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2009 Acura TL Safety Review

May 2, 2009

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact; Top Safety Pick
IIHS

Five stars, front impacts; five stars, side impacts
NHTSA

All 2009 Acura TL models come with antilock disc brakes with brake assist
Edmunds

The 2009 Acura TL works hard to keep both driver and passengers safe, and based on crash test results, it succeeds admirably.

The newest Acura TL is a true standout in both NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, earning top marks from both institutions. In IIHS tests, the Acura 2009 TL lineup earns the highest possible rating, "good," in both the frontal offset impact and side impact tests. The Acura TL performs so well, in fact, that the IIHS awards it a Top Safety Pick, citing the Acura TL's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control." The 2009 Acura TL also aces NHTSA's set of crash tests, earning a perfect five-star rating in both front impact categories, both side impact categories, and the rollover protection category. In short, few cars can hope to match the Acura 2009 TL lineup when it comes to comparing crash-test scores.

In addition to its industry-leading scores in the various crash tests, the 2009 Acura TL boasts a number of standard safety features that work in concert to provide a safe ride. Edmunds reviewers note that "all 2009 Acura TL models come with antilock brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control...and active front restraints," while Cars.com adds "side curtain airbags [and] front-seat side-impact airbags" to the list of standard safety features on the Acura TL.

Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also rave about driver visibility from within the 2009 Acura TL, which is among the best of any sedan on the road. ConsumerGuide reports that the "slim front roof pillars provide good forward visibility," while a few design elements also contribute to rear visibility. Among those elements, Edmunds points out that the "large flip-up headrests provide protection for occupants, while clearing rear vision when nobody's back there." In the event that you are carrying passengers in the backseats, Automobile Magazine reviewers highlight the available "rear-view camera, [a] part of the...technology package" on the 2009 Acura TL.

Conclusion

Acura turns its attention toward safety with the redesigned 2009 Acura TL, one of the few vehicles to earn perfect scores in all of its crash tests.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good," frontal offset impact; "good," side impact; Top Safety PickIIHSFive stars, front impacts; five stars, side impactsNHTSAAll 2009 Acura TL models come with antilock disc brakes with brake assistEdmunds The 2009 Acura TL works hard to keep both driver and passengers safe, and based on crash test results, it succeeds admirably. The newest Acura TL is a true standout in both NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, earning top marks from both institutions. In IIHS tests, the Acura 2009 TL lineup earns the highest possible rating, "good," in both the frontal offset impact and side impact tests. The Acura TL performs so well, in fact, that the IIHS awards it a Top Safety Pick, citing the Acura TL's "good performance in front, side, and rear tests and standard electronic stability control." The 2009 Acura TL also aces NHTSA's set of crash tests, earning a perfect five-star rating in both front impact categories, both side impact categories, and the rollover protection category. In short, few cars can hope to match the Acura 2009 TL lineup when it comes to comparing crash-test scores. In addition to its industry-leading scores in the various crash tests, the 2009 Acura TL boasts a number of standard safety features that work in concert to provide a safe ride. Edmunds reviewers note that "all 2009 Acura TL models come with antilock brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control...and active front restraints," while Cars.com adds "side curtain airbags [and] front-seat side-impact airbags" to the list of standard safety features on the Acura TL. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com also rave about driver visibility from within the 2009 Acura TL, which is among the best of any sedan on the road. ConsumerGuide reports that the "slim front roof pillars provide good forward visibility," while a few design elements also contribute to rear visibility. Among those elements, Edmunds points out that the "large flip-up headrests provide protection for occupants, while clearing rear vision when nobody's back there." In the event that you are carrying passengers in the backseats, Automobile Magazine reviewers highlight the available "rear-view camera, [a] part of the...technology package" on the 2009 Acura TL. ConclusionAcura turns its attention toward safety with the redesigned 2009 Acura TL, one of the few vehicles to earn perfect scores in all of its crash tests. 2009 ACURA TL STYLING | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "Controversial styling could be a hit or miss with consumers" Car and Driver: "Looks better in the flesh than in photographs" Automobile Magazine: "New interior...is indeed seductive" Acura has apparently decided that the Japanese ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Audi A4, also redesigned for 2009, is a front-wheel-drive-biased vehicle just like the TL, but Audi has taken great pains to move its mass rearward and make it a sportier, more engaging drive—and they succeeded. BMW's 3-Series is the benchmark for its class due to its magical ride/handling combination, but it's a tighter fit inside and options are pricey. The Cadillac CTS presents as strong a styling statement as the TL, yet does so in an appealing way; rear-wheel drive, a well-sorted chassis, great powertrains, and a sumptuous interior complete a compelling package. Starting in the low thirties, yet with an interior that comes within inches of a Mercedes S550 for richness and room, the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis sedan is the value leader here, but soft handling means it won't win in the slalom. Volkswagen's Passat also brings great value and a stunning interior to the table, but just like the TL, its front-wheel-drive setup won't thrill driving enthusiasts.

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See the Acura TL in Other Years:

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Comments (2 total)

  1. By Michael #1, Posted: 6/5/2009

    Put 50,000 miles plus on then lets talk about true quality. You review talks about Acura quality but fails to mention that Acura had to be sued to provide support to previous Acura TL models that had issues with repeated transmission failures. From my experience the quality of the GM products far exceeds what I have seen with the Acura TL. For our money we our next car will not be from Acrua/Honda.

  2. By Craig #2, Posted: 8/5/2009

    The TL has excellent driving characteristics, great acceleration however I wasn't impressed with the ride quality on the sh-awd model, the FWD provided more comfort. The tech package is a must. The voice activation takes a few seconds to execute (all of them do though) but it works well. The ELS sound system is unbelievable and unmatched. The navigation has been on spot so far. Interior is busy with buttons but luxurious. Have owned GM cars for 20 years and will not return to them due to poor fit and finish and bailout fiasco. I hope to remain with Acura as I have been extremely happy thus far with their quality.

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