I like the short and sweet comparo. Pity about that TL's nose, it sounds like it would be just about the right balance for most folks if it were only better looking. Not sure what they were thinking, as the outgoing model is so sharp looking. I've been seeing a few TSX's around lately and the new style works okay there. But the TL's nose is just so prominent.

Now that the TSX has grown in size, I'm thinking that's probably the right compromise for me. The 4-cylinder gets good gas mileage, it's plenty sporty enough, reliable, and of course less expensive. Plus you can get it a 6-speed manual which makes even slower cars more fun.

Now the interior of that CC is sure attractive, but when is the nearly-white interior fad going to pass? That stuff is going to look scuffed and filthy in about three days. Those guys on Cribs have professionals detailing their custom interiors every week. The rest of us should probably tone it down a bit and choose something that will wear a little better.

I would never even drive to an Acura dealer to test drive the TSX, I'd pass it right up for an Audi dealer to drive the new A4, the car is just full of win and fuel economy, blows the TSX out of the water.

The CC gets my vote here, a chip + coilovers and I would be one happy mofo.

Nah. The A4 does have better gas mileage by about 10%, but it's $5-6K more expensive, comparably equipped, and doesn't even offer a manual transmission. The TSX is a far better value. Don't get me wrong A4 is a really nice car, and to each his own preference, but I see nothing to suggest it "blows the TSX out of the water."

The engine and build quality ALONE blow the TSX out of the water, not even starting to talk about the poor braking system the TSX has or the handling that trails the A4. The MT is coming later on. Regardless, the A4 is pretty much better than the TSX in most ways possible. Value comes at a price, and it's not one worth paying. There is no TSX that comes comparably equipped to the A4 seeing as how it has standard AWD.

I should have said in My opinion.

But fact is the A4 does infact blow the TSX out of the water, it's really no comparison for it's N/A 4cyl, interior materials/build, handling, braking, overall build. etc..

wtf..
But fact is the A4 does infact blow the TSX out of the water, it's really no comparison With it's N/A 4cyl. Interior materials/build, handling, braking, overall build. etc.. Are all miles ahead in the A4. You can polish an Accord up as much as you want but the fact still remains that it's nothing but a polished Accord and that's all it'll ever be, and it was clearly evident in my 06' Test drive.

Now, now, girls. You're both pretty.

Seriously, though, what irritates me about these three cars is that none of them offers the right look and/or equipment for me. The TL is ugly and doesn't yet come with a manual transmission. The VW is pretty, but VW has decided that if you want a stick, you must be a value buyer and therefore can't possibly want options or the big engine. And the G, while doubtless the most fun of the trio, has (gasp!) a bad manual transmission. It seems as if these manufacturers don't want people buying sticks anymore. That way, they can say, "See? Nobody wants a manual. We don't need to offer one." And when that happens, they've lost me as a customer.

i have been looking for a sports sedan to replace my infiniti fx35 coming off lease.
i have driven all of these and the 2009 a4.

i agree with the authors... the tl sh-awd has great features(nav with traffic and weather, sophisticated awd/fwd biased---real good performer especially in bad weather) but very disjointed and ugly exterior, the vw cc is super polished inside and out with some unique features but concerned about reliability, the g37s has the very liveliest drivetrain and solid interior/exterior design (and my fx has been bullet proof)and the a4 looks very sharp (also concerned about reliability, 2.0T is very noisy and v6 gets very expensive)
for my tastes i would take the most reasonably affordable fun to drive sedan-the g37s...i just cant decide between the new 7sp auto or the 6MT!

happy holidays to all.

You know what, call me crazy, blind, or what have you, but I LIKE the way the TL looks. Granted, the schnozz on that thing is far from it's best feature, but I mean take one look at the front 3/4!!! The character lines that flow over the hugely flared wheel arches are just pure sex. This car has something its predecessor and and the G sedans lack: It's downright imposing. It may have a huge snout but it's a mean looking automobile. I'm a huge fan of the old TL's styling, I thought it was beautiful, sleek, and a great sleeper sedan. Same thing goes for the BMW E46, which I think is still one of the best sedan designs ever made. They were both quietly styled, with only individual trim pieces giving any indication of the higher end models (Type-S or M3).
The new TL on the other hand, looks like a sumo-wrestler in a tuxedo. Big, mean, and powerful, even on the base model. I love it. They can't get the 6-MT version here fast enough.

If you want an A4 with V6 and AWD, then it's in another class, and another price range. But for my money, the TSX is the winner for $32K.

However, this post is about $40K cars, in which case I pick the CTS.

4wheelpilot + 1.

How you can possibly compare a rear wheel drive car with no navigation to an AWD in a 0-60 run? Why didn't you mention that AWD TL does .95g on a skidpad, when G37 is .86g? As far as I know(car and driver reader) An AWD TL does 0-60 in 5.9 sec. The Acura's fit and finish is much cleaner, it has a 20% better resale value, much more standard features, it's also quiter(active noice cancellation system), more reliable, safer(5 star across the board in NHTS)with much more sophisticated Navi(HD and HDD based) with 5 times more voice command. It also has better audio(5.1 Dolby DVD audio with 440W) with USB port and 13GB HDD. And much cheaper to insure and less expensive to maintain as stated on Intellichoice.com. Another thing is the gas mileage. Honda engines are known for there efficency... I'm sorry but, I drove the G37 and it didn't impress me AT ALL... Especially fit and finish, ride comfort and paddle shifters mounted on a steering column(not on the steering wheel).
As far as the Passat CC goes... I would never buy a German car(it's just me). spicifically for the cost of maintenence and the problems they are all known for. As far as the TL styiling goes... It's different then anything else on the street. Don't you agree? And that's exactly what they were trying to accoplish.

and the a4 looks very sharp (also concerned about reliability, 2.0T is very noisy and v6 gets very expensive)

People need to drop the reliability noise, the B7A4 has been avg. or above it in nearly all sources for reliability.

ahightower,

You might want to check out our road tests of the TSX. We weren't impressed. It's far from the four-door S2000 that some have made it out to be. In fact, for roughly the same money, the VW CC 2.0T is a lot more car, though granted there are reliability concerns if you plan to keep it past warranty.

martin061680,

If you want to get a TL SH-AWD to 60 mph in under 6 seconds, you'll need a solid 10 feet of rollout. On the skidpad, the TL SH-AWD pulled 0.93g to the G37's 0.91 -- both impressive performances. As noted in the article, we all agreed that the TL's ELS stereo was the worst of the three, wattage notwithstanding. Regarding gas mileage, the G37 is 1 mpg better than both the TL and CC, according to the EPA.

Also, serious performance cars tend to have their paddle shifters mounted on the steering column. See GT-R, Evo X, etc. That way you can use the proper "shuffle-steer" technique while cornering and still have the paddles at your fingertips.

-Sadlier

Oh, and the G37 had navigation. See the picture of the steering wheel? Look to the right -- that screen is where the nav lives. In any case, I can't see how a nav system is going to affect 0-60 times.

Styling is in the eye of the beholder. A car shouldn't lose because YOU think it is ugly. The same could be said for the Infiniti or VW depending on individual preferences. I would think that automotive journalist would make their decision on engineering, performance, quality, etc. And for all the comments about Acuras being dressed up Hondas the same could be said for the Audi and G37. Audi is a dressed up VW and Infiniti is a dressed up Nissan, same could be said for Lexus and Toyota. All of these cars share significant parts from other vehicles in the parent company's parts bin. CX7lover, you have to be kidding about the A4 quality blowing the TSX out of the water. The quality of a Civic is light years ahead of Audi and VW. Even VW owners concede that they aren't as good as Hondas and Toyotas. Check any quality study and see how well a 5 year old VW or Audi fares compared to Honda and Acura.

And for those getting ready to write about RWD being the big difference I dare you to find a Honda with SH-AWD.

Oh and although you guys think it is ugly, others don't agree. My local Acura dealer has a waiting list for the new TL.

allthingshonda,

Platform-wise, the G37 is roughly a four-door 370Z, so I suppose that does make it "a dressed-up Nissan." But that's a little different than the TL, which is based a front-wheel-drive family sedan.

Having said that, what matters in this regard is how a car drives, and the TL drives really well -- so who cares what it's based on? As noted, however, the Accord-spec controls on the center stack are an unfortunate reminder of the TL's humble roots (same goes for the TSX's controls).

Re: TL styling, check this pic out...

http://i36.tinypic.com/2uhsvux.jpg

Funny how much difference a little adjustment can make -- in this case, painting over the top of the "shield" so that it's in line with the top of the headlights. Maybe Acura will make this change for '10.

Considering that other manufacturers have been copying Honda interior design and cockpit controls for years is it really a surprise that Honda would also copy Honda. I don't see where that is a bad thing. And most companies carry a design through all of their models. Goes back to that sharing parts thing. The G37 has a very similar cockpit to the Maxima and Altima and Murano. And that is also good in my opinion since Nissan usually has a very nice instrument panel design. Well lit easy to read gauges.

allthingshonda

You're smoking too much Honda CRACK. The Rabbit has great reliability, and the build is much better than the Civics. Have you heard of the Infamous Honda transmission problems? What about a 5 year old Honda? Acura? MDX? Transmission??????????????

"Oh and although you guys think it is ugly, others don't agree. My local Acura dealer has a waiting list for the new TL."

That doesn't mean much. Those loyal to Honda/Acura will buy whatever they put out, no matter how ugly. The TL is definitely an ugly car. Compare that to the new Maxima and it's clear how bad Acura screwed up the styling.

Also, why would there be a waiting list for the TL? I've never heard of that, Acura should be making plenty of them. It's not a limited production vehicle, no need for a waiting list.

$40K to spend on a car, I would take $23K and pay off the note on my Hyundai, and then I would put the rest in the bank. No way would I spend $40K on a car, even if I had the $40K to spend. But, that's why so many people are broke now, because they bought more home and car than they needed or could afford.

"Also, serious performance cars tend to have their paddle shifters mounted on the steering column."

Serious performance cars shouldn't have paddle shifters at all. ;) I know, I know, it's the future, get over it, the XBOX generation demands "progress". But I'll never convert!

I agree that the TSX is no 4-door S2000. It's a Euro Accord. But it's sporty enough for me. And I acknowledge that VW is a cut above other common marques in terms of "premium" look and feel. But for the money, I'd rather have the Acura brand name. Plus you have to get an automatic transmission on all but the base CC (nicely equipped, but lacks certain features). I'd rather have a Maxima if I'm not getting an automatic and a non-luxury brand.

"Also, serious performance cars tend to have their paddle shifters mounted on the steering column" - hahaha - I would love to see you downshifting while you are cornering - that would be kind a tricky- hahaha!
ELS system is not good enough for you? OMG - DVD Audio 5.1 Dolby Surround with 440W? I'm sorry but are you deaf or something?
Car and Driver - 0-60 test - 5.99 and that's on a 19" wheels(18" are stock - car is quicker).
G37 interior picture shows an Audio Screen that comes with the car without Navi as well. Are you blind too?
Regarding a gas mileage - G37 1mpg better? Again - RWD to AWD and only 1mpg better? That's impressive! :)

Why don't we compare a G37x performance? I bet it sucks huh?

I am in the market for a 40-45K Sedan to replace my current Audi.

It is painfully obvious, that the editor who wrote this article does not like Acura products in general.

First and foremost, He complains about the TL's interior looking like that of an Accord. Outside of sharing a few similiarly shaped trim pieces, the two interior dont share much. Not one single button or knob is identical in both cars. The Knobs are of higher quality in the TL. I've test driven the TL W/ Tech package and am waiting to test drive the AWD car. My wife drives a top line Accord. (so i'm very familiar with both interiors). Now, Why not go and bash the G37 for looking like a Nissan inside? The editor conviniently overlooks the fact that the TL's interior has better fit and finish as well as higher quality materials inside then the Infiniti. I wonder if he is bothered by the fact that a 75K Lexus LS dash looks resembles a 20K Camry's dash. All the vents are in the same location, and the basic shape and layout is identical. At the end of the day, this doesnt matter, or make the LS any less car.

Furthermore, He doesnt compare the TL SH-AWD to an AWD G...why? it only makes sense. Is it so that the diff in accel. is even bigger maybe?

I've also driven both the G35S aswell as the G35Xs. The chassis feels like spagheti, it doesnt hold the road like the TL, nor is it as responsive. None of this is mentioned in the comparo.

Then he knocks the Acura's audi system. I'm sorry, but it is miles better then the Infiniti's. The hard drive is quicker, its more powerfull, and it sounds cleaner. It has a clarity to it thats absent from the Infiniti. This is a 5.1 Sorround Sound system with 440Wats, which plays DVD-Audio. Are you sure you tested a Tl with the Tech Package? If your answer is yes. I can only say one thing. You are a Liar.

Lastly, Why is the TL SH-AWD they ran so slow compared to the car Car and Driver tested? Edmunds time is nearly 1 second slower. The editor doesnt like Acura's. Thats the only conclusion i can come to. The bias towards the Infiniti is so obvious.

Having driven both cars, i can say the TL is built better, feels more refined, is quiter, and sounds better.

With all that said, I have driven most of the cars in this price range. I would like an AWD car as i go skiing during the winter. (I so wish the IS350 was avail with AWD...that would be my next car). As it stands now, I'm either getting an new Audi A4 or a 335Xi. The Infiniti & Mercedes did not impress me one bit, and i have yet to drive the CTS & AWD TL. So we'll see.

Just because of what's on the Spec sheet, doesn't mean it will sound good. The current owners with the RDX will admit that with anything BUT a DVD-A and the sound is lackluster and thin. I can attest to the Mazda3's BOSE sound system to sound like garbage. AND no, BOSE doesn't mean it will sound good, but I have heard other BOSE in-car sound systems that sounded WAY better

The TL's clusterf*ck Navi control knob, matched with a system that is YEARS old, makes it easy to understand why it was low ranked, I've been in the RDX with nearly the same Navi control system and I wanted beat the entire thing with a crowbar after 2 minutes of fiddling with it.

CarandDriver notoriously has the fastest numbers. They beat the hell out of the cars and post the best number they can get.

Oh and fit and finish? It was pretty embarrassing for Acura when I sat in a TL with door panels so misaligned from the dash that it had to have been a drunk that put it on. Same goes for the MDX, horridly misaligned door panels. And CHEAP materials at that, they can't even use real metal on the dash?

"You're smoking too much Honda CRACK. The Rabbit has great reliability, and the build is much better than the Civics. Have you heard of the Infamous Honda transmission problems? What about a 5 year old Honda? Acura? MDX? Transmission??????????????"

CX7lover, Honda/Acura vehicles did suffer a big rash of transmission failures (its no secret) but comparing Volkswagens overall reliability to Honda or Acuras is a joke right? I think we all know which brand has a much better reliability track record and the brand isnt German.

The Golf has better materials vs the Civic but the Civics materials are far from the bottom of the bucket.

"Why don't we compare a G37x performance? I bet it sucks huh?"

The G37X isnt available in Sport trim.

The editor blasts the TL interior for looking like a "stylized" Accord interior, yet doesn't bother to compare the G37 interior to the Maxima, in which he would find a much more striking similarity.

I'm not a fan of the exterior styling of the TL either, but the writing in this comparison seems to be influenced by the horns effect. The editor takes every possible stab at the TL while saying next to nothing about the G37 other than how much of a hoot it is to drive.

I know Honda has a better track record, but you can't act like Honda does no wrong.

BTW. Motor Trend tested a new 2009 AWD TL from 0-60 and it's 5.8... What a spread! So Funny!

"The Acura's ho-hum dash layout didn't help its cause either -- too many of the center-stack controls were lifted straight out of the Accord, and we gave the dot-matrix silver plastic trim a sound round of booing."

I think the TL's dash is quite attractive although it could use a tiny tad bit more "sparkle".

Regarding the TL's controls, N O N E of the switchgear originate from the Accord. The overall layout may be similar but they dont share any controls. Yes, the 2 cars share a platform but the differences will really suprise you.

"I know Honda has a better track record, but you can't act like Honda does no wrong. "

CX7, I know you hate Honda but when did I give the impression that Honda is perfect? Ive criticized Honda quite a bit (here and TOV) and Im not ashamed to admit that Honda has its "issues". To be honest I criticize Honda more than any other auto manufacturer.

I never said Hondas were 100% reliable but I do believe that Honda is one of the more reliable brands regardless of price.

S.B. True, the "dot matix plastic trim" isnt platic, its real aluminum just like the last TL had. Its somewhat thinner (but stronger) and the overall texture is different vs the last TL. The change in thickness stems from complaints of owners of the previous TL that stated the aluminum trim was easy to dent, which it was. Mostly from seat belt buckles near the center console area.

However, I will admit that Acura could have better executed the aluminum trim in the current TL as it doesnt really give the impression of real aluminum.

"The editor blasts the TL interior for looking like a "stylized" Accord interior, yet doesn't bother to compare the G37 interior to the Maxima, in which he would find a much more striking similarity."

Fragbait, I was thinking the same thing. Other than the Maximas steering wheel the overall design and control layout are nearly identicle to the G's. I actually like the Maximas interior better.

The center "waterfall" and control layout between the TL and Accord are similar but no where near the close resemblance of the Maxima and G.

How about a 2009 BMW 328i w/ Premium and Sport Packages for $40175.00.

That's not what I was saying at all, I was just pointing out 1(and they're others..) of Honda's screw ups on 5 year old Honda's, since the other poster believed that Honda's have the best and most reliable little 2002's and 2002 VW's are so much worse.. although I'm not fighting that, the 1.8T and electrical problems they had are not excusable.

I am a Honda fan and I owned a 2007 Acura TL-S and it was very disappointing so after about 10 months I got rid of it. It was loud and unrefined (rattled like crazy), was too harsh (not to be mistaken for sporty) and basically felt like it was all over the road because of all that power to the front wheels.

I wished at the time it had the SH-AWD as it was a fantastic looking car inside and out and had great tech features for the money. If so I may still have it despite it's shortcomings. The new Acura TL nose is almost painful to look at. Not so much on the TSX for some reason.

I would like to test drive the new A-4 when my lease is up but still not loving these huge trendy grills everyone is trying to stand out with. Interior is exquisite however.

For 40K you cannot beat a BMW 3-Series when you factor in everything including the classic looks, amazing suspension and steering that drives like a luxury car or a sports car at will, quality of materials, excellent resale value, included maintenance, smooth and powerful yet fuel efficient engines, etc, etc.. Say what you want and it may sound cliche but it truly is world class and the benchmark.

CX7 lover, it is apparent that you have never sat in the new TL. regardless of whats on the spc sheet, I have test driven all these vehicle. The Sound System in the TL is better then th Infiniti System. That is FACT. On Spec sheet and in reality. I've sampled them both...they are both trash compared to Jaguar's system.

The Navi in the TL is not years old either. Again you have proven that you havtn played with it. It is new. Its not the same Navi found in the RDX. For starters, it is Hard Drive based (not DVD based like in the RDX), so it works way quicker. 2nd, it has way more voice commands then anything esle i've sampled. 3rd, it offers real time traffic and real time weather. 4th, it has over 7 million points of interest. 5th, its one of the easiest and most user friendly systems i've used. If you can figure it out...sorry too say..but you are a simpleton.

Card And drive Does not have the fastest #'s. Moter Trend does. In any event. it sems everyone beat edmunds time by just about a full second. I.E....just goes to show Edmunds and this road test editor are biased just like you.

As for the interior, fit in finish is very good. Again..with the comments you've made...you proved that you either never sat in any Acura, or you simpley dont like the product for whatever reason and make up lies. mis aligned? LOL...sure kiddo. As for the dash...since 2004, every TL has had REAL Aluminum used inside. The Tech Package TL uses the same leather thats optional in many Audi's. "Perforated French Stitched Milano leather"....so i guess the Audi has junk leather as well huh?

P.S. I own an Audi. You are just full of it. Stop lying and have an open mind.

CX7 lover, it is apparent that you have never sat in the new TL. regardless of whats on the spc sheet, I have test driven all these vehicle. The Sound System in the TL is better then th Infiniti System. That is FACT. On Spec sheet and in reality. I've sampled them both...they are both trash compared to Jaguar's system.

I'm sorry but it isn't, the ELS sounds terrible with anything but a DVD-A disc.

The Navi in the TL is not years old either. Again you have proven that you havtn played with it. It is new. Its not the same Navi found in the RDX. For starters, it is Hard Drive based (not DVD based like in the RDX), so it works way quicker. 2nd, it has way more voice commands then anything esle i've sampled. 3rd, it offers real time traffic and real time weather. 4th, it has over 7 million points of interest. 5th, its one of the easiest and most user friendly systems i've used. If you can figure it out...sorry too say..but you are a simpleton.

Easiest and most user frendly? You have to be an ignorant moron to say something like that with Ford's Navi on the market. I was NOT talking about the maps or how fast they rendor and route a map (which would ONLY matter if I was talking about that but I'm not), it has that disgusting and annoying knob. I hate that stupid knob.

Card And drive Does not have the fastest #'s. Moter Trend does. In any event. it sems everyone beat edmunds time by just about a full second. I.E....just goes to show Edmunds and this road test editor are biased just like you.

Well it sems that the TL is somehow 1 second faster than a car that is 400lbs heavier? (MDX) How is THAT possible? They both have the same EVERYTHING.

As for the interior, fit in finish is very good. Again..with the comments you've made...you proved that you either never sat in any Acura, or you simpley dont like the product for whatever reason and make up lies. mis aligned? LOL...sure kiddo. As for the dash...since 2004, every TL has had REAL Aluminum used inside. The Tech Package TL uses the same leather thats optional in many Audi's. "Perforated French Stitched Milano leather"....so i guess the Audi has junk leather as well huh?

I've been in the 07 TL, 06 TSX, 07 RDX, so wtf are you talking about? Have you ever been in a TL? The panel fitment is atrocious. I don't even have to validate what you say with any proof, check the MDX forum, people complain about door panel rattles and panels that are misaligned because they are MISSING clips! The 40K+ MDX uses FAKE wood and the 32K RDX uses FAKE and CHEAP looking painted sliver plastic, and a plastic gear shift knob! Leather is OPTIONAL? Wow, classy Acura at it's best. Not even beginning to talk about how nasty ugly and cluttered their dashes look with all of the hideous buttons (especially offensive in the RDX).

Acura just knows how to do a tacky interior, the TL looks like some prettied up Accord.

P.S. I own an Audi. You are just full of it. Stop lying and have an open mind.

Right, and to anyone that even tries to say Acura has the same interior quality or build of an Audi is clearly a bitter owner or closet Honda freak. Even VW has better interior plastics and just design.

I have to say, the perforated leather seats on the 07 TL-S that I previously mentioned was starting to become frayed even after only the short time I had it and less than 10K miles. The fake leather in my X3 and in my mom's Jetta are better quality than the leather in the TL. However, the non-perforated leather in my old Accord held up very well.

Please explain cx7, what exactly do the '07 TL, '06 TSX, & '07 RDX have to do with the '09 TL? Why bring up plastic trim pieces in vehicles (RDX) that have no rellevance? The TL trim is aluminum, it has been since 2004. Point, Blank, Period. Who cares about a shiftknob in the RDX?

As for the Dash being nasty ugly, i disagree. They are handsome. And i personally love the functional easy to read buttons, vs having systems like I-Drive. Its either or. You have tons of people complaining about both. My A6's dash is as cluttered with buttons as the new TL's is, only they are harder to read. The TL interior shares little in common with an Accord interior. The only thing they share in common is basic lay-out. the same way a camry shares the basic layout with a 75K Lexus LS, the same way most VW & Audi's share the same basic lay-out.

The problem with VW and Audi is percieved quality. They look and feel nice, but the buttons start to flake, the interiors start to rattle. The dealer service is horrible (most Audi stores dont even offer loaner car service, meanwhile Infiniti & Acura stores give you a loaner when you bring in Integras and G20's for service), and the reliability is horrible in comparisson.

Learn the differance between percieved quality and actual quality kiddo. Open your mind and drive/sample a car before you bash. You have Zero seat time in a New TL, and that is apparent in your posts. Perhaps you are the bitter one, who is upset the Honda/Acura products are more reliable and offer better dealer service?

Missed half your post. Again, you have not sat in a TL Tech. That is apparent. To say the Sound system is no good...makes you look like..well..an idiot. It is miles better then most cars in its class...including the Infiniti in this test. I sampled them all. Short of the 7.1 sorround sound system i sampled in the Jaguar, there arnt very many systems that top the TL's in sound. Not in a car in this price range , anyway.

If you cant figure out how to use voice command, or how to use a simple knob, then yes..you my friend are a simpleton. The TL's Navigation is very easy/user friendly. I dont compare it to Ford's lackluster system (despite its ease of use), because i dont cross shop Infinti, Audi & Acura cars with Fords. Disgusting knob...LOL. Most luxury brands have a big knob...get used to it. Audi, BMW, etc. The TL has nearly 700 Voice Commands, there is no need to use the knob anyway.

First and foremost, a TL SH-AWD Tech has 305HP and weighs under 4000LBS. a sop of the line MDX with 300HP weighs nearly 4600LBS. Again, open up your simpleton mind. MDX weighs 600LBS more, has 5HP less, and has less aggressive gearing with a slower shifting transmission. Its easy to see why a TL would be over 1sec quicker in 0-60 tests.

If you cant figure out how to use voice command, or how to use a simple knob, then yes..you my friend are a simpleton. The TL's Navigation is very easy/user friendly. I dont compare it to Ford's lackluster system (despite its ease of use), because i dont cross shop Infinti, Audi & Acura cars with Fords. Disgusting knob...LOL. Most luxury brands have a big knob...get used to it. Audi, BMW, etc. The TL has nearly 700 Voice Commands, there is no need to use the knob anyway.

The knob is a big step back from a TOUCH screen, the knob is a piece of shit. It controls the entire screen and the interface menus are cumbersome - Why you can't grasp that is beyond me, You're the simpleton that can't believe your beloved Acura can't be ranked low. And rattles? You've CLEARLY never talked to an owner of a TL! They rattle like no ones business.

First and foremost, a TL SH-AWD Tech has 305HP and weighs under 4000LBS. a sop of the line MDX with 300HP weighs nearly 4600LBS. Again, open up your simpleton mind. MDX weighs 600LBS more, has 5HP less, and has less aggressive gearing with a slower shifting transmission. Its easy to see why a TL would be over 1sec quicker in 0-60 tests.

You can't seriously call a shorter final drive by .20 "aggressive" - That's bullshit.

Please explain cx7, what exactly do the '07 TL, '06 TSX, & '07 RDX have to do with the '09 TL? Why bring up plastic trim pieces in vehicles (RDX) that have no rellevance? The TL trim is aluminum, it has been since 2004. Point, Blank, Period. Who cares about a shiftknob in the RDX?

Acura has ALWAYS been cheap, the TL-S had FAKE painted CF for Christ sake!

The ELS system is IDENTICAL to the one in the RDX, the INTERFACE controls to the radio are IDENTICAL to the RDX, THAT'S why I brought it up.

Missed half your post. Again, you have not sat in a TL Tech. That is apparent. To say the Sound system is no good...makes you look like..well..an idiot.

To keep sucking Acura off like they're building the best 4 door Luxury sedan is well.. stupid, because they aren't, the thing is friggin hideous, so is the interior, the entire thing is a misstep.

the same way most VW & Audi's share the same basic lay-out.

Wait so, The Passat has the same interior layout as the A4????? So does the Tiguan with the Q5 right? Not! get a grip.

ALL Audi dealers have loaner cars, maybe they don't give one to you because you sound a little whiny.

Before buying any of these you must drive the Subaru Legacy GT Spec B. This is the best awd sports sedan available in this price range (actually cheaper than those reviewed here). Great 6spd manual transmission, as fast as the infiniti - which is to say faster than the others, and as reliable as the acura - which is to say more reliable than an audi or vw. I test drove this car along with the Lexus 350IS, Infiniti G37, Audi A4, and BMW 335xi. The BMW is probably the best sports sedan if price is no object but the Subaru will save you 10k to 15k. Plus the subaru is understated and attractive with simple and logical interior controls. BMW meanwhile is still trying to design itself out of ugly - which is ironic since its early 2000 models were exceptionally attractive not unlike the last generation Acura TL - maybe BMW lent the ugly stick to Acura. Plus why do I have to pull the interior door handle twice to get out and what's with i-drive? The german engineers are solving problems that never existed.

It controls the ntire screen if you choose to use it. You dont need to use the knob for the audio, nor do you need to use the knob for the Navi. Voice command is easier and better. My beloved Acura? I dont own an Acura kiddo. Nor have i ever. I drive an Audi daily. I road race a Porsche. My Wife drives a Honda daily. Get that, not one Acura in my stable. As for TL rattles, this is old news. '04-'06 TL's had rattles. Why you keep bringing up old Acuras and diff. models is beyond me. This is a discussion about the 2009 TL simpleton.

Whats bullshit is that you comprehend that a car weighing 600LBS less with 5more HP and a more aggressive final drive can be 1sec quicker from 0-60. Its ok, you likely have zero experiance with motorsports and have never been to a drag strip in your life. understandable, most people fall into that category.

Sure the Tl-S has fake painted CF. Whats your point? It has REAL ALUMINUM however. Something you claimed was fake originally. The 65K Lexus IS-F also has fake CF. Again, who cares. Having Fake CF does not equal a lack of quality.

More misinformation and lack of knowledge on your part. The ELS system in the TL is not identical to that of the RDX. First and foremost, its more powerfull. secondly, the acoustics are vastly different. Therefore they will sound very different. But again, you just proved you have little knowledge on audio systems, audio acoustics, and that you've never sampled a Tech Package '09 TL.

VW/Audi Share as many (if not more) interior trim pieces the Honda/Acura. The diff.? percieved quality...the VW feels better then the Honda, but the Honda lasts longer. After owning 5 VAg Products, i can tell you first hand...the Quality of their interiors is sub par. They rattle just as much as Honda products, the buttons in my Audi are starting to flake already.

Sure, they dont give me a loaner car cause i'm whiney. Is that your cop out? Audi dealer service is horrible. If you say otherwise, you are in denial. Maybe my friend who just serviced his Audi A8L is whiney too, since they didnt offer him a loaner, even after he asked. I drive a 60K Audi. You better believe i'm going to be whiney when they cant supply me with a loaner car everytime i'm in for service, meanwhile my neighbor drives a TSX loaner when he drops his Integra off for an oil change.

Audi's are great cars.....when the notorious check engine light isnt on. I love mine. They have arguably the best styling on the market currently.I'm getting a new car soon and am downgrading to a 45K car. I've sampled most of the cars i'm looking at. All the problems you keep bringing up with the TL just arnt true. The interior is gorgeous, the materials inside are excellent, the Audio system is fantastic, the AWD system is great, and its sized like my Audi. Will i buy one? I dont think so...it isnt my favorite car, but its a good car and a jack of all trades. The interface is much easier to use then my A6 or my friend A8. If you find it difficult to use, then you really are a simpleton and/or have never sampled an Audi or BMW...but dont seem to bash those cars, even though you bash this Acura...which you have never sampled.

Get a life kid. More to the point, go sit in and drive cars before you bash them. I could call the CTS trash based on the previous generation CTS, but unlike you...i'm not ignorant or brand biased. I will sample the CTS, and may end up buying one. Only time will tell.

Driver. The Legacy GT Spec B is an awesome buy considering what you are getting for the price. However, it does not really compare with this group of cars in that it is not a luxury car. It doesnt offer as many toys as the other cars do, nor does it offer luxury car dealer service and warranty. The VW doesnt belond in this group either however. VW is a funny outfit in that they try and compete in the luxury market even though they have Audi there. Rather then bringing us flops like the Passat W8 & Phaeton, they should be more focused on improving Audi's brand image and dealer service. But thats a whole other story.

The scooby is an awesome car from a performance/reliability/price standpoint.

As for the BMW....i dont find any of these interfaces difficult to use. A lot of people complain, but they are all pretty simple once you get the hang of it. BMW & Audi's interface are among the more difficult ones to use. Acura's is pretty simple in comparisson, which is why i find it ironic that an Audi fanboi like cx7 would even attempt to bash it. But thats fanboism for you. In any event, the reason you must pull the handle twice on the BMW is because the first time unlocks the door, the second time opens it. If you unlock the door, then you only need to pull the handle twice. This is true in many cars. Its just a matter of adjusting the settings so that the door unlocks itself once you put the car in park. It didnt bother me at all. BMW's are awesome cars. They are just too expensive for what you get. Sure..they drive better then anything else if you are a sporty driver. But i have my fun car, so for a daily driver..i dont need that extra 5% thrill. And with so much competition out there, the BMW just isnt worth the premium anymore. Back in the 80's and 90's...they were much more car compared to the competition...not so much anymore. I do miss my '97 540i with a passion though.

There are some fact that are difficult to ignore:

TL is UGLY. (EVERY auto magazine has said this, not me)
TL is slower than G37s & G37X, be it C&D times, or grandma's times)
TL interior design is questionable to say the least.
TL audio system, the jury is still out on this one.
TL pricing is ambitious. (Who would pay a premium over a G37 or an A4 4 banger for this piece of ****).
The only 2 things working for the TL, interior quality (all the ELLPS are of good interior quality BTW) & handling (most of the ELLPS handle very well BTW, the only questionable one according to most auto mags, not me, IS350)

I think on this forum, you have the Acura fan boys who will obviously buy the TL, and you have people with a global view. Do I think the G is the best thing out there, nah. Do I think this article is accurate, yeah.

I think one thing that most of these writers should disclose is their age. I honestly see the same demographic that buys the CTS and Lincoln MKS, buying the TL.

I am a BIG Honda/Acura fan! I worked for an Acura dealer in the 90's and all we could do was wish for was styling that was outstanding and less bland. The 3rd gen TL was the best looking Acura to date only to be followed by this 4th gen monstrosity! I was up for a new car this summer and the TL was on my short list. Not anymore. It's not just the nose! The whole car suffers from bulbous proportions and mismatched lines. At minimum Acura needs to do a major face lift - pronto!

The TL is an ALL WHEEL DRIVE, VW hints of 4 wheel drive butInfinity is rear wheel drive.

Infinity offers a 4 wheel drive in model GS37x that you didnt test. In fairness, next time compare apples to apples.