Acura tones down TL’s looks for 2012

BY JOHN STEIN Automotive Editor August 19, 2011 4:45PM

Story Image

2012 Acura TL SH-AWD.

2012 ACURA TL SH-AWD

ENGINE: 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6

TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: all-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 18 city/26 highway

BASE PRICE: $39,605

AS TESTED: not available

WEBSITE: acura.com

Article Extras
Story Image

Related Stories

Updated: August 22, 2011 1:59PM



Engineers for Acura TL knew that the pronounced angular nose that so definitively defined the sport sedan on the outside also had a polarizing effect on potential customers who might have otherwise loved the car.

Off with the beak was possibly the cry heard around the design table as Acura releases the 2012 TL with revised skin and a toned-down treatment of the front and rear. It’s a good move for a really competent sport sedan.

The TL has been Acura’s best-selling model and for good reasons, with the exception of that aforementioned beak styling. By making the grille smaller and revising the fog light surrounds on the front fascia, I think the new TL becomes more sophisticated by stepping back into a more middle ground on the design.

The 2012 TL gets some new wheel styles for the 17- and 18-inch sizes while the SH-AWD’s optional 19-inch rims come with all-season P245/40R19 tires. My SH-AWD tester looked splendid sitting atop the huge 19-inch tires and it added some athleticism to the overall exterior. Not to mention what it did for grip and performance.

Inside the cabin you will find the expected quality craftsmanship and tight fit and finish throughout the dash and surrounds. My tester had the advance package, which delivered a new blind spot information system, the big 19-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires. One of the more appreciated luxury items in this package was the ventilated leather seats in front. I love leather seats, but hate them in the summer. With ventilated seats cool air can be blown up through the perforations, making for a comfortable trip no matter how hot it might be outside the cabin.

Headroom and legroom is generous in the front and the TL rear passengers enjoy plenty of room to get comfortable. Bolstering for the driver’s seat was perfect for long rides but with just enough support to hold me in place once I decided it was time to play with that manual mode transmission.

Acura’s powertrains always have been a reliable selling point over the years and Acura’s 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 and 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 remain cornerstones of the TL.

Acura left behind the five-speed gearbox for a new performance-oriented six-speed automatic. This gearbox delivers outstanding transition with a real fun factor for the enthusiast who might like to play with the shifts a bit. This new system will allow double-kickdowns, say from fifth to third gear, while the six-speed manual transmission is still an option with the 3.7-liter V-6 and Acura’s all-wheel drive. The Sequential Sportshift automatic is available in both the front-wheel-drive and AWD models.

The TL price range is $35,605 to $45,085. Fuel economy estimates for the AWD are 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. For the refined surroundings, the outstanding drive characteristics and the overall quality of appointments inside, Acura TL is an easy sedan to recommend.

© 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.

Comments  Click here to view or make a comment

You Might Like

From ToDrive.com