[TSX69]

StatesMan

Tweaked TL Steps It Up

Candor from automakers is always welcome, even when it comes in small doses.

At the national rollout of its 2012 TL sport sedan recently, Acura acknowledged what had been obvious to auto enthusiasts since the model's 2009 redesign. The TL's restyling was over the top, especially for the gloomy recession market that year.

Sales dropped, and Acura designers went back to the drawing board.

The resulting '12 TL, launched in Austin earlier this month, still has the controversial chrome grille, but it's smaller and sits lower. Headlights now have darkened lenses, and the lower front fascia has a more horizontal design.

Subtle changes to the backside contribute to a slightly softer look, but the new TL's styling remains distinctive and edgy. If photos of the '12 TL still turn you off, give it a chance — proportionally, the design makes more sense viewed in person.

The TL's presence needs respect because the car competes with sharp designs from Audi, Infiniti and BMW in its $36,000 to $44,000 price spread. Over the years, the TL has been a reasonably priced and reliable driver's sedan with reputation for class-competitive pricing and performance, with Honda reliability and value retention.

The 2012 TL, which goes on sale this weekend, and sport sedans in its class are bedeviled by comparisons to the BMW 3 Series, considered by most (including me) to be the handling and drivability benchmark. Indeed, the 3 Series provides a clear target for engineers and designers, but others perform almost as well and have their own strengths, with the TL's being excellent handling combined with reliability and a slightly lower price tag.

More important to me than stylistic improvements were mechanical changes to the TL, which include an automatic transmission with an additional gear (now a 6-speed), more efficient torque converter and smoother 2-gear kickdown for passing.

Engine friction has been reduced, including use of thinner motor oil — 0W-20. These refinements, along with airflow improvements made during the restyling, raised EPA fuel numbers by 2 or 3 miles per gallon depending on model.

During a day's test drive of 2 TLs — a rear-drive model with 3.5-liter V6 and all-wheel drive unit with 3.7-liter V-6 — they felt pretty much like the 2009 TL I drove.

Wind and road noise were better muted, and the new transmission seemed to always grab the correct gear for the conditions as we drove a meandering route from downtown Austin to Volente to just south of Marble Falls and back to downtown.

Handling should be especially sharp with the TL's all-wheel drive model (about $3,500 more with associated amenities), though the difference might be noticeable only at track speeds or brisk running on wet roads. The system feeds more power to wheels on the outside of a turn to take advantage of the weight transfer.

All-wheel drive TLs have 305 horsepower, and a manual transmission is optional. Rear-drive cars have 280 horses. Both are single overhead cam engines and very quick while providing a pleasant exhaust rap. Expect real-world mileage in the low to mid 20s highway and perhaps up to 20 or 21 in the city on premium grade gasoline.

Children and small adults will enjoy the TL's back seat, but anyone taller might bump their heads on the headliner. Rear legroom is tight. Just 2 rear occupants will properly fit since the driveline tunnel restricts legroom for a middle rear passenger.

In the handsome and business-like cabin, front seat occupants are treated to bolstered, supportive, heated and ventilated leather bucket seats, with all the legroom they need. Materials feel and look upscale, with little in the way of gratuitous ornamentation.

Acura has chosen to use a navigation and sound system interface with a few more buttons than some rivals, but the dashboard didn't seem excessively cluttered to me. They can be distracting for the driver, however.

Fully integrated iPod and smart phone integration is offered, as are a well-designed voice-activated navigation and sound systems.

In his 29 years of writing a column for the American-Statesman, Szilagyi has driven more than 1,500 new cars and trucks and is also a host at Marfa Public Radio. Follow him at twitter.com/drivewithpete.

 

[TSX69]

Boston

2012 Acura TL: How Do U Like Me Now?

AUSTIN, Texas — No one likes admitting they look bad. But Acura's PR executives, jogging through a semi-awkward script and nearly 60 PowerPoint slides, actually had the bones to say it during a new car launch.

I'm paraphrasing, but for an hour it went something like this: "The 2012 Acura TL may look like the current car, but it's much less strange looking. When we redesigned the TL three years ago, we thought we were pushing the edge like Cadillac, except our harsh angles and that pointy, bulging snout weren't as attractive as we thought they were. Kind of ugly, really."

"So this mid-cycle update has lots of little design tweaks, not to mention better fuel economy and a new 6-speed automatic."

There, doesn't that feel better to let it all out?

The Acura TL, as seen in 2009.​

Most car companies aren't half as honest. To save face and cost, they'll stick with an unpopular design to the very end of the model's lifecycle, even if it means being beaten and dragged into the fire. BMW, citing record sales, refused to throw out its stunningly complex iDrive system on the 2002 7-Series until that car was redesigned in 2009. When Porsche threw out the 911's iconic round headlamps for L-shaped units in 1999, they waited six years to bring them back.

In recent memory, only Subaru has been quick to mend a mediocre design, when it replaced the ill-fated "bug-eye" headlamps on the new-for-2002 Impreza after two model years.

But it's not just headlamps that cause a visual stir. Safety, value, and other practical attributes aside, a car's exterior design is often the #1 reason people buy, or don't.

Think about that kind of pressure. It takes millions of dollars and thousands of hours to turn a designer's dinner napkin sketch into a living, full-metal production car. Along the way, car designs have to satisfy a bureaucrat's stack of safety requirements, add a few ticks to fuel economy, and pass muster from the accountants and every suit with a corner office. Assembly lines have to be retooled, parts suppliers contracted, and lavish hotels booked for piggish auto journalists during the model launch. But in all that mess, years before the cover comes off, a design has to look good.

Preferably, amazing.

Hyundai and Kia are in that latter camp with their new Sonata and Optima sedans. And while Acura hasn't made a classic hit since the long-gone Integra and exotic NSX, they've got a capable sedan that looks like nothing else on the road, whether you like it or not.

For 2012, Acura scaled down the "power plenum" — their name for that big, silver schnoz across the lineup — and they've tidied up the TL in all directions. Thinner headlamps, a

​

flatter front bumper, shorter front and rear overhangs, smaller reflectors, a raised license plate holder out back — elements that by themselves seem insignificant, but add up to a sleeker package. Still, if you park a 2011 model next to it, you'll have to really study the new car to find them. (For the interior, they added a "phone" button to the dash.)

Engines are unchanged, with the front-wheel-drive model's 3.5-liter, 280-horsepower V-6 and 3.7-liter, 305-horsepower V-6 for the all-wheel-drive SH-AWD. A new 6-speed automatic replaces the 5-speed, and together with lower-friction engine components helps bump gas mileage up to 20 city, 29 highway for the base car (versus 18 city, 26 highway). The "super handling" AWD model raises its glass to 18/26, up one for each. A 6-speed manual is available on this trim, and the couple hundred people who order it enjoy one of the best-kept secrets among sport sedans. A precise, well-weighted clutch and a smooth, short-throw shift gate are the perfect match for the sprightly V-6.

Gone are the SH-AWD's optional summer tires — snowy markets like ours avoided them completely — but otherwise, handling and performance are unchanged. Acura has used a torque-vectoring system since 2005, which can literally steer the car through a turn by sending most or all of the rear axle's torque to the outside wheel. Where the front-wheel-drive TL understeers heavily in tight turns, the SH-AWD enters them at higher speeds and yanks right out. Both models enjoy sharp steering and little body roll, but on the right road, the SH is a BMW-whipping joy to behold.

Acura's biggest problem now isn't style — it's how poor the more expensive RL looks in comparison. Where the new TL is a striking, if polarizing, interpretation of the modern sport sedan, the RL leaves little of any impression. Both cars are virtually identical in size, but on the same twisty Austin roads, the RL drives like an old, heavy Buick: a pitching, soft suspension, vague steering, and a dated interior. It's one of those odd, few times when spending more buys you less.

Acura sells a small fraction of those $47,000 cars versus the TL, which starts at $36,465 with destination and can be loaded with all-wheel-drive for about $45,000. A similarly-loaded and smaller BMW 335i xDrive is $9,000 more, the bigger 535i xDrive a whopping $16,000 more.

Who's looking out of place now?

 

[TSX69]

AutoTech

AutoTech: 2012 Acura TL Quick Look Video
Click for Video

Whenever a new car comes out, it’s always exciting to see new tech antiquating the old, a breath of fresh air, if you will. The 2012 Acura TL has been refreshed for the model year, with a host of upgrades and further refinements. Unfortunately, few of them were tech.

Acura has long been known for many industry 1sts: VTEC, Drive-By-Wire, and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive. And for the most part many in-car technology 1sts: in-dash navigation, satellite-linked real-time traffic and weather, and XM and Bluetooth as standard equipment. Now, all this stuff is pretty much standard fare.

After the refresh of the TL, it’s apparent that Acura engineers took a more conservative approach to the car (unlike the older one), smoothing out bodylines and fixing the bold shape, as if performing rhinoplasty to Ashlee Simpson (she looked good before!). This is slightly unfortunate because I liked the bold and futuristic look. What nerdy futurist doesn’t like a car that looks like a spaceship from years forward?

The TL’s tech was pretty well equipped when the older, more rhino looking TL, launched in 2008. The features in the infotainment system were pretty good. For it’s year, having live traffic and weather makes for pretty appealing tech. When we drove the new 2012 TL, we were confronted with an accident ahead. The TL knew this ahead of time and took us off the expressway onto a road that ran parallel. We could see all the cars backed up for miles as we drove uninhibited along the road to our destination.

Another great feature is Bluetooth streaming. This along with intelligent keys satisfies our demand to keep both key and mobile in pocket at all times. The updated TL gets AVRCP 1.3 support to control Bluetooth-enabled devices. This means that the car is able to seek between songs and grab metadata from Bluetooth devices (the older system could only play/stop/pause). But, Bluetooth streaming isn’t good enough without the ability to access playlists and menus as if plugged into USB. That, however, won’t happen until AVRCP 1.4.

The sound system in the car is 1 of the best we’ve ever heard, provided you listen to DVD-Audio exclusively. The channel separation and sound staging is near perfect in 5.1. That’s right, near perfect, and a huge departure from two channel sound from USB, Bluetooth audio, or XM satellite. I still wish that SACD and DVD-Audio caught on. I’m glad to see Acura engineers include this feature in the TL.

Whenever traveling around and looking for places to go eat, dance or drink, the Acura system proves useful. It can call up a huge list of places, and even shows reviews from Zagat. Now, I could go into a huge rant about Zagat and how Yelp powered by a smartphone would be better. But I won’t. For those without such smartphones, they’ll be content using this.

1 thing I just couldn’t figure out was the voice recognition. When I did get it to work, it wanted to me to dial a number by saying them 1-by-1. Also, if I wanted to say it by someone’s name, that would require setting up and recording voice tags 1st. Also, the new TL voice command offers the ability to call up music by artist, album, song, etc but it must have not liked my mid-western accent because it didn’t get a single one right. Luckily the USB connection was insanely fast — song scrolling was the fastest I’ve seen, ever.

So, the TL got a refresh but the infotainment didn’t. And personally, it didn’t need it just yet. When the car debuted in 2008 the technology was pretty robust. Considering the starting price for the technology equipped TL being $39,155, it’s not that bad at all. The technology on the TL can hang with the best at this price. I will say that this should be the last time Acura puts this system in the TL. By time the next generation is due to come out, in-car infotainment systems will be light years ahead. Plus, I want to see Acura do something big next, another “1st”, if you will. Oh, and give Nuance a call, they can help with that voice recognition thing.

Crunching The Numbers Tech Report
Base Price: $35,605 No. Of Buttons: 61
Price As Tested: $45,085 No. Of Speakers: 10
New Stuff: LED-backlit display Coolest Feature: DVD-Audio
iPod Song Selection Speed: 10/10 Hella Fast Worst Feature: Voice recognition
Stated Gas Mileage:: 20 City, 29 Hwy Observed mpg: 19 average​

 

[JustinK]

That front end looks sooooooooooo much better already.

 

[LeeMaster]

call me crazy, but i may trade my tsx for this shit someday.... but well see

 

[TSX69]

Edmunds

2012 Acura TL

What Edmunds Says
The 2012 Acura TL should be a strong choice for a midsize luxury sedan.
Pros
Abundant user-friendly high-tech features; spacious cabin; smart all-wheel-drive system; superb optional sound system; solid construction.

Cons
Base model's numb steering.​

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Acura TL gets revised front-end styling, a 6-speed automatic transmission, improved fuel efficiency, an upgraded navigation system and a quieter freeway ride.

Introduction

Like it or not, looks oftentimes plays a large role in people's decisions. Whether it is clothing, a potential mate or an automobile we're talking about, looks count big. As such, eye-catching style can often be enough to sway one toward purchasing an otherwise average car. And as the current generation of the Acura TL has shown, the inverse can be true as well -- questionable styling can hurt the success of an otherwise well-regarded luxury sport sedan.

3 years ago, Acura's redesigned TL generated many a raised eyebrow and upturned nose, due chiefly to the car's grille, which resembled a metallic beak. A shame, as the car behind it was a solid performer that offered a spacious cabin, features galore and excellent build quality.

The 2012 Acura TL benefits from a midcycle refresh that tones down the proboscis. This year also sees a replacement of the previous 5-speed automatic transmission with a new 6-speed automatic that can also match revs on downshifts. The 6-speed gearbox will help improve fuel efficiency, as will friction-reducing measures for the base 3.5-liter V6 engine. Acura estimates the 3.5 will come in at 29 mpg highway -- an impressive 3 mpg improvement over last year's 3.5. Other updates include an updated navigation system (it now has a 60GB hard drive, more maps and crisper graphics) and improved sound insulation that is claimed to provide a quieter cabin at freeway speeds. Lastly, the Advance package now includes ventilated seats and a blind spot warning system.

The 2012 TL is once again available in 2 distinct flavors. Those looking for a refined ride, a spacious cabin and a full helping of the latest bells and whistles will be well served by the base model TL, a strong competitor to the likes of the Buick LaCrosse, Hyundai Genesis and Lexus ES 350. Driving enthusiasts should find the more powerful (305 horsepower versus 280), sharper-handling TL SH-AWD appealing. Blessed with an athletic chassis and Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (hence SH-AWD) system, this roomy sport sedan can hang with smaller rivals such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37 and Lexus IS 350 on a challenging, curvy road.

In short, Acura took an already competent car and made it better. And this year's more conservatively styled front end certainly doesn't hurt, either. We'll know more about the 2012 Acura TL as we get closer to the car's on-sale date in early spring 2012. Check back soon for complete buying advice and driving impressions.

 

[TSX69]

WindingRoad

Driven: 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD

Any of you that read the monthly instantiation of Winding Road’s digital magazine, are likely to have digested your author’s wide-ranging diatribe about the styling of this new-for-2012 Acura TL. For those of you that haven’t (and who aren’t interested in following the link above), we’ll summarize by saying that the styling of the new TL is decidedly more mainstream than the outgoing model, if a little less daring. Beyond that we’ll leave comment of the car’s new exterior design up to you, after perusing our gallery of images, in the “comments” section, below. Have at it.

With the argument about the TL’s reskin thusly pawned off, it remains to be said that this is, mechanically, a car that is very similar to the model that you have been able to buy for the last few years. That’s almost entirely a good thing, we think, as the TL has been providing, albeit somewhat under the radar, a fine alternative to German mid-size luxury cars for some time now. We don’t make that statement lightly, either, as the competition in question is quite good, and Acura’s reputation is, at best, a bit confused in the minds of many buyers/drivers these days.

So, short of the not-to-be-mentioned-again nose job (last one, promise), what’s new for 2012? The biggest change for the driver is a new 6-speed automatic transmission, which can be operated via the same wheel-mounted paddle shifters found in the last version (or via the central gearlever, if you prefer). We found the action of the sixer autobox to be relatively rapid and good to use, though not entirely different in a back-road situation than the 5-speed affair that preceded it. The big wins for the new transmission are a slightly more refined (meaning quiet) character on the highway, and better fuel economy.

The added mpgs are more significant for the 3.5-liter V-6 engine, than they are for the 3.7-liter motor found in the SH-AWD, though. The smaller engine gets a host of tricky friction-reducing technologies, in addition to a revised intake system, to garner economy ratings of 20/29 miles per gallon, in the city and on the highway, respectively. That highway number represents a gain of 3 mpg over the 2010 car. The 305-horsepower 3.7-liter, meanwhile, only nets 1 extra mpg for both city and highway driving (18/26 mpg total). For reference, the lighter, smaller BMW 335i xDrive is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway when equipped with the six-speed automatic.

And that BMW comparison is apt, we think, given that the TL remains Acura’s very best driver’s car, and a good 1, at that. Focusing almost all of our time and energies toward driving the larger-engined SH-AWD version of the TL, we came away with the renewed opinion that car is an enthusiast gem that deserves more of a share of the spotlight.

2 winters ago we were able to test, and then testify to the abilities of Acura’s AWD system in very adverse conditions, but our trip to Texas this time proved that SH-AWD is most fun in the dry. With an aggressive route plotted though Austin’s aptly named “hill country," we pushed the grippy TL over tight and winding roads that do a passable impression of SoCal’s vaunted canyon fare. With a lot of tight cornering and elevation change to push through, we were basically never able to force the TL into giving up its super-sucker grip on the road. Certainly the 245-cross-section Goodyear Eagle tires had a lot to do with that stickiness (that’s the width of tire for every TL model, front- and all-wheel-drive, by the way), but the torque-vectoring system was an absolute wonder in keeping power flowing to the right wheel, too. Mid-corner, no matter the speed, we had the sensation of being pulled around the apex, rather than the sort of controlled, sliding, loss of traction that is the norm a these velocities. It’s probably important to note then, that those who simply prefer the looser, less controlled experience of a well-balanced rear-driver won’t be in some way “fooled” by the SH-AWD experience. The system wants only to maximize grip at speed, and doesn’t mess with trying to impersonate a rear-wheel-drive car.

Even with the relative heaviness of the all-wheel-drive system taken into account, the TL manages to feel a lot smaller than it is. To start, much of the mass of the 3900-pound car is disguised by low-effort steering that is exceptionally responsive. The car’s willingness to rotate is exaggerated (in a positive way) by the fast-acting nature of turn-in. And, while many drivers don’t care for the artificial feeling created by a highly boosted power steering setup, the TL’s lightweight action doesn’t server to remove 1 too much from the experience while at speed. Still, it would be nice if the weighting were more natural here. Volume of steering inputs from the tires and road are pretty average for the class—you won’t get much more information from a BMW, or much less from an Audi. Still, many people equate high-effort steering with being “premium,” which is how the German companies often win enthusiasts to their cause.

We experienced the same very well balanced ride/handling profile that we’d come to expect from the last TL, with what could be appropriately labeled as a “medium-firm” ride for this class of car. There’s more feedback, and less cosseting from the suspension than you’d find in mid-sizers from Lexus (or Toyota, for that matter), though we didn’t experience the sort of racecar firmness we’ve come to expect from true performance sedans like the M3, or the S4. Clearly this kind of tuning is aimed more at the sport-seeking driver than the luxury-seeking 1.

A similar ethos can be seen and felt in the cabin of the TL, which remains exactly as we remember it. That means an upscale blend of leather and metal finishes, along with the very serious-looking, but ultimately easy-to-use central stack. There are loads of buttons to be found here, but the combination of steering wheel controls and voice controls make it pretty easy to keep one’s focus on the road ahead. We also found the seats remarkably supportive and comfortable, though drivers that are slightly skinnier than us may want for thicker bolsters (or better control of the existing bolsters). By and large we felt properly ensconced, but without sacrificing forward visibility.

And, though we had far too little time with the one test car made available on this trip, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Acura is bringing back the manual-transmission-equipped SH-AWD model for 2012. If we could, we’d wave our magic wand and make every enthusiast-leaning shopper of the mid-size premium segment take a test drive in this cog-swapping dream. The transmission is good enough to be transformative in a car that is already plenty fun to drive—short of throw, with smooth, substantial action between gears and almost inerrant precision—and we certainly applaud Acura for making it available again. Mark our words: very few of these will end up being sold, and the stick-shift TL SH-AWD will become a cult classic.

When we reviewed the 2009 TL, we were pushed to compare it closely to the BMW 3-Series, both because of the close pricing and the car’s smaller handling abilities. It’s probably fair to mention, though, the this TL is actually in the size/horsepower class as cars like the A6 3.0T and BMW 535i xDrive, despite being stickered at thousands of dollars less. That’s a dollar/content relationship that we think works out very well for Acura, and one that should be getting more attention.

Redesign? What redesign?

2012 Acura TL SH-AWD 6AT
Engine: V-6, 3.7 liters, 24v
Output: 305 hp/273 lb-ft
0-60 MPH: 5.6 sec (est)
Weight: 3968 lb
Fuel Economy, City/Hwy: 18/26 mpg
Base Price: $39,155
On Sale: Now​

 

[TSX69]

Kbb

2012 Acura TL Review - Kelley Blue Book​

KBB Editors' Overview
When the current-generation Acura TL bowed in the 2009 model year, its bold aesthetics garnered mixed feelings from car reviewers and the buying public alike. Some liked the sharp angles, while detractors were particularly critical of the large beak-like front grille. For the 2012 model year Acura has softened the TL’s face and made a few other exterior refinements. With a mild facelift and improved fuel economy, Acura hopes the freshened TL will lure even more buyers from varied temptresses like the BMW 5 Series, Infiniti M and Lexus ES.

You'll Like This Car If...
Compared to competitors from BMW, Infiniti and Lexus, the Acura TL is a bargain; offering a lot of technology, performance and luxury for less than the rest.

You May Not Like This Car If...
Even with its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, we found that the Acura TL still isn’t as engaging rear-drive cars like the Infiniti M or BMW 5 Series.

What's Significant about this Car?
The 2012 Acura TL upgrade is a little show, a little go. Underneath the exterior changes the TL sports a new 6-speed automatic transmission that delivers more miles per gallon. The TL is still available in base and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive trim levels, and a new Advance Package has been added to the option list.

Driving It

Driving Impressions
The 2012 Acura TL marries the size of a BMW 5 Series with the lower price of an Infiniti G37 Sedan, but doesn’t capture the performance feel of either. Front-wheel drive and synthetic steering feel combine in a car that’s neither as engaging around town nor as capable at the limits compared to some of its more storied rear-wheel drive competitors. On the flip side, the Acura TL is about 100 times more fun than the soft-tuned Lexus ES 350 with which it also sort of competes. Stepping up to the SH-AWD version nets more horsepower, a sportier suspension and Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that directs more energy to the outside rear wheel while cornering. You have to push the TL pretty hard before you can feel SH-AWD working, but that’s exactly when you need it. Otherwise, around town and on the highway the 2012 Acura TL behaves like most other performance-oriented mid-size sedans.

Favorite Features

6-speed Automatic Transmission
The new 6-speed transmission is the sole contributor to the overall increase in fuel economy. More gears also equal more fun as the transmission is able to keep the engine in its sweet spot during spirited driving. As a bonus, the revised gearing results in lower engine rpm while cruising, resulting in lower cabin noise.

Blind Spot Information System
We like everything that comes with the Advance Package, but if we had to choose one thing, it would be the blind spot information system. These indicators tell the driver if there is a car in the blind spot, which is a handy reassurance when changing lanes.

Vehicle Details

Interior
We find the 2012 Acura TL's interior luxuriously sporty. And for the new model year, it's even more luxurious as new platinum-plated trim pieces on the dash, center console and door sills have been thrown in to update the look. In addition to being heated, the front seats are now ventilated (Advance Package only) and the overall interior noise level has been reduced by 2.7 decibels thanks to an increased amount of body-sealing points.

Exterior
At 1st glance the 2012 Acura TL looks largely the same as the 2011 edition, but a closer inspection reveals the changes. The front and rear overhangs have been shortened by an inch. Up front, the grille surround has been shaved down and the upper portion of it smoothed out, addressing the exterior’s most obvious pain point. Other new additions include darkened headlights, new turn signals and a new fog light design. Out back is a new rear bumper, which includes a relocated license plate frame that sits higher making way for a rear diffuser. The taillights received a color change and the trunk trim is thinner, which we think gives the car a more sophisticated look.

Notable Standard Equipment
The 2012 Acura TL comes well equipped right out of the box, which can't be said for many of its competitors. Some of the most notable features include heated leather seats, a power moonroof, 276-watt audio system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a 10-way power driver's seat and 17-inch alloy wheels. In addition to all-wheel drive and more horsepower, the TL SH-AWD trim adds to the list by offering additional seat bolstering for a sportier feel and French stitching on the steering wheel, seats, shift lever and parking brake.

Notable Optional Equipment
The Acura TL is available with 2 option packages: The Technology Package and the new-for-2012 Advance Package. The Technology Package includes a hard drive-base navigation system with Acuralink traffic and weather updates, 440-watt surround sound system, Milano premium leather seating surfaces and keyless access system. The Advance Package comes with a Blind Spot Information (BSI) system, ventilated (cooling) front seats and plus-1 wheel sizes (equals 18-inch wheels for the base, 19-inch wheels for the SH-AWD trim).


Under the Hood

Engine choices available for the 2012 Acura TL include a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter or a 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. A new Sequential SportShift 6-speed automatic is available on both trims, but the 6-speed manual transmission is exclusive to the SH-AWD trim level. The 6-speed automatic features a "double-kick-down" feature that lets the driver down shift twice (from 5th to 3rd gear, for example) to aid performance in spirited driving situations. The 6-speed auto also improves the city/highway fuel economy of 3.5-liter versions by 2/3 miles per gallon, respectively. When matched with the 3.7-liter engine the new transmission ups fuel economy by one mpg city and highway.

3.5-liter V6
280 horsepower @ 6200 rpm
254 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29

3.7-liter V6
305 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
273 lb.-ft. of torque @ 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 (manual), 18/26 (automatic)​

Pricing Notes
The 2012 Acura TL has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) just over $36,000 for the base trim, while the SH-AWD trim level starts at about $40,000. Adding the Technology Package to either trim bumps up the price about $4,000, and adding the Advance Package adds about $1,000 more. A fully loaded TL tops out just under $46,000, which is thousands less than a loaded BMW 5 Series and Infiniti M, but on par with a similarly equipped Lexus ES. As for resale value, we expect the Acura TL to hold residuals on par with its competitors from BMW, Lexus and Infiniti.

 

[TSX69]

USA 2day

Better Looking 2012 Acura ATL Drives Great & Burns Less Gas
w/ Video​

OK, cancel the warrant for aesthetic felonies. Acura has revised its TL midsize sedan so it's not as eye-burningly ugly, and has thrown in some spiffy practical benefits, too.

In fact, Acura accelerated the TL freshening about 6 months to get the 2012 model on sale as soon as possible and quell a chorus of complaints about (mostly) the styling and a few other issues.

That cow-catcher front end and stuck-up tush of the previous TL didn't draw ire just from crepe-hanging auto writers. No, indeed. Actual humans, people who buy cars, were calling it rude names, too.

So, the new schnoz is better-proportioned, generally more tasteful. New tush, ditto. There still seems to be too much overhang ahead of the front wheels, when viewed in profile, though the front's been shortened an inch.

Also improving the look are small, but visually important, touches that include axing some of the garish "chrome" features. (Only chromium-plated metal is authentic "chrome." The auto industry hasn't done much of that for years, and instead refers to shiny plastic as "chrome.") Door handles and portions of the rear roof pillars now are body-color instead of bright "chrome." Headlight trim now is black, not bright. Taillight trim eliminates the previous faux chrome.

Other changes for the better:

•A 6-speed automatic transmission replaces the outdated 5-speed (well, outdated in advertising wars, if not in function), helping boost fuel economy by 1 mile per gallon on all-wheel-drive models, 2 (city) and 3 (highway) mpg on front-drive cars.

•There's a bigger-capacity hard drive on board, which is supposed to spin up the navigation system faster when you start the car, but it still takes awhile for the screen to give you the OK.

And some good things were left alone:

•The 2012 has the same "SH-AWD," which is Acura's acronym for super-handling all-wheel drive. It's optional, chosen by 30% of TL buyers. And they often buy it as a bad-weather traction system, Acura says, even though it's designed as a high-performance cornering technology. It can send up to 70% of the total power to the rear wheels, and of that, can shift 100% to either the right or left wheel. It then can drive the outside rear wheel faster than normal to help pivot the car around corners. A bit like divine intervention mid-corner. Hard to appreciate in the telling; immediately lovable once experienced.

•Same premium leather interior and comfortable seats. The driver's chair is easy to adjust into a proper driving position.

•Same all-around tight feel. Brakes retard momentum right-by-gosh-now with not much pedal pressure. Steering gives you the impression you're actually controlling the car, instead of rotating a mysterious mechanism through a slushy medium.

Doors close with precise feel and sound. Gearshift lever moves crisply.

The TL's taut package emphasizes what buckets of slop some motor vehicles are, and makes it clear that a person could get used to a car feeling just-so, as TL mostly does.

1 odd note: While Acura says it didn't change the suspension, the 2012 felt as if it rode hard. The 2011 didn't seem to have that drawback.

You can decide if Acura sufficiently redressed the styling grievances. And maybe you won't mind the ride. The rest of the changes, however, seem inarguable improvements, especially because Acura was restrained enough to avoid change for its own sake. The result is that the already very good TL is now a notch better.

2012 Acura TL

What? Update of the midsize, 4-door sedan to address complaints about the styling and improve other features. Available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

When? On sale since March 18.

Where? Designed in California, engineered and manufactured in Ohio.

How much? $35,925 including $860 shipping for the base front-drive model, to $45,945 for the all-wheel-drive model with all factory accessories.

Who'll buy? Affluent couple, 35 to 45, with 1 or 2 kids and annual household income averaging $140,000, Acura says.

How powerful? Front-drive models have 3.5-liter V-6 rated 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, 254 pounds-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. All-wheel drive has 3.7-liter V-6 rated 305 hp at 6,300, 273 lbs.-ft. at 5,000. 6-speed manual transmission available only on one all-wheel-drive model; others come with 6-speed automatic.

How big? About the size of a Honda Accord, but not as roomy inside. TL is 194 inches long, 74 in. wide, 57.2 in. tall on a 109.3-in. wheelbase. Weighs 3,726 to 4,001 lbs. Passenger space: 98.2 cubic feet. Trunk, 13.1 (front drive) or 12.5 (all-wheel drive) cu. ft.

Turning-circle diameter: 38.4 ft.

How thirsty? Front-wheel-drive model rated 20 miles per gallon in town, 29 mpg on the highway, 23 in combined use. All-wheel drive rated 18/26/21 with automatic, 17/25/20 with manual. Trip computer in AWD, automatic test car registered 13.7 mpg (7.3 gallons per 100 miles) in suburban driving, 15.1 mpg (6.62 gal./100 mi.) in mix of city, suburban, highway use.

Burns premium, holds 18.5 gal. Acura says regular is OK briefly but could damage the engine if used long term.

Overall: Rides hard, looks better, drives great.

 

[TSX69]

Modern Luxury

Modern Luxury: Smooth Looks, High-Tech Features Mark Revamped 2012 Acura TL​

In baseball parlance, “the whole package” refers to a player who can do it all: run, throw, field, hit for power.

Applied to the automotive market, Acura’s restyled TL measures up. The sedan isn’t necessarily groundbreaking in terms of technology, looks or power. But the 4-door incorporates all the features that a luxury car requires plus a few extras. It’s arguably the car version of “the whole package.”

The 2012 Acura TL is just starting to appear in showrooms. “We sold our 1st (this week),” said Jeff Rubin, general sales manager of McDaniels Acura on Savannah Highway.

This 2012 Acura TL is parked along Waterway Boulevard on the Isle of Palms earlier this week. The mid-size luxury sedan has a more rounded look and received various technological enhancements for the new model year.​

The model has a base price of $35,000 and runs into the low $40,000s with options.

Rubin says buyers include 2 types in particular. “I would say young professionals and empty nesters.” A financing deal with 0 down payment should entice shoppers, he says.

Among the TL’s makeover highlights are tweaks to the body. The front bumper was made more aerodynamic. The grille was restyled and overhang shortened, according to Acura. Headlights and taillights were updated, and the rear bumper was reshaped. Wheels were retooled as 17-inch aluminum.

Appearance wasn’t the sole change. A new sequential 6-speed automatic transmission was geared to bump up performance as well as boost gas mileage.

Also bolstering fuel economy were friction-reducing engine innovations and a multi-clutch torque converter that curbs heat build-up.

The sedan has 2 choices of engines. A 3.5-liter V-6 generates 280 horsepower. It averages 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway -– a 10% improvement from the 2011 edition. An optional 3.7-liter 305 hp V-6 gets 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway with an automatic transmission and 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway with a 6-speed manual drivetrain.

Up-to-19-inch aluminum wheels are available this year.​

“A lot of the credit comes from the racing industry,” said Keith Drayton, sales consultant with McDaniels Acura. The carmaker uses the same engine on the racing circuit, he said.

To enter the car, the driver carries a fob that automatically unlocks the doors when next to them. The start is push-button. “It’s impossible to lose your keys in the car,” Drayton said. Demonstrating, he tossed the fob into the trunk and pushed down on the lid. It wouldn’t close until he had retrieved the gadget.

Napa leather envelops the driver and passengers. Up front are 2 cupholders and an ingenious compartment where the motorist can sock away a gas card or other items for a quick trip. The glovebox is split, with room above to store papers.

Buyers can choose a technology upgrade that includes navigation system, rear camera and voice recognition. Push a button on the steering wheel and say, “I’m hungry”: a list of restaurants shows up on the viewing screen, Drayton said. Bluetooth hand-free phone use is available. Standard with the upgrade is the top-of-the-line ELS Surround 410-watt premium audio system.

New for 2012 is Acura’s “advance” collection of extras: ventilated (heated and cooled) front seats, 18- or 19-inch wheels and blind spot indicators –- interior markers at eye level that light up as a car passes. The car also was re-engineered to reduce noise.

A 6-speed automatic transmission is 1 of the upgrades for 2012.​

Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear troubles have impacted Acura’s business, Rubin said. “We have cars through April,” he said, and the company will keep dealers informed beyond then. What helps is 75% of the carmaker’s manufacturing operations are outside of Japan.

In a full Tuesday afternoon drive of a $40,195 Acura TL with the advance package, the sedan upheld its luxury status with a roomy ride. Dual climate control and ventilated seats kept the car feeling comfortable.

Intuitive dashboard knobs and redundant buttons on the steering wheel made it easy to switch radio stations, adjust temperatures and convert to cruise control, which has a safety feature that slows the car down when vehicles in front decelerate. A handy information gauge shows tire pressure, miles to empty and other figures.

Steering was sharp, and the car braked smoothly. The vehicle’s sport mode is controlled by paddle shifters; gear changes are displayed, a bit obliquely, on the screen facing the wheel. Power seats are user friendly, and the trunk pops up with the flick of a button on the driver’s side door.

If the TL had a drawback, it was the 3.7-liter engine’s balky acceleration, like a horse that wants to gallop but is restrained by the reins.

Still, Acura effectively streamlined the model’s looks while adding on scores of perks. The result is a mid-size sedan that pairs high-end ambiance with frugal fuel mileage, all at a reasonable price.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542.​

 

[TSX69]

NY Times

Nose Jobs & Inner Beauty

TESTED 2012 Acura TL

WHAT IS IT? An underdog sports sedan with a fresh new muzzle.

HOW MUCH? Base price $36,465, $45,945 as tested.

WHAT MAKES IT RUN? A 3.5-liter V-6 (280 horsepower) is standard; all-wheel-drive models get a 3.7-liter V-6 (305 horsepower).

IS IT THIRSTY? The front-drive TL now has a solid m.p.g. rating of 20 city, 29 highway; all-wheel-drive version rated 18/26.

ALTERNATIVES Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G37, Mercedes C-Class, Volvo S60.​

“GOOD manners and bad breath get you nowhere,” was a line in an Elvis Costello oldie. And for the Acura TL sedan of 2009, no amount of refinement could mask the faux pas of its metallic beak.

Honda’s low-key luxury brand had hoped to make the TL stand out — in a good way. Instead, its armored grille bombed as badly as the Edsel’s “toilet seat” snout; jokesters likened the Acura’s face to gladiator gear, manga robots and more.

Smarting from the kind of abuse Joan Rivers dishes on the red carpet, Acura has modestly reworked the TL for 2012, with sharper steering, a new 6-speed automatic transmission, better fuel economy and new features. But what shoppers will notice 1st is the nose job and refashioned tail that tone down the visual offense.

Now that the Acura’s metaphorical zipper is only halfway down, it’s easier to focus on the TL’s good points. That’s especially true for the all-wheel-drive version, whose grippy, spot-on handling has been criminally underrated.

In part, that’s because many enthusiasts disqualify the Acura for its basic front-drive layout, which does handicap performance against better-balanced rear-drive sport sedans. But that snap judgment overlooks Acura’s optional Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system. The name sounds like comic-book hyperbole, but the technology really delivers biff, bam and kapow. In fact, the groundbreaking torque-vectoring function — which speeds up the outboard rear wheel to help the car execute turns like the Black Swan — has been mimicked by everyone from BMW to Porsche.

And since the all-wheel-drive model has a larger, stronger V-6, any Acura shopper who relishes driving should take the plunge at $40,015. (The front-drive TL starts at $36,465).

The TL is the largest and roomiest sedan in its class and one of the few whose back seat can graciously handle long hauls with long adults.

The cabin is well built, if a bit generically Japanese. The available 2-tone interior and a higher grade of metallic trim add some distinction. And the perfectly formed steering wheel — with thumbrests and contrasting stitching — seems a hands-on homage to BMW’s M models.

The Acura’s surprisingly small and ill-shaped trunk remains its biggest demerit. The car’s vexing center-dashboard controls run a close 2nd, though that swarm of buttons is countered by outstanding audio and navigation systems, including a sharp new display screen that highlights some of the industry’s most comprehensive map data.

A 6-speed automatic replaces the previous 5-speed, and it now allows 2-gear, throttle-blipping kickdowns when you mash the accelerator. Its efficient torque converter delivers a 3 m.p.g. gain in highway fuel economy for the 3.5-liter version and an extra 1 m.p.g. across the board for all-wheel-drive models.

Despite its fluid 6,700-r.p.m. V-6, the Acura won’t outrun bullies like the Infiniti G37. But what the TL lacks in muscle, it makes up in finesse. Just when you think you’ve reached the limits of tire adhesion, the Acura hunkers down and implores you to hammer the gas pedal.

Automobile magazine found that the all-wheel-drive TL, remarkably, lapped a road course just 0.4 second slower than a mighty Audi S4 — a specially tuned 333-horsepower sport sedan that plays in a class above the Acura. The Audi was markedly faster in a straight line, proving that the TL’s handling lets it make up time in the corners.

Considering the S4’s lofty price and reputation, that result is akin to the Pirates taking the Yankees to a Game 7 in a World Series.

Coincidentally, I drove that Audi S4 back-to-back with the Acura. And on a long cornering binge, the Acura did feel more tenacious than the Audi, if nowhere near as explosive. If you choose the TL with a 6-speed manual transmission, you get an even firmer suspension.

Yes, the TL’s old face was one to forget. The new one helps us remember how Acura, like its Honda parent, earned its reputation for smooth, sophisticated engines, chassis and suspensions.

 

[TSX69]

Wheels.ca

Lots Riding on Acura's TL MakeOver

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — What a difference a nose job can make.

Of course, you couldn't have made Acura's TL sedan look much worse, what with its out-there squid-beak grille and bulbous rear end.

Still, the designers have managed, with a relatively small bag of styling tricks, to inject a bit of elegance back into the model that the company has always intended to be a volume seller in the sports sedan market.

The over-the-top styling appeared for the model's 4th-generation makeover in 2009. Sales subsequently tanked for 2010, the lowest in the TL's history.

It's unusual for an automaker to schedule a full-blown media launch for what is basically a mid-cycle refresh — an event complete with track time guided by 1992 Indy 500 1-2 finishers Al Unser Jr. and Scott Goodyear — but the company has a lot riding on this car.

It's always had the performance chops to carry it, but it needed this makeover to help bring it back.

The 3.5 L and 3.7 L V6 engines are carried over, with several internal friction-reduction technologies added to the 3.5 L, a new air inlet system on both engines, and a 6-speed automatic transmission in place of the previous 5-speed.

These tweaks provide impressive fuel economy improvements, especially on the smaller engine, which drops its published city figures from 11.6 L/100 km to 10.4. Even the new grille design provides some drag reduction, adding to the better fuel economy. That's important, since the TL's consumption was an issue with many buyers, Acura says.

Unlike Lexus, which Toyota successfully built up as a completely separate luxury brand, there was always some overlap between Honda and Acura, which has yet to really find its niche. The company is counting on the TL to carve 1 out.

A major perception hurdle the TL has always faced, at least among those shopping for a sports sedan, is that it's primarily a front-wheel-drive car — exclusively so in the base TL, which starts at $39,490 and uses the 280-horsepower 3.5 L.

The sportier model is the 305-horsepower 3.7 L, mated to Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive, or SH-AWD. It starts at $43,490 and can be optioned with a Tech Package for $46,990 (which includes such items as navigation, push-button start and premium stereo and seats), or the new-for-2012 Elite Package, at $48,990, which further adds ventilated seats, bigger wheels and a blind-spot information system.

A 6-speed manual is available, but only on the SH-AWD Tech Package.

The name isn't just hyperbole: SH-AWD is very impressive. Its default is 90% power to the front wheels, but will send up to 70% to the rear when needed, including on acceleration.

The big deal is torque vectoring: up to 100% of rear-axle power can be directed to either the left or right rear wheel. On corners, this power to the outside wheel “pushes” the car into the turn for better control and less understeer.

Combined with the Elite Package's 19-inch rims and grippier-than-expected Goodyear all-season tires, the SH-AWD made me look pretty good going around the track in the rain. The system can't entirely overcome physics, as my co-driver discovered when a too-fast turn sent him off the asphalt and into the grass, but it makes a considerable difference, even during everyday driving when the road gets a little twisty.

Those who actually take their cars to track days probably won't appreciate the way the TL glues itself to curves, since there's none of that fun wiggle in the rear end. But realistically, the vast majority of buyers probably don't even know where the nearest racetrack is located. This is simply a very nice everyday driver that can back up its promises, when needed.

I would have liked a little more weight to the electric power steering, but it's not objectionable, and the car responds crisply to wheel input. The ride straddles the line between sports-car firm and luxury soft. The six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and “blips” the throttle when downshifting; the paddle shifters are as the driving gods intended, with 1 for upshift, the other for down, rather than the awful redundant push-pull variety. The stick shift is available only on the all-wheel Tech model and it's a great unit, with short throws and smooth clutch, although Acura says it accounts for no more than 5% of all TL sales.

Talk about your future collectible…

There are minor changes in the cabin, with chrome accents toned down in favour of lower-gloss metallic inserts. There's still a clutter of controls, though — Acura must buy steering wheel and centre stack buttons by the boatload — and after spending time in both front seats, I found the driver's chair to be more comfortable, with a slightly longer seat cushion than on the passenger side. Sound deadening has also improved.

While it may not have the sports-sedan panache of rear-wheel-drive, the all-wheel TL has always been one of the better-handling cars on the road and one that's too often overlooked.

It's to Acura's credit that in a world of rear-wheel sports sedans, this front-biased all-wheeler is a formidable contender.

 

[TSX69]

ConsumerGuide

1st Spin: 2012 Acura TL

Acura introduced a new TL for the 2009 model year. CG’s John Biel was the 1st staff member to drive the redesigned premium-midsize car. It happened on July 15, 2008, 4 days after oil peaked above $147 a barrel. Perhaps more importantly, it was 2 months before it happened. You know, it. On September 15, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy--the event that arguably set off the global financial crisis. In short order, the world changed, especially the new-car market in the United States. Timing is everything, and in this case events made it a less-than-ideal time to introduce a new luxury car.

Sales for the previous-generation TL had already been heading down (in calendar 2005 the company moved 78,218 units, by 2007 that fell to 58,545, and for 2008 the tally was down to 46,766). In his Deep Drive, Mr. Biel said Acura expected its new baby to shoot to the top of the sales charts. To be fair, the new-car market that would exist in 2 months was completely different than the 1 they planned for, but it still seems that everything hasn’t quite worked out as expected. In all of 2010, Acura moved 34,049 TLs. In the same period, Lexus sold 48,652 units of its ES 350 sedan.

We’d guess a lot of Monday-morning quarterbacks point to the 2009 TL’s controversial exterior styling as 1 cause for the car’s lower sales. The look was quite aggressive for this class. Even the company admitted as much when describing the freshened 2012 model to the assembled media at our recent preview test drive.

So what to do? Well, Acura can’t control the world’s economy but the company can do its best to tweak the TL. The main “improvements” are cleaned up front and rear styling and the addition of a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Engineers have also been busy reworking the 3.5-liter engine used in front-drive TLs to increase fuel economy without sacrificing power. Acura recently gave us the chance to drive several versions of the 2012 TL on roads near Austin, Texas. Here are a few of my impressions.

What's Cool...
2012 Acura TL
Styling is subjective, but we think TL's new grille is a much better fit.
It Looks Better (At Least to Me)

Styling is subjective. In the case of the 2009 Acura TL, my initial impression was “Who approved that?” I always thought the 2004-2008 TL was a very handsome car, but the 2009 car’s exterior styling could charitably be described as an “acquired taste.” For the 2012 facelift, exterior changes have been surprisingly few, but I think they’ve done a good job getting maximum effect with only slight tweaking.

Probably most notable of the alterations is the smaller version of Acura’s signature grille. It has been dramatically reduced in size (“right-sized” in Acura-speak) and no longer extends back to the leading edge of the hood. Other changes are new front and rear bumpers with strong horizontal character lines that help visually reduce the car’s height, and new color finishes that transform the appearance of the existing headlamps and taillight bezels.

Side-by-side the changes are dramatic, and to my eyes the 2012 TL is a much better looking automobile than the car it replaces. In particular, the black finish on the headlamp housings and additional red-finished areas of the taillights trick the eye into thinking Acura changed more pieces than it actually did. I suppose somebody will complain that TL lost some character, but I say good job.

Any TL is Enjoyable to Drive

Base TLs are front-drive and have a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. It mates to a 6-speed automatic transmission--previous models used a 5-speed automatic. All-wheel-drive TLs boast a 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6. The larger engine can be had with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Both engines give spirited acceleration, and are well matched to the new 6-speed automatic. The available 6-speed manual on SH-AWD models is a joy to use with a smooth, positive shifter and an easy-to-use clutch.

Any TL is nimble and fun to drive with accurate steering and well controlled body lean. Front-drive models understeer a bit more than all-wheel-drive versions, but remain tossable on twisty roads. Experience with our long-term 2010 TL SH-AWD shows fine winter-weather performance too, making this a true year-round sport sedan.

...What's Not
2012 Acura TL
The 2012 Acura TL's control panel has an overwhelming, and sometimes confounding, array of buttons.
Buttons, Buttons, and More Buttons

The typical luxury sedan today probably has more functions and electronic gizmos than a Radio Shack circa 1977. The Acura TL is no exception. Where some manufacturers, notably the German ones, go for integrated control systems that boggle and confuse, Acura took a different tack on the 2009 TL and used countless individual buttons. The set up is largely the same for 2012, and while the buttons are clearly marked (for the most part), there are so many that they can overwhelm some users. The layout has puzzled several members of the Consumer Guide staff, myself included. Don’t get me started on the three cryptically marked buttons that control the driver information center and the trip odometers. They may have brought Audi’s MMI menu engineering team to tears. That last point could be urban legend.

A Bit Tight in the Back

This is a bit surprising since the current Honda Accord has one of the roomiest rear seats in the midsize-sedan biz. Not so on the TL. Headroom, knee clearance, and foot space are barely adequate, especially with the front seats pushed back. 6 footers may wish for more headroom too.

CG Says:

Acura TL is an excellent premium-midsize-sedan choice for its balanced performance, inviting interior, and lots of high-tech features at reasonable-for-the-class prices. The smooth new 6-speed automatic transmission--and the higher fuel-economy estimates that are part of the deal--is a welcome improvement as well. Our main gripe is with TL's daunting control scheme (especially with the available navigation system). However, any TL offers great value for the money, but our favorite is the manual-transmission SH-AWD. It's an ideal executive express for those who want to be fully engaged in the driving experience.

 

[TSX69]

Cnet

2012 Acura TL SH-AWD Review

The good: The ELS audio system, part of the tech package in the 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD, produces excellent sound from a full set of audio sources, and voice command lets you request music by name. The all-wheel-drive system gives the car snappy handling in the turns.

The bad: The engine pushes no boundaries in efficiency. The navigation system doesn't offer a perspective view or text-to-speech.

The bottom line: The 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD features a reasonably modern suite of cabin tech, but its power train falls short of innovations seen in the competition.​

The 2012 Acura TL is like the more accomplished 2nd son--it does just about everything better than its older brother, but still can't shake the RL's seniority. Looking at the Acura lineup, there is no good reason to choose the RL over the TL. The cars are approximately the same size and get similar performance gear, and the TL offers newer cabin tech.

Buyers also get their choice between the standard TL or the more powerful TL SH-AWD, the latter sporting a bigger engine and a sport-oriented all-wheel-drive system. The 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD also lays claim to being the raciest of the Acura lineup.

An identity crisis shows itself in recent generations of the TL. Acura designers made the front grille piece bolder and bolder, up to the previous generation where this silver beak grew so prominent it looked like a giant bottle opener. With the 2012 generation, insecurity set in, with the silver grille piece looking more like an integrated part of the car.

That, along with neatly inset headlights and lower air intakes, gives the new TL a smooth, modern look. The hood is also set between the fenders, similar to Infiniti's recent styling. From the sides, the roofline flows nicely toward the trunk lip, and a high beltline angles down toward the front. The result is a good-looking car without ostentation, with front and rear cues that identify it clearly as an Acura.

Acura toned down some of the styling features of the TL for the 2012 model year.​

The cabin design exceeds that of the more expensive RL in luxury feel, with soft-touch surfaces and thick leather covering the seats. Heated and cooled seats are a nice touch.

Voice-controlled iPod
The car sent to CNET, a TL SH-AWD loaded with the technology package, still suffered from a button-happy dashboard and steering wheel, but it showed an obvious attempt to make these buttons look more integrated. Also of note was the main interface controller, a combo joystick-dial that sticks out less prominently than in previous TLs and other, current Acura models, without losing any functionality.

A new voice command system lets drivers ask for music on a connected iPod by name.​

Bypassing all those buttons, a new voice command system in the 2012 TL SH-AWD lets drivers request music from a connected iPod by artist, album, or individual track. This feature, called Song By Voice, worked well in testing, easily recognizing the names of a variety of artists, even newer and obscure ones.

A particular high point of the TL SH-AWD is the stereo, with its wide range of audio sources and exceptional sound quality. An onboard hard drive holds a library of MP3 tracks, a USB port in the console connects up an iPod, and Bluetooth audio streaming allows easy playback from most modern smartphones.

The interface for audio streaming is minimal, only allowing pause and play, but that is typical for current implementations of this specification. The onboard and iPod library interfaces use similar designs, allowing easy access to categories for artist, album, and genre. The iPod interface can be a little slow to populate its screens.

The ELS audio system, with its 10 speakers and 440 watts, produces pleasing sound quality, with rich tones and detailed instrumentation. The TL SH-AWD allows fine-tuning of the sound, as well, with separate controls for sub- and center channel levels, making it easy to bring more bass into the mix, or setting the system for better acoustic playback.

Acura designs the TL SH-AWD to be sold with or without navigation, which leads to a legacy radio display on the center stack along with the main LCD. That radio display shows an abbreviated version of the audio information available on the main screen. If Acura wants to make a real luxury play, it should look to making the LCD standard, and fielding a more integrated dashboard not saddled with these types of legacy elements.

The TL SH-AWD's center stack features an LCD, radio display, and lots of buttons.​

The navigation system, hard-drive-based as it is, draws maps and calculates routes quickly. But Acura does not tax its resources much, only using 2D maps and eschewing the richer perspective views used by competitors. Despite the limited views, the maps are clear and easy to read, using good resolution and graphics to show upcoming turns. Route guidance lacks text-to-speech, but will use traffic information to dynamically avoid problems.

The navigation system has some nice features, such as integrated weather information. Drivers can call up a weather forecast for locations around the country, and the system will also warn about severe weather along a programmed route. The point-of-interest database includes Zagat-rated restaurants, and Acura also loads the system with a database of scenic drives, listing just about every state.

The blind-spot detection system lights up an icon at the base of the A pillar.​

As a new feature for Acura, the TL SH-AWD offers a blind-spot detection system, lighting up warning icons at the bases of the A pillars when cars are in the lanes to either side. It also shows a rearview camera view on the main LCD with distance lines, but not the more sophisticated trajectory lines of competitors. Acura also does not make the adaptive cruise control system, optional for the RL, available in the TL SH-AWD.

Automatic vs. manual
One big new feature for the 2012 TL SH-AWD is a 6-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous generation's 5-speed. This transmission has sport and manual shifting modes, but the former is not particularly aggressive, and the latter still suffers from torque converter lag during gear changes.

Considering the TL SH-AWD's sporting character, buyers should be opting for the six-speed manual transmission instead of the automatic. The manual shifts with a beautiful mechanical precision, and is much more satisfying to use. And it will be easier to get in the right low gear for high-speed cornering. The automatic transmission's proper place is in the standard TL.

The TL SH-AWD gains an extra gear for 2012, but we recommend the manual transmission.​

The engine, a 3.7-liter V-6, remains unchanged from the launch of the TL SH-AWD in 2009. It uses Honda's VTEC variable valve timing for efficiency, generating 305 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Those middling power figures reflect the age of this technology, in an era in which sport luxury competitors are pushing direct injection and other efficiency technology.

Acceleration comes on smoothly, and this power train makes the TL SH-AWD easy to drive. It can creep along in traffic or roar down the road with the tachometer pushing 6,000. The car exhibited a lack of power during passing maneuvers, mostly thanks to the transmission's hesitancy to downshift. In manual mode, you can get the gears low enough to get some push from the engine.

Acura lists EPA fuel economy for the TL SH-AWD with the automatic transmission as 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. During testing weighted toward freeway driving, we saw an average of 23.8 mpg, suggesting the EPA numbers are realistic.

Although the TL SH-AWD might be the sportiest Acura available, in the continuum of sport cars it ranks only moderately. That fact becomes clear from the suspension and steering response. The car uses a double wishbone in front and multilink at the rear, pretty standard stuff for its price range. There are no active elements in this suspension.

Acura's engine works well, but does not exploit newer efficiency technology.​

Tuned for a compromise between comfort and handling, this suspension isn't screwed down tight, but won't bounce and roll either. It holds the car down in the corners while allowing a little sway, and competently smoothes over bumps and rough patches in the road.

Likewise, the electric power steering unit offers a comfortable level of response. It doesn't require minute corrections while traveling down the freeway, reducing road trip fatigue. But it also turns the wheels where pointed when you feel like burning off some tire tread. Turning the wheel requires enough effort to let you know the road is making contact with the tires.

Finally, the TL SH-AWD has one trick up its sleeve for handling, signified by the latter half of the model's name, which stands for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. It's a modern all-wheel-drive system intended more for sport driving than dealing with slippery conditions. As such, it vectors torque across the rear axle as well as distributing it dynamically between front and rear wheels.

In the TL, SH-AWD defaults to 90% front-wheel torque, but can push 70% to the rear wheels as needed. Additionally, torque vectoring across the rear wheels puts more twist on the outside rear wheel in a turn. The result is a precise push around the corners, with the feeling of the car taking the turn for you. It is nearly push-button handling, very useful when you know what to expect.

In sum
In the last couple of years, Acura has upped the level of its cabin tech substantially, adding hard-drive-based navigation and weather data to the existing traffic information. The 2012 TL SH-AWD features the latest Acura has to offer, along with the excellent Bluetooth phone and ELS audio systems. These features are solid, but don't push the boundaries of cabin technology.

The onscreen interface for this cabin tech looks good, and is easy to use, but the interface loses points for the mass of buttons spread over the console and steering wheel. Also on the design front, Acura's efforts to tone down the car's looks are a good aesthetic choice, and the TL SH-AWD doesn't suffer from any ergonomic issues.

Acura has good performance tech in the all-wheel-drive system and power steering unit. The new transmission helps the TL SH-AWD come up to modern standards, but it doesn't stand out. Nor do the conventional suspension and engine. However, Acura tuned the performance gear well to make the TL SH-AWD an easy driver.

Tech specs
Model 2012 Acura TL
Trim SH-AWD
Power train 3.7-liter V-6, 6-speed automatic transmission
EPA fuel economy 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway
Observed fuel economy 23.8 mpg
Navigation Hard-drive-based with traffic
Bluetooth phone support Standard
Disc player MP3-compatible single CD/DVD player
MP3 player support iPod integration
Other digital audio Onboard hard drive, Bluetooth audio streaming, USB drive, satellite radio
Audio system ELS 10-speaker 440-watt system
Driver aids Rearview camera, blind spot detection
Base price $39,155
Price as tested $45,945​

 

[EuRTSX]

That color isn't too bad.

 

[whatsanacura]

^ I agree, seems at home on the new TL.

 

[TSX69]

ConsumerGuide

2012 Acura TL

Vehicle Highlights
The 2012 Acura TL undergoes a substantial freshening with revised styling, a new transmission, and new features. This premium-midsize sedan reprises Base and SH-AWD (for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) versions, both with a standard V6 engine. Base versions are front-wheel drive and use a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter engine. The SH-AWD has a 305-horsepower 3.7-liter unit and a sport suspension. Newly standard on all TLs is a 6-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the previous 5-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual remains available on SH-AWD models equipped with the optional Technology Package. Safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Standard features include leather upholstery with heated front seats, a sunroof, and a wireless cell-phone link. The Technology Package, which is priced as a separate model, includes a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather alerts and an uplevel audio system. New for 2012 is the Advance Package. Again priced as a separate model, TLs so equipped include blind-spot alert, ventilated front seats, and larger wheels (18-inch on the Base and 19-inch on the SH-AWD). This report is based on preview test drives.

Our road test for the 2012 Acura TL includes a full evaluation of the 2012 Acura TL from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2012 Acura TL, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2012 Acura TL help you decide if a 2012 Acura TL is right for you.

ACCELERATION
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
7 7 8 8 7.4

Base TLs use a 3.5-liter V6. With it, acceleration is spirited. The new 6-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth, timely shifts. A heavy throttle foot will generate some wheelspin from a stop before the traction control takes over. TLs equipped with Acura's SH-AWD get a 3.7-liter engine. It feels a bit stronger overall, and again it is well matched to the smooth automatic transmission. The all-wheel drive puts the power to the pavement without drama. The manual transmission is a delight, providing slick shifts and an easy-to-modulate clutch.

FUEL ECONOMY
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
5 4 6 4 5

No opportunity to measure any TL with the new 6-speed automatic transmission. Extended-use manual-transmission TL is averaging 21.6 mpg over its 1st 10,093 miles. Another manual-transmission version averaged 23.2 mpg in mostly highway driving. All TLs require premium-grade gas.

RIDE QUALITY
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
7 6 6 6 6.8

TL is a reasonably comfortable tourer, though the ride is still quite firm. The standard 17-inch tires give the best ride, but we notice little difference between the available 18- and 19-inch rubber.

STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
7 7 8 8 7

Any TL is quite nimble and fun to drive, but front-drive models understeer more than their all-wheel-drive siblings in spirited driving. The electric-power-steering system requires low effort in low-speed situations, such as parking. Effort increases as speed rises, but it never feels heavy or cumbersome. The SH-AWD deserves special praise for its stability in nearly any driving condition. Large brakes deliver impressive stopping control.

QUIETNESS
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
6 6 6 6 7.2

Cabin isolation is not a TL strong suit. In particular, more road and tire roar make it into the interior than is expected for the class. Noise levels are not intrusive, but TL isn't particularly serene either. Either engine is virtually silent at cruise.

CONTROLS
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
6 6 6 6 6.6

The TL's instrument panel features large and legible main gauges. The center stack and steering wheel have an excessive number of buttons, particularly with the Technology or Advance Packages. TLs so equipped use an "interface dial" to access these systems. It's not as complicated as some European premium cars, but a touchscreen would probably make things simpler. The trip computer is helpful, but the three buttons that control the functions are not intuitive and can make simple things like zeroing the trip odometer an unnecessary challenge. The navigation screen in the Technology and Advance Packages appears bright even in changing ambient light conditions, and its high placement doesn't distract from the road.

DETAILS
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
7 7 7 7 7.4

TL's cabin generally presents well, with rich-feeling leather and soft dash and door surfaces. Some hard plastics are disappointing, but most are kept out of direct sight. A discreetly placed tray holds an MP3 player out of sight while connected to the standard USB port.

ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
7 7 7 7 7.7

In general, TL offers comfortable front seat accommodations, even for larger folk. Headroom is OK. The SH-AWD seats offer very good support during cornering, and they don't feel cramped or restrictive. Slim front roof pillars provide good forward visibility. Rear visibility is hampered a bit by a tall decklid; models with the Technology or Advance Packages include a helpful rearview camera.

ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
4 4 4 4 5.6

Entry and exit are uncomplicated, but TL has barely adequate headroom, knee clearance, and foot space. Tall passengers will be especially cramped.

CARGO ROOM
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
3 3 3 3 3.7

Trunk space is fine overall. The trunk opening narrows toward the bottom, and the hinges intrude into the cargo area--though they are covered so as not to damage packages. Interior storage space is not great for the class. The door map pockets aren't especially large, and the center console box is set too far aft for convenient access.

VALUE WITHIN CLASS
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
8 7 9 8 6.9

TL is an excellent choice for its balanced performance, inviting interior, and lots of high-tech features at reasonable-for-the-class prices. The smooth new 6-speed automatic transmission--and the higher fuel economy estimates that are part of the deal--is a welcome improvement as well. Our main gripe is with TL's daunting control scheme (especially with the available navigation system). Any TL is a great value for the money, but our favorite is the manual-transmission SH-AWD. It's an ideal executive express for those who want to be fully engaged in the driving experience.

Total Score
Base Base w/Advance Pkg SH-AWD w/Technology Pkg, manual SH-AWD w/Advance Pkg, automatic Class Average
67 64 70 67 71.3

Total Score: 67

Scores for all Premium-midsize Cars
Low Score
64
Average Score
71
High Score
77​

 

[TSX69]

MotorAuthority

2012 Acura TL 1st Drive

When it was launched as a 2009 model, the Acura TL was the most extreme definition of Acura's new styling direction.

It was a polarizing design, with a brash front end and beak-like silver grille surround. According to Acura marketers, buyers in Miami and New York loved it, but Californians and others didn't. At all.

The West Coast won out. For 2012, the styling of the Acura TL has been dialed down.

Acura's most popular sedan (and, styled in California and built in Ohio, its most all-American) is tidied up, and looks quieter and more polite.

The changes to the exterior are the most visible evidence of a mid-cycle refresh for a car that launched directly into the teeth of the recession in the fall of 2008.

As a result, while it has sold adequately, it enjoys much less public awareness than you'd expect for a highly featured, near-luxury midsize sports sedan.

The market has changed, Acura says, with "Value for the Money" taking 1st place among reasons for purchase cited even by luxury-car buyers in a Strategic Vision survey.

4 years ago, the top 2 were "Exterior Styling" and "Fun to Drive".

Starting at $35,605 for a base model with front-wheel drive, the 2012 Acura TL costs several thousand dollars less than similarly equipped luxury sports sedans from more established brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and even Audi.

Overall, the 2012 Acura TL retains the virtues we appreciated in our review of the 2011 TL model.

It's still a "surprisingly well-rounded luxury sedan, with host of advanced tech features, and in top SH-AWD trim morphs into a complete and compelling sport sedan," as we said, but for 2012, the "love-it-or-leave-it" styling has been modulated.

Less prominent 'beak'

Acura hopes the revised TL has addressed a reason that some buyers cited for avoiding the previous model: its extroverted styling.

Indeed, while side-by-side photos of the 2011 and 2012 models look surprisingly similar, a host of subtle changes to the front and rear fascias have softened the beak and made the bumper surfaces more vertical.

The front grille is smaller, and it's moved further down the hoodline for a lower appearance.

The pointy beak has given way to a minimal vee shape, and the front bumper now has a horizontal line in it to make it look wider.

At the rear, the license plate has been raised and a diffuser added to shorten the visual height of the rear.

Inside, Acura has made only minor changes--"warmer colors" for the trim, platinum plating for many of the bright bits.

In sum, the 2012 TL is still recognizably an Acura--but it's softer, more conventional looking, and a bit blander.

For hesitant buyers who don't want their luxury car to be as noticeable as the early model was, that's most likely a plus.

2 V-6es, 2 6-speeds

The 2012 Acura TL offers two V-6 engines: the 3.5-liter produces 280 horsepower, and the 3.7-liter is rated at 305 hp.

New this year is a 6-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous 5-speed.

A 6-speed manual gearbox is available, although it is confined to a single model, the 3.7-liter SH-AWD with Technology package. It is likely to be chosen only by a tiny handful of 2012 TL buyers, perhaps 2%, which translates to just 400 cars a year.

Buyers who want the Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which varies torque front to rear (from 90/10 to 30/70) and side to side (up to 100% left or right, depending on need), must fit the larger 3.7-liter V-6.

Acura has made a host of changes and upgrades to the tuning of the larger engine, the brakes, suspension, and electric power steering.

The front-wheel drive TL with the 3.5-liter engine is rated at 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, with the SH-AWD model with the larger 3.7-liter engine at 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway.

Those gas mileage ratings are all 1 to 3 mpg higher than their counterparts for the 2011 model.

Neutral handling for SH-AWD

During the media launch event outside Austin, Texas, we drove both a top-spec TL model with the SH-AWD package and a lower-level front-wheel drive model.

On the road, the 2012 Acura TL is clearly a heavy car. The ride is firm, but not harsh; this is clearly a car meant to be driven, rather than ridden in.

The handling of the all-wheel-drive is neutral to rear biased, with no feeling at all that the front end plows; instead, the car seems to provide subtle feedback indicating that the rear wheels are being driven.

We found the low-profile tires on the SH-AWD's largest 19-inch wheels to generate far more road roar than we would expect from a near-luxury car.

The standard 17-inch wheels and tires on the simpler front-wheel drive model were significantly quieter, making for a more peaceful ride.

Inside, we liked the richness of the saddle interior with a bronze exterior (the car in the photos), but the TL's high beltline and narrow window openings could make the all-black interior feel oppressive to some.

Befitting Acura's technology-forward image, there's no wood trim. Instead, brushed platinum trim is the default, and 1 model we drove had some panels of the dash trim printed with a pattern that resembled--but wasn't--carbon fiber.

3 trim levels

Heated leather seats with 10-way power adjustment and memory, a power moonroof, a 276-Watt audio system, Bluetooth hands-free linking, and a USB port with iPod interface are standard on even the base TL model.

The Technology Package adds a navigation system with live traffic and weather, a 440-Watt surround-sound audio system with 15 GB of music storage, keyless access, and premium perforated leather.

The Advance Package adds to that ventilated and cooled front seats, upgraded wheels and tires (to 18 inches for the TL, and 19 inches for the SH-AWD), and--new for 2012--a Blind-Spot Information System that warns drivers whenever a car in an adjacent lane enters the "blind spot" of the rear quarter.

Each of the 3 trim levels is available with front-wheel drive or the SH-AWD option.

Prices range from $35,605 for the base TL to $45,085 for the TL SH-AWD with Advance Package. All models also carry a mandatory $860 delivery fee.

Acura provided travel, lodging, and meals to enable High Gear Media to bring you this 1st-hand drive report.​

 

[jteeen]

Liking this new version, would definitely trade my car for one of those

 

[TSX69]

Forbes

Balancing Act

“Well-balanced” is a well-worn cliché in many new-car reviews, but it’s spot-on accurate in describing the just-released 2012 Acura TL midsize luxury sedan. It’s ideal for those wanting an athletic and aggressive car that nonetheless treats its occupants to a reasonably smooth ride and an accommodating interior with a generous assortment of high-tech features.

While not fully redesigned, the 2012 Acura TL receives assorted cosmetic and mechanical improvements for what the industry calls a mid-cycle update (the TL was last fully redesigned for the 2009 model year).

As is the case with aging celebrities, it’s amazing how having “a little work done” can improve a car’s outward appearance. The 2012 Acura TL didn’t exactly get the Joan Rivers treatment, but a few well-placed nips and tucks to the car’s styling have gone a long way toward bringing the car back into the mainstream. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the car’s revised front-end treatment. It no longer resembles some errant Pokémon character thanks to a less-pronounced grille with smoother-integrated headlamps and turn signal lights and a more aggressive lower fascia.

Separated at birth? Previous design Acura TL and Pikachu​

It’s still a bit more outlandish looking than what are typically sedate-looking cars in its class, however. Acura still has a long way to go to establish an iconic identifying look for its what has always been an exceptionally engineered upscale models, but it’s a classier and far less polarizing design, overall.

Of course motorists spend most of their time inside the car looking out, not the other way around, and the 2012 Acura TL remains rewarding in this regard. The base 3.5-liter V6 engine receives a number of friction-reducing enhancements for 2012 and generates a lively 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. We tested the all-wheel-drive version that upgrades the V6 to a 3.7-liter version with a nominally quicker 305 horses and 273 pound feet. Both are competitive among sixes in the midsize luxury class in terms of power, smoothness and responsiveness.

A smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission is newly standard on the 2012 Acura TL. It includes a selectable “sport” mode for more aggressive shift points and can be operated manually via steering wheel-mounted paddles (it even allows double downshifts with automatic rev matching for authoritative passing power). The new gearbox helps boost the car’s fuel economy slightly, to 20-city/29-highway mpg with the 3.5-liter and 18/26 with the 3.7-liter V6.

As before, the 2012 Acura TL remains 1 of the few cars in its class to offer a manual transmission as a no-cost option on the all-wheel-drive version with the larger V6. While this gives the car added credibility among the enthusiast crowd, we suspect the majority of motorists will choose convenience over control and stick with the automatic. Still, we found the manual in our tester to be a welcome partner in both aggressive and passive motoring. It’s reasonably effortless to operate, even in traffic, with a light clutch and a precise shifter that’s never balky. With the 3.7-liter engine and manual transmission this version is rated at 17/25 mpg.

We quickly came to appreciate Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system, which is engineered to benefit both wet and dry-road traction. It not only automatically distributes engine power between the front and rear axles as needed, but also between the left and right rear wheels to provide a sporty feel few AWD vehicles can match. This so-called torque vectoring technology makes the 2012 Acura TL’s already quick and nimble handling feel like it’s on a turntable while making sharp turns at speed. Purists could argue the more-organic cornering virtues of pure rear-drive car, but AWD won’t buzz-kill a good time by giving up control to the car’s stability control system as easily, either, particularly on slick pavement.

The 2012 Acura TL’s ride qualities are likewise well-balanced – there’s that word again – with the car’s double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension adeptly taking the edge off even the deepest potholes and pockmarked pavement and allows the car to keep its poise over extended rough patches. Seventeen-inch wheels and tires are standard on the base model, with 18-inch rims and rubber optional there and standard with AWD, where 19 inchers are alternately offered.

Inside, the 2012 Acura TL’s modestly redesigned interior is roomy, attractive and functional. There’s large and legible backlit LED gauges on the instrument panel and while the center stack of controls is cluttered with buttons and dials, this makes the car’s various systems easier to operate than the ersatz multimedia control systems that threaten the sanity of non-technical motorists in most luxury cars these days. Standard features are plentiful and include leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof and a Bluetooth hands-free cell-phone interface.

Our press-fleet 2012 Acura TL came with the aptly named Technology Package that includes a voice-activated navigation system with rear-time traffic and weather information, a solar-sensing climate control system with air filtration and humidity control, a rearview backup camera, keyless push button entry/start and an upgraded leather treatment. It also included the top-notch 440-watt Acura/ELS surround sound audio system that – for the few that ever bought them – plays top-quality DVD audio discs; it does nearly as good a job with those lossy MP3 files off an iPod or copied to the unit’s built-in 15 GB hard drive. A new Song By Voice feature allows the driver to select audio choices via voice activation.

Those choosing the Advance Package also get ventilated front seats and a blind-spot warning system for added safety while changing lanes on the highway, which is a feature we think should be standard across the line.

We found the front seats to be comfortable and supportive, with sufficient travel to suit long-legged motorists. Rear seat room is plentiful for 2 adult riders – three in a pinch – with a maximum 36.2 inches of legroom. Trunk space is adequate with 13.1 cubic feet of space (12.5 with AWD), though the rear seatbacks do not fold flat to expand its cargo-carrying abilities.

While the 2012 Acura TL may not be as flat-out sporty as a BMW 5 Series or as posh as a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, it’s certainly not as passive as competitors like the Lexus ES 350 or Lincoln MKZ. Like its closest rival, the Infiniti G37, the TL deftly balances elements of raciness and comfort that’s sure to engage a wide range of buyers.

You might even call it well balanced.

MSRP: $35,605-$39,155, not including $860 destination charge.