There’s an old saying that you can put lipstick on a pig, but all you’ll have is a pig wearing lipstick. That’s kind of the situation with the Acura TL. For some time, Acura has had a lack-luster reputation. BMW, Lexus and Mercedes Benz stood out in the luxury market, while Honda held the high ground on reliability. Even Ford had history behind it. Acura, on the other hand, has had nothing but lukewarm, middle of the road, mediocrity to recommend it.
With the 2009 Acura TL, you can tell that the brains behind the brand tried to rev up their image and produce something that would really change the way the world responded to Acura. So they added a lot of bells and whistles that didn’t significantly improve the overall package – in short, lipstick on a pig. It might look a little prettier, but it still does the same old serviceable, “nothing to write home about” job. And you can get similar cars, that do a better same job, at a better price, from other manufacturers.
Yes, the Acura TL has a new style. If that particular style is what you’re after, that’s all well and good. But at the end of the day, what matters are the car’s qualities, and those haven’t changed. Like every Acura, the TL is a showcase for gadgets. The base car has iPod and Bluetooth connectivity. There’s also a navigation system with real time weather forecasts, a great sound system and adaptive climate control. All of these features are really cool, but say nothing about how the car performs or handles, or what kind of mileage it gets.
With the SH-AWD model, which sports a V6 engine and all wheel drive traction, you do get improved handling. In fact, the SH stands for “super handling” and that’s the one thing about the car that’s actually descriptive. It’s a better handling car, but it’s still an Acura. At this level, you could buy an Audi A4, BMW 3 series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 or even a Mercedes C class. For that kind of money, you want more than just gadgets and flash, and – unfortunately – that’s all the Acura has to offer.
Safety ratings, like the rest of the Acura models, are average. However, if safety is your biggest concern, you’re better off – and will spend less money – buying a Honda.
The interior quality and craftsmanship of the TL are good, but for the money you’re spending, it’s worth it to step up to other luxury cars like the Cadillac or Infiniti, or even the Hyundai Genesis.
In the plus column, the TL does stand out with a roomy interior, especially for people over six feet tall. The price is competitive in its luxury range, with the base model starting at $34,955, but if you’re buying a car with luxury in mind, you can get more luxury for what you’re spending with any of the other options mentioned above.
