First Look: 2009 Acura TL

Editor's note: Automakers routinely embargo information on new cars in an attempt to create an even playing field for publications — so no one has a leg up over another. However, there is an art of breaking embargoes that benefits those who manage to get the information up first, thus generating loads of web traffic. At Cars.com, we honor all automakers’ embargoes unless our competitors break them. We then feel compelled to make sure our readers are as educated as others. Below is our pre-embargo look at Acura’s all-new TL sedan, including a photo gallery of manufacturer images. We’ll have a full review posted on Monday, Aug. 18, which is the embargo date, with our own photos and driving impressions.

Acura has completely redesigned its most popular model, the TL, for the 2009 model year. The sedan is based on the Honda Accord platform, but there’s no way you could confuse the two when looking at them.

The radical look of the 2009 TL is already generating massive feedback on automotive blogs and online forums. Now having seen it in person, spending a lot of time staring at it from all angles and in different colors, I can say it is definitely better looking in person.

It’s striking, to say the least. On our drive, passers-by turned their heads. One Acura RL driver at a stop sign literally held up traffic to check out our train of new TLs driving through winding Connecticut roads.

Comments

A lot better than I was expecting though that shield grille thing is still awful.

The grill does take some getting used to. How many controls do they need on the steering wheel though?

I love the Maroon one. It looks fantastic in dark colors, and that umber interior is very sporty looking.

i'm hoping the grille is one of those things that look better in person (seems like bit of trend lately -- the XF definitely looks gorgeous in person and hideous in photos!)

looks like a Saturn (Aura?) from the back; front reminds me of a Camry with a weird grille ... can't wait until that magical monday for your driving impressions!

The grill looks pathetic. Acura missed the mark here. This model should be labeled the InAcura.

it looks much better in darker colors. silver and white aren't its best. Actually I don't think they should even make a white.

I've seen a few TSXs in white and they look pretty good. Does the TL look that much worse in white (I'm talking about in person)?

CJ,
Yes. You can't really see any of the lines that make the TL unique. especially over the front fender and the rear

The interior looks almost identical to my '08 EX-L Accord. Probably because it is...

looks great, just need an aftermarket grill

I have to agree with Ziggy...I could see someone accidently calling someone or setting the cruise control...I mean, really, there is hardly enough room for your hands!!

Since Dave said that it looks good in dark colors, I'm hoping that it looks good in black. Black seems fitting for most Acura sedans. Overall I think the 2009 TL looks impressive inside, but as someone mentioned the outside looks better in person than in photos so I will have to go see for myself. I mean it's far from being offensive. There's some interesting new lines that will take time to get used to, but nonetheless it's unique it's own way.

To me the TSX looks awful in pictures, but is handsome in person. . . again, depending on color. I think this new TL looks good altogether, but I see a lot of other cars in lots of its angles- not all them luxury cars either.

Broq

What a great looking vehicle! I was not impressed by any of the earlier spy pics I had seen but these set of pics really do the car justice. I notice Acura also improved upon the one minor interior short-coming from the previous generation. They now use one large compartment door at the base of the dash stack where as before it was two smaller doors. I was not planning on trading my '07 G35, but I've always missed my '04 TL. I now have no other choice but to go test drive the new TL.

Overall, the car looks great! Although I think all red LED tail lights would looks better and further differentiate it from the Accord. The only thing I don't like about the front is that it looks like the lights are placed slightly under where the grille starts giving it a misaligned look. The interior is excellent with the exception of the knob based navigation in place of the touch screen of the previous generations.

I love the muscular and sinister look and the interior looks to be very luxurious. I bet Acura has a big hit on their hands with this TL.

I agree with everyone else, the front end is a thumbs down and the silver looks bad (I own a SilverStone S2000, so I am not against silver). The dark red looks very nice though. Seriously want to see the pricing and availabity. Looking to get the SH-AWD.

I will say every company needs to get on the CVT transmision bandwagon. I test drove a 2009 Maxima. I can confirm it does 60 mph pretty easy through a 270 degree on-ramp, sans salesman of course :) The CVT is a perfect transmission, I would take it over a manual even (I have 2 cars with manual transmissions). The harder you push the gas, the higher the RPMs, right up to speed you want (perfect). I wouldn't even get the paddles on the Maxima, no need.

some reason the headlights remind me of a camry bu other than that the car looks great

The car looks excellent overall. My only problem is the front. The grille worked well with the MDX, but I just think that I have to get use to the new grille. The headlights remind me too much of the current TL. As for colors, it would look great in black (as for all Acura's) or the maroon color pictured, or in fact any other dark color. The interior looks amazing. Although there are a lot of buttons on the steering wheel, I have to agree on that. I definately believe this will be a hit. But wait till the 2010 NSX. And it won't look like the 2007 concept version.

I've got to go into buisness making after market grills for Acuras. I suspect I'd be busy for the next 4 years.

I hope the 2009 TL looks as good in person as the 2009 TX. I am a current TL owner a 2003 Type-S. I am looking for a new car in the next 12 to 18 months and right now considering the Infiniti G37 sedan, or BMW 335i. My problem with the new Tl may be as a performance car enthusiast that it just doesn't quite measure up with the G37's 330 horsepower. This car was better mach back in
2003 against the then G35 sedan. Acura needs to seriously bring back the Type-s with about
330 to 350 horsepower to prabably make me a repeat buyer of the TL.

Reggie one thing you need to realize is that horsepower isn't what moves the car, it's the torque. The 305 hp TL has more torque than the 330 hp G37. I'm not saying the TL is faster or more powerful than the G, but I think it deserves a test drive before, you deem it inadequate and slow.

I'm a little iffy about the exterior design of the new TL. From the front doors back, it borrows cues from the '08 Nissan Maxima/Altima. Hmmm, maybe its not built on the Accord after all (just kiddin'). The current TL has a more identifiable look, you know it was an Acura. The interior is nice but it doesn't look like it quite matches the quality of the RL and MDX. However, I am eager to see it in person before final judgment.

Cj you are wrong.
Power moves the vehicle.
The engine releases the chemical energy from fuel, takes that power and inputs it to the transmission.
The torque/speed input and torque/speed output is routed to the drivetrain, which routes the power to the hubs then wheel/tires and finally the ground.

The new 3.7 liter engine in the TL makes slightly more torque than the 3.7 in the G37, but the G37 has a 7 speed automatic while the TL is stuck with a 5 speed auto.

I had 2007 and now 2008 Acura which has a distinctive and sporty-look. I think several new cars look like the Camry including this one. Disappointed with the new look. For next car, I will probably not own an Acura.

Does anyone know if the power steering improved on 2009?

i think they botched it way to much THE OLD DESIGN WAS GREAT And now they change it to this design that makes it look like its 80 somewhat years old GAH i hope they FAIL

I felt so strongly about the nose of this car that a friend and I created this petition to try and get Acura to change the nose in the 2010 model so I can actually buy one without having to hold my head in shame.

SIGN NOW!!!!!! Pass this link along to friends and foe alike. Even the dealership.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-acura-from-creating-huge-unattractive-grills-on-the-09-acura-tl

Hey Acura ... Nice Camry

I think the last comment is pretty good. I would not have thought about it until hearing it. But I think this is an even uglier rendition of the Camry styling. Almost everything on this car looks out of proportion, from the rear styling, to the hideous grille, to the wheel arches. I think the previous generation looked so nice because it had somewhat of an understated yet aggressive style to it. This just looks like the last generation going through puberty. All discombobulated.

I am sure it is one of the best cars to drive for the money (exclusive of styling).

The Grill looked like a large single tooth in the pictures. Now that I've seen it in person, it doesn't look near as bad. In fact, I've seen a Crystal Black one, with the center portion of the Grill painted in the same Black and WOW! It looks custom!

Children, listen:

When Honda way back in 1996 introduced the civic ek class, everybody opined it was ugly weirdo looking; true because it was way ahead of its time; so advanced that even up to now, you can't name a 1.6L production car as powerful and as agile yet smooth driving and riding as the civic, without emptying your bank account. 2.0 petrol kompressor turbo versus a 1.8 civic typeR sedan? ohhh come-on I'll let you go first a full FIFTEEN MINUTES and I will pass you by in FIVE MINUTES and no kidding.

Acura 3.7 TL SH-AWD? history will again judge Honda engineers are way above ALL THE REST.

I was on the hunt for a new car in november 2008. i went to acura first and loved the 09 TSX but not enough power for me. I ended up gettin a 08 TL with Tech package because the 09 TL is down right ugly and feels cheaper and of less quality than the 08. I love my 08 TL!!!