Acura TL 4th Generation 2009-2014 (UA8-UA9) Review

There was only one 4th-gen Acura TL facelift for the 2012 model year, refining the automaker's Keen Edge Dynamic styling language of the era instead of making wholesale changes. The Acura TL UA8 is the pre-facelift 2009-2011 car and the Acura TL UA9 code denotes all 2012+ facelifted cars.

额changes are subtle but noticeable, starting with a significantly smaller grille - still rendered in bright chrome - that no longer reaches all the way to the hood and headlights, with a body-color surround¹. The upper air intake in this chrome surround now has two thin louvers and no longer mesh, while the two separate lower air intakes remain but no longer contain long horizontal lenses (or three black slots, depending on trim) with the turn signals at their outer edges; instead, they are of a somewhat fussy new design bisected by horizontal chrome strips that start in the middle and swoop up halfway². The turn signals remain in their original places. The headlights retain their design but adopt dark bezels in the place of the old chrome finish³.

At the rear, the taillights remain virtually unchanged but lose the chrome detailing in their lenses¹. The chrome garnish in the bumper underneath the trunk lid is considerably slimmed down²,红色反射带在低下来e bumper³. This bumper is redesigned and the height of the lower black valance increased, losing the previous two-pod design that each contained a set of tailpipes⁴. The tailpipes themselves are now simpler rectangular units instead of the previous quad-tailpipe setup⁵. The number-plate holder is set significantly higher than before, right between the red reflectors on either side⁶.

In profile, the dark new headlights¹and revised lower bumper treatment in front are clearly visible²and you'll be able to see that the tail lights have lost their chrome surrounds³. There are new wheel designs as well⁴.

The interior looks virtually the same as before.

The 4th-generation Acura TL gives you two drivetrain choices, both making use of Honda's proven J-series V6 engine. The base engine is the J35Z6 3.5-liter driving the front wheels and the other is the J37A4 3.7-liter in the SH-AWD models, mated exclusively to an all-wheel-drive system. In both cases, a five-speed torque-converter automatic transmission is employed. The J-series V6 is a smooth and powerful engine that has been in production for a few decades with continuous improvements. However, things to look out for are Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) issues and excessive oil consumption. Owners should also keep in mind that it is more maintenance-intensive than some other modern engines because it requires cambelt changes and periodic valve-clearance adjustment.

figures submitted by owners alongside its own estimates. However, not enough fourth-generation Acura TL gas mileage figures were received to provide this data. The estimates look good, although it is not as economical as modern turbocharged small-capacity engines. For comparison's sake, a larger 2022 Honda Accord with its 252-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and ten-speed automatic transmission boasts figures of 22/32/26 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles, as opposed to a best effort of 20/29/23 by the six-speed FWD TL.

An 18.5-gallon gas tank is common to all models and provides for an expected range of between 370 and 425 miles on the combined cycle, depending on the model.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

在2009年推出,第四代讴歌TL的印象the NHTSA and achieved a full five stars for all the tests it was subjected to. However, stricter tests were implemented for 2011 and the early-2012 TL was retested and initially achieved a rather poor three stars overall, two for the frontal crash, four for the side crash, and five for the rollover test. Acura soon improved it and the late-2012 model achieved four stars overall and for the frontal and side crashes, and five stars for the rollover test. These improved cars were built after April 18, 2012. It held on to these scores for the rest of its model life.

Standard safety equipment from launch on all trims includes ABS brakes, stability and traction control, automatic xenon headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and six airbags. A backup camera could only be had via the Technology package that came bundled with a host of other equipment and for a blind-spot warning system, you needed to tick the box for the Advance package, which also included several other luxury items.

The TL lineup is very simple, comprising two trims, the Base and SH-AWD. The Base is already fully equipped and the SH-AWD only adds sports-focused equipment, along with its larger engine, more power, and an intelligent AWD system. A six-speed manual transmission became available on the SH-AWD from 2010. The 2012 facelift introduces range-wide changes such as the updated styling described earlier, improved refinement for a quieter ride and less vibration, an upgraded navigation system, and a new six-speed automatic transmission on all trims. We'll outline the Base spec in detail below and then just mention what the SH-AWD gets additionally, or what equipment is upgraded instead. The optional Technology and Advance packages are available on both 3.5 Base and 3.7 SH-SWD cars and although they are essentially packages on existing trims, we will treat them as additional trims here.

The TL's interior is a surprisingly pleasant place to spend time and exchanges old-fashioned woodgrain finishes with more modern aluminum accents. The quality of the materials is excellent, and the technology is easy enough to use. The seats are very comfortable and the SH-AWD's sports front seats hold occupants securely. As an added boon, all trims have plush leather upholstery and a sunroof. Rear passenger space is commendable and even adults will be comfortable back there, unlike many cars of this ilk. However, trunk space is somewhat lacking, and although the 13.1 cubic feet on offer in the FWD TL is more than a contemporary Audi A3 sedan's 12.3 cubes, it's a little less than a Lexus IS's 13.8 cubes. Note that the trunk space shrinks further to 12.5 cubes on the SH-AWD models due to the under-floor AWD components. Unfortunately, the rear seats don't fold to increase trunk space.

The Acura TL has unusually short oil-change intervals of 5,000 miles and we would stick to this, as the J engine's tendency to consume oil and the low oil capacity conspire to age your oil rather quickly. A lot of things are checked at the 5,000-mile intervals, and this service can exceed $300. The cabin air filter is due for replacement every 15,000 miles, and both the fuel and engine air filters should be replaced every 30,000 miles. This is a major service that may cost more than $500 at an Acura dealership or around $400 at an independent workshop. Both the PCV valve and spark plugs must be replaced at 100,000-mile intervals. The average maintenance cost per year of a TL is between $450 and $500.

A basic service on a TL would include fully synthetic oil but the maximum oil capacity is only 4.5 quarts, so you have to keep your eye on the oil level between services too. You'll pay around $50 for the oil and around $10 for the oil filter. Spark plugs last 100,000 miles but may need replacement beforehand if you use your car in severe conditions. A set of six costs around $192. An air filter typically costs $33. A battery should set you back between $150 and $160. If you are looking for specific parts and information such as the oil type or capacity, the wiper-blade size, or the correct brake pads, any car-parts outlet or Acura dealership will be able to help you.

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

2009 - 2014讴歌TL的列表是一个简短的回忆说one, and the fact that the 2009-2014 Acura TL airbag recall for replacing faulty airbags as part of the international Takata airbag recall is the only one bears testimony to the reliability of the car. There aren't many problems to report in general and although you must be on the lookout for certain issues described below, such as with the power steering and oil consumption, no issues are serious enough to prompt action from the NHTSA. There were no 2009-2014 Acura TL torque-converter, SH-AWD, transmission, power steering, or oil-consumption recalls, although some owners of oil-thirsty 3.7s would no doubt have hoped for that last one.

Here are a few common OBDII error codes that you might encounter on the TL:

• P0128 on 2009-2014 Acura TLs means that the thermostat is stuck open.
• P0134, P0420, and P0340 on a 2009-2014 Acura TL indicate a problem with one of the oxygen sensors, or the readings they are providing.
• P0172 indicates a problem with the fuel-injection system.
• P0222 on any Acura TL means there is an issue with the throttle-position sensor.
• P0300 codes are industry-standard generic misfire codes, with the last digit indicating the number of the misfiring cylinder. On Acura TLs, for example, P0301 and P0303 codes would mean that cylinders one and three are misfiring, respectively. This is true for both pre-facelift 2009-2011 cars and facelifted 2012-2014 cars.
• P0339 and P0369 means that there is a problem with the crankshaft-position sensor or camshaft-position sensor, respectively.
• P0455 on 2009-2014 Acura TLs indicates a leak in the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system.
• P0685 indicates a powertrain control module (PCM) fault.
• P0717 and P0741 on 2009-2014 Acura TLs are transmission error codes. P0717 means the transmission's speed sensor is faulty and P0741 indicates a problem with the engagement of the transmission's lock-up clutch.
• P1078 indicates a problem with the Acura engine's intake-manifold control system.

The Acura TL proved to be a very reliable sedan and, except for the faulty Takata airbags fitted to it and to millions of other cars, it wasn't recalled once by the NHTSA for anything else. Some of the small problems reported are hardly worth a mention, but here and there, one of the audio system's speakers failed. In terms of the bodywork, there were few complaints, and the isolated cases of Acura TL hood-strut problems are no more common than in other cars, as these gas struts lose their pressure eventually and have to be replaced. However, there were a few complaints about paint quality, so check for flaking, fading, cracking, and corrosion, especially if the car was driven in a rust-belt state. There were some 2012 Acura suspension problems reported, mainly noises from suspension, so make sure your TL rides quietly on uneven roads.

Some manual-transmission clutch failures have been noted, which seems to be the only notable entry on the list of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Acura TL SH-AWD transmission problems. Clutch failure happens at an average mileage of around 40,000 miles, so make sure the clutch take-up is smooth and without any slipping or shuddering, because a clutch replacement might cost you around $1,500. In terms of the self-shifter, there aren't many Acura TL automatic transmission, torque converter, acceleration, or gear-shifting problems at all, and the automatic transmissions are generally reliable. Still, you should replace the transmission fluid every 50,000 to 60,000 miles to maintain longevity. A few instances of lurching and jerky shifts were reported, often fixed by a software update.

For every unhappy driver of a TL there seems to be many happy ones and, although prone to random failures like any car, these systems perform more or less flawlessly:

• Very few 2009-2014 Acura TL air-conditioner or AC problems are reported.
• The infotainment and audio system is reliable and there is a very low number of 2009-2014 Acura TL Bluetooth or Base/SH-AWD speaker problems.
• Interior fittings, equipment, and electronics are solid and well-designed, so there aren't many armrest, speedometer, or window-regulator problems on 2009-2014 Acura TL V6 models either.
• Thankfully, 2009-2014 Acura TL electrical problems with headlights, the battery, keyless-start ignition, and starting the car are exceedingly rare.

没有一个糟糕的模型阵容,但在内涵ms of problems, the 3.7-liter's oil consumption is reason for concern, so rather avoid the first two years of production. The older five-speed automatic transmission drinks noticeably more gas too and saps a little bit of performance, so for that reason, you might want to avoid pre-2012 models. In terms of safety, only late-2012 models built after April 18, 2012 offer decent safety, with models before that faring rather poorly.

We'd skip right over the FWD 3.5 and grab an SH-AWD with the manual - because we're enthusiasts. However, it's a great car with the six-speed automatic transmission as well. If you're simply not sportily inclined or you don't live in a state where it snows in winter, the 3.5 is perfectly adequate, but you might want to look out for the 2013-2014 Special Edition, because it comes with the facelift upgrades and the 18-inch alloys, looking almost like an SH-AWD on the outside. Be sure to opt for a late-2012 or later car to get better crash safety.

The Acura TL is a great package, offering excellent quality and reliability, allied to a smart and modern interior that is more spacious than expected, albeit at the expense of a rather tight trunk. The availability of a 306-hp manual model caters to the enthusiasts among us, but it does luxury equally well. Keep the few pitfalls we mention in this review in mind, avoid the first two years of the 3.7, and make sure there are no gaps in the maintenance or recall history and you can bag yourself a satisfying example of the compact sports sedan - an increasingly rare sight in an SUV-obsessed world.