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Driving Impressions

The Acura TL is surprisingly agile and tossable for such a large and fairly heavy car. It is very easy to drive, with an electric power steering (EPS) system instead of hydraulic power steering. The EPS gives the TL a light steering feel, which is especially appreciated at low speeds for parking-lot maneuvers. The steering feel firms up at higher speeds, and while we generally like the steering, we'd like it to be a bit firmer at road speeds. Unlike some electric steering systems, the TL's system feels natural and provides informative feedback. It's also quite quick.

The front-drive model has 17-inch wheels and is every bit a sport sedan, reacting well to quick changes of direction and driving much smaller than its useful size. As for the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, under normal conditions it is front biased, sending 90 percent of the torque to the front wheels. Stomp the throttle or drive on a slippery surface and SH-AWD can send up to 70 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. Plus, the rear differential can apportion the power between the rear wheels. This allows the TL to send most of the power to the outside rear wheel in a turn, which helps rotate the car through that turn.

Standard on the TL SH-AWD model are 18-inch wheels, with 19-inch wheels and tires optional. Suspension and chassis changes from the base model include stiffer shocks and springs and revised bushings. The models we drove were equipped with the 19-inch wheels and tires, and though the SH-AWD model weighs roughly 250 pounds more than the base model, it feels every bit as responsive. It also has the added bonus of more grip in fast, sweeping turns, thanks to the wider tires. Plus, it is the best choice for snow-belt customers, though without the 19-inch summer tires.

All those handling improvements don?t come at the expense of ride quality. The TL is forgiving over bumps, even the SH-AWD model with the optional 19-inch wheels and tires. Bumps seldom intrude, there is no float or wallow, and up-and-down motions are kept to a minimum. The TL is a model of ride and handling balance.

The TL also has ample brakes, with large two-piston calipers. While we didn't get out on a racetrack to really put the brakes through their paces, they were easy to modulate and provided worry-free stops.

When it comes to power, the TL has that, too. The base engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 280 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 254 pound-feet of torque at 5400 rpm. The TL SH-AWD is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 that produces 305 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 273 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. Both engines are matched with the five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shiftgate and steering-wheel shift paddles, and the 3.7-liter V6 is available with the six-speed manual. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 18 mpg City, 26 mpg Highway for the 3.5-liter engine and 17 mpg City, 25 mpg Highway for the 3.7-liter engine with either transmission.

While the 3.5-liter V6 has Acura's VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) for the intake valves, the 3.7 adds VTEC for the exhaust valves as well. It also comes with lower gear ratios for a sportier driving experience. Given the SH-AWD model's extra weight, however, the 3.7 makes the SW-AWD only slightly quicker than the base TL with the 3.5. Both cars should easily reach 60 mph in less than six seconds.

Both models have no problems merging with traffic, passing, or accelerating away from an intersection. Power delivery is smooth and linear, and the steering-wheel paddles of the automatic are easy to use if you want to take the shifting duties into your own hands. If you put the TL's automatic transmission in Sport mode, it will hold the gears and not shift up for you.

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