Note: This interior review was created when the 2011 Acura TL was new.
Interior: | 8.8 |
Acura doesn’t have the old-world luxury reputation of Mercedes-Benz or the sporty, driver-centric reputation of BMW. Instead, Acura is known for its exceptional technology. The TL’s interior plays to its strengths, with a contemporary design that emphasizes the car’s high-tech features. Designers used liberal amounts of polished aluminum trim and tightly pulled, smooth leather. Reviewers like it, though some point to cheaper, hard plastics in spots.
The base and SH-AWD versions of the 2011 TL each include different front seats. Reviewers tend to compliment both but make note that the SH-AWD version’s sport seats are firmer and more heavily bolstered. A daily commuter doesn’t need the grippy seats of a sport sedan, but some testers pointed out the AWD’s seats were better on a long haul. The technology package includes an upgrade to soft, supple leather that most reviewers seem to like.
Acura is well known for its high-tech interiors and its best-selling car – the TL – is a major reason the brand has that reputation. The interior of the TL includes some of the best automotive in-cabin technology available. Reviewers are particularly impressed with the equipment included with the optional Technology Package. Checking that box adds a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather updates. The upgraded sound system with a built-in hard drive also earns rave reviews.
However, not all critics are impressed with the interface that controls these systems. Without the Technology Package, the TL uses separate buttons for each of its climate and entertainment functions. This makes the interior look complicated, but it is fairly easy to learn. The Technology Package adds an “interface dial” that controls most of these systems through a single knob and a series of menus on the navigation screen. It’s similar to the systems most manufacturers now offer at this price point, including BMW’s iDrive and the Mercedes-Benz COMAND system. Reviewers say Acura’s is easier to learn than most but it still takes some time.
The Acura TL offers 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space -- less than some competitors, like the Lincoln MKZ and Lexus ES. Some reviewers point out that the SH-AWD model offers even less, since the rear differential intrudes on the floor of the trunk.
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