Thoughts from the Curb

Oct 23, 2008 - 2009 Acura TL: The Eiffel Tower of Cars?

OK, so it's ugly. Or rather, visually challenging. But they said that about the Eiffel Tower too, and look how that turned out. So let's move on from there (although this is an improvement).

Dating back to my journey to New York in July, I've logged quite a few of miles in both the front-wheel-drive TL and the TL SH-AWD (which we pronounce "shod," much to the dismay of Acura). While I think the nimble nature of the old car has been lost, the '09 TL is by and large an improved car that should better suit its customers' wants and needs. It's bigger, packed with more technology and the SH-AWD system is phenomenal. It pulled .93 g on skidpad, and on my handling run, it was intensely dilligent in keeping me planted around corners. In one hairpin, I purposely overgoosed the throttle, but the SH-AWD shifted power to the correct wheels (with even some left rear spin) to send me around without a sweat and without stability control intervention. And in a break from Honda norm (pun intended), the SH-AWD car stopped from 60 mph in 106 feet, which was on the forth run.

That's the TL SH-AWD, the FWD is less impressive dynamically, although certainly adequate for Acura's intended customer base. The exception would be the electric steering, which is too slow and light in the FWD version. The SH-AWD TL still satisfies the customers' need for loosey-goosey steering in parking lots, but its heftier and feelier action at normal-to-aggressive speeds is vastly superior. I don't see why it couldn't have been applied to all TL models.

If I had $42,000 to spend on a luxury sedan, I'd probably go for a well-optioned BMW 328i or Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport (I'm still in love with small German cars). But beyond those, I'd probably pick the TL SH-AWD if I were to prioritize its countless superior electronic features and all-wheel-drive. For whatever reason, the TL's myriad gadgets, controls and menu layouts just make sense to this brain. And the ELS stereo is majestic.

I think there's a fair share of people who will prioritize in such a way...as long as they enjoy a good visual challenge.

-James Riswick

(My full model review of the 2009 Acura TL is here. Stay tuned for my Edmunds Test Drive of the TL FWD in the coming month)

9:53 am | Categories: car reviews Permalink | Alert Administrator

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