I was at the dealer again the other day and was able to check out the interior of the 4G TL and I must say I wasn't impressed.

First, I didn't like how the Navi was so far back, no touch screen and smaller. The steering wheel leather is too smooth and soft (no textured feel). The center console is also a single console and not a double lift up one. The parking brake is on the driver side. The grab rails above your head are plastic instead of leather. The power supply is hidden in an awkward looking compartment on the passenger side.

The 3G TL is much better IMO.

Anyone agree? Other thoughts?

I haven't seen the inside of one but I ordered a part from my dealer and it should be in sometime next week. I will be sure to take a look at one on the showroom floor and let you know.

No. I understand you have a newer 3G but don't fool yourself. The interior is way better than the last one. Acura got flamed for putting the emergency brake lever on the right. They put it where it belongs. The screen is farther back into the dash, hense why it's no longer a touch screen. Having a hard drive built into the car and a larger clearer screen blows ours away, not to mention real time traffic and weather. The leather is ok but I am sure it will hold up just fine.

The exterior is another story.

I agree with you on this one. As much i i love the way our interior looks, i think the 4g's interior is spectacular. Last time i sat on it at my local dealer everything was right for me. I am really impressed with the interior looks -- wish i could say the same for the exterior

the 4G interior is better then the '08 3G TL. (except i rather have touch screen). the hard drive navi display is excellent. recently sat in both at curry acura.

the exterior,...is why i will never buy one.

I have to agree with everyone else except OP on this one too... The interior blows the 3G away... And I have a 3G...

Exterior wise actually, I actually like it just as much as my 3G. The beak that everyone speaks of isn't even bad in person. I think it actually gives it a bit of aggressiveness. That said, I think people can just paint the insert and that'll solve their issues.

I can't say I like the nav setup on the 09. I don't like how the screen is hooded. I prefer a more exposed screen flush with the console. As far as the interior (cockpit) in general, quit refined, but I don't agree that it blows 3G out of the water.

Remember, its all subjective.

All, i can see is the 4G interior looks like shit, most ppl who know how a interoir should be like would know our 3G interoir is more classy, much better placement of buttons, and is pure sexy. The 4G on other hand is pure.

I checked out the 09 TL when my car was in for warranty work for about 15 minutes. I think the tech features are great and wish I had some of them in my car. The new interior is nice but has some downgrades in my opinion:

1. power socket in console- you'll want to hardwire any radar detector since a cord would be lamely hanging by the shifter. I don't see why Acura couldn't put a power point on the side of the front console near the foot well of the passenger for things like radars or even GPS's for non-Navs.

2. has any one checked out the map pockets in the front doors. Those things look cheap- hard plastic and don't retract like the 3rd gens

3. I think our console works better for storing stuff. The rubberized cup holder retracting cover works for holding my cell phone great. I also like our grated shifter with sequential shift better.

4. I like the parking brake near the passenger- seems easier for me to grab when it's 6 inches farther from me than right next to my thigh. It's also more likely to interfere with the driver when parked and engaged like if you need to get in the glove box.

5. The nav is nice but I do like the touch screen for not just nav features but also for hitting radio presets using the Audio screen

6. I still like our gauges better- they seem simpler and easier to read

So I agree with the OP on this point. I was not blown away by the interior like I thought I was going to be. I liked the hooks in the trunk for holding grocery bags. The exterior is an entire other point and my biggest issue with that is it grew in length and would not fit in my garage as nice.

Besides the push button start and hard drive... I don't see a benefit. Personally my dislikes include the straight shifter, front console that looks like a vagina with the center button as the clit (one of my friends pointed this out to me), and Acura has made everything a little more circular. Which negate's its refined look because of the cluttered buttons.

I did sit in one a couple weeks ago, and the material is more inline with a lexus is texture wise.

The only reason why I would say the 3g (type s) isn't a perfect car is a lack of tuning for a compressor. It's hard to improve on something that good.

The 4Gz interior is very nice, you can say it has a "new" look. But there are a few fatal flaws in my opinion. I wouldnt buy that car just because of the fact that the navi isnt touch screen. Typing in addresses, or naviagting through the menu with the big analog button is a BITCH!! I tried not using the touch screen just to get a feel of it, lets just say I got irritated very quickly. The interior is nice I dont have any complaints about it. I just wish Acura wouldve thought twice about what they put into their best selling car! I think us acurazine members couldve done a better job of designing a new TL.

Things I like about the 4G interior:
1) Touch Start
2) XM Nav Weather
3) Hard Drive (Personally, I'm old school and like CD's better. But I know others are excited about this aspect)

Things I'm not excited about in the 4G interior:
1) No Touch Screen
2) Button layout of the center console
3) U-Shaped cutout in the center armrest
4) The leather doesn't seem as luxurious as the 3G (Both 4G's I've driven didn't seem to have as nice of leather as the Type S. The seats seemed stiffer than the 3G's)
5) Nav Screen is set too far away.

The 4G isn't terrible, I just don't think it's that great.

4G interior > 3G interior.

i like the seats in the 4g more than the 3g, but the dash layout i would have to say 3g takes the cake ... the 4g dash is too cluttered in my opinion and i dont like that the nav is no longer touch screen ... and yes as everyone else said the exterior is something the 3g is a clear cut winner

I must be resistant to change.
The 4G center stack has fewer buttons and switches, but it appears more cluttered to me than the 3G, and I don't like the placment of the iDrive-type Nav knob (aesthetically).
Storage bins are better on the 3G, and I prefer the less cluttered '04-05 4-spoke steering wheel controls.
The 4G interior is no longer clearly superior to that of the G35/G37, but that wouldn't stop me from getting the car if everything else was good.

What 4g has no tape deck? That makes the 3g that much better.

3g FTMFW one of the last REAL acuras...UNTILLLLLL THE NEW NSX COMES OUT

I could live with the 4g interior. I am biased to the 3g though but the exterior looks so butt ugly to me that even with the extra technical features, SH-AWD and 305 HP, I couldn't bare to do a trade in.

Well the 4G looks like an obvious revamp of the 3G when looking at them side by side, but for some reason, it doesn't look better, just bulkier as if to take up some of the extra space in the new car. I can't really say which is better, but I'm very comfortable with my '08, and the 4G just doesn't make me wanna go out and get one.

thx for posting those pix, very helpful. there both nice. i wonder what the interior looks like at night, does it have blue lights? and which buttons light up?

4G steering wheel buttons look to have a better layout

4G Nav screen and center console look derived from the MDX and RL. This must have been done to set the nav screen back into the dash so as to reduce the glare on the screen. I'm conflicted on the recessed screen because I often have trouble with the glare on my 3G screen but the touch screen is a much more intuitive way to interface with the system (my friend has an MDX and the rotary input selector is a PITA).

I work at an Acura dealer doing detail and cleaning up after mechanics a couple days a week and I don't like the interior of the new ones much. The functions of the navi are a little more difficult than in the 3g. There is really no place to put a cell phone that is convenient. After spending a few hours in each new Acura it seems like they are deliberately difficult inside the cabin. Also the 4g TL has less throttle response than the 3g.

Could someone direct me to a thread where i can read opinions on the new TL and TSX front ends? I'd love to hate on them. My dealer has actually sent a few TLs out to paint the top portion of the grill which looks decent on the dark blue, red and black but looks horrible in white. I'll try to snap a pic if anyone is interested or hasn't seen that.

I heard about this... dealers will never say they do this because it implies that they look bad and no one is buying it. I would like to see what they are doing to the exterior to make them look better though. I do think that in person, it doesn't look so bad, however, I think that the 4G exterior looks too much like a concept car. I know it's still new but I still haven't seen one in the wild and only one or two TSXs.

3G >>>>>>> 4G interior, with the exception of a couple tech features. 4G looks cheaply made, almost gaudy.

The 4G forums would love for you to post pics and reviews! https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-2009-2014-123/

I don't like how that round knob that controls the navigation unit looks. The Gauges on the 4G look cheap and very GM like to me.
Some of the technology is pretty cool like the hard drive and weather updates etc. I also like that it has a USB hookup in addition to the aux jack.

Does the back seat fold down in the 4G? One thing I hate about the 3G. Must be the only thing because the 3G is an awesome ride.

Oh man, that's a good point, I really want to come up with some quick release for the back seat

no, the back seat does NOT fold down in the 4G.

I do have to admit the voice recognition in the 4G for the nav is a very nice upgrade. It is the saving grace for the non touch screen.

I agree totally with Steven Bell and VQPower. The fact is there is definitely an upmarket FEEL to the interior. (Even though it actually LOOKS cheaper...) I will give them credit for upgrading the quality of materials and workmanship. Everything feels better, close to an RL now. Push button start, live weather, HD Nav/music, handbrake placement, better leather/seats, all that is great and that's where ALL the compliments end!

The overall interior DESIGN of the 4GTL UGLY! Gauges are ugly, center stack is ugly, etc. etc. They copycatted the current trends in automotive fads. More silver plastic than carbon fiber? What gives? I don't like the recent change in direction Honda/Acura is taking towards design in general! The 3GTL might have a now "old skool" design but it flows much better and looks way more tasteful! They don't listen to customers; the majority of us love our touchscreen navs and most people despise a knob.

I'm sorry guys, don't know what you smokin....Overall? 3GTL interior>4GTL interior.

I never understood why people care about the handbrake placement... I'd rather have it on the passenger side.

Same here. I find it just gets in the way on the driver side to the center console where I have drinks, iPod, cell phone, etc. Having it on the passenger side keeps it away until I need it when parking.

The 3G TL has voice recognition/commands too or are you talking about improvements or something else?

He's referring to the fact that you can enter in navigation commands via voice, like addresses, not just "nearest Italian restaurant"

I'm just happy to see that Acura has a brown leather option for the TL now. I specifically chose the exterior color of my MDX so I could get the brown/red interior and would have done the same with my TL if they had offered it.

Personally, a nice colored leather goes a long way in making the interior of the car feel upscale. When you get in a BMW or Audi with red/brown/blue/green leather, you know you're not in an Scion.

it's like that old saying "money cant buy good taste" they threw in some pricier stuff in exchange for a tasteful look.

"hey guys, we got a whole buncha new gadgets that would make this thing a hit. problem is how to fit it in"

"oh i know, i was nailing my wife last night and that vagina looked mighty appealing"

"sounds good. i'll call up the engineers"

haha, nice.

i agree with those who favor the 3g interior over 4g. my main reason for the dislike is that the 4g has an extreme resemblance to the newer honda accord models. and i know that they should have some similarity since they are both made by Honda but not that extreme. just take a look at new accord interior its the same exact as the 4g

I looked at a 4G tech about a month ago and thought overall it had

1) Better instrument layout
2) Higher quality materials
3) Seats looked and felt better
4) didn't like the 12VDC outlet (gonna get scatched up over time)
5) Liked the center stackup, but buttons and switches were kinda confusing.

I like my 3G interior, but liked the 4G better