2004 Acura TL Review

The aggressively restyled TL sedan from Honda's upscale Acura division resembles the rakish Italian Alfa Romeo 156 sold in Europe -- and produces more power, sports wider tires and offers extra equipment for 2004.

This is the third-generation TL, the first being introduced in 1995. The car really took off after the second-generation, equipment-packed model arrived for 1999, when the car soon became known as a total bargain.

The TL has been Acura's top-selling car since the 1999 model, which was larger and based on the Honda Accord, although the TL was more luxurious and costly. The philosophy behind the TL has been to offer a fast, roomy, high-quality sedan that is reasonably priced for a "near-luxury'' car and so well equipped that no factory options are needed.

The more rigidly constructed 2004 TL continues the tradition, with so much comfort, convenience and safety equipment that there are no factory-installed options, although the 2004 model is more expensive. For instance, the new base model is $32,650, and last year's base TL cost $28,980.

Want leather upholstery with heated power front seats and air conditioning with dual-zone automatic climate controls? You've got them.

Want a power sunroof and power windows, mirrors and locks with remote keyless entry? You've also got them. And so on.

Safety items? How about an anti-skid system, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution for surer fast stops, front side air bags and head-protecting curtain side air bags? You don't pay a dime extra for those items.

The 2004 TL has an assortment of class-leading innovations and industry firsts that include DVD-Audio eight-speaker Surround Sound System with DVD-Audio, DTS and CD 6-disc CD changer, AM/FM tuner and Dolby cassette. There's also XM Satellite Radio and hands-free phone connectivity utilizing Bluetooth technology. But an OnStar assistance system is no longer offered.

The TL has the comforting feel of a big, solid, heavy car. But its front-drive design prevents it from being a genuine sports sedan like cars such as the rear-drive BMW, which has more balanced weight distribution.

Even the first-time close-ratio manual gearbox for the TL doesn't help because the car is too nose-heavy for hard driving, with 61.4 percent of its weight up front. At least that gearbox is a slick, six-speed unit that's accompanied by a firmer suspension, upgraded brakes, limited-slip differential and higher-performance tires.

A responsive five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature -- but notchy shift lever -- also is offered, and is more appropriate for the luxury-oriented TL.

A new sport suspension kit known as the "A-SPEC'' kit is offered, and contains such items as 18-inch wheels with wider 40-series tires, lowered vehicle height, front/rear spoilers, special steering wheel, ground-effects rocker panels, performance brake pads for automatic-transmission models and special badging. But the costly ($5,200) dealer-installed kit doesn't add horsepower, so why bother with it?

The current TL also is based on the front-drive Accord's platform. But the latest TL's modern redesigned chassis and all-independent suspension can't overcome the excessive front weight, which causes the front tires to cope with too much handling and braking chores.

The TL has good handling and a firm-but-supple ride. The newly refined, sharp steering is nicely weighted and the brakes are strong, although not best in class. The (45-series) tires are wider and are put on big 17-inch wheels.

The new styling makes the latest TL look fast and lean, as if it's doing 70 mph just sitting there. The 2004 model has nearly the same wheelbase as its rather bland-looking 1999-2003 generation model, but is 6.3 inches shorter, 1.5 inches wider and 3 inches taller. Passenger volume remains virtually the same, but cargo volume is down a bit.

Horsepower of its smooth, responsive 3.2-liter V-6 has been increased to 270 from 225 generated by the standard 2003 TL -- and from 260 in last year's high-performance Type-S version, which has been dropped.

Acceleration of the 3,575-pound TL is strong, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds. Fuel economy isn't bad for a fast, roomy sedan: an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway with the manual gearbox and 20 and 28 with the automatic.

The upscale interior with its brushed aluminum accent trim is very roomy for four tall adults and quiet, with easily read gauges and good visibility from the driver's seat. Long sun visors can be moved to the side to block sunlight. Front seats provide superb support, but back seat cushions lack adequate thigh support for those with long legs.

Front doors feature private-jet-style storage pockets that snap open. Dual cupholders on the console are nicely located and have a sliding cover. The large rear center armrest has sturdy pull-out dual cupholders.

The fully lined trunk is large. It has a low, wide opening and covered lid hinges to prevent cargo damage. However, rear seatbacks don't fold forward to increase cargo room.

Acura knows it's got a good thing going with the TL, and thus has made it better than ever to retain the car's popularity.

2004 ACURA TL

Prices
$32,650-$34,850

Likes
Bold new styling. More power from smooth V-6. Fast. Roomy. Wider tires. First manual gearbox offered. Equipment-loaded.

Dislikes
Not a sports sedan. Notchy automatic transmission shifter. Rear seat cushions lack good thigh support.