New 2012 Acura TL

What a difference a year makes. The Acura TL has always been a standout in the midsize luxury segment, but what has held buyers back from embracing it is quite simply its looks. It may have stepped too far outside of the box on its last redesign, but for 2012 the folks at Acura are looking to remedy that and have also made a few mechanical improvements as well.

The 2012 Acura TL gets the automotive equivalent of a nose job – it’s still very recognizable, but the more aggressive features have been smoothed out and its new beak should appeal more to new car shoppers. Up front, the large silver grille has been shrunk and the front fascia revised to soften the sharp angles that were present before. The taillights and rear bumper have also been revised to create a more fluid appearance.

Under the hood, engine options remain the same. Standard models carry a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 while all-wheel drive models get a more powerful 305-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. New for 2012 is a six-speed automatic transmission that replaces the outgoing five-speed box. This new transmission is said to improve acceleration, without any loss in efficiency. Acura calls its all-wheel drive system “Super Handling” which is an apt name for it. This system constantly reads factors like speed, steering angle, and available traction, and adjusts the amount of power sent to the front and rear wheels in order to maximize grip and performance. All-wheel drive versions of the TL are also available with a six-speed manual transmission.

At the pump, the TL also gets improved gas mileage thanks to aerodynamic changes, the new transmission, and engine improvements. The result is a jump up to 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive models get predictably lower ratings, at 17-18 mpg /city and 25-26 mpg/highway, the lower numbers corresponding to a selection of the manual transmission.

The standard features list remains long for the 2012 TL. This luxury sedan comes standard with Bluetooth® connectivity, automatic climate control, power moonroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, powered/heated front seats, and USB/iPod integration. For this year, you’ll also notice a few improvements to some of the TL’s optional features. The optional navigation system, adds a brighter display and greater map coverage, and the front seats can now be cooled as well as heated.

Safety features include six airbags, antilock brakes, and an electronic stability system all standard. The Advance Package comes with an added blind spot warning system, for safer merging.

With an updated appearance and several newly updated tech features inside, the 2012 Acura TL is once again ready to slug it out in the luxury car segment.