2009 Acura TL Review and Prices

From behind the wheel of a 2009 Acura TL:
Each 2009 Acura TL model has a distinct personality. Though driving enthusiasts generally prefer the balance and traction characteristics of rear-wheel drive, the front-wheel-drive base TL won’t embarrass itself on a curvy road, and only really aggressive cornering induces noseplow. What’s troubling is the torque steer, the sideways tug on the steering wheel and the wayward path of the front end when accelerating rapidly from a stop or, in particular, when hurrying out of a low-speed turn or onto a busy street. Torque steer betrays the deficiencies of sending 280 horsepower through the same wheels that also steer the car. It is in this regard that the 2009 Acura TL base model is no match for the rear-wheel drive models in the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G37 lines. The 3.5-liter V-6 itself is smooth and responsive, and the car’s ride controlled and compliant.

The 2009 Acura TL SH-AWD suffers no torque steer. Its all-wheel-drive system invites full-throttle blasts away from a stop, out of slow corners, and onto streets, responding with heroic traction. Highly entertaining is the action pictograph you can summon on a small screen within the central instrument panel. It shows in real time how the engine’s power is being distributed front to rear and side to side. The SH-AWD’s taut sport suspension hugs the road, too, though the tradeoff is a busy, brittle ride on anything but unblemished pavement. Sorry to report also that from midrange speeds, the SH-AWD model has slightly slower throttle response than the 2009 Acura TL base model, despite its larger, more powerful engine. The SH-AWD pauses a beat before downshifting from fifth gear and summoning its engine’s considerable power. It is just a momentary hesitation, but the rest of the driving experience is so alert that it introduces to the SH-AWD an element of frustration not found in the rival BMW 330xi or G35X, both of which have similar horsepower but use six-speed automatics. Manipulating the TL’s paddle shifters will improve throttle response, if you’re disposed to such intervention.

The SH-AWD’s steering is sports-car sharp and firm when turning, but in straight-line cruising, neither 2009 Acura TL model steers with that glued-on-center feel that makes the best sport sedans seem laser guided.

2009 Acura TL Dashboard and controls:
If Acura’s notion of good design seems indecisive on the 2009 TL’s exterior, its ideas coalesce inside to create a fresh, exciting interior. The dashboard is a celebration of arching shapes, layered surfaces, and hooded binnacles. The effect is to place the highly legible gauges and finely wrought controls each on its own stage. Buttons and knobs are plentiful, but they’re logically arranged, clearly identified, and have wonderfully precise action. Dominating is the Multi-Function Interface Dial, a single knob that accesses the most-often-used navigation, audio, and phone functions. These single-knob controls vex most other automakers, but Acura’s is simple and intuitive. Deserving special mention for crystal sharpness is the TL navigation system’s eight-inch VGA high-resolution color display.

2009 Acura TL Room, comfort, and utility:
Front seaters have good head and leg room in the 2009 Acura TL, but a pinch in the cheeks reveals the cushions as a tad narrow for some. The seats do hold you in place during fast turns. Rear passengers get a facsimile of the front’s dual-cockpit feel, the two outboard riders enjoying bucket-like accommodations. The middle position is spoiled by the floor’s prominent center hump and a hard backrest; this is really a four-passenger sedan. Rear leg room is generous, but those taller than 5-foot-9 should prepare for a scalp massage courtesy of the sloping roofline. In-cabin storage space for small items is plentiful. Few cars in this class have a large trunk and the TL is no exception; it will easily hold a couple’s luggage, though it is oddly shaped and has a wide, high lip that complicates loading.