The Acura TL was a midsize premium sport sedan offered continuously from the 1996 through 2014 model years. Developed around a touring-luxury mission, it replaced the Vigor in Acura’s North American lineup and became one of the brand’s defining sedans. The nameplate passed through four generations before being succeeded by the TLX.
The first-generation TL arrived for 1996 as the 2.5TL and 3.2TL. It combined four-door luxury-car positioning with a choice of an unusual longitudinally mounted inline-five or a V6. For 1999, Acura introduced a completely redesigned second generation. The inline-five disappeared, leaving the transverse-mounted V6-powered 3.2TL. Designed, engineered and manufactured in the United States, this generation helped establish the TL as a strong-value alternative to established European and Japanese luxury sedans. The 3.2TL Type S joined for 2002, adding a more performance-focused identity.
A sharper third generation debuted for 2004 with more assertive styling, a driver-oriented cabin and an available six-speed manual transmission. It also introduced Bluetooth HandsFreeLink to the automotive market. The enthusiast-oriented TL Type S returned for 2007 and 2008 with a larger V6, firmer chassis tuning, upgraded brakes, distinctive trim and an available manual transmission. This era became especially significant among Acura enthusiasts and contributed to the TL becoming the best-selling Acura sedan nameplate of its time.
The fourth and final generation arrived for 2009 with a larger body and more polarizing, angular styling. It was the first TL offered with Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, while front-wheel drive remained available. A six-speed manual could be paired with the SH-AWD model beginning with the 2010 model year, creating one of the nameplate’s most enthusiast-focused configurations. Styling and technology revisions followed for 2012.
Acura ended the TL after the 2014 model year. The new TLX replaced it for 2015 as Acura consolidated its midsize sedan range and also discontinued the smaller TSX.