2010 Acura TL Car Review

Designed from scratch for the 2009 model year, the Acura TL carries over with just a few changes for 2010, though the addition of an optional manual transmission offers one major change.

Skinned with a high-tech but controversial look, the 2010 Acura TL is, for many, a love-it-or-leave-it design. Still, heads swivel when the TL drives by. The more restrained mid-lux sedan owner may roll their eyes at its seemingly robot-inspired sheetmetal, but younger or more adventurous buyers will consider it refreshing. Technophiles will find the TL’s collection of digital creases and prominent prow a welcome change from the organic designs of competing sedans. On the inside, there’s much less controversy and more to like. Gentle arcs and circles predominate, beautifully melding leather and synthetic, analog and digital in an artful yet logical way that is uniquely Acura. Unfortunately, Acura chooses the cold, harsh light of white/blue LEDs for the TL’s overhead illumination.

The standard TL uses a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 that’s also under the hood of the Honda Accord to propel the front wheels. Step up to the TL SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive), and you’ll get the 305-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 from the RL sedan juicing all four wheels through Acura’s capable system that removes any threat of torque steer, displays how its distributing power in the instrument cluster, and almost gives the TL the feel of a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan-as long as you’re heavy on the gas. Last year’s standard five-speed automatic transmission was joined in late 2009 by an optional six-speed manual. The automatic, though smooth and responsive enough in sedate driving, is a cog short of its competition and responds too slowly in aggressive driving. Both engines are smooth, sweet-sounding, and responsive, but short travel and hair-trigger responses make the accelerator pedal annoying to use.

Both on paper and in hard driving, the TL is a serious player in the luxury sport sedan segment, though it has its shortcomings. Its Honda Accord underpinnings give the 2010 TL generous room front and rear, but such heritage means that even equipped with Acura’s Super Handling all-wheel drive, it’s front-heavy and not up to the performance par set by its rear-wheel-drive competitors.

Excellent grip and strong acceleration are hallmarks of the SH-AWD model in particular. Powerful brakes slow the 4,000-pound car handily and with confidence. Despite these good traits, when driven tamely in traffic, the TL, including the SH-AWD, feels more like the front-heavy and sensible sedan it is. Big 19-inch wheels also give the SH-AWD a particularly rough ride over irregular surfaces, a problem not evidenced in the base model, which is more comfortable for most purposes.

Cabin space is good, and passenger room front and rear are both ample, with comfortable, supportive seats at all positions. With 13.1 cubic feet of space in the trunk, the 2010 Acura TL is a bit short of some of its competition, but still ahead of the previous-generation TL. Build quality is typically Acura, with solid materials and close tolerances, though there aren’t as many options or upgrades available as you’ll find at brands like BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus.

When it comes to showcasing a wide range of high-tech features, the 2010 Acura TL is at its best. Interfacing easily with a host of personal electronics, even the base 2010 TL features a standard USB iPod/MP3 interface, an eight-speaker audio system, and a crisp, high-resolution center-mounted display for controlling the infotainment system. The circular controller is as user-friendly as an Apple device, and sound quality is good in base form, thunderous with the 10-speaker optional upgrade. Despite the ease of use, all this gadgetry does necessitate a fair number of buttons, particularly on the steering wheel, meaning the owner’s manual may be your best friend for the first few weeks. Once you’re familiar with the controls, audio, navigation, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, and voice commands are all at your fingertips.

The center stack’s intuitive click-and-turn interface controls the optional nav system, and an optional voice recognition system makes it even easier to find and input your itinerary. AcuraLink Real-Time traffic and weather functions are built into the nav system, and you can even access Zagat reviews on the fly. The Technology Package unleashes your inner geek, with a climate control system that tracks the sun’s position and intensity, dynamically adjusting each side of the TL’s cabin to optimize comfort.

The 2010 Acura TL is firmly at the front of the class in crash testing, securing five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in frontal and side impact performance for both driver and passenger and earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick designation by virtue of its excellent performance in front, side, and rear crash tests, plus its standard electronic stability control. Acura equips all TLs with a full complement of six airbags.

• Head-turning style
• Athletic prowess
• Excellent iPod interface, top-notch stereo
• Characteristic Acura-quality touch, feel, and operation

• Head-turning style
• Thick pillars often mean poor outward visibility
• Confusing morass of buttons in center stack
• Sluggish automatic transmission

Cabin space is good, and passenger room front and rear are both ample, with comfortable, supportive seats at all positions. With 13.1 cubic feet of space in the trunk, the 2010 Acura TL is a bit short of some of its competition, but still ahead of the previous-generation TL. Build quality is typically Acura, with solid materials and close tolerances, though there aren’t as many options or upgrades as you’ll find at brands like BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus.

Inside the 2010 Acura TL you can expect to find what Edmunds calls a "spacious cabin." Automobile Magazine reviewers like the front seats, commenting that the "comfortable seats embrace you with deep side bolsters," and as befits Acura’s upscale image, "both front seats are power, with memory for the driver’s side." Cars.com agrees that "the front seats [are] both comfortable and supportive." ConsumerGuide reports that "headroom is good" inside the 2010 Acura TL, while Motor Trend moves to the backseat, noting that "the new TL provides noticeably more rear-seat legroom than the outgoing car." In comparison to some of the Acura TL’s chief rivals, Cars.com finds the backseat is "vastly roomier than any of the competition from BMW, Audi, Cadillac or Infiniti."

The 2010 Acura TL makes its case as a practical family vehicle in addition to offering sporty handling, thanks to its decent storage volume. Inside the cabin, ConsumerGuide has few complaints, saying that "interior storage space is good" on the 2010 TL. Edmunds reports that the "trunk holds 13.1 cubic feet of luggage, a bit less than typical" for the class but not too low to make it impractical. Even though the TL’s trunk size is slightly below the class average, ConsumerGuide finds that "trunk space has been increased," but also observes that a "rise in the trunk floor...robs most of the gains."

The interior of the 2010 Acura TL offers what Edmunds calls a "spacious cabin." Cars.com finds that "the front seats [are] both comfortable and supportive," and Automobile Magazine reviewers agree that up front, the "comfortable seats embrace you with deep side bolsters," and as you’d expect from a luxury car, "both front seats are power, with memory for the driver’s side." Reviewers are equally satisfied with the rear-seat accommodations of the Acura TL. ConsumerGuide reports that "headroom is good" inside the 2010 Acura TL, while Motor Trend notes that "the new TL provides noticeably more rear-seat legroom than the outgoing car." Cars.com puts it ahead of chief rivals, saying that the backseat is "vastly roomier than any of the competition from BMW, Audi, Cadillac or Infiniti."

If cabin noise levels are any indication-and they are-the Acura TL’s build quality is top-notch. Cars.com pays a compliment when it says the latest TL is "almost Lexus-silent," while Motor Trend notes that the Acura TL "immediately impresses with its quiet." The higher-performance SH-AWD brings a noise penalty, however, as these "versions suffer from road and tire noise that are excessive for the class," according to ConsumerGuide.

The standard TL uses a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 that’s also under the hood of the Honda Accord to power the front wheels. Step up to the TL SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive), and you’ll get the 305-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 from the RL sedan juicing all four wheels through Acura’s capable system that removes any threat of torque steer, displays how its distributing power in the instrument cluster, and almost gives the TL the feel of a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan-as long as you’re heavy on the gas. Last year’s standard five-speed automatic transmission was joined in late 2009 by an optional six-speed manual. The automatic, though smooth and responsive enough in sedate driving, is a cog short of its competition and responds too slowly in aggressive driving. Both engines are smooth, sweet-sounding, and responsive, but short travel and hair-trigger responses make the accelerator pedal annoying to use.

In the objective language of acceleration numbers, Automobile notes that a "shorter final drive ratio helps [the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD] sprint from 0 to 60 mph about one-half-second quicker than the base car." Road & Track reports that a "freer-flowing exhaust gives the SH-AWD a nice rip above 3000 rpm," but "both engines are terrifically smooth pieces" at nearly any speed.

Although the Acura TL manages a lot of enthusiast appeal in SH-AWD garb, until 2010, it had one major strike against it: the absence of a manual gearbox. With the introduction of the 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT, however, that’s been fixed. The TL’s automatic transmission also has standard paddle shifters to let you get a bit of both worlds. They are positioned quite well, according to Motor Trend, which says that the Acura TL’s "paddle shifters lie at the ready just behind the steering wheel." Edmunds reports "both [Acura] TL models come standard with a five-speed automatic that includes automanual steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters." In addition to a lack of manual transmission, Car and Driver finds the five-speed auto itself a shortcoming, contending it "seems outdated in a segment where six and seven speeds are more common." When the manual joins the picture, however, Car and Driver changes its tune, saying, "Adding a manual transmission makes the robotic TL more human."

Tuning a V-6 engine for thrifty fuel consumption is easy enough, but the Acura 2010 TL is geared more for performance, and fuel economy pays the price. According to official EPA figures, the base 2010 Acura TL should return 18 mpg city and 26 highway, while the more powerful SH-AWD gets 17 mpg city and 25 on the highway. These aren’t terrible numbers by any means, but neither are they near the top of the class.

Both on paper and in hard driving, the TL is a serious player in the luxury sport sedan segment, though it has its shortcomings. Its Honda Accord underpinnings give the 2010 TL generous room front and rear, but such heritage means that even equipped with Acura’s Super Handling all-wheel drive, it’s front-heavy and not up to the performance par set by its rear-wheel-drive competitors.

Excellent grip and strong acceleration are hallmarks of the SH-AWD model in particular. Powerful brakes slow the 4,000-pound car handily and with confidence. Despite these good traits, when driven tamely in traffic, the TL, including the SH-AWD, feels more like the front-heavy and sensible sedan it is. Big 19-inch wheels also give the SH-AWD a particularly rough ride over irregular surfaces, a problem not evidenced in the base model, which is more comfortable for most purposes.

Car and Driver declares that the base TL’s "steering feel has lost the plot." Edmunds agrees, noting this version is "more for comfort-minded buyers," as it is plagued by "lifeless steering" that "feels decidedly artificial." However, the Acura TL SH-AWD turns the game around, with Edmunds reporting that the sportier model’s steering "exhibits more weight and feedback, resulting in a more natural feel." Automobile Magazine likes the TL’s comfort, contending that "despite the firmer suspension, the TL still rides agreeably," and Road & Track reviewers praise the way the Acura TL "strikes a nice compromise for both cruising through town and scurrying down a twisty back road." Clamping the stoppers is a worry-free process, according to Motor Trend, as the "larger brake rotors all around, plus two-piston calipers up front, put a stout squeeze on forward motion."

Skinned with a high-tech but controversial look, the 2010 Acura TL is, for many, a love-it-or-leave-it design. Still, heads swivel when the TL drives by. The more restrained mid-lux sedan owner may roll their eyes at its seemingly robot-inspired sheetmetal, but younger or more adventurous buyers may find it refreshing. Technophiles will find the TL’s collection of digital creases and prominent prow a welcome change from the organic designs of competing sedans.

Love it or hate it, the 2010 Acura TL grabs attention. Edmunds reviewers take note of "two TL models available: the base car and the more athletic SH-AWD mode," and both share the distinctive corporate face. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com shy away from calling it attractive, but all recognize the striking appearance of the Acura TL. Edmunds says "Acura’s new goal is to be bold and brash, with aggressive lines and audacious details," and passing quick judgment, proclaims "the 2010 Acura TL accomplishes just that." At first, Automobile Magazine admits the bold grille enjoys a synergy with the concept’s design, "but on the production car it strikes us as an oddly shaped appendage that looks out of place." Cars.com warns that "there’s just no escaping its looks," claiming that the new Acura TL "will certainly draw stares"-and not in a good way. On the positive side, Car and Driver reviewers feel that the Acura TL "looks better in the flesh than in photographs," and once you get past the front of the car, "the rest of the TL’s angular, modern shape is assuredly handsome."

On the inside, there’s much less controversy and more to like. Gentle arcs and circles predominate, beautifully melding leather and synthetic, analog and digital in an artful yet logical way that is uniquely Acura. Unfortunately, Acura chooses the cold, harsh light of white/blue LEDs for the TL’s overhead illumination. Car and Driver says the cabin of the TL lineup shares "a familiar look with other Acuras, but the multifunction controller knob and the bevy of buttons that surround it seem less confusing and cluttered than in the RDX." Road & Track appreciates that the Acura TL’s "new interior features a cool-looking 4-gauge instrument cluster and classy center stack," while Cars.com calls the hooded gauges "sporty." Automobile Magazine finds the whole package pleasing, noting that the "interior has been redesigned in a twin-cockpit style for the front seat occupants, with metal trim that twists and curves as it wraps around from door to dash to console. The effect might be confining, if the cabin had not grown wider."

The 2010 Acura TL is firmly at the front of the class in crash testing, securing five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in frontal and side impact performance for both driver and passenger and earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick designation by virtue of its excellent performance in front, side, and rear crash tests, plus its standard electronic stability control. Acura equips all TLs with a full complement of six airbags.

Beyond industry-leading scores in the various crash tests, the 2010 Acura TL boasts an array of standard safety features that work together to provide a safe ride. Edmunds reviewers note that all "Acura TL models come with antilock brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control...and active front restraints," while Cars.com highlights "side curtain airbags [and] front-seat side-impact airbags" on the list of the TL’s standard safety features.

Driver visibility from within the 2010 Acura TL is another strong point noted in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com, rating it among the best of any sedan on the road. Edmunds points out that the "large flip-up headrests provide protection for occupants, while clearing rear vision when nobody’s back there." ConsumerGuide reports that the "slim front roof pillars provide good forward visibility." When visibility is impaired by rear-seat occupants or cargo, Automobile Magazine highlights the available "rear-view camera, [a] part of the...technology package" on the 2010 Acura TL.

When it comes to showcasing a wide range of high-tech features, the 2010 Acura TL is at its best. Interfacing easily with a host of personal electronics, even the base 2010 TL features a standard USB iPod/MP3 interface, an eight-speaker audio system, and a crisp, high-resolution center-mounted display for controlling the infotainment system. The circular controller is as user-friendly as an Apple device, and sound quality is good in base form, thunderous with the 10-speaker optional upgrade. Despite the ease of use, all this gadgetry does necessitate a fair number of buttons, particularly on the steering wheel, meaning the owner’s manual may be your best friend for the first few weeks. Once you’re familiar with the controls, audio, navigation, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation, and voice commands are all at your fingertips.

The "base" Acura TL is hardly as stripped down as the title might indicate, as Edmunds reports that this 2010 Acura comes standard with "tons of user-friendly high-tech features." Key standard items on the 2010 Acura TL include "iPod and Bluetooth connectivity," full power accessories, "an eight-speaker stereo with in-dash six-CD changer, [and] satellite radio," according to Edmunds’ reviewers. Other reviews read by TheCarConnection.com point out even more standard features, which Motor Trend says are "enough to make the commander of a Los Angeles-class submarine jealous," including "a conventional AUX jack plus a USB port that allows complete control (and charging) of your iPod through the audio system" of the Acura TL.

The center stack’s intuitive click-and-turn interface controls the optional nav system, and an optional voice recognition system makes it even easier to find and input your itinerary. AcuraLink Real-Time traffic and weather functions are built into the nav system, and you can even access Zagat reviews on the fly. The Technology Package unleashes your inner geek, with a climate control system that tracks the sun’s position and intensity, dynamically adjusting each side of the TL’s cabin to optimize comfort. It even adds a "voice-activated navigation system" that Cars.com says "works well and features improved screen graphics compared to Acura’s current system." Edmunds reviewers add that the Acura Technology Package brings "real-time traffic, real-time weather forecasts, GPS-linked and solar-sensing adaptive climate control system...and a 10-speaker Panasonic/ELS surround-sound system with DVD audio and 12.7 GB of digital music storage." Car and Driver is especially pleased with the Acura TL’s navigation system, which they state features "specific lane routing for multilane highways, and an industry-first Doppler radar weather-map feature." For the audiophiles out there, Cars.com reports that the 2010 Acura TL’s hard drive-based system "allows users to upload music from CDs or flash drives" and can even "recognize the artist and track names from the CD you want to record."