Acura TL Review

If they can't get you one way, they'll get you another.

That's what Acura, the luxury division of Honda, is determined to do with its all-new 2004 TL model. The mid-size TL and its better-performing TL Type-S sibling have been solid contenders in the lucrative and growing near-luxury class, and together are Acura's biggest seller. But the TL races against tough competitors from Lexus, BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Volvo, Jaguar, Lincoln, Cadillac and Saab.

So notwithstanding the TL's overall goodness, which Acura has enhanced substantially for 2004, the company figured it needed a clincher, which turns out to be an audio and communications system that has no peer in the market.

It consists of a DVD-based surround sound system - the first ever on any production car - along with a state-of-the-art Bluetooth hands-free telephone system that communicates with compatible mobile phones through the TL's audio and voice-recognition systems.

It means you can be talking on your phone as you walk to the car and continue the conversation through the audio system by simply punching a button after you sit down inside. Toss the cell phone in the glove compartment and forget about it. You can also find and call people programmed in your phone book - or even to call for reservations at the nearest Italian restaurant.

Acura claims the system will recognize a total of 293 voice commands for the stereo, navigation and climate control systems.

The audio system consists of a built-in XM satellite radio in addition to the standard AM and FM bands, a cassette player and a six-disc changer to play DVD and CD recordings. The DVD system was designed by Elliott Scheiner, a Grammy-award winning music producer and sound engineer who has worked with such groups as Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan.

Called Acura/ELS, the five-channel system may be lost on people with tin ears, but it's a delight for audiophiles and anyone else who appreciates the nuances of accurate sound reproduction. According to Scheiner, a DVD carries seven times the data and delivers 500 times the resolution of a CD.

But the most important aspect of this clincher is the fact that it's standard equipment. Like other models in the Acura/Honda lineup, the TL has a no-nonsense approach to the way it is marketed.

Where competitors advertise a price and then hand the buyer a long list of extra-cost options, the Acura TL comes fully equipped for the advertised price. There are four variations - with and without the $2,000 navigation system - and with a six-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode.

In addition to the phone and DVD audio system, the standard equipment includes antilock brakes with traction and stability control, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, side air bags and side curtain air bags, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, remote locking, a motorized glass sunroof, xenon headlights, acoustic windshield glass, alloy wheels, power seats and windows, a tilt-and-telescope steering wheel, speed-sensitive windshield wipers, heated outside mirrors that tilt down when reversing, and an array of other safety and convenience features.

One of them consists of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) in the brake lights, which light up 170 milliseconds faster than standard bulbs. That may not sound like much, but it translates into 15 feet quicker at 70 miles an hour.

The only option is high-performance tires for the six-speed model, at an additional cost of $200. That translates into a suggested sticker price for the stick-shift, navigation-equipped test car of $35,350. Likely only hard-core enthusiasts will want the performance tires because they produce elevated levels of road noise inside.

The TL has been completely overhauled for 2004, with new styling, more power, improved passenger space, a slightly smaller trunk and, for the first time, the six-speed manual - a version which also gets brakes by Brembo, a manufacturer of brakes for race and high performance cars.

Because of the bump in horsepower and the attendant boost in performance, Acura decided to drop the Type-S version, so any TL you buy will have the same engine specifications.

As is typical of Honda products, the six-speed manual shifts easily, with only a hint of resistance as you move the lever through the gears. Clutch action is light and progressive in feel. Acceleration is rapid - just over six seconds to 60 miles an hour with the six-speed, a whiff over seven seconds with the five-speed automatic.

The suspension system is well balanced between decent handling and a good ride. It's taut and tight without punishing the driver, and the ride is comfortable on all but the harshest pavement. The only drawback to long-distance comfort is road noise that makes its way inside on some surfaces - even with the all-season tires - that mitigates some of the excellence of the sound system.