Used 2011 Acura TL Consumer Reviews

The Gold Standard of Luxury Sport Sedans

I applaud Acura for finally taking the lead with a fresh bold design for the TL. The car’s styling is simply brilliant inside and out. And the superbly integrated Tech. package brings the car’s substance on par with its stunning looks. The drive is remarkably quiet and controlled. For the last 15 years, I’ve only driven German cars. Before buying the TL, I also considered Audi A4, BMW 535xi, VW CC VR6, Infiniti G37x, and the Lexus ES350. In this group, the only serious contender for the TL w/ Tech. package is the VW CC VR6, but only if you can live with its two- seater rear arrangement and I couldn’t! So, all things considered, my final analysis led me straight to the TL.

Best Kept Secret

Great car packaged with all the options you could possibly need. The handling and overall dynamics of this car is just fantastic. My previous car was an S2000 and I was feeling sad about moving on. However, as a daily commuter car, this is a fantastic combination of comfort, fun and sports. I opted to get the full body-kit and optional 19" diamond cut wheels (not the HPT). The 19" adds to the sports dynamics another notch. This is one of the best kept secrets in the market today. With the current incentives making the TL a hands-down winner and best value sport sedan.

Crisp, Modern Luxury Experience

After comparing several vehicles at the $39K price cap, I determined the TL was the best pick for me. I see too many identical Infiniti G37s around town, strike. Lincoln MKZ & MKS still feel a half-step behind in their luxury effort, strike. Lexus ES feels too mature and the IS is too cute, strike. Not only is the Acura car stunning to look at, but the interior craftsmanship, powertain performance, and tech features give me the impression of solid modern luxury. Interior ergonomics are a near perfect fit for my 5'5" self.

Perfect car

Who said this is a bad look?

I bought my TL, and 2 weeks later my wife wanted one, so now we have 2, same everything, just 2 different colors. I looked at the Infiniti and Lexus and this car by far was a better buy. this car is a pleasure to drive..

A few things you can pick on, all in all great car

Great craftsmanship, superior performance, very good value. The engine uses 1 quart of oil (synthetic) approximately every 3,500 miles, my understanding is, this is normal for a large number of this car model / engine. The engine is extremely strong and superior in performance as are the brakes and 5 speed automatic transmission. Trunk is slightly on the smaller side. Back seat ( at least with my AWD model) has a center hard hump that makes it impossible for anyone but a small child to sit on. Would have like a backseat that will lay flat for pass through storage from trunk.

GREAT RIDE LOVE IT! SH-AWD

I switched to this TL from a Lexus LS. It is obviously a hugeeee difference but I am a fan of the 'sportiness.' The TL turns heads everwhere I drive and the exhaust note is beautiful. The design is great and it is really a fun car to drive. I am a fan of Acura now. I will probably never turn towards german. I like my japanese cars and will always stay with acura and lexus. Havent drove the car in the snow yet (excited to try it out). Great car overall. Fun ride. Reliable. Worth the price. Turns head. Overall 9/10 overall happiness.

Really fun But.....

Driven SH-AWD TL now for 2 years. The car is awesome if you have for the right purpose; this is a sports car not a cruiser. It gets horrible mpg and really crashes on speed bumps. I highly recommend using sport mode and paddle shifters to complete the sporting feel. The engine signature and agility of this car is really impressive. Again, I love the car but am now wanting a more comfortable car to ride in as my daily commute has gotten longer with the new job. Also the road noise at highway speeds is so loud, I can't use my Bluetooth.

Acura - Loaded with Features

This is my second Acura - I previously drove a 2003 CL-Type S. The new 2010 TL SH-AWD is far superior in handling with the AWD and with the Tech package has the most technology of any car I've driven. The ride and fuel economy suffer a bit with the AWD but this car really handles. This car has more entertainment choices than one can possibly use. The XM radio and the iPod connection are the ones I use most as my iPod allows me to take my entire music collection on the road with me and XM radio comes in handy when I want to listen to something that is not in my collection.

Mostly excellent, but GPS maps stink

I thought my 6-cylinder AWD Subaru, and 35RL were capable cornering machines until I drove the TL SH-AWD. The TL can corner a whale of a lot faster, and the seat bolsters make even the passengers comfortable while you do that. The instant mpg readout almost turns me into a mega-miler with paddle upshifts. I get 22mpg on 2-lane, curvy, hilly, Ozark roads on 30-mile round trips to town with 40 to 55 mph speeds. Acura GPS maps are so bad, I have to use a portable Garmin GPS to find addresses in this area. Garmin's MapTech maps find locations here and give decent directions. The Acura GPS just shows a dotted line for most roads and directs by compass heading, useless around our very large lake.

From Bottom of My List...to my Driveway!

Drove the 2010 SH-AWD w/Tech and when I hit the accelerator it took my breath away. I haven't had a reaction like that to a car since driving a 1996 300ZX Twin Turbo. The car is stunning in person (ignore the editors that think it's ugly). The pics don't do it justice. You have to see it, feel it, to understand this car. Just go drive one...but leave your checkbook at home unless you are ready to buy!

Joy killed by the Remote

I always a had remote-start with new my cars for the last 15 years. This time, I went Acura Remote. It cost $900 and you get only one remote start. And it weights a ton. I need a janitors pouch to carry remote-start and the FOB. Luxury car seems like step down from my previous Chevy Malibu.

Too many rattles

I own a 2010 TL SHAWD & what I can say at this point it's to stay away from it. The car has been in the shop for over 45 days because a noise coming from the right and left pillards. It appears it is an structural problem and after having a factory rep in town they decided not to do anything about it. The service manager told me they started having more cars coming in with the same problem and they do not have a clue have to fix it, they were using mine as a platform for future repairs. Buy something else until Acura addresses this if they do because this could affect the integrity of the car in case of an accident plus the noise it is so annoying that you won't enjoy your ride at all.

Best looking Plus Sedan Out There!

I'm in my third year of a lease of an Acura TL. I love to drive it for a number o reasons but I love it's performance and the way it drives. I get many compliments on the style and design. I have a black exterior with a light grey interior sedan and it's the sharpest car out there. Smithtown Acura sales and service department is top notch. Colleen is a caring and knowledgable sales representative. Her goal is to make you happy with your selection and she continues to provide help when needed and she gives my family good advice on future cars. The omly service I had to do on my car was a broken front speaker. I got an appointment quickly and the speaker was replaced. They are the best

You get what you pay for.

Expensive parts, steering is bland, transmission downshifting is sometimes clunky.

Great Car, Buy it again

This is my second review. I bought this car in December of 2009. I didn't get a chance to check the SH- AWD out in snow because of traveling, but now, I am testing that. This car loves corners. sometimes, it scares the sh*% out of me, but it never oversteer or understeer. It handles corners like it wasn't there. I'm always on the road in weekends and I love driving. only problem is that the GPS maps. My friend's house has been at this location for over 20 yrs and it cannot find it. GPS says that it does not exist. They need to do better job at MAPS. My tomtom finds that house good and it's 4 years old. Clutch on this car is easy. it doesn't take a lot to push it down, which is good.

Everything I'd hoped for and more

Own and love a BMW Z4 and was preparing to buy a 535XI until I drove this car. Pulls well in all six gears, and close ratio shifting is smoother than any car I've ever driven. (reminiscent of a previously owned 1995 NSX). Technology is easy to use and impressive. All wheel drive makes the car feel as if it's on rails on sweeping freeway on-ramps. An absolute blast to drive.

Great Car, but takes a lot of fuel

I got the 6 speed manual. I was looking at 2010 Audi S4 with 3.0L V6 supercharger and this acura. I test drove both cars. Audi has alot more lower end torque than TL does. Also, it gives over 30mpg on highway. I bought TL over S4 is because it was 15k less. I had car for 3 weeks now. I can't say much about reliability and so forth, but I can say is that I love the car. It drives nice and sporty. Many people don't like the front grill. Actually I like that. It makes the car look different and I think it's a good design.

Sporty ride & look with luxury comfort

TL is the perfect car for my tastes - sporty, great ride/handling, but all the luxury and creature comforts. I couldn't be happier with it. It's a luxury car with sports car feel and look.

Great car and value

I took my new TL for a 800 mile road trip right after the purchase. What a car. The handling was wonderful and the feel of luxury was all about the cabin. The electronic were easy to learn and I used them all on the trip. My 2006 TL was a nice car, but this one is a dream. Besides being a great sport type luxury sedan, this is a real value.

Never will regret it!

This car is amazing. I had a 2003 TL Type- S before this and Acura never lets me down. The styling is so unique and eye catching that everywhere I go I get a compliment! The 3.7 L engine is so powerful and I love to hear it scream when I push it hard. It is probably the best investment I have ever made.

Great Car but

This is my third review. Now I have over 10k miles. I'm always on the road as always and i love driving this car. Sound system is awesome. I wish I was able to watch DVD on navigation screen when I'm sitting somewhere, like other cars do. One problem I have right now. My Third gear. sometimes when I shift into third gear, it feels like it has shifted into third, but when I tried to release the clutch, it makes grinding noise, like the gears have not engaged and the shifter comes back to neutral. Does this happen to others? I wonder. Besides this, I love this car.

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Tec

Car is awesome so far. The Technology Package is incredible. Has all the bells & whistles. I bought winter rims & tires for it and I bet it will be a tank in the snow.

Best bang for your buck

I tried a lot of the other cars out there including the German ones. I have to say that the Acura offers everything they had for much less. The all wheel drive handling is second to none although this cost fuel economy it is worth it. The grill is a love it or hate it item. However if you hate it a lot the dealership can offer different custom grills but for a price. I myself don't mind it and i love the rest of the car. Tech package is a must!!

Great car full of great features

Have owned my TL for 2 weeks now. Haven't gotten through all the manuals yet so finding new features every day. Got the silver which minimizes some of the questionable exterior styling features. Also shopped the G37x, A4 and 328ix, but found the TL the best value for the money. Love the interior design and rear seat room as well as all the audio options. Don't feel like I compromised anything in buying the Acura.

5K Miles and never looked back! A JOY!

With 5 months and 5K miles under my belt, the car is everything you come expect from Acura. A trip to Las Vegas yielded 24.6 MPG! This car maneuvered its way around a bad traffic accident happening right before my eyes thanks to superb handling. A work of art in the design department that grows on you the more you look at it and all the technology one would love to have and needs to have! 5 Star safety rating and super Acura service that adds up to a car I have come to love to drive!

Lexus E350 Replacement

Bought this car to replace a Lexus E350 that we had lost confidence in (wife was afraid to drive it due to reported acceleration problems). The Acura TL AWD is a remarkably tight car with outstanding suspension, excellent seating, and nice interior enhancements. The tech package is superb and easy to learn to use. Stereo surround sound on CD's is remarkable. The one complaint we have is that the road, engine, and tire noise (low profile, high performance tires?) is annoying! It's as bad as my Ford pickup. This is, however, a great car for the money.

Best car for around $40,000!!!

I have had the 2010 TL SH-AWD with Tech for a couple of months now and I love it! It is powerful yet refined and quiet, and truly a blast to drive! The sound system is amazing - the only comparable system at this price point is the Audi B&O system. The interior is beautiful - luxuriously soft leather everywhere and a very user friendly console. Gas mileage is pretty good for a 300+ hp car with AWD - considering that I have only had 2200 miles so far and it's already giving me 21mpg on average (50/50 local and short distance freeway driving), it's already exceeding its stated gas mileage on the EPA sticker and it is still getting better! I also like how striking and unique it looks.

Real nice car

Traded my 07 lexus is350 with no regrets. car is fun to drive. awd is great. have not seen one like it yet while driving.

This one is great

The dealer gave us a good price for this car. We immediately drove this for a 200 mile ride. The comfort and conveniences are great. The best part is the audio storage. Once we insert the CD, the songs are automaticaly stored in the hard drive. We will not need to use any existing CDs once we finish playing them in our car. The car drives great. It is too early to comment about the reliability and other things. Having owned 2 Hondas earlier, that is something we will vouch for anyway.

Tech dream

It has been 45 days, and 1K miles since I bought a new 2010 Tech SW-AWD TL. I am impressed with the car and these are my observations. The car has excellent build quality, has sharp and distinctive interior and exterior styling, has oodles of power available when you need it, is very comfortable and is loaded with cool technology. It is built in the US (in Marysville OH), is designed in Torrance, CA, and these aspects did matter to me. The car is reasonably priced in its class, rated high on safety, and no car company can touch Honda in reliability and cost of ownership. Simply put...this car is an engineer's dream.

Silky Smooth

Was shopping on and off for an all-wheel drive luxury/performance car, and was checking out all the usual suspects (Audi, BMW, Benz) plus the Subaru Legacy GT. I had written the Acura TL off, as I was determined to keep my left foot awake with a M/T. Around the end of July, I discovered that Acura added a M/T to the 2010 lineup. Went to the dealer for a test- drive, and fell in love with the handling/power mix. The size and amenities are great, and the (polarizing) looks have been growing on me daily. Dollar for dollar, the 4g TL is the best value mid-size performo luxo sedan on the road, especially once resale value and insurance costs are figured in (w/ the perfect crash-test ratings).

Amazing Car

Just spent the last 3 weeks researching cars, looking at cars, test driving etc. I stumbled on this one at a carshow and immediately was sold. Great exterior looks, great interior, plenty of room in both front and back (6'3" Driver). Quiet inside and very smooth drive. Black exterior with Ebony leather inside has lots of people walking by and taking a look.

Great Car Just Like I Thought

This is my fourth Acura, the first being in 1988. A lot has changed. This is a fantastic vehicle. The nav is out of this world and I got 3 months traffic, weather and zag for free. I had XM in last Acura but the reception is better on the 2010. Can't figure out why nav says its 175 to Boston when all my other navs recorded 210. Will have to see if there is a secret route to Bean Town. Overall, the car's performance is excellent but have had it for less than a week. Bought all weather mats but they do not lock while using regular carpeted mats. Have to use only use all weather mats. In 2005 Acura you could snap in two layers of carpet.

Good Experience

Thecar is exceptional in its handling and performance. Best car on the market for the price and the lease options are sensational.

Worth it

I have owned a 2004 TL prior and went to Lexus GS 350 in 2007. I came back to the TL after driving the 2010 SH-AWD. Acura does all the little things well, the bluetooth (quality is outstanding), the stock stereo is everything other reviewers claimed (outrageous for stock), the Navigation is second to none. Having owned a Lexus, BWM and Infinity, the Navigation is well executed and very useable. The AWD reminds me of my 2001 BWM 330ic it truly makes handling feel like a German sports car. I shopped it against the Audi 6, the Infinity M and Cadillac CTS. For the money with all the things Acura puts in the TL standard it was not even close. A perfect choice for an outside salesperson.

I'm in love with my car

I love my 2010 Acura TL. I purchased the 3.5 V6 with technology package in white pearl. The car drives smooth, has quick acceleration and it looks amazing!!! Buy this car, you won't be disappointed.

Modern Luxury Right Here

I first considered Infiniti G37, Lincoln MKZ, Lexus IS / ES. I even looked at a new LaCrosse. Then it all came together at Acura. The Acura brand is a quiet, confident player among the luxury cars. The TL's styling, comfort, performance, features, and value were the perfect ingredients for me. The Acura brand's reputation, as well as the great dealer experience, further impressed my purchase decision.

Love this Ride

This is my second TL (my other one is a 2006), and this one is even better, which is saying a lot. The SH-AWD is amazing and I appreciated the added hp. I compared it with Audi, Lexus, BMW, and MB. I have no regrets with my choice and feel that I have gotten great value for my money. While the exterior styling is controversial, I appreciate that it does not look like everything else, and my wife thinks it is great looking.

love it

I had a 3G TL (2007) leased, and with the lease coming up I started looking around at new cars. Specifically the luxury/sporty/AWD sedan market. The 2010 TL was always in the running, but I didn't like the front end on most colors (though it looks good in white and silver), and some other cars seemed more sporty - G37, BMW 335, and others seemed more luxurious - MB C class, Audi A4, Lexus GS. Then I saw they had a 6spd manual, and I had to go drive it. When I drove it, I had to have it. The interior is top notch for the price point, the exterior is distinctive in a GOOD way (esp. the back end), and the combo of 4 doors, 300 HP, AWD and a manual transmission is a very rare and good thing

Best Performance car for the Money

This is the best performance car & most beautiful of the all Honda Products made. My Black on Black TL is so pretty and unique. The engine is more powerful, freer and higher revving than any Acura/Honda I have driven. The brakes are neither too heavy nor too light, I have never felt fade (Seldom hear ABS!) and have a very smooth feel. The car corners absolutely flat (on rails)& the steering is perfectly weighted at any speed. The TL 6MT also has equal or better performance than cars costing thousands more (e.g.; Lexus E350, Inf G37x and M-Class, Audi A4, BMW Series 3 and 5, MB C300 and similar 4Matics, Ford Taurus SHO. This is also the quietest “Honda Product” I have owned (MDX, Pilot).

Amazing Balance

Test drove BMW, Infiniti and Audi and don't understand why "they" don't see this car as an option versus the S4 (but then again don't really care). What I noticed most about this car was the overall balance of features, performance, engineering and safety (2nd to none). Too many buttons? Who cares as you can do almost everything through a great voice command system. 6MT certainly does allow for immediacy and the handling is idiot proof. Huge rear seat area.

Fun to drive

We just picked up our 6 speed TL yesterday. It was snowing outside, so we had a first hand experience on snow and the car handled beautifully. The 6 speed transmission is very smooth to shift and is really fun to drive. The dealership we bought it gave us a very fair price and we are really thrilled to own this vehicle (this is our second Acura and the fourth from the Honda family).

My New TL

First impression... Wow! This car is much nicer then my 03 TL Types S. The only thing I miss is the quickness of my Types S. This car is quick don't get me wrong but it's not a Type S. Wish they kept the option!!! This car has tons of gadgets! I purchased the TL w/Tech in Mayan Bronze with only 2 miles on it! Love the color. I called 6 dealerships before I found this color! Acura is right, this car is fun to drive and very luxury's with a lot of room. My 2 yr old and 4 yr old have lots of room in the back! Just wish they could watch DVDs off the front monitor!

Excellent sport/luxury sedan.

This is my 9th TL since 1999 and this is without question the best performing model of all so far. The 3.7 motor is smooth and powerful and gas mileage is respectable when driven with some restraint. While I prefered the exterior styling of the 04 - 08 model, the interior design and materials are excellent and make for an extremely comfortable driving experience, and the sound system is icing on the cake. The SH-AWD works very well and should provide and extra level of confidence this coming winter.

2010 Acura TL w/Tech is cool

Best luxury car value for the money. Hard to beat. If they can fix the styling (exterior) and add a few more color choices, it would have scored higher. Car rides better than most german cars (not too stiff). Handling, acceleration, braking is perfect. Get the tech package, it is worth the extra money, most noteable, the rear camera, upgraded stereo, keyless access. Bluetooth, USB interface and function is the best that I have seen. The NAV system is average and it really should have touch screen function vs. dial knob. Acura should make this car 6 speed transmission for better mileage

Luxury, Style and Enjoyment

I have 3 other vehicles, I bought this Acura because I am tired of boring, lifeless, look alike vehicles in the market. I am an Engineer, This Acura styling is out of this world, its styling will last for a decade to come. Its stance says a big statement. I have done my homework before I wrote the check. I drove BMW 3 & 5 series,Infinity G37,Lexus ES350, Forget about it, the clear winner is Acura TL

Easy entry level choice

I decided to upgrade my commuter with an entry level luxury sedan eliminating several options immediately because I was still concerned about reliability. If I'm paying more to get more, more must include reliability - Scratch off the German wonders. I drove the TL and G37 sedan & coupe (Didn't care for baby Lexus). The TL with the Tech package exceeded all of my expectations and was clearly the superior car. It had all the features of the G37 but with much more room inside. Even my wife preferred the more masculine/sporty exterior of the TL. The shifting was also much smoother. I had to do some emergency braking and it was rock steady just like the handling. I love commuting now.

One of The Best

The Acura SH-AWD TL is one of the best cars I have ever driven. The six speed manual is pure driving enjoyment. This car gives you a great feel of the road without being overly harsh with its ride.

Very Nice Car for the Money

I love this car. The styling is great. I'm probably one of the few who loves the grille. It makes the car standout. It drives like a dream. I have not had any problems so far with the fit and finish. No rattles or squeaks. So far so good.