Acura's mid-size luxury sport sedan is the TL. In the 2007 Acura TL, shoppers will find specific updates to the interior and exterior styling versus the 2006 model. An upgraded navigation system, featuring AcuraLink satellite communication and nifty real-time traffic information, is new for 2007.
Apart from these changes, 2007 also brings back the high-performance Type-S model, which offers performance features such as a sport-tuned suspension and a redesigned transmission. Plus, it comes in a color called "Blue Pearl Kinetic" that isn't available on other models.
But mostly, the 2007 Acura TL Type-S stands out from other entries in the line because of its higher-output, 286-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine (which drivers normally find in the more high-end RL sedan). Other TL models get a 3.2-liter V-6 making 253 horsepower.
While the Type-S can be specified with either a manual or automatic transmission, the standard 2007 Acura TL comes only with a five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission. As such, the TL performs with plenty of gusto, though TheCarConnection.com's editors wish it would shift with a verve to match the engine; shifts can be hesitant.
The 2007 Acura TL has a look that's both conservative and stylish, with a mix of angularity and subtler, more sweeping surfaces; the result is a well-proportioned profile of a sport sedan. The Type-S makes the look sit even better, with added quad exhaust tips, ten-spoke alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler. Inside, as with other Acura vehicles, the TL has a swoopy, curved instrument panel with plenty of eye-catching surfaces and a cabin appointed in rich materials that stands out as among the better in its class.
The good news and bad news here are the same: The 2007 Acura TL is, for better and for worse, closely related to the Honda Accord. The plusses are clear; it's a practical, relatively affordable vehicle with an especially roomy interior that works flawlessly in most respects. The minuses, however, are also troublesome. The Acura TL lacks oomph and excitement overall. It has front-wheel drive, and not much can be done to make such a high-power model handle as well as rear-wheel-drive (or all-wheel-drive) sport sedans.
In any case, drivers appreciate that the 2007 Acura TL comes with plenty of standard equipment--including a system that plays the DVD-Audio format. These are the kinds of things that other manufacturers usually convince drivers to tack on as extras, and together they make the TL a strong value. Acura also offers a voice-activated nav system and high-performance summer tires.
The Bottom Line:
On all counts, the 2007 Acura TL is a sophisticated, luxurious, and dependable car. What it lacks is excitement.
