First Drive: 2012 Acura TL - Review

2012 Acura TL - First Drive and Review

For years, Acura approached the evolution of its vehicles with the deliberate patience of a carpenter wielding a sanding block. Rough mechanical or aesthetic edges were banished not with axe swings, but with small motions that seemed barely perceptible compared to the ranging whims of the competition.

Then the 2009 TL came along.
While the automaker had already begun to dabble with its then-new corporate shield grille, the TL took the piece and ran with it in a direction no one else was heading. Ask Acura about the thinking behind the design, and the company will say that the look was a product of the times. When the vehicle was penned, the world was preoccupied with ever larger displays of affluence, and Acura wanted a sedan that was unmistakable in every way. Unfortunately, the fourth-generation TL landed right as the housing bubble popped and the rest of the economy began circling the drain.

Numbers may not tell an entire story, but they do help build a business case. When it comes to looking at the figures associated with the fourth-generation Acura TL, which launched in 2009, the luxury sports sedan was a success. The model remains Acura's second best-selling model (eclipsed only by the MDX crossover), and remains the brand's best-selling passenger car. Almost three years after its launch -- and even in the shadow of a global economic shakeup -- nearly 34,000 customers ponied up to bring a TL home in 2010.

It's still no Alfa Romeo, but a number of small changes to the 2012 TL have yielded one big improvement. In front, a downscaled grille is now complemented by dark headlights and a revised front fascia. A horizontal body line separates the space between the grille and bumper, helping Acura cut about an inch from the front overhang. The rear overhang is down by about a half-inch, as well. Overall, the length has decreased from 195.5 to 194.0 inches.

Acura tells us that about three-quarters of all TL buyers will go for the front-drive model, which is powered by the same 280-horse, 3.5-liter V-6 as before. No complaints here; the 3.5-liter engine has enough oomph for passing when necessary, and, thanks in large part to the new six-speed automatic, fuel economy is way up. Along with changes to the front fascia and underbody airflow, the new transmission increases efficiency from 18/26 mpg city/highway to 20/29 on FWD models. Most of the TL's weight is draped over the front axles: 61/39 percent on front-wheel-drive models, 59/41 percent on all-wheel-drive automatic models, and 58/42 percent on the all-wheel-drive manual model.