2006 Acura TL Model Update

Scrapping With Benzes and Bimmers

Acura's midsize TL deftly balances sport and luxury, with ample performance and comfort.

Acura's midsize TL sedan remains a sporty, luxurious and reliable premium sedan with handsome styling, a roomy and thoughtfully designed interior and engaging powertrain. It is also loaded with standard amenities while undercutting comparable European competitors in price and so represents a good value.

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The TL is based on parent company Honda's superb Accord sedan and carries over with few changes for 2006. The car's engine-management system and steering-angle sensor have been revised to reduce torque steer, a phenomenon common among high-powered front-wheel drive vehicles such as the TL, where the front wheels turn slightly to one side under heavy acceleration. In addition, a tire-pressure monitor is now standard for 2006, while new exterior colors include Royal Blue Pearl, Alabaster Silver and Deep Green Pearl.

A smooth and quiet 3.2-liter V6 engine employs Honda's VTEC variable valve technology and drive-by-wire throttle, resulting in fast acceleration and good fuel economy (20 miles per gallon city/29 mpg highway). For 2006, it's rated at 258 horsepower, and while that may sound like a downgrade in power compared to last year's 270-hp rating, in reality it's the same exact engine. The numbers are different because this year, the Society of Automotive Engineers instituted new industry standards for measuring an engine's horsepower rating. While many 2006 vehicles' specs remain the same as last year's, some turned out higher, and others — like the TL — wound up being lower. But again, the car feels no less powerful when driving than it did before, despite the revised figures.

The TL is so well equipped that its only options include a voice-activated navigation system ($2,000) and high-performance tires (recommended for use only in summer or fair-weather climates). Such a high level of standard amenities is a considerable advantage over competing European sedans, whose prices tend to rise exponentially as options are added. Pair this with Acura's solid record for reliability, according to Consumer Reports data, versus the spotty reliability of some European competitors, and the TL becomes a compelling alternative.

Either a five-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability, or a six-speed manual is available — they cost the same. The automatic transmission features sophisticated technology that improves performance on hills, automatically holding lower gears longer for better acceleration on ascents, while increasing engine braking on descents.

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More tenacious around the curves than many competing luxury sedans, the car's handling benefits from four-wheel independent suspension with antilock disc brakes (upgraded Brembo four-piston brakes come with the six-speed manual transmission), 17-inch wheels and tires, and traction and stability control systems. The latter help keep wheels from losing traction and prevent loss of control during extreme or emergency maneuvers. Unlike some of the competition, however, the TL cannot be optioned with all-wheel drive.

The tastefully styled and high-quality interior, trimmed in leather and faux-wood, comfortably accommodates four passengers, with a fifth able to fit in the rear seat when necessary. Taller occupants may find headroom lacking.

Side-curtain airbags for both rows of seats are included. A long list of standard comfort and convenience features is highlighted by what was, in 2004, the first automotive application of surround-sound DVD audio. It's truly a first-rate, multichannel sound system, but requires special DVD-audio discs to fully appreciate it. Regular CDs and radio sound stellar, though.

The current generation of the TL started in 2004. Honda isn't forthcoming with future plans, but the TL is likely to remain in its present form for several more years.