January 2012 Car of the Month: 2012 Acura TL sport sedan

The 2012 Acura TL is the January Car of the Month, named by NADA for its updated styling, improved performance, fuel economy and upgraded technology. If you are in the market for an affordable performance sport sedan, the 2012 Acura TL holds up well against more expensive competitors like the BMW 3 Series.

I love the TL. I got to test drive it recently, and found it to be fast, fun and responsive, with great acceleration and stable in tight cornering, especially when you switch over to the new six-speed Sequential SportShift. Besides kicking up performance, the sport mode improves fuel economy. The TL also is good looking and filled with safety and comfort features.

Safety — The 2012 Acura TL has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This is an important achievement, since IIHS instituted more stringent testing guidelines last year. The 2012 Acura TL features including Acura’s trademarked Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, which distribute energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle in the event of a crash. There’s also an optional blind-spot systemthat warns the driver when another car is behind in an adjacent lane.

Engine and transmission — The 2012 Acura TL is available with a 280 hp, front-wheel-drive version, as well as a powerful 305 hp version paired with Acura’s all-wheel-drive system. The sportshift also offers drivers a double-kick-down feature, say from Fifth to Third gear. The Drive-by-Wire throttle system also creates a “blip” of the throttle to help match gear speeds while downshifting, something Honda/Acura racecars do on the track.

Fuel economy — City/highway fuel economy for the TL is now rated at 20/29 mpg, which is an increase of 3 mpg in highway driving over the 2011 model. The AWD model equipped with the new 6-speed automatic transmission is EPA rated at 18/26 mpg.

Creature features — Positioned as a driver’s car, the 2012 Acura TL features a refined cabin that includes instrument cluster changes, new, more elegant finishes, and optional ventilated front seats.

The 2012 Acura TL has a starting MSRP of $35,605 for the for the two WD four-door sedan, up to $45,085 for the fully-loaded four-wheel-drive model. Acura offers a four year, 50,000 mile warranty, free 24-hour roadside assistance, concierge service and trip routing..