Compare 2012 Acura TL vs 2012 Audi A4 vs 2012 BMW 3-Series

2012 Acura TL
X
2012 Audi A4
X
2012 BMW 3-Series
X
Select style
4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD 20 29 $33,526 $35,705
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD Advance 20 29 $39,015 $41,635
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD Tech 20 29 $36,979 $39,435
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic SH-AWD 18 26 $36,812 $39,255
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic SH-AWD Advance 18 26 $42,300 $45,185
TL 4-Door Sedan Automatic SH-AWD Tech 18 26 $40,264 $42,985
TL 4-Door Sedan Manual SH-AWD Tech 17 25 $40,264 $42,985
Select style
4-Door Avant Wgn Automatic quattro 2.0T Premium
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
A4 4-Door Avant Wgn Automatic quattro 2.0T Premium 21 29 $33,852 $36,400
A4 4-Door Avant Wgn Automatic quattro 2.0T Premium Plus 21 29 $33,852 $36,400
A4 4-Door Avant Wgn Automatic quattro 2.0T Prestige 21 29 $33,852 $36,400
A4 4-Door Sedan Automatic quattro 2.0T Premium 21 29 $32,178 $34,600
A4 4-Door Sedan Automatic quattro 2.0T Premium Plus 21 29 $32,178 $34,600
A4 4-Door Sedan Automatic quattro 2.0T Prestige 21 29 $32,178 $34,600
A4 4-Door Sedan CVT FrontTrak 2.0T Premium 22 30 $30,227 $32,500
A4 4-Door Sedan CVT FrontTrak 2.0T Premium Plus 22 30 $30,227 $32,500
A4 4-Door Sedan CVT FrontTrak 2.0T Prestige 22 30 $30,227 $32,500
A4 4-Door Sedan Manual quattro 2.0T Premium 21 31 $30,970 $33,300
A4 4-Door Sedan Manual quattro 2.0T Premium Plus 21 31 $30,970 $33,300
A4 4-Door Sedan Manual quattro 2.0T Prestige 21 31 $30,970 $33,300
S4 4-Door Sedan Manual Premium Plus 18 27 $43,990 $47,300
S4 4-Door Sedan Manual Prestige 18 27 $43,990 $47,300
S4 4-Door Sedan S Tronic Premium Plus 18 28 $45,292 $48,700
S4 4-Door Sedan S Tronic Prestige 18 28 $45,292 $48,700
Select style
2-Door Conv 328i
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
3 Series 2-Door Conv 328i 18 28 $43,790 $47,600
3 Series 2-Door Conv 328i SULEV 18 28 $43,790 $47,600
3 Series 2-Door Conv 335i 19 28 $49,495 $53,800
3 Series 2-Door Conv 335is 18 26 $55,935 $60,800
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 328i RWD 18 28 $35,605 $38,700
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 328i RWD SULEV 18 28 $35,605 $38,700
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 328i xDrive AWD 17 25 $37,170 $40,400
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 328i xDrive AWD SULEV 17 25 $37,170 $40,400
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 335i RWD 19 28 $41,490 $45,100
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 335i xDrive AWD 19 26 $43,055 $46,800
3 Series 2-Door Coupe 335is RWD 18 26 $47,930 $52,100
3 Series 4-Door Sedan 328i RWD 23 34 $32,110 $34,900
3 Series 4-Door Sedan 328i RWD SULEV 23 34 $32,110 $34,900
3 Series 4-Door Sedan 328i RWD South Africa 23 34 $32,110 $34,900
3 Series 4-Door Sedan 335i RWD 20 30 $39,010 $42,400
3 Series 4-Door Sedan 335i RWD South Africa 20 30 $39,010 $42,400
3 Series 4-Door Sports Wgn 328i RWD 17 26 $34,500 $37,500
3 Series 4-Door Sports Wgn 328i xDrive AWD 17 25 $36,340 $39,500
M3 2-Door Conv 13 20 $63,250 $68,750
M3 2-Door Coupe 14 20 $55,290 $60,100

Pricing

Invoice Price
$33,526
$33,852
$43,790

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$35,705
$36,400
$47,600

Monthly Payment Estimate
$595 / month
$607 / month
$793 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.0
8.2
8.4

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Acura TL is a surprisingly well-rounded luxury sedan, with a host of advanced tech features, and in top SH-AWD trim morphs into a complete and compelling sport sedan. The 2012 Audi A4 provides an engaging driving experience, impressive in-cabin technology, and surprisingly great fuel efficiency—making it a good everyday driver among premium sedans. Despite the weight gain, the BMW M3's still one of the most stunning performance vehicles we've driven.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
20 mpg 21 mpg 18 mpg

Highway
29 mpg 29 mpg 28 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Mid-Size Small Station Wagons Subcompact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Second Hip Room (in)
54.8 - TBD - - TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)
58.2 55.5 55.3

Passenger Volume (ft³)
98.2 90 84.2

Second Head Room (in)
36.7 37.4 36.5

Second Shoulder Room (in)
56.2 54.3 49.3

Front Leg Room (in)
42.5 41.3 42.0

Passenger Capacity
5 5 4

Front Hip Room (in)
55.7 - TBD - - TBD -

Second Leg Room (in)
36.2 35.2 32.0

Front Head Room (in)
38.4 38.8 38.0

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)
63.2 61.6 59.1

Min Ground Clearance (in)
6.1 - TBD - 5.4

Length, Overall (in)
194.0 185.2 181.9

Height, Overall (in)
57.2 56.5 54.5

Track Width, Rear (in)
63.8 61.1 59.6

Wheelbase (in)
109.3 110.6 108.7

Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
74.0 71.9 71.5

Rear Door Opening Width (in)
- - TBD - -

Rear Door Opening Height (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
13.1 - 9.0

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
- 50.5 -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)
- NA -

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
- NA -

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
- 27.6 -

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
- - TBD - -

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
13.2 x - TBD - 11.8 x - TBD - 11.8 x - TBD -

Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
12.6 x - TBD - 12.6 x - TBD - 12.3 x - TBD -

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
18.5 16.9 16.1

Steering

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
- TBD - 16.3 16.0

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
38.4 37.7 36.1

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Tires

Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Front Tire Size
P245/50VR17 P245/45R17 225/45R17

Spare Tire Size
- TBD - Compact NA

Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P245/50VR17 P245/45R17 225/45R17

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3726 3814 3825

Wheels

Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x 8.0 17 x 8 17 x 8.0

Spare Wheel Size (in)
- TBD - Compact NA

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Alloy

Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x 8.0 17 x 8 17 x 8.0

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Alloy

Spare Wheel Material
- TBD - Steel NA

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
- TBD - 140 - TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
254 @ 5000 258 @ 1500 200 @ 2750

Engine Order Code
NA NA NA

Displacement
3.5L/212 2.0L/121 3.0L/183

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
280 @ 6200 211 @ 4300 230 @ 6500

Engine Type
Gas V6 Turbocharged Gas I4 Gas I6

Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection Direct Injection Direct Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
29 29 28

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
20 21 18

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
23 24 22

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA - TBD -

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.49 2.11 1.70

Trans Type
6 8 6

Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive All Wheel Drive Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.75 1.29 1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.27 3.32 3.94

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.10 3.14 2.46

Trans Order Code
NA NA NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.72 2.85 3.23

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.07 1.67 1.23

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic Automatic w/Manual Shift Manual

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.56 1.00 0.85

First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.36 4.17 4.32

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
- 0.67 -

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- 0.84 -

Summary

Vehicle Name
Acura TL Audi A4 BMW 3 Series

Body Style
4 Door Sedan Wagon Convertible

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - NA NA

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
1.18 - TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Trapezoidal Link 5-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA NA NA

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - NA NA

Suspension Type - Front
Double Wishbone 5-Link MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.75 - TBD - - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA NA NA

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
4 5 5

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
8.1 7.8 9.3

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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