When Honda released the new body-style Accord sedan last year, it looked remarkably similar to its upscale cousin, the 3rd generation Acura TL.  This begged the question, “Why pay nearly 40 grand when I can get a nearly identical car for under 30?”  Acura answers this question with the newly redesigned 2009 TL, which hit the showrooms this week.   The new styling, which sports a guillotine-like chrome wedge in the center of the grille, has received mixed review.  However, you have to give Acura kudos for engineering.  In fact Acura describes the 4th generation TL as being “by far the most technologically advanced sedan in Acura’s history.”
 
Certainly, Acura has pulled out all the stops in redesigning what has been America’s best selling luxury sedan since 2005.  Despite a significant increase in size (it’s a full 6 inches longer and 2 inches wider - nearly the size of the 2008 RL flagship), the TL has only gained about 85 lb in total body weight, thanks to the use of new, high-strength steels and an aluminum hood.  This increase in size affords more legroom to rear-seat passengers and plenty of trunk space for golf clubs, luggage or even a full size cooler for tailgating!

The 2009 Acura TL is also more powerful than its predecessor.  The base front wheel drive model has a 280-hp (254 lb-ft torque), 3.5-liter V6 engine that Acura claims will see 26 mpg on the highway.  The performance-oriented, “super-handling” all-wheel-drive (SH-AWD) version is powered by the 305-hp (273 lb-ft torque), 3.7-liter V6 engine currently used in the RX and MDX sport utility vehicles.  Both TL’s currently feature a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, but a 6-speed manual transmission will be available on the SH-AWD model in 2010.

Another new piece of technology is Acura’s Electric Power Steering, which improves fuel economy, but feels a bit loose in medium-speed corners.   The suspension provides a nice balance between comfort and handling, making the car equally suited to a daily commute or a weekend trip up a twisty mountain road.  The 2009 TL comes with standard front and side airbags, and it earned a top rating of five stars from the NHTSA and IIHS in all crash tests.  Who says fun can’t be safe?

Equal attention has been given to the vehicle’s interior with an ergonomic central control stack, hands-free Bluetooth wireless telephone interface and comfortable, bolstered seats.  An optional Technology Package gives you a 440-watt sound system with 10 speakers and DVD-Audio, push-button start system, a voice-command navigation system with rearview camera, real-time traffic routing and real-time weather reporting.

The front-drive TL hit showrooms on September 24 with a starting price just north of $35,000.  The SH-AWD will follow in early November and start around $39,000.  These price tags are slightly higher that those of the TL’s competitors from BWM (328i) and Lexus (IS), but they are still quite reasonable considering the wealth of standard features as well as the car’s increased refinement, power and size.  And, it’s really fun to take through a corner.