Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Acura TL
Last week we brought you the first images and information about the redesigned 2009 Acura TL. This morning my full review went live, and you can check it out at the link below. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but expect them closer to the car’s September on sale date.
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Dave T.,
You mention price and comparables in the same price class but you do not mention any figures. How is Honda pricing these new models or is it embargoed right now?
Keith,
They haven't announced official pricing yet and won't until very close to the on sale date in September. The range given to us was $34-42,000.
The $42,000 would be for a tlshawd with tech. I do mention that in the review.
We'd expect other pricing to be similar to the current generation but slightly higher.
Sorry, I guess I was temporarily blinded from staring at the grille too long and missed reading the part about pricing.
Keith,
That's not surprising. Maybe salesmen can use that technique when it goes on sale.
I noticed you guys didn't have many photos. When are you going to post more? I do like the design in darker colors, especially in Mayan Bronze Metallic. The parchment interior is also really nice, but I do like the color contrasting white stitching in the black interior. Overall it's a good design and the new grill could have been worse.
more photos coming very soon!
Thanks
wow, the review really struggled to come up with any complaints and even included a bold claim that the CTS doesnt handle anywhere near as well as the TL AWD. I think the commentary on the styling was much too soft. This is an odd looking car. Also, the trunk is very small for a FWD car of this size and the interior doesn't appear to be significantly better in quality than the Accord's interior. Even if the TL whips the CTS in handling (which I doubt) the CTS is a much more mature looking car inside and out and features nearly 50/50 weight distribution.
Sheth, you sound like a red neck. Why are you so sure that there's no way a TL could out-handle your beloved CTS? You haven't even driven a TL to know. OTOH Dave has driven both and he gave his unbiased opinion that the TL's handling was better than the CTS. So, because you feel intimidated by the fact that the TL's handling is superior, you decide to bash it for it's styling. Styling is very subjective and there's likely going to be a lot of buyers who will buy this over the CTS because of styling. Just because the styling isn't your cup of tea doesn't mean it's odd. The styling is actually very cohesive and a lot of the details on the front are repeated in the back and it has a good side profile. How can you say that the interior is no better in quality than the Accord if you've never even been in it? I personally think the interior looks very modern and upscale and it looks leaps and bounds better than the EXL Accord. Every review I've read so far said the interior quality was very high. I don't doubt that you like the design of the CTS better, but I don't. Does that mean I have bad taste? No. Styling is all about preference. That's why Cars.com rarely comments or bashes cars on styling.
This must be the same old Cj - calling the kettle black. Cj, you can call him a red neck and all, but you still sound more like an idiot than he does. So what if the guy comments on the styling of the car, it is odd. There have comments all over the place that it looks odd and polarizing, that is what they were going for. Styling is subjective, no kidding. So what if he shares his subjective opinion, you don't like to hear it? Then why do you read it? And the handling thing; he said he has his doubts, what is wrong with that? Lastly, why can't the guy comment on the interior? You are talking from the same perspective as he is and you say he is wrong? You just love taking your opinion as the best. Quit trying to be the tough guy spokesperson for all things car, you don't work for Cars.com and you're not even close.
What's wrong with my remarks Bloke? I just stated that not everyone shares the same opinion as Sheth. Sheth can make statement on the handling of a car he's never driven.
Sheth,
I was soft on the looks because they are so often subjective. If I hated it I would have said "I hated it" in fact the looks grew on me a little but were so perplexing I was left, well perplexed by them.
Most of the comments seem to be either love or hate so I think i was right to say what I did.
The CTS is a great car, but I've grown tired of seeing that grille everywhere myself.
As for the handling, the TL SH-AWD is really, really good while having about the same amount of ride harshness as the CTS. It would be a touch call for me between the two but I think the TL wins out, especially if you want more backseat room.
The new Accord EX-L has one of the best Honda interiors ever, so saying it's close to that isn't a bad thing! However, there is still a noticeable step up and I'd say it's directly on par with the CTS on the interior front.
I think CTS wins out easily on the entertainment/nav system too.
I've only seen pictures of the TL's grille and I've already grown tired of seeing it! "Perplexed" is a good way to describe what I feel when I see the TL...not love or hate.
CJ,
some people have common sense and some dont. People are willing to give Acura the benefit of the doubt and allow the TL to "grow on them" but I think there are cars in this class that look good right now. I suggest you read Leftlanenews.com's review before telling me that "everyone" loves the interior quality of the TL. I'm sure its more than adequate but no Acura I have ever been in feels like the CTS or any German product period. As for handling, the CTS is a RWD car with nearly perfect weight distribution that was honed in Germany. The TL probably handles just fine but it's still a FWD based car with a 60/40 weight balance. I would venture to say there is very little chance the TL can handle BETTER than a RWD CTS. As for styling, the comments I have seen have been overwhelmingly negative. Only Acura fans and those who hate domestics seem hell bent on defending the styling. Its not the ugliest car on the road but it certainly is lacking compared to the class leaders. I cant think of one car in this class save the MKZ that looks worse than the TL.
Dave,
Sorry but the Accord's interior is just OK. I am starting to feel that you are a an avid Honda/Acura fan. The Accord's interior is better than average but still not as sumptuous as the Passat inside. I will have to take your word that the TL's interior is much better but I do not think a $40k car's interior should be about the same as a $20k car. I will say that the 2009 TL must be a quantum leap over the current model if you are claiming it's just as good as the CTS inside. Not only does the CTS have great design, it has state of the art accent lighting, real wood and a stitched dash. My experience has been that Acura interiors look high tech and appealing but feel very Honda like up close.
Cj,
I found your comments to Seth to be elitist, xenocentric, biased and perhaps a bit bigoted. Seth has a point about styling and I find D.T. comments on why he was soft on styling not to be credible. Styling is a big part of the package. Especially in America. And with three back to back new car rollouts, Acura has gotten hit very hard on styling by analysts, media, enthusiasts and consumers. I guess they all must be rednecks CJ, huh? CJ, instead of bashing someone who makes a legitimate observation as not being as sophisticated as you are, you might want to examine your own level of tolerance and discernment.
I love Hondas, own one now, and its pretty great. Much too loud though, just like the new Accord. The interior looks pretty good in the new TL, but I have heard other reputable car authorities refer to it as "semi-luxury" presumably because it not as nice as some other luxury brands.
And hey, don't bash someone for doubting the CTS doesn't handle as well. It may or may not. But as you said Dave gave his "opinion". It's just an opinion. If you want to prove the point, state quantitative factors such as coefficient of drag ratio comparison, body steer, speed to take a measured hair pin turn and not lose control. CJ, there is more to life than just you and your elitism. I can't believe you don't know anything about Seth except a small post and you label him a redneck. Hey CJ, you got yourself your own little blog. But that doesn't mean you are important. Remember that.
CW, I've been in arguments with Sheth for awhile and he is a GM freak. As for me, I like a variety of different autos and I'm not biased toward Honda as many here claim. I've owned GMs, Chryslers, Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas (and I've driven Nissans and Hyundais). The only companies I'll never purchase from again are GM and Chrysler. My Toyotas and Hondas have been very reliable, and I'm very interested in Ford's new Euros coming. If I were to choose between a Fit and Fiesta, I'd choose the Fiesta, If I were to choose between the Mondeo and Camry, I'd choose the Mondeo. Again the only problem I have with Sheth are his blind blanket statements about Imports because of his GM love. He hasn't even driven or seen a TL and he's already saying his sacred CTS is better just because his beloved GM makes it. Please Sheth, just stop it. GM isn't the best at everything.
I echo CW's comments. He mentions a lot of things I think are wrong with your above post (you had asked what I thought was wrong). You call the guy a GM freak, yet everything I have read would make it easy enough to label you a Honda freak for the same types of statements. Have you driven every car you make statements on? Why is it so bad for Sheth to have doubts about the TL's handling? And you have your own little blog, where? Does anyone read it?
These entry level luxury cars don't get good enough mileage and I'm guessing this one requires premium fuel like so many of them, and that only adds to the cost of ownership. There's nothing wrong with the TL but it just seems irrelevant at a time when fuel prices are so high. What I'd like to know is the difference in the driving experience between the TL and the Accord on which it's based, and whether the extra money is worth it.
I don't know where CW got the idea that I have a blog, but maybe I should start one LMAO! Again I'm not a Honda Freak. I like Hondas and Acuras, but at the same time Iike VW,Volvo, Mazda, BMW, Audi, MB, Lexus etc. I have nothing against Sheth having a love affair with GM, but I just ask that he would take off his GM colored glasses before he post something deluded and illusional. Numerous reviews around the web (ie people that have actually driven the car) claim that the new TL SH-AWD is a handling beast, so why the hell would Sheth say that the CTS can out handle it? Again I'm not saying the CTS is a bad car. It's one of the best vehicles GM has made in years. I'm just saying that you can't just make a claim that doesn't lineup with the actual people that test drive these cars because you are in love.
Yet again CJ, your posts are a bunch of garbage. Sheth said he didn't think the TL would out handle the CTS because of the weight distribution and the fact that it is front wheel drive. Did any of those groups you read about do a straight up test between a CTS and the TL, did you read all the objective components of the review and compare them? I'll bet you didn't, I know your style, you blind posting Honda Freak you. Oh and you had a spelling error above, LOL, OMG, IMOYAAI!!
I'm not going to get into this fight because people are stating their opinions without having driven or even seen both cars. Don't confuse what I say about the 306 hp TL SH-AWD and its handling and the FWD TL's handling. As I say in the review they are quite different vehicles. I think the base TL has a level of quiet, luxury tuning in its ride that definitely is different than the new Accord. The Accord is probably the harshest Accord to date. I also said the new EX-L Accords interior was teh best HONDA interior to date. Not best interior ever or whatever you guys are concluding from what I write.
The new CTS interior is very nice. I think I said it was a close call or something like that. the CTS definitely has a better entertainment/nav system, but I think the TL would probably be a more livable car day to day. It's a really close call though and would be up to your personal likes dislikes. If you want RWD etc.
I like the 2009 Acura TL, but it is a bit overpowered (V8) and too pricey for me.
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