I've always wondered why acura has made both the TL and TSX. I know the TL is a better car, however, they are very similar. To the untrained eye they look the same, interior is similar, engines are comparable. I just dont understand why they would make both. Is it so theres a cheaper option if someone wants an acura?

 

Well they haven't always looked the same and had the same engine available. But why they're so similar now? I'm guessing their respective class competitors' options/sizing has defined the current models.

 

^Yeah its crazy, I was picking our RDX up from the shop not too long ago, and was walking around the lot, and I was like damn!! They're close lol.

 

I have a really hard time telling them apart, too. I usually end up searching the rear deck lid for the badging and even then from a distance it's hard to decypher!

 

two different cars targeting two different consumer segment

 

The Acura brand has some serious problems in regards to product offerings. The TSX, TL and RL all quite comparable in size and features. There are small some feature not available on lesser models, but generally its quite the same.

Then they spend development dollars on the ZDX, which sells single digits a day, granted it's based off the MDX and doesn't cost too much to develop. How about give us a coupe and convertible like all your competitors?

 

 

They're working on it.

 

The TL was always based on the US Accord chassis starting from the '90s.
The 1G TSX was a Euro/Asian Accord imported to fill in the space between the RSX and TL in 2003.
Then the 4G TL and 2G TSX both increased in exterior size, so the 4G TL was moved up-market a bit.
I think the Accords' chassis sizes increased as well.

 

It is only logical to believe the RL will increase in size as well and create some difference in size once again. Think about 3-series vs. 5-series vs. 7-series, the ES, GS, & LS, C-Class, E-Class, & S-Class. Of these three brands, I believe Acura would follow Lexus the most as far as size. There isn't a whole lot of difference in size between the ES and LS. The most notice difference between them is engine size. The ES has both a 4 and 6 cylinder option, a la TSX, the GS has V6 like the TL, and the LS has a V8 like the RL was supposed to have before the economy tanked.

There is a new RSX in development that will have coupe and sub-TSX sedan options. The real question to me is what they will do with the RL and NSX. I think that will define Acura in the next 5 years. I don't think they are very far off track as much as they're behind their competition. However, that was a conscious decision by Acura to hold back the next latest and greatest technology development when the economy went south. In the end I don't believe that it will be viewed as a bad business decision. It is just hard to see the forest through the trees right now b/c we're in it.

 

Different engines, differences in sizes.

 

I like the Japanese made Acuras (RL, TSX) over the American made TL. Three trannies for a 2003 TL scratched them off my list.