In order to create the most comprehensive review of the 2007 Acura TL available on the Web, the editors at TheCarConnection.com scoured reviews from other sources. At TheCarConnection.com, editors read what others have to say about cars, drive the cars themselves, and unite those experiences into one sum-total review that values consensus and shares conflicting opinions. Drivers also find comparisons of the 2007 Acura TL to other vehicles in its class.
Likes
- Smooth, powerful engine
- Comfortable interior
- Build quality
- Crisp handling, yet supple ride
Dislikes
- Lacks personality
- Torque steer with front-wheel drive
- Balky automatic transmission
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.
Other Choices
If you're interested in the 2007 Acura TL, also consider:
Audi A4
BMW 3 Series
Lexus ES 350
Nissan Maxima
Subaru Legacy GT
Reason Why
The Lexus ES 350 is perhaps the most direct competitor to the Acura TL; both are front-wheel drive and offer a way to step up to the superior dealership experience of a luxury brand, although neither strays tremendously from its Camry and Accord roots. The 2007 Acura TL also takes on the more docile of the German sports sedans, including the A4 and 3 Series, though both models are a bit more serious. The TL's interior stands out from the pack, with superior materials and a brighter, more exciting overall design; it's also a bit roomier than either German rival. All-wheel drive is fast becoming a differentiator in this class as well; the TL doesn't yet have it, but it's available in the A4 and the 3 Series, along with the Subaru Legacy GT, which takes on the sporty side of the TL. There's also the Nissan Maxima, a front-wheel-drive sport sedan that, like the TL, can disappoint hard-core performance enthusiasts who need to carve canyons; the Maxima's interior is as attractive as the TL's, though the lack of lux-brand cachet is a con.
Buying Tip
Summer performance tires are available on the Type-S for just $200 extra. But unless you're in Southern California and commute on dry, smooth surfaced canyon roads, you're probably best sticking with the standard all-season versions on a high-powered front-wheel-drive car like the TL.
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