If all you care about is looks, then go buy an Audi. And if all you're worried about is what the people at work think, the go buy a MB or bimmer. But if you want a superb and complete package that is a relative bargain, then the TL is where it's at. Plus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Thats a great car, and cause its a Honda, It will last forever. Forget the Germans if they cant make 75k sedans that are reliable, in fact nowhere near reliable as the Japanese and now the American cars.
Lets see how long an optima holds up 5yrs from now. Honda/Acura are kings for reliable; I know, I own one. Lastly, it IS a bargain when comparing it to cars in its class; Audi A4, 3-series, etc. Try getting half the features in a comparable German competitor, and you'll top out well above 50k.
Steve you hit it out the ballpark. They ruined it's one of kind look when they toned down the grill. All they had to do was color match the grill to quiet the cry baby auto writers who suck up to the European cars with big ugly front faces but won't dare say anything. I got mine and color match it with the black on black and it looks great. I don't like the back bottom or the exhaust. It looked better with the four barrels hanging out. All in all they listened to hard and tried to do a quick fix and failed miserably. I love the TL but just didn't like the fact they changed the car over 1 subject.
Ahh to bad you don't have more footage of you wringing this car out. I know subaru is the best AWD system but your spirited driving in wet conditions make the Tl look good.
@armanarmadillo Those are better cars you mentioned, but those cars are not going to be 45 grand second hand. This car is worth 45 grand, the interior, the power train, I think it looks awesome and none of those cars are ever going to be as reliable as the TL.
I don't even know why Automakers listen to these fools! Gen Y buyers have such bad taste in cars, they're easily fooled by Kia/Hyundai to point that brands like Acura suffers. Hyundai is NOT a LUXURY brand at all, It's a cheap basic alternative to people who can't afford true luxury like Lexus, Audi, BMW, Mercedes or Jaguar! So for people to be prizing that brand is just mediocre to me, In the real world I see way more Acuras on the road than I do Hyundais
I seriously like this refreshed model due to the smoked out headlights, this color isnt my choice, rather have the pearl white or red. I love my 2005 3G TL(red). I would spend the cash for this TL, I have driven earlier BMWs, Audi, etc. they are awesome, but being a college student wanted RELIABILITY in my next preowned car. I could care less if it was FWD or RWD. I am just going to be in bumper to bumper traffic so all that HP and torque is just useless to even test out. Stop hating!
The Acura TL is a great car. I personally prefer the Infiniti G37s style. For the money though they offer more than their German counterparts for many thousands less. I had the 2002 Acura TL Type-S, the car ran like new at 220,000 on the odo, I eventually sold it because I got tired of it.
I traded in a 2005 Lexus ES330, for a ‘13 Acura TL. I LOVE the additional performance it offers, but as much as I wish it had the Advance package, I’m glad I have the option of doing my own aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto system, in due time.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but my opinion is the only one that matters to me. With that said, I think that the Kia Optima SX Turbo is a better looking car with a nicer, more driver oriented interior, and I know that the Optima is at least $5000 less than the TL. I'm not a fan of having to do adjustments on the screen with a knob. I like touch screens because they are simpler and more fun to use. Don't get me wrong, the TL is a nice car, but I'll take the Optima any day.
@stevehammes As well as the Lexus ES and Buick Lacrosse, and in reference to the 3 cars steve mentioned, i would say the Acura TSX competes better with them dimensions wise.
@stevehammes I think the TSX would compare with the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 due to its size. The TL's slightly larger size with SH-AWD would compare with the Infiniti G, but I'd compare it to the Lexus GS, lower grade BMW 5-Series x-drive, Mercedes E-Class 4 Matic, and Audi A6.
@n2n4n Thanks for your positive response. I would rather save the extra money for more important things, like clothing and food for my kids. You know what I'm saying?
problem is that they have studios in japan and here in U.S, they have to agree on each others different perspective, IMO the acura designer here just suck, esp the girl designing the zdx.
Hi Steve, Good review, but I would like your opinion on Acura TL vs a fully loaded Accord V6. Besides the tech gear is there a great difference in handling, the ride and is it quiet? I currently own an accord and its not quiet at all on highways. Thanks
I own a 13 tl 3.5l advanced package and just hit 100,000 miles of nothing but pure pleasure to drive his video is exactly how this car is it blends sportiness with luxury it's quite inside perfect sound system blind spot monitoring decent gas mileage average 26 combined and reliability wise I haven't had one thing done to the car except regular oil changes! Unbelievable really the car is perfect for me!
@stevehammes as well as lexus ES and Buick Lacrosse. though the TL is cross shopped with the three earlier mentioned cars, the TSX is a more appropriate competitor size-wise.
The 04-08 tl was the greatest car acura ever made next to the NSX. Unfotrunatly honda acura have fallen off the charts. Honda makes cheap, uninspring cars full of cheap plastic, no features, no tech. Acura make gawdy cars with tech but old tech. I mean the fast acura ever and it only has 306 horsepower? For god sake hyundai had a 429 horsepower genesis sedan. This is hard to say being that im a honda acura guy but they really suck.
Poor choice of color lol. For 45k you could be rolling in something much sexier. A second hand cls55 or 550, BMW m3, e63amg(2008). There's just too many better options to even consider ripping myself off and getting a TL fresh off the lot when I know for a fact it isn't worth that price tag.
Still ugly as sin. I'm glad it has spectacular performance, and plenty of luxury, but I'd have a very hard time explaining to people at work, in the parking lot, how I ended up in a car that looks like this. Outside of the RSX, Acura notoriously makes some of the least attractive cars in the automotive world, for who knows what reason?
I don't care about Kia--I wouldn't be seen in one. I was just throwing that out there RE features for money. The ILX only has two certified competitors, the Verano, which fully loaded tops at $31 and offers more than this. And the A3, it's only German competitor, tops around $40. A fully loaded Buick--sure, I'd pay $31. An A3, yes, I'd pay $40. But a dressed up Civic, when fully loaded is $34+? Never. Not a deal. And don't count the 3-series.That's not even in the neighborhood of a Civic/ILX.
This isn't a relative bargain at $40K plus. Just about everything you find here is available on a Kia Optima. That'd be a bargain if we're talking about how much one could pack into something trying to be entry-luxury. Kia, Nissan, Hyundai--all brands I dislike, still have better design than this and are more of a bargain. True, beauty is subjective, but when you have more people calling it ugly than attractive, I think a consensus is formed. Read any journal--the TL never won points for beauty.
A few more things--this Civic in a suit, ranked 12 out of the top 13 small upscales for 2013 by US News--2nd to last. I also just read it's the slowest seller on the market--consumers luckily haven't been fooled yet by this thing enough to make a it a hot ticket. The Verano is still ranked far and above the ILX in every ranking (look that up anywhere, you'll find it). At the end of the day, it's a civic, a common man's car, and no one shopping value wants to pay this price for that.
Headlights are too small, too much bumper cover. Rear looks like a puckering poop hole. Best part is the interior, best part of that is you don't have to look at the outside while your in it. Styling is meh.
![[Live] ศึกมหึมันส์มวยไทยสังเวียนเดือด เวทีมวยชั่วคราวสวนสยาม | จันทร์ 30 กันยายน 2567](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pM1k6f7JXUc/mqdefault.jpg)
If all you care about is looks, then go buy an Audi. And if all you're worried about is what the people at work think, the go buy a MB or bimmer. But if you want a superb and complete package that is a relative bargain, then the TL is where it's at.
Plus, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Thats a great car, and cause its a Honda, It will last forever. Forget the Germans if they cant make 75k sedans that are reliable, in fact nowhere near reliable as the Japanese and now the American cars.
Lets see how long an optima holds up 5yrs from now. Honda/Acura are kings for reliable; I know, I own one. Lastly, it IS a bargain when comparing it to cars in its class; Audi A4, 3-series, etc. Try getting half the features in a comparable German competitor, and you'll top out well above 50k.
I prfer the older front end. Much more stylish, agressive.
Great review, Steve. I agree that the old front fascia looked better and sportier.
Steve you hit it out the ballpark. They ruined it's one of kind look when they toned down the grill. All they had to do was color match the grill to quiet the cry baby auto writers who suck up to the European cars with big ugly front faces but won't dare say anything. I got mine and color match it with the black on black and it looks great. I don't like the back bottom or the exhaust. It looked better with the four barrels hanging out. All in all they listened to hard and tried to do a quick fix and failed miserably. I love the TL but just didn't like the fact they changed the car over 1 subject.
Ahh to bad you don't have more footage of you wringing this car out. I know subaru is the best AWD system but your spirited driving in wet conditions make the Tl look good.
The interior looks nicer than the interior of my house.
awesome car . so solid hits it out of the park
Steve, on your point about the overly-homogenized restyle, I agree with you wholeheartedly!
@armanarmadillo Those are better cars you mentioned, but those cars are not going to be 45 grand second hand. This car is worth 45 grand, the interior, the power train, I think it looks awesome and none of those cars are ever going to be as reliable as the TL.
Drive an Optima and TL back to back. No comparison at all. Acura - Kia
Nice color
I don't even know why Automakers listen to these fools! Gen Y buyers have such bad taste in cars, they're easily fooled by Kia/Hyundai to point that brands like Acura suffers. Hyundai is NOT a LUXURY brand at all, It's a cheap basic alternative to people who can't afford true luxury like Lexus, Audi, BMW, Mercedes or Jaguar! So for people to be prizing that brand is just mediocre to me, In the real world I see way more Acuras on the road than I do Hyundais
I seriously like this refreshed model due to the smoked out headlights, this color isnt my choice, rather have the pearl white or red. I love my 2005 3G TL(red). I would spend the cash for this TL, I have driven earlier BMWs, Audi, etc. they are awesome, but being a college student wanted RELIABILITY in my next preowned car.
I could care less if it was FWD or RWD. I am just going to be in bumper to bumper traffic so all that HP and torque is just useless to even test out. Stop hating!
The Acura TL is a great car. I personally prefer the Infiniti G37s style. For the money though they offer more than their German counterparts for many thousands less.
I had the 2002 Acura TL Type-S, the car ran like new at 220,000 on the odo, I eventually sold it because I got tired of it.
Nice review, Steve!
@jsiszero I think the inteior is one of the best in the price range.
Best Car on the Market, dwarf BMW 550i, Lexus GS, Audi A7, this is the best buy ever.
Acura has always made amazing cars...Kia???? EH...
front looks like the volt, the best TL was the 2007 type-S
I love this design I do not like the third generation design
Best 4 door car I ever had ..
Period …
@ssj4goldengogeta Wasn't impressed when I saw it in Detroit, but I have yet to drive it.
@LZSchneider I don't believe I've ever used that phrase before in a review.
Man, it seem you are always in winter
Great review!
@fanfinmiami More sports cars to come as the weather improves.
I traded in a 2005 Lexus ES330, for a ‘13 Acura TL. I LOVE the additional performance it offers, but as much as I wish it had the Advance package, I’m glad I have the option of doing my own aftermarket CarPlay and Android Auto system, in due time.
@triplexxxsatyr In between but far closer to GS.
@liptonx Infiniti G, BMW 3-series, Audi A4
@duffsbirdhouse88 Hyundai Veloster
I agree with steve about the grill . They went too far and the car does not stand out as much anymore. Still a great car though
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but my opinion is the only one that matters to me. With that said, I think that the Kia Optima SX Turbo is a better looking car with a nicer, more driver oriented interior, and I know that the Optima is at least $5000 less than the TL. I'm not a fan of having to do adjustments on the screen with a knob. I like touch screens because they are simpler and more fun to use. Don't get me wrong, the TL is a nice car, but I'll take the Optima any day.
@stevehammes As well as the Lexus ES and Buick Lacrosse, and in reference to the 3 cars steve mentioned, i would say the Acura TSX competes better with them dimensions wise.
sorry Steve, but the previous TL's front was UGLY, really bad and the back as well
now it looks better, not great but better than before.
@stevehammes
I think the TSX would compare with the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4 due to its size. The TL's slightly larger size with SH-AWD would compare with the Infiniti G, but I'd compare it to the Lexus GS, lower grade BMW 5-Series x-drive, Mercedes E-Class 4 Matic, and Audi A6.
@hondaftw1234 Check craigslist when you get the chance, lots of cars for less than 45k and still in great condition. Cls, M3, S5, you name it.
@n2n4n Thanks for your positive response. I would rather save the extra money for more important things, like clothing and food for my kids. You know what I'm saying?
problem is that they have studios in japan and here in U.S, they have to agree on each others different perspective, IMO the acura designer here just suck, esp the girl designing the zdx.
Hi Steve, Good review, but I would like your opinion on Acura TL vs a fully loaded Accord V6. Besides the tech gear is there a great difference in handling, the ride and is it quiet? I currently own an accord and its not quiet at all on highways.
Thanks
@Larrygallis 2 weeks
its made in Ohio, its FWD based like the ES and based on an Accord like the ES a camry. Its ES competitor always has been
Steve whats a good car for a 22 year old with cheap repair cost and good fuel economy
this one looks more like the previous generation... at least the front part anyway
oh by the way Steve, what do you think of the new Acura ILX coming out very soon?
I own a 13 tl 3.5l advanced package and just hit 100,000 miles of nothing but pure pleasure to drive his video is exactly how this car is it blends sportiness with luxury it's quite inside perfect sound system blind spot monitoring decent gas mileage average 26 combined and reliability wise I haven't had one thing done to the car except regular oil changes! Unbelievable really the car is perfect for me!
How’s the ride comfort and cabin noise?
@triplexxxsatyr
I don't think the Lexus ES has an all-wheel drive option.
Hey Steve, when are you going to do a review of the 2012 Honda CRV?
@stevehammes as well as lexus ES and Buick Lacrosse. though the TL is cross shopped with the three earlier mentioned cars, the TSX is a more appropriate competitor size-wise.
Deion B no
sorry steve, but acura barely has pinash.
@stevehammes thanks I was looking into that car or the prius
@AmauryJVL Most Acuras should go through rhinoplasty....
That nav/media system is way out of date.
@mikerules666 i completely agree!
1:01 you used ho-hum
Legit. Thanks man.
2:04...ewhh
Looks older.
bold and handsome grill but I doubt about the reliability and utility of Acura models.I usually trust in Lexus
I couldn't agree with you more. Very well said.
The 04-08 tl was the greatest car acura ever made next to the NSX. Unfotrunatly honda acura have fallen off the charts. Honda makes cheap, uninspring cars full of cheap plastic, no features, no tech. Acura make gawdy cars with tech but old tech. I mean the fast acura ever and it only has 306 horsepower? For god sake hyundai had a 429 horsepower genesis sedan. This is hard to say being that im a honda acura guy but they really suck.
Poor choice of color lol. For 45k you could be rolling in something much sexier. A second hand cls55 or 550, BMW m3, e63amg(2008). There's just too many better options to even consider ripping myself off and getting a TL fresh off the lot when I know for a fact it isn't worth that price tag.
Still ugly as sin. I'm glad it has spectacular performance, and plenty of luxury, but I'd have a very hard time explaining to people at work, in the parking lot, how I ended up in a car that looks like this. Outside of the RSX, Acura notoriously makes some of the least attractive cars in the automotive world, for who knows what reason?
Hey its an Acura...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
0-60 in 6.2 ? yikes.. the SE Sport V6 camry gets to 60 in 5.8 but then again the camry is much lighter
Toyota4Life 6.2 is a, uh, very conservative time. 5.8 is more like it for the 6AT, and the manual is 5.2-5.3
I don't care about Kia--I wouldn't be seen in one. I was just throwing that out there RE features for money. The ILX only has two certified competitors, the Verano, which fully loaded tops at $31 and offers more than this. And the A3, it's only German competitor, tops around $40. A fully loaded Buick--sure, I'd pay $31. An A3, yes, I'd pay $40. But a dressed up Civic, when fully loaded is $34+? Never. Not a deal. And don't count the 3-series.That's not even in the neighborhood of a Civic/ILX.
JC6817 this is not an ILX review
I'd pay a little more sand get the S4.
Looks like an old Accord.
This isn't a relative bargain at $40K plus. Just about everything you find here is available on a Kia Optima. That'd be a bargain if we're talking about how much one could pack into something trying to be entry-luxury. Kia, Nissan, Hyundai--all brands I dislike, still have better design than this and are more of a bargain. True, beauty is subjective, but when you have more people calling it ugly than attractive, I think a consensus is formed. Read any journal--the TL never won points for beauty.
A few more things--this Civic in a suit, ranked 12 out of the top 13 small upscales for 2013 by US News--2nd to last. I also just read it's the slowest seller on the market--consumers luckily haven't been fooled yet by this thing enough to make a it a hot ticket. The Verano is still ranked far and above the ILX in every ranking (look that up anywhere, you'll find it). At the end of the day, it's a civic, a common man's car, and no one shopping value wants to pay this price for that.
JC6817 this is not a ILX (civic)
He liked the old beak but doesn't like the Mayan Bronze color? Whatever.
Headlights are too small, too much bumper cover. Rear looks like a puckering poop hole. Best part is the interior, best part of that is you don't have to look at the outside while your in it. Styling is meh.