Test Drive: 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite

Review and photos by Steven Bochenek

The combination of that signature shark’s-grin grille with the tapered front and rear make the Acura TL utterly distinct. As much as any direct competitor, it reminds me of the ironclad Merrimack of civil war infamy. Beefy and bold, if it takes any design cues from competitors at all, it’s just as much from American luxury sedans as what’s coming out of Japan or Europe.

Translation? Solid, uncompromising muscle.

That impression is only confirmed once you’re inside. A bright red start/stop button beckons wantonly amid an otherwise somber blue-black setting, promising all kinds of thrills, like the massive lips at the opening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. You can insert the key fob into the ignition if you want to or let it rest in your pocket and work remotely.

Behind the wheel, you have three logically separate displays: the instrument panel whose dials provide all the real-time feedback you need for the drive; the navigation and programming system sitting just below the dash between driver and passenger; and, separately, the stereo. So your attention can be divided out quickly and judiciously.

The ride on 19 x 8-inch aluminum-alloy wheels is excellent fun (lesser trims than this TL SH-AWD Elite come with 17 x 8 and 18 x 8). Picture a tank crossbred with a panther. During the week of the test, I completed well over twice the distance I’d achieved with any of the last four testers I’ve reviewed. Yet even then, I never quite got the feeling that I’d seen all it’s capable of. That would require expensive track time – or time behind bars.

2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite. Click image to enlarge

Nonetheless, the few times I did get aggressive, I was instantly and easily front of the class. The TL has cojones.

Despite the comparison to American muscle, the TL is plenty agile and doesn’t mind tight corners in the least. The sport suspension finds just the right compromise between stability and buoyancy. The steering is tight and balanced. (The day I brought it back, I was booked directly into a luxury SUV and the instant difference between steering experiences was profound.)

This tester was imbued with SH-AWD. It’s an acronym for super-handling all-wheel drive and not some badass DJ’s stage handle. It’s an active technology that reads the ride and sends torque to front and back wheels, further splitting distribution between the rear wheels. Watch for it working in inclement conditions. It’s noticeable and makes you feel less clever.

Speaking of which, you can turn off the anti-skid technology – the button’s temptingly near the steering wheel – and get intimate with dirt roads. (This car would be a blast in winter. While you can’t put the back seats down, there is a tiny lockable ski door accessing the trunk.)

Beside that button you’ll find another to disable the blind spot warning lights, which only come with the Elite package. Unobtrusive enough, the lights aren’t accompanied by trilling beeps, a la Volvo’s unintentionally ironic BLIS system, and their amber glow isn’t particularly bright. Indeed, chances are you’d stop noticing it after a while like banner ads and relatives. (My favourite blind-spot solution comes with the TL’s competitor, Cadillac ATS: Safety Seat Alert vibrates your gluteus maximus on either the left or right cheek depending on where the potential danger is. So lights, beeps, bottom tickling –the only senses left for an innovative auto engineer to distract us with would be smell and taste.)

Another useful safety feature is the rearview camera, integrated into the spoiler, both of which are introduced in the Technology Package. The paint on luxury brands like Acura is Teflon-esque in its ability to take a punch – or so I’ve read – but why risk scratching it all?

The SH-AWD is mated with a 3.7L 24-valve six-cylinder engine with multi-point programmed fuel injection. It puts out 305 ponies and a testosterone-enhancing 273 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to convey its curb weight of 1,820 kg. When you lift the hood, that engine is seemingly served on a platter. A plastic tray covers all else but the antifreeze tube. This quarantining of the engine is not unique and is becoming increasingly common but remains oddly thrilling.

2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite. Click image to enlarge

Despite the attractive engine presentation and its power, you don’t hear it much even if you gun it hard or when you switch to sport mode (though heaven knows you feel it!). The TL is exceptionally well soundproofed. The balanced doors are heavy and seal with a satisfying thunk. And the aerodynamics are such that driving with the sunroof open isn’t all that noisy either. Mind, the eight-speaker sound system easily compensates.

It wasn’t all wine and roses behind the wheel, though. The driver’s seat, programmable for two operators, just never quite felt right to me. Plus I found the dash rather high, leaving me feeling like I wasn’t getting the full view over the hood. On the final day I lifted the seat to its maximum, finally attaining that view, but my head was nearly scraping the ceiling, despite the roomy 976 mm of headroom, and I felt like a kid on a booster seat. So, yes, the seat was frustrating, especially within such an otherwise enjoyable driving experience. The steering wheel’s telescopic and tilt ranges are impressively broad, which alleviated the frustration somewhat.

That big engine only takes premium gasoline, so you’ll be paying for the luxury and performance. Furthermore its fuel economy stats are 10.4 L/100 km in the city and 6.8 on the highway. So get familiar with the cruise control early to maximize fuel efficiency. It’s simple to learn and operate. The ‘i’ button just below the cruise control is a useful button too, offering access to much live feedback on your drive.

If you’re not on the highway or stuck in thick traffic, use the paddles to shift throughout the six gears. It brings the feel of the road closer to your hands. Interestingly though, unlike a lot of powerful cars, the difference between the regular drive and sport mode isn’t as noticeable. The TL is always responsive and sporty.

2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite. Click image to enlarge

So what if you did want to use it as a primary family vehicle — is it practical? There’s less spare legroom in the back seats than you’d think, 920 mm, and though the TL technically seats five, the middle hump is acceptable as a seat only for a small child.

There’s a big trunk – total cargo volume is a spacious 371 L. Despite a long weekend in the country with an electric piano, groceries for six and three suitcases, I had room to spare. (Beneath the floor of the trunk you’ll find a temporary spare tire and jack set.) There’s also decent width, 1880 mm before side mirrors, which not only helps with the cornering, it allows for plenty of elbowroom. You get in and want to stretch out.

2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite. Click image to enlarge

There are several other interesting storage spaces worth relating. 1) Within the armrest, there’s enough room for wallets and phones. Hence the presence of the power outlet, auxiliary plug-in and USB connector. 2) A sunglasses holder tilts down from the ceiling. 3) Two small deep shelves flank the base of the centre stack, one for driver and another for passenger, offering just enough space to hold a wallet, makeup kit, etc. 4) My favourite was found where the traditional ashtray would have once been, in front of the shift knob. You tilt a little door up. The tiny space inside could house a wristwatch and phone — or maybe ten cigarette butts, except for its felt-like lining. Hilariously, the tilted rim of its door bears the warning: ‘Not an ashtray’. One assumes you’d learn soon enough once the felt lining began smoldering.

The leather seats, introduced as standard from the Technology Package levels up, are far easier to clean than cloth. The front ones are heated and, better still, ventilated. Inside the TL prefers a dark-hued aesthetic which, on sunny hot days, can melt your skin faster than Dorothy dumping water or landing houses on wicked witches. We experienced some unseasonably lovely weather over the long weekend and the ventilation was a welcome and decadent indulgence.

Interestingly, you can disable the keyless start and disallow entry to the trunk. The buttons for each function are in the glove compartment.

The trunk function is sensible if you deal with valets much (and have seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: watch the relevant parts here).

Once you’ve disabled and locked both the trunk-ski-hole door and the glove compartment, you separate the physical key from the fob. Give the valet the fob and she can’t access your trunk or glove compartment, just the doors and ignition – although you can’t prevent her from, or blame her for, lusting after a joy ride.

As for why you’d want to disable the keyless start, I’m stumped. Still, you can.

Finally, whether you need all this muscle and clever engineering to get to work and the grocery store is definitely up for debate. But, as with the valet, nobody would blame you for wanting it.

Pricing: 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite
Base Price: $39,500
Base Price (SH-AWD Elite): $49,450
Options: None
Freight: $1,945
A/C Tax: $100
Price as tested: $51,495

Competitors:
Audi S4
BMW 335i xDrive
Cadillac ATS 3.6 AWD
Infiniti G37x
Lexus IS 350 AWD
Mercedes-Benz C 350 4Matic
Volvo S60 T6 AWD