heart...Once again the TL is a very good choice among luxury, or near-luxury, sedans."-- Automobile Magazine
- "The TL is the most focused and best executed car in Acura's lineup." -- Car and Driver
- "There are many other choices in the entry-level luxury sedan game...Acura's new TL stands out thanks to its roomy interior, competitive price, high-tech features and reputation for reliability, but we certainly suggest taking a good look around as each vehicle here has its own area of appeal." -- Edmunds
TL Performance - 9.0 (Excellent)
When the press tries to evaluate the performance of the 2009 TL, they write about two different cars. Edmunds says the two TL "models feature different engines, different drive wheels, different wheel sizes and different electronic steering calibrations, they are very different to drive." Base models are powered by a refined engine, but feature numb electronically-assisted steering that consistently disappoints. They are also front-wheel-drive cars in a class full of rear-wheel-drive cars -- and most reviewers say that's a point against the Acura. SH-AWD models handle almost as well as some of the best canyon-carvers in a very demanding class. Acura's unique new all-wheel-drive system, which functions like nothing else on the market, is the difference. Read More
TL Exterior - 6.2 (Mediocre)
With its 2009 redesign, Acura made the TL a very distinctive car. It's up to you to decide whether that's a good thing. It's hard for anyone to look past its enormous, pointed grille. Some can live with it, some hate it, but no one fails to notice it. It earns comparisons to a beak, a tooth, a guillotine, and even a cartoon character on drugs. Read More
TL Interior - 8.7 (Very Good)
Acura interiors are known for high technology more than old-world luxury. The 2009 TL, as Acura's latest wheels-up redesign, offers one of the most advanced technology packages available on wheels. Automobile Magazine calls it a "geek's dream." The cabin doesn't skimp on comfort, however. The supportive sport seats of the SH-AWD model come in for a lot of reviewer praise. Read More
TL Safety - 10.0 (Excellent)
The federal government has not released the results of crash tests performed on the 2009 Acura TL. Previous generations of the vehicle received excellent crash test scores from both the government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A point in Acura's favor -- none of the safety gear offered on the TL is optional. Read More
TL Reliability - 8.0 (Very Good)
The 2009 Acura TL reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Acura provides a four-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on all 2009 TLs. Acura has introduced an entirely new concept in automotive maintenance with this car: there is no maintenance schedule. Rather, onboard computers constantly track how the car is driven, and prompt the driver when maintenance items probably need attention. If you own a TL, you don't rotate the tires every 6,000 miles. You rotate the tires when the car tells you its tires need rotating. Read More
