The Acura TL offered a luxury ride with great features at an affordable price, thanks to engine options that reached 305 HP before the TL was retired in 2014.
Key Points
- Acura TL debuted in 1996, sitting between the Integra and Legend in price and size.
- The TL was Acura’s best-selling model from 1999 to 2006.
- The TL ended in 2014, and used options offer a luxury automotive experience.
- Throughout its 18-year run, the Acura TL underwent four different generational changes.
- Most notable change for third-gen. TL was debut of a six-speed manual transmission.
- Fourth and final generation debuted with 2009 TL offering two engine options.
- 2010 TL’s 3.7L J-series V6 engine had substantial power output at 305 horsepower.
- Acura TL proves to be very reliable, and when things do go wrong, they’re not severe.
From 1996 to 2014, Acura’s TL Became a Best-seller and Nearly Twice as Powerful
The Acura TL first saw the light of day in the 1996 model year, taking the place of the Vigor sedan and sitting comfortably between the Acura Integra and the Acura Legend as a middle ground in both price and size.
Its intent was solely to be a trustworthy, luxurious ride that owners could comfortably cruise down the road from point A to point B without worry. The TL was a top performer for Acura, in fact, it was their best-selling model from 1999 to 2006.
Though the TL was retired after the 2014 model year and replaced with the TLX, it still offers a great opportunity for used car shoppers to take an affordable step into the luxury side of automotive life. Throughout its 18-year production run, the Acura TL underwent four different generational changes. Let’s take a look at the engines found under the hood of each generation of the TL.
First-generation TL’s Two Engines Offered 176 and 200 HP
The first-generation (1996-1998) TL was available with two different engine options. The first and lower-power variant is a bit unique in that it is an inline five-cylinder engine. The second option is a 3.2-liter V6. Let’s take a look at the specific specs of each engine.
The 2.5-liter inline-five found under the hood of first-generation TL models is a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) engine with an aluminum engine block and cylinder head. Additionally, the engine uses cast-iron cylinder sleeves for added strength. It has four valves per cylinder, for a total of 20 valves. It uses standard multi-point electronic fuel injection.
The TL models equipped with the 2.5-liter have 176 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. They get 18 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.
The 3.2-liter V6 engine in the first-generation TL has very similar construction to the five-cylinder but in a different (V-shaped) layout. It also uses largely aluminum construction with cast-iron cylinder sleeves, and it, too, has a single camshaft per cylinder head, for a total of two. Additionally, it features four valves per cylinder, for a total of 24, and uses standard multi-point electronic fuel injection.
The V6 has a bit of a power advantage with 200 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. It sees fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.
Second-generation TL Engine’s Power Output Increased to 260 HP
The second-generation (1999-2003) of the Acura did away with the unique five-cylinder engine option and offered only the 3.2-liter V6 on TL models. Though the engine displacement is the same, the 3.2-liter V6 found under the hood of second-generation TLs is from a different engine family. These are J series engines, like the ones found in Honda Accords and Odysseys.
The engine found in the second-generation TL, the J32, uses similar mostly aluminum construction. Additionally, it retains the single overhead camshaft construction as well as four valves per cylinder. However, the largest difference between the first- and second-generation V6 engines is the addition of Honda’s iconic variable valve timing system, VTEC.
The standard Acura TL came with 225 horsepower on tap and 216 lb.-ft. of torque to complement it. However, the 2002 Acura TL saw the introduction of the Type-S model. While the engine remained the same 3.2-liter V6, power output was increased to 260 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque.
Second-generation Acura TL models see fuel economy ratings up to 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, according to the EPA.
Third-generation TL Gets Six-speed Manual Transmission, and 286 HP
The 2004 Acura TL brought on yet another forward generational step, and with it came a massive jump in both power and styling. Though, the premise remains the same with the only offering being a single engine option. Also, like the previous generation, the engine in question is in the J-series family of engines. However, third-generation (2004-2008) models saw a displacement increase to 3.5 liters.
Perhaps the most notable change for the third-generation TL, though, is Acura’s decision to offer a six-speed manual transmission. This is the first generation the TL was available with a manual option.
The 3.5-liter V6 engine, the J35, features virtually identical construction to the J32 but features a larger bore and longer stroke for the additional displacement. It retains the single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder foundation.
Power for the J35 came in quite a bit higher than the previous generation, with standard models seeing 258 horsepower and 233 lb.-ft. of torque. By the end of the third-generation production run, the Type S model made a triumphant return with 286 horsepower and 256 lb.-ft. of torque.
The third-generation TL model sees fuel economy numbers up to 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
Fourth-generation TL Offers Two Engines, Raises Power Output at 305 HP
The fourth and final generation (2009-2014) debuted with the 2009 Acura TL. It’s only appropriate that it ends the way it started, with two different engine options.
The first option remains the J35 3.5-liter V6 engine like the third-generation models. Though this engine remains nearly identical to the previous models’ variant, it came standard with 280 horsepower and 254 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2010 Acura TL introduced the successor to the Type S, the SH-AWD. It features a 3.7-liter J-series V6 engine that, once again, retains the single overhead camshaft construction and all the other standard features of the J series engine, like valve count and material makeup. This engine was mated to a six-speed manual all-wheel-drive transmission and had a substantial power output at 305 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque.
Fourth-generation models see fuel economy ratings up to 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
Is the Acura TL Engine Reliable?
For those not in the know, Acura is the luxury division of Honda. As such, you’d expect that Acura vehicles retain Honda’s notoriety for reliability. That assumption would be correct. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Let’s take a look at the Acura TL’s reliability rating according to Repair Pal.
Repair Pal gives the Acura TL an overall reliability rating of four out of five stars across all model years. In terms of luxury midsize cars, that ranks it sixth most reliable out of 31 possible. Additionally, the site states that the average annual repair cost for an Acura TL is low at $467. Furthermore, issues are infrequent, and the severity of repairs is generally very low.
Overall, used car buyers looking into buying an Acura TL should take solace in knowing that they are indeed very reliable. Furthermore, when things do go wrong, they are not all that severe.
As always, when shopping for a used car, it is a good idea to have a certified mechanic take a look before purchasing. Additionally, inputting the vehicle’s VIN into our free VIN research tool helps to see if the vehicle has any accident or theft history so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Photos: Acura