CD Article: 2009 Acura TL

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


Its controversial nose styling aside, the front-wheel drive Acura TL is "entertaining to drive" with a "willing" engine and "satisfying" brakes, says Contributing Editor, Chris Chase. But its "pleasant interior" has a "tight rear seat and smallish trunk", he says.
 More: View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Mitlov]

Tight rear seat and a smallish trunk in a car THIS big?  That's surprising.  And this is the FWD model, so you can't blame it on SH-AWD.

While Honda/Acura used to be known for its simple dash designs, the company has strayed from that recently, at least in its higher-end models.

Nope, it's in all its recent models, not just high-end.  The second-gen Fit, the Insight, and the Civic are all offenders.  On the other hand, Battlestar Galactica has been highly-praised

[Scaerio]

  for referring to the '04 5-series as "Dame Edna-esque."

[Schmengie]

Putting a fancy interior, a big price tag and a really ugly nose on an Accord just doesn't cut it. With 280hp trying to find their way to the pavement through the front wheels, well, forget it. For what they're charging for this thing, I'd MUCH rather have the base 230hp BMW 328i at $39,900 or even the 200hp 323i at $34,900. Who's this aimed at anyway? 

[Jaeger]

Limo-like external size without the limo-like passenger and cargo space.  Oooooookay then.

Jaeger

[The Mighty Duck]

While Honda/Acura used to be known for its simple dash designs, the company has strayed from that recently, at least in its higher-end models.

Nope, it's in all its recent models, not just high-end.  The second-gen Fit, the Insight, and the Civic are all offenders.  On the other hand, Battlestar Galactica has been highly-praised

What's wrong with the second-gen Fit?  I find it very well laid out and very logical.  Although I prefer the first-gen visually, I think the new one makes more sense.

[Jaeger]

While Honda/Acura used to be known for its simple dash designs, the company has strayed from that recently, at least in its higher-end models.

Nope, it's in all its recent models, not just high-end.  The second-gen Fit, the Insight, and the Civic are all offenders.  On the other hand, Battlestar Galactica has been highly-praised

What's wrong with the second-gen Fit?  I find it very well laid out and very logical.  Although I prefer the first-gen visually, I think the new one makes more sense.

I think you've identified what's wrong with it.  There's no question that the control layout in the new Fit is very easy to use, but the dash design is quite busy-looking.  When we were shopping, both my wife and I prefered the comparatively clean look of the Versa dash.  But we liked everything else about the Fit better.  Hey, at least it doesn't have glowing speakers.

Jaeger

[Mitlov]

What's wrong with the second-gen Fit?  I find it very well laid out and very logical.  Although I prefer the first-gen visually, I think the new one makes more sense.

Fanny packs are utilitarian as well.  Doesn't mean you want to see them on a daily basis.

[Jaeger]

By the way, you know that a vehicle's styling has reached official train wreck status when every freakin' review starts with "Let's put styling aside...". 

Jaeger

[The Mighty Duck]

I think you've identified what's wrong with it.  There's no question that the control layout in the new Fit is very easy to use, but the dash design is quite busy-looking.  When we were shopping, both my wife and I prefered the comparatively clean look of the Versa dash.  But we liked everything else about the Fit better.  Hey, at least it doesn't have glowing speakers.

Busy-looking?  Really?  That's about the last thing I would call the dash.

[mmret]

The worst part is that the general shape of the car is nice.

Its the details that screw it up. Like a nice house with terrible purple wallpaper and 60s decor.

[Iso Octane]

^ Yeah that's it.  The profile is actually quite nice. 

I remember really tearing into the styling when the first official photos started coming out.  After seeing a few on the road, I'm finding it a lot less offensive.

Still looks too fiddly though.  On the inside too.

[Mitlov]

^ Yeah that's it.  The profile is actually quite nice. 

I remember really tearing into the styling when the first official photos started coming out.  After seeing a few on the road, I'm finding it a lot less offensive.

Still looks too fiddly though.  On the inside too.

It's still just as bad for me.  As mmret says, the silhouette is nice, but the surface detailing is just atrocious.  Worse surface detailing than the new Ford Focus. 

...yeah, I said it.