2012 Acura TL Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
17 -18 City / 25 -26 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
305
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Roland K
Like the color, have all the technology for a 2012.
No problem good handling around turns. Very fast with the v6 3. 7 litter. I would buy another one in the future. Only problem is just the gas mileage and frequent oil changes due to continuous driving. The seats can be a little uncomfortable for longer trips 8 plus.
accountCircle Isaiah H
My great Acura tl. I love it.
Actually the car is great. Aside from regular maintenance I have come across any actual problems. The performance is great although it takes premium gas. I have had any issues with the car itself. I am truly happy with my vehicle. The Acura tl is great!
accountCircle Miles M
One of the most important things about this car is the reliability of the car. I have never had any issues with the car than the usual mileage maintenance.
My vehicle is a great car, this is the second Acura TL I have bought. The 2012 drives like you would expect a BMW to drive but without all the expensive maintenance.
accountCircle Zac B
This is a great family sedan.
This vehicle is extremely comfortable for my family of four including two children under the age of four. The trunk has a ton of space for long trips. The most impressive aspect of this car however, is under the hood. If you need to pass, expect to get up to speed on no time at all.
accountCircle Ada S
It really is luxury and fast. It handles great and the technology package is worth the extra money.
I love the technology package, the power, and how it handles. The tires seem to wear easily.
accountCircle Danielle Stiles
Great Car
I have been the original owner a women senior & I take care of it. I bought the base model 2012 TL. Love this car. Bought it in Sept.2012. It only has 7,083 miles:)... I put 980 miles per yr. Being retired. The engine hasn't been broken in :) I have replaced the battery 3x. & change the oil every 6 months. I love my car. I happy I bought it...Danielle S. (2/23/20)
accountCircle Tiger T
It's fun to drive, and has a great amount of room.
The vehicle performs adequately. There seems to be no problems. I like the feel. It also is the first car I have owned under my legal given name at birth.
accountCircle Mallely A
Acura best things you need to have these car.
For me is the car it very easy to drive and also is not very expensive and his very fancy for a cheap car. Also, is very fast and it has a little closed window on the top the I love it a lot. The gasoline if you know how to used correctly it will last for a long time. It color black is super cool and elegant.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Addy B
The issues of the Acura involving space.
The Acura is pretty small, so I cannot fit more than 5 people in at a time. This is quite troublesome whenever I am having a bunch of friends over. It is very durable though, and it has not broken down ever. Overall, I would rate the Acura a 2 or 3 out of 5.
accountCircle Brett B
Acura tl stands the test of time.
The Acura tl has been very reliable and we have been happy with it. I like the style and it still looks relevant and not out of style even though it is 8 years old. The tech package as has stayed up to date and is inline with tech features from our other, newer Lexus.
accountCircle Jenny R
My favorite thing about the vehicle are the seat warmers/coolers.
What I like about this car is the leather seats, seat warmers/coolers. It does run very smoothly down the highway although it is not so great on gas. The car is a little smaller inside. It does not have enough leg space. The car is very cheap to fix. Overall it is an okay car.
accountCircle Charlie S
The sunroof is very cool.
It is a very good car. I like the sun roof because it is good to have the sun in your face and go fast. I like that it is automatic and I do not have to change the gears myself. The backseat is very roomy and I like the comfort for my passengers. I like to go fast in the car.
accountCircle Drew D
Acura tl 2012 is a reliable car.
Good mileage by the gallon and runs great. Usually has no issues since I have had it for a few years now and had around 80 thousand miles on it. No issues what do ever so far since I manage it greatly and take it in for oil changes. I would recommend this car to others since it is so good.
accountCircle Beth D
It is a very safe car. Good protection in an accident.
There are issues that it shouldn't have for a car of that price, like the power locks for example. The interior is comfortable.
accountCircle Solei M
My car has great reliability and speed.
My vehicle is great on gas mileage and comfortable however I have put a lot of money towards repairs and costly maintenance because of the type of vehicle that it is and needing parts that I can only get at dealership.
accountCircle Anna K
The seats are beautiful. It's a unique color. I believe it's called numbers
I just recently came across a high oil consumption problem which burned a lot of my oil. I have to take it to the dealership to pretty much get a new engine. The good thing is this job is completely covered by manufacturer. I wish my car was faster when I would step on the pedal. It's a beautiful car and great for a family of 4.

Acura TL Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Auto
305 HP 21 MPG 5 Seats
car
Tech Auto
305 HP 21 MPG 5 Seats
car
Tech Man
305 HP 20 MPG 5 Seats
car
Advance Auto
305 HP 21 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Acura TL Owner Reviews

4.54
122 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 62%
4 stars 30%
3 stars 7%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Natalie D on June 25, 2021
She flows effortlessly through the night.
My vehicle reminds me of a cheetah running through the jungle in the dead of night. She is fierce sleek modern and a beauty. Her engine revs like a NASCAR race car and she drives so smoothly and elegantly. I love that she is gentle on gas and drives as smooth as butter no matter the weather.
accountCircle Doug A on June 25, 2021
Great Acura product. Would buy again.
Really no problems. Had to have radio replaced and changed the timing belt at 105k miles. The leather is not the best quality as it didn’t wear well. The leather on the center console armrest wore out very quickly. I do use full synthetic oil in it so I think that helps.
View All Reviews (122) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Dwayne L.

The pros are the reliability of the car, the features, the excellent handling, the excellent performance, and the great looks. The car comes with 305 hp with the exceptional handling with sh-AWD. It is technology in its AWD is system's torque vectoring.

likeFilled Meliss D.

The car is very reliable and comfort is at the forefront. It has all the perks and was ahead of it is time with luxury items making this car feel expensive. It has all-wheel drive and a v-6 engine so it is powerful, fast car.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Dwayne L.

The cons are the lack of foldable or retractable rear seats to allow extra and accessibility of trunk space. Another con is the lower gas mileage or mpg. The other con is the requirement of premium or high octane fuel.

dislikeFilled Meliss D.

The Bluetooth system was having issues so it was replaced. My air conditioning had a leak so a part had to be replaced. My psi keeps have issues reading my tire pressure. Luckily, everything was under our extended warranty so it was at no cost to us.

Ranks #5 Luxury Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Acura TL has an average owner rating of 4.54 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 16 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2012 Audi S5
4.75
2
car
2012 Audi A5
4.61
5
car
2012 Acura TL
4.54

Ranks #7 Luxury Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Acura TL has a combined MPG of 29 which ranks it #7 of 16 other Luxury Small Cars.

1
car
2012 Audi A3
42 MPG
2
car
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
31 MPG
7
car
2012 Acura TL
26 MPG

Is The 2012 Acura TL A Good Car?

Yes, I believe the vehicle is a good vehicle. It runs smooth. I only fill up on gas once a month. I have leather interior, that has begun to ware. I do not have too many issues with the car. Right now... Read More
Danielle W.
The best vehicle I have ever owned! Interior/exterior are both top notch. Audio system is impressive and so is the smooth ride.
Mike Q.
The 2012 tl is a good vehicle, it is quick when it needs to be, but offers a comfy ride. It has enough touches of luxury and sportiness without being too much of one or the other. Great handling,... Read More
Serenity G.
Yes. I was really attracted to the body styling. The V6 engine has plenty of power and the handling and ride is very smooth. It has been a very reliable car and is comfortable for long trips.
Shay C.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Acura TL?

I believe it is reliable. Again the only issue I am having is a tire pressure issue. I know that the tire pressure is due to a bent rim. I have had to had the car jumped once. I set in my car a little... Read More
Danielle W.
I have owned it for 6 months, put 15,000 miles on the odometer, and have had zero problems. I am Acura for life!
Mike Q.
The 2012 tl is pretty reliable, you do not need to second guess that it is going to start in the morning, but you do run into minor issues when you reach the 100k mile mark.
Serenity G.
Yes. It has been very reliable. Only problem I am seeing is the door molding is coming loose on the passenger side
Jo W.

Is The 2012 Acura TL A Good Value?

I bought mine used for about $15,000. I probably could have gotten a newer year cheaper. I think I should have paid less.
Danielle W.
I purchased used for around 14,000 and was completely fine in doing so.. Beautiful car with plush features. Well worth the money.
Mike Q.
I purchased my 2012 tl in Jan 2019 with 51k miles, as of December 2019 we'r e at 79k miles. Strong engine made by Honda, they hold value decently well.
Serenity G.
It was $22,500 used with 33k miles which was a good deal at the time. There were other options I was looking at like Lexus but the cost was $5000 higher.
Amy M.

Related Articles for 2012 Acura TL

From the Vehicle History blog

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my 2012 Acura TL check charging system light on?

Answer: When the check charging system light turns on in Your 2012 Acura TL that means that the computer has detected a problem with Your electrical system. It could either be a problem with Your battery or the...

What's the 2012 acura tl sh awd top speed?

Answer: The 2012 Acura TL SH AWD top speed is 98 mph. Some of the most popular performance upgrades would be tuning the ECU, adding a performance cold air intake, and upgrading the exhaust.Chip tuning your ECU can...

What's the 2012 acura tl 3.7 Oil type?

Answer: The 2012 Acura TL 3 7 oil type iS5w-20. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with the engine. Having high...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety