Only know about the print version, but today's Wall Street Journal reviewed the 2004 TL 6-speed. (10/31/03, page W15C.)

Some highlights:

Liked: Angles of outside give it a more muscular look.
Disliked: Can be mistaken for the TSX. (I personally agree.)

Liked: Leather seats and trim.
Disliked: Interior is conservative - even generic.

Liked: 270 hp
Disliked: Wanted more engine growl. They had a hard time shifting by "sound." (I would agree about my 03 being quiet the same way.)

Liked: Handling is noticeably crisper than previous TL models.
Disliked: Clutch pedal felt soft and engaged suddenly.

 

Here's the reprint:

Drive Buys / 2004 Acura TL --- A Challenge From the Slow Lane

By Jonathan Welsh
1,061 words
31 October 2003
The Wall Street Journal
W15C
English
(Copyright (c) 2003, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

THE U.S. auto market may be sagging, but the companies making luxury sports sedans just keep rolling -- bringing out more new models, freshening up old ones and pushing overall sales up 2.5% this year alone.

But one maker has seemed to be watching from the slow lane: Two years ago, Acura freshened up its TL sedan, but sales slipped 13% last year and are down 19% so far this year. Now, the luxury division of Honda is releasing its 2004 model with more aggressive looksand boosted power, hoping to reverse the slide.

Acura is counting on the new car's success because the TL has traditionally accounted for more than 40% of sales, and has been its main claim to the high end of the sedan market ruled by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. While previous TLs have lured buyers by undercutting the prices of those European rivals, the new car is the division's most serious attempt to compete head-to-head, with raw performance.

We tried out the new four-door for a week to see how it stacks up against the sport-sedan establishment. There were a few surprises. First, the TL traded its inoffensive but generic exterior for a more wedge-shaped body with an angular front end and taller fenders and doors that give it a stronger look. Inside, leather seats, wood trim and neatly hidden cupholders look much like those in previous TLs. The company continues its strategy of building feature-laden cars with few options. The new TL costs $32,650. A navigation system is $2,000 and high-performance tires are $200.

Another interior feature was less familiar but welcome: The TL now comes with a six-speed stick shift. The company says it still expects the majority of buyers to opt for the five-speed automatic, but that it is ready to admit that real sports sedans have to at least offer a manual transmission.

We found the smooth-shifting gears well-suited to the new car's 270-horsepower V6 engine. Previously the TL came in standard 225-horsepower and 260-horse "Type-S" versions. But the new model blows both of them away with a zero-to-60 time of about six seconds. (The company says it has no plans to revive the Type-S.)

The combination of more power (the most of any competing six-cylinder motor), a stiffer chassis and firmer suspension make the new TL more exciting to drive than the previous model, which was really made with highway cruising in mind. Where the old car felt out of place and a bit clumsy whipping into tight bends, the new version feels at home. It can keep up easily with the Audi A4, A6 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans, and it's likely to compete for buyers with those models and BMW's 3- and 5-Series.

Some driving buffs are sure to find fault with how the TL's front-wheel-drive layout affects its handling. In theory, having the engine, transmission and other drive components piled up front makes a car nose-heavy, so the front end has a harder time keeping its grip on the road in the sharpest curves and when changing direction quickly.

We consider ourselves purists and prefer the more balanced feel of a rear-drive car. Honestly, though, the TL felt so smooth and nimble in most driving situations that it was difficult to tell whether its power was coming from the front or the back. But we could tell there was plenty of it, and that was nice. And with Acura counting on the model to boost TL sales by 7% or so, to about 65,000 cars a year, we think this model will probably do the trick.

 

Ooops...more to the article:

Performance Anxiety

Here's how the Acura TL compares with other midsize sport sedans.

MAKE/MODEL: Acura TL
BASE PRICE: $32,650
ENGINE/HORSEPOWER: V6/270
ACCELERATION 0-60 MPH (SEC.): 6.3
WEIGHT (POUNDS): 3,482
EPA MILEAGE (CITY/HIGHWAY): 19/28

MAKE/MODEL: BMW 530i
BASE PRICE: $44,300
ENGINE/HORSEPOWER: 6-cyl./225
ACCELERATION 0-60 MPH (SEC.): 6.6
WEIGHT (POUNDS): 3,472
EPA MILEAGE (CITY/HIGHWAY): 20/30

MAKE/MODEL: Saab 9-5 Arc
BASE PRICE: $34,430
ENGINE/HORSEPOWER: 4-cyl./220
ACCELERATION 0-60 MPH (SEC.): 6.9
WEIGHT (POUNDS): 3,470
EPA MILEAGE (CITY/HIGHWAY): 22/31

MAKE/MODEL: Audi A6 3.0
BASE PRICE: $35,950
ENGINE/HORSEPOWER: V6/220
ACCELERATION 0-60 MPH (SEC.): 7.1
WEIGHT (POUNDS): 3,516
EPA MILEAGE (CITY/HIGHWAY): 20/27

MAKE/MODEL: Mercedes-Benz C320
BASE PRICE: $35,750
ENGINE/HORSEPOWER: V6/215
ACCELERATION 0-60 MPH (SEC.): 6.8
WEIGHT (POUNDS): 3,430
EPA MILEAGE (CITY/HIGHWAY): 19/26
---
Backseat Driver

Here's what we liked -- and didn't -- about the 2004 Acura TL.

The Outside

WHAT WORKS: Tall, angular door panels and fenders give this TL a more
muscular and stylish look than its predecessor.
WHAT DOESN'T: From some angles -- the front, especially -- it is too easily
mistaken for the smaller, cheaper Acura TSX.

The Inside

WHAT WORKS: Leather seats and trim, standard equipment on the Acura, cost
extra on many rival models.
WHAT DOESN'T: The TL's interior is nice but conservative -- even generic.

Under the Hood

WHAT WORKS: New model ups the TL's power by 20% to 270 -- more than many V8
motors generate.
WHAT DOESN'T: We could have used a bit more engine growl; at times we
couldn't hear our own car in traffic, making it tough to shift gears by
sound.

Behind the Wheel

WHAT WORKS: Handling is noticeably crisper than on the previous TL, which
felt fine on the highway but too soft and mushy around sharp corners.
WHAT DOESN'T: Our six-speed test car's clutch pedal felt a little soft and
engaged so suddenly that we stalled a few times. How embarrassing!

Over the Top

WHAT WORKS: Our tester had Bluetooth software and voice-recognition,
allowing drivers to make hands-free cellphone calls.
WHAT DOESN'T: Maybe we're just technologically dim, but the system was
distracting enough that we had to pull over -- before chatting safely.

 

WOW!

 

Gosh! It is really no contest is it? Any one who still buys the other cars that are listed is doing it for the snob appeal, or to be different. Other than that, the TL blows everything else away.