| Drivers have more stress during the holidays, | | | | |
| alcohol consumption | | | | |
| | | | additional exterior and interior standard |
| increases and patience in busy traffic can | | | | features only further distinguish |
| quickly wane.A 200-mile roundtrip, therefore, | | | | |
| is a less-than-ideal way to spent part of | | | | the TL.The leather upholstery is |
| | | | comfortable, attractive and complemented |
| Thanksgiving. It's potentially more | | | | |
| problematic knowing the crowded, | | | | nicely by stylishly contoured aluminum trim. |
| | | | Bright electroluminescent |
| late-night return trip could include a | | | | |
| stretch of interstate infamous for its | | | | gauges and blue backlighting throughout the |
| | | | cabin provide a sultry |
| thick, late-night fog.But visiting family | | | | |
| outweighs the inconveniences of potential | | | | night-driving atmosphere.Individually heated |
| driving | | | | front seats, sunroof, XM satellite radio, |
| | | | in-dash CD |
| hassles. And if the journey is made in a | | | | |
| vehicle with a commanding and | | | | changer with an eight-speaker sound system, |
| | | | voice-recognition |
| secure road presence, such concerns are | | | | |
| sufficiently eased.So it was during my weekly | | | | navigation system, heated power door mirrors |
| test drive of the 2005 Acura TL. The vehicle | | | | and Xenon HID |
| | | | |
| was successful for several years, but Acura | | | | headlights are all standard.And, of course, |
| redesigned it and added | | | | cruise control, multiple driver and front |
| | | | passenger seat |
| more features in 2004 to offer BMW and Audi | | | | |
| drivers another choice for | | | | positions, air conditioning and individual, |
| | | | front-seat climate controls are |
| a luxury sports sedan that combines | | | | |
| performance with value.There's little change | | | | also standard.For front-seat passengers |
| in the TL from last year. The vehicle is | | | | there's ample leg room and plenty of overall |
| based on the | | | | |
| | | | comfort. Back-seat passengers aren't as |
| Honda Accord platform but has different | | | | comfortable, with head and leg |
| styling, a different powertrain | | | | |
| | | | room slightly pinched. Cargo space is also |
| and more upscale features.Performance to | | | | tight, but styled well. The rear |
| ride quality to instrumentation, there's a | | | | |
| lot to like about | | | | seatback doesn't fold, but there's a small |
| | | | pass-through port for skis.Just like it has |
| the TL, which is why it's a recommended best | | | | been for the past several years, the 2005 |
| buy in the premium | | | | Acura TL is a |
| | | | |
| midsize category by Consumer Guide, among | | | | nicely combined sport and luxury car with |
| other publications.The car's performance | | | | great attention to refinement |
| begins with a 270-horsepower, 3.2-liter, | | | | |
| 24-valve | | | | and workmanship.It's a perfect car to drive |
| | | | to a late-night jazz club or at least to |
| V6 engine with a five-speed automatic or | | | | fantasize a |
| six-speed manual | | | | |
| | | | similar journey. And it's a perfect vehicle |
| transmission. My vehicle had an automatic | | | | for managing holiday traffic in |
| transmission. It shifts | | | | |
| | | | any kind of weather.2005 Aura TLSafety |
| smoothly into all positions and was tested | | | | features -- Driver and front passenger and |
| at 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds. | | | | side curtain |
| | | | |
| The manual transmission was tested at 6.2 | | | | airbags; Antilock brakes; Traction control |
| seconds.Among the many standard features are | | | | system.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 20 mpg |
| 17-inch wheels and antilock | | | | (city), 29 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper |
| | | | to bumper, 4 years/50,00 miles; Corrosion, |
| four-wheel disc brakes and an anti-skid | | | | |
| system. They all further add to | | | | 5 years/unlimited miles; 24-hour roadside |
| | | | assistance: 4 years/50,000 |
| an impressive driving experience. The car | | | | |
| handles and steers | | | | miles.Base price range -- |
| | | | $32,650-$34,850James Raia is a syndicated |
| admirably, and it maneuvers confidentially | | | | journalist in Sacramento, California, who |
| through traffic with a strong | | | | |
| | | | writes about sports, fitness, travel and |
| feel on the road, particularly with its | | | | lifestyle topics as well as the car |
| 17-inch wheels.While the vehicle's driving | | | | |
| qualities provide plenty to recommend it, the | | | | review colum, The Weekly Driver. |