2006 Acura TL Review

The TL sedan from Honda's upscale Acura division has been the best-selling Acura since the second-generation TL arrived for 1999. It has long been considered a bargain because it provides a good blend of sport and luxury and is loaded with comfort, convenience and safety equipment.

Sales of the TL rose to 78,218 cars last year from 77,895 units in 2004, although the $33,325-$35,325 sedan competes in the luxury market with such formidable sporty upscale sedans as the BMW 3- and 5-Series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The TL has front-drive because it's based on the Honda Accord sedan platform. That sharing saves Honda/Acura lots of money, but front-drive causes the TL to lack the more balanced weight distribution and sharper handling of those rear-drive competitors. The rival Audi A4 has front-drive, but also is sold with all-wheel drive, which trumps rear-drive for good power delivery to roads.

Then again, some folks like the traction advantages of front-drive during routine driving.

The TL was introduced for 1996 with good refinement and workmanship, but the car really took off when the second-generation, equipment-packed model debuted for 1999 with a fairly low price. The third-generation TL arrived for 2004 with bolder styling that grabbed lots of buyers.

The horsepower rating of the TL's smooth, sophisticated 3.2-liter aluminum V-6 has been reduced to 258 from 270 to keep it consistent with more conservative new Society of Automotive Engineers standards. But those are "paper numbers'' and TL performance remains unchanged. (Other automakers also are lowering horsepower a bit to adhere to the new standards.)

A new tire-pressure monitor is welcome because correct tire pressures help a car provide its best handling, steering, braking and fuel economy.

The TL comes with either a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature or a sporty six-speed manual gearbox, which became available in 2004.

The manual has easy, short-throw shift action, but works with a clutch that has rather abrupt engagement. Order the manual, and the TL gets a firmer suspension, upgraded brakes and a limited-slip differential for better power delivery to the road. It's also offered with performance tires instead of all-season tires for an extra $200.

The 2006 TL with the manual is more fun to drive because it gets engine control module changes to help reduce torque steer during acceleration. That was an annoying fault that caused the steering wheel to jerk a bit to the left or right during quick acceleration

The TL is nearly as fast with the automatic transmission as it is with the manual, which allows a 0-60 mph run in 6.3 seconds. The manual-transmission TL also is a bit more agile because it's lighter at 3,483 pounds than the automatic version, which weighs 3,580 pounds.

Estimated fuel economy is the same with either transmission: 20 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway.

Both versions of the car would be lighter if not loaded with equipment, which includes power front seats, leather upholstery, air conditioning with dual-zone controls, XM satellite radio, hands-free cell phone, automatic-off headlights and the largest moonroof Acura has developed.

There's also an 8-speaker "Surround Sound System'' with DVD-Audio, DTS and CD 6-disc changer, AM/FM tuner and a Dolby cassette with six different audio channels.

Virtually the only factory-installed extra is a navigation system, which bumps the base price of the TL several thousand dollars and takes time to learn to use.

There also is much safety equipment, which includes anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution for surer quick stops, front-side and curtain-side air bags, traction control and an anti-skid system.

The TL has precise steering and above-average handling with its race-car-style double-wishbone front/rear suspension and standard, fairly large 17-inch tires and wide 45-series tires. Handling is improved by the available factory-installed performance tires, but Acura notes they have less traction in snow and accelerated wear. The ride is taut, but supple, and thus comfortable.

Acura knows some car owners want distinctive extras, so there's a dealer-installed sport-suspension kit. For the go-fast crowd, it contains performance springs and shock absorbers that lower the TL about 1.2 inches, along with 18-inch wheels with wider tires, aero kit, rear spoiler and special steering wheel with a distinctive shape and cover stitching.

Other dealer-installed options include wheel locks, a moonroof visor and a handy back-up sensor, which really should be standard, considering the TL's large amount of equipment.

Four tall adults fit comfortably in the quiet, high-quality driver-oriented interior, which has steering-wheel controls, backlit gauges that can be read under various light conditions and aluminum trim. All switches are illuminated to make them easy to find.

The front seats are comfortable, but the rear ones could use more thigh support, and lower back-door openings should be wider to allow more dignified entry and exit.

The large, fully lined trunk has a low, wide opening with covered lid hinges to prevent cargo damage. Rear seatbacks don't fold forward to enlarge the cargo area, but there's a small center pass-through area from the trunk to the back seat for such things as skis.

Despite more competition, the TL should continue its winning ways -- if Acura continues to give the car a reasonable price. 

2006 ACURA TL 

PRICES: $33,325-$35,325

LIKES: Fast. Good handling. Roomy. Aggressively styled. Well equipped.

DISLIKES: Lacks rear-wheel drive. Marginal rear seat thigh support.