Over the last year I have had some memorable experiences driving Honda’s sister (and luxury) brand Acura and testing out its take on Bluetooth functionality. However, when I drove the cars back then, I was focusing on the technology embedded, not the overall driving experience. This time around, I had the chance to take out a few of Acura/Honda’s experience-focused cars: the notorious 6-speed TL and the Honda Civic SI HFP (that post is following this one). Let’s dive right into it and take a look at the TL.

Performance:

Packing a 280-HP V6 V-Tech engine, the car packs a serious punch, and with 273lbs of torque at 5,000RPM it has a forgiving clutch for even the most novice of drivers. I found, as I put the car through some heavy highway gear-shifting, that the clutch began to learn my style and adjust itself to fit how I shifted; red-lined or not. A huge plus was Acura’s inclusion of the Drive-by-Wire™ throttle system; a technology that kind of prevented me from losing control of the car during sticky situations, it works as an intervention should it sense that the driver (me at the time) has the chance of losing control.

To put it bluntly: The car completely lived up to, and actually succeeded, its reputation which was benchmarked by its very popular predecessor the 3.2 TL.

Price point and overall impression:

I think I can objectively say that this is the luxury sedan that drives like a sports car. The fact that is has a base price-point of $35, 700, makes it attractive to young professionals like me who look for power and style, without the executive budget. In my review (linked above) I spoke, in-depth, about the technology in the TL-S so their is no need for repetition.

I can say honestly, however, that the TL was a fun time to drive, fantastic on gas, and worth every penny of the purchase if you’re in the market for a sporty ride that has the luxury feel.

Learn more about the 2012 Acura TL-S via Acura.com here

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