Acura’s compact TL sedan was an underappreciated gem that offered exceptional value vs. German rivals. While ultimately replaced, the TL was a mostly reliable, enjoyable car during its tenure.
Key Points
- The Acura TL Type S model years 2007-2008 are by far the best TLs made, maybe even the best Acura made. It is reliable, reasonably priced on the used market, and fun to drive; everything you could ask for in a car.
- The worst Acura TL has to be the 2012 model year. A final generation model that lacks performance, has no style, and rates low in safety. Other cars, like the Lexus, provide a better value and offer more for the used car buyer.
- Overall, the Acura TL is a fun, reliable commuter, once you get past its conservative styling. It is a good value and owners like the TL. The Type S makes this car desirable and a truly exceptional sport sedan.
First-gen Acura TL: An Underappreciated Car Offering a Lot of Value
The Acura TL debuted in 1996 as a replacement to the Acura Vigor. This first-gen model lasted until 1998. The two available engines were a 176 horsepower 2.5-liter inline-five cylinder, and a 200 horsepower 3.2-liter V6. Even in 1996, Motor Trend deemed the styling of the first-generation TL conservative. That still holds true today, and these first-generation TLs are not considered particularly good-looking.
They are, however, among the most reliable cars you can buy. Some Car Gurus users even claim as much as 318,000 trouble-free miles, which is certainly above average.
Another thing that makes the first-generation TL interesting is that it was the last vehicle powered by the “G Series” engines. Five-cylinder engines are an uncommon design, and that makes the car a little more interesting. But that alone doesn’t exactly endear the first-generation TL among enthusiasts. The 1997 Acura TL saw the introduction of variable-speed wipers and a standard power moonroof.
The first Acura TL represented a competitive value, facing down rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class. Though potentially underappreciated for its time, these Edmunds reviews suggest a very good ownership experience.
Second-gen. Acura TL: Benefits from New Powertrains & Introduces Performance ‘Type S’ Model
The second-generation Acura TL made its appearance in 1999. It was manufactured until 2004, and there was only one engine offered for the first few years. The J32 3.2-liter V6 replaced the aging powerplant from the first generation and promised a bump to 225 horsepower. But it gets much better than that.
In 2002, Acura introduced the Acura TL Type S, which bumped maximum output to 260 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque. Car and Driver really enjoyed the car, complimenting the much improved at-speed acceleration. Notably, it only took the second-generation TL Type-S 4.5 seconds to accelerate from 50 to 70 mph. It even beat the current-generation BMW 3 Series to 100 mph.
The best part about the second-generation Acura TL is the advancements over the first generation. Motor Trend lauded this generation as a “true sports sedan” and claiming that Acura “clearly made a good car better” with the introduction of the Type S. Acura claimed that more than 500 hardware changes were made to make the Type S feel and drive as special as it was.
The second-generation Acura TL showed the world what Acura was capable of. With features like Acura’s “SportShift”, a sequential manual shift option, it became clear that Acura was moving towards more sporting intentions. From enthusiasts to general consumers, everyone loved it. And most owners seem to back that up too.
Vehicle History’s owner reviews back up claims that the second-generation Acura TL offers a fun, mostly reliable, and rewarding ownership experience. But the best is yet to come.
Third-gen. Acura TL: A True Compact Luxury Sedan with Minimal Complaints
For the third-generation Acura TL (2004-2008), Acura retained the now-familiar J32 3.2-liter V6. As this comparison at Car Connection shows, this is when the Acura TL really solidified itself as a contender in the luxury compact sedan market.
It now produced 270 horsepower, which is a considerably higher output than its base Mercedes-Benz contemporary. It also returned better fuel economy, generally a more spacious cabin, and a more sophisticated suspension setup. Predictably, this was reflected by the high praise that most automotive journalists had for the newest Acura TL. Even after a long-term test, Motor Trend had minimal qualms about well, pretty much everything in the Acura TL. One fault is the torque steer induced by its front-wheel-drive architecture. Most of the time the safety benefits of the front-wheel-drive will outweigh the occasional discomfort of torque steer.
And let’s not forget the third-generation Acura TL Type S. That’s right, it came back for a sequel.
Impressively, it even made Car and Driver’s quickest cars of 2008 between $30,000 and $40,000. But even after resoundingly positive reviews, Acura brought even more goodies to the third-generation TL Type S. This includes bits like Brembo-sourced brakes, lightweight wheels, a limited-slip differential, a more track-ready suspension, and even an optional manual transmission. It also got a bump up to 286 horsepower, further closing the gap between it and its BMW and Mercedes rivals.
But it wasn’t just the Type S TL that made people really start appreciated Acura. As you can see from the many owner reviews here on Vehicle History, the third generation Acura TL really does do it all. The third-generation Acura TL represents a huge leap forward for Acura. Type S or base, the TL makes good on its sleek and sporty looks and offered a fantastic value and driving experience.
Fourth-gen. Acura TL: Adds Optional AWD, but is Ultimately Discontinued
The fourth and final generation debuted in 2009 and lasted until 2014. Most notable was the long-awaited SH-AWD system; preliminary testing with Car and Driver promised “Velcro handling” and praised the 305 horsepower from a 3.7-liter V6.
Sadly, no enthusiast flavor Type S variant existed for the fourth-generation Type S. Luckily, Road and Track reports that you could still get a traditional six-speed manual transmission, which is genuinely cool and exceedingly hard to find. Plus, even in 2014 when the TL was beginning to show its age, owners had great things to say about it. Edmunds users have only nice things to say about the car; citing its sporting intentions, reliability, and overall practicality.
Unfortunately, the fourth-generation Acura TL never really hit its mark. By the early 2010s, the Germans had really stepped up their game, and Acura was left gasping for air by comparison. Lexus had come a long way, too, offering a more luxurious and sometimes cheaper alternative.
The Worst Year for the Acura TL
The final generation of the Acura TL certainly became a little long in the tooth by the end of its lifecycle. But it still offered a compelling price and value proposition to their buyers that cared less about performance. And while the first-generation Acura TL offered the very novel five-cylinder Honda engine, that’s about where the positive points end. Its intentionally conservative styling isn’t doing it any favors on the used market, either. Of all the TLs in this generation, we nominate the 2012 model as the worst year, for the above reasons, as well as its subpar NHTSA ratings.
The Best Year for the Acura TL
The Acura TL has always represented a workhorse, regardless of generation. Almost every generation sacrifices some degree of dynamics for a little more reliability, except the third-generation Type S. All of the extra bits Acura didn’t have to add in but chose to, makes the third-generation TL Type S a truly unique and special car, even today. Plus, today, on the used market, a Type S costs as little as under $20,000.
Reliable, fun, great looking, and genuinely special, the third-generation Acura TL Type S from 2007 and 2008 truly represents the best of the TLs – and maybe some of the best of Acura – that money can buy.
Photos: Acura
