Acura TL

Acura TL at a glance

The four generations of the TL

The TL was Acura's first model with the alphanumeric naming scheme, and it remained Acura's best seller until the MDX overtook it in 2007. Its place in the brand's story is told in our history of Acura.

First generation (1996–1998): five or six cylinders

The first TL was built at Sayama in Japan from 28 March 1995. Both engines were mounted lengthways: the 2.5 TL had the Vigor's 2.5-litre five-cylinder with 131 kW (176 hp), and the 3.2 TL used the 3.2-litre V6 from the second-generation Legend with 149 kW (200 hp). The 2.5 was the sportier car with firmer suspension, while the 3.2 had leather as standard.

A trade dispute between the United States and Japan delayed the 3.2 TL until late 1995; threatened 100 % tariffs on Japanese luxury cars were never applied. In Japan the same cars were sold as the Honda Inspire and Honda Saber, and in some other markets as the Honda Vigor. The old version of this page said Japan built the TL for its own market until 2000 and 2004; those dates refer to the Inspire and Saber names, not to TL production.

Second generation (1999–2003): built in Ohio

From August 1998 the TL was built at Marysville, Ohio, alongside the Honda Accord, on a basis derived from the US-market Accord. It had only one engine, a 3.2-litre VTEC V6 with 168 kW (225 hp). A four-speed automatic was used for 1999, then a five-speed automatic with SportShift.

The Type-S of 2002 raised power to 194 kW (260 hp) and added 17-inch wheels, firmer seats and firmer suspension. The same year brought a facelift with a new front, new tail lamps and a six-CD changer. The five-speed automatic had a known weakness: wear in the third-gear clutch could block oil passages, and Honda extended the warranty on affected cars to 7.75 years or 109,000 miles. Any second-generation TL on sale today should have proof that the gearbox was repaired or replaced.

Third generation (2004–2008): the best-selling TL

The third TL went on sale in October 2003. It was developed mainly in the United States by a team led by Erik Berkman, with a body by Honda designer Jon Ikeda, and it was not sold in Japan. The 3.2-litre V6 was first rated at 201 kW (270 hp) and later at 192 kW (258 hp) under new SAE standards, without any technical change. It was offered with a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual; manual cars added Brembo four-piston front calipers and a limited-slip differential.

Technology was a strong point: a DVD-Audio system tuned by Elliot Scheiner, Bluetooth hands-free, an 8-inch touchscreen with voice control and XM radio. In 2004 Acura sold about 79,000 TLs, and in 2005 the TL was the second-best-selling luxury saloon in the United States, behind only the BMW 3 Series. The Type-S returned for 2007 with the 3.5-litre V6 from the RL, 213 kW (286 hp), quad exhausts and Brembo brakes.

Fourth generation (2009–2014): larger, with SH-AWD

The first fourth-generation TL left the Marysville line on 23 September 2008. It grew by 6.2 in (157 mm) in length, 1.8 in (46 mm) in width and 0.5 in (13 mm) in height, figures the old version of this page also gave. Its "Keen Edge Dynamic" styling, with a large silver "Power Plenum" grille, divided opinion.

The base car had a 3.5-litre V6 with 209–210 kW (280 hp) and front-wheel drive. The TL SH-AWD used a 3.7-litre V6 with 227 kW (305 hp) and Acura's torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The system normally sent 90 % of the power to the front and could send up to 70 % to the rear, split between the rear wheels in corners. A six-speed manual became available with SH-AWD for 2010.

By our calculation, the SH-AWD carried about 7.9 kg per kW and the front-drive car about 8.0 kg per kW. You can check such ratios with our power-to-weight calculator; in short, the extra engine size mainly offset the weight of all-wheel drive. The old version of this page listed boot volumes of 371 litres for the front-drive car and 354 litres for SH-AWD; we keep these figures as stated there.

The 2012 facelift and fuel economy

For 2012 Acura toned down the grille, revised the rear and fitted a six-speed automatic with rev-matched downshifts. Ventilated front seats, a 60 GB hard drive and blind-spot information arrived, and the car became 3 dB quieter at motorway speed. Fuel economy improved by 2 mpg in town and 3 mpg on the motorway, to 20 and 29 mpg (US), about 11.8 and 8.1 l/100 km. You can convert other figures with our fuel economy converter.

In crash tests by the IIHS, the 2012–2014 TL was rated Good in moderate overlap, small overlap, side and roof strength tests. Production ended in March 2014, and the TLX took over for the 2015 model year, also replacing the smaller TSX; see our pages on the Acura TLX and the Acura TSX.

US sales by year

The best year was 2005, with 78,218 cars. By our calculation, sales fell by about 57 % between the third generation's peak and the fourth generation's first full year, which reflects both the economic crisis and the controversial styling.

How the TL grew, and its link to the Accord

The third generation was the most compact TL of all, which suited its sporty brief, while the fourth was the longest. From the second generation onwards the TL shared its basis with the US Honda Accord and was built in the same Ohio plant. Even so, it had its own body, larger V6 engines and a richer cabin. Every Acura model is listed in our Acura catalogue.