Acura TL History
Acura's mid-size luxury sedan for nearly two decades — four generations from 1996 to 2014, including the Type-S performance variant and SH-AWD.
Photo: “2000 Acura TL sedan 3.2L front 5.19.19” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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The TL replaced the Vigor for the 1996 model year, initially offered as the 2.5 TL and 3.2 TL with a five-cylinder and V6 respectively. The second generation (1999–2003) consolidated around a single 3.2-liter V6 and became one of Acura's best sellers, spawning a Type-S variant with a more powerful engine. The third-generation TL (2004–2008) drove sales to new heights — 70,943 US units in 2005 alone — thanks to its aggressive styling and available six-speed manual.
The fourth and final generation (2009–2014) grew slightly and added Acura's SH-AWD torque-vectoring all-wheel drive on V6 models. The TL was discontinued after 2014 and replaced, along with the TSX, by the consolidated TLX nameplate.
Generations
First generation · UA2 / UA3 (1996–1998)
2.5 TL (five-cylinder) and 3.2 TL (V6) variants; replaced the Vigor.
Second generation · UA4 / UA5 (1999–2003)
Photo: “2000 Acura TL sedan 3.2L front 5.19.19” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Consolidated 3.2L V6; Type-S variant with enhanced power.
2000 Photo: “2000 Acura TL sedan 3.2L front 5.19.19” by Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2003 Photo: “2003 Acura 3.2TL -- 01-24-2026” by 2000chevymontecarlo / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain
Third generation · UA6 / UA7 (2004–2008)
Photo: “2006 Acura TL, front left (Sands Point)” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Bold styling; optional six-speed manual; peak TL sales in 2005.
2005 Photo: “2005 Acura TL in Nighthawk Black Pearl, Front Right, 06-17-2022” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2006 Photo: “2006 Acura TL, front left (Sands Point)” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
2007 Photo: “2007 Acura TL 3.5 V6 (16072114712)” by Charlie from United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
2008 Photo: “2008 Acura TL Exterior” by Acuratl si / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain
Fourth generation · UA8 / UA9 (2009–2014)
Photo: “2014 Acura TL SH-AWD, Front Left, 11-21-2021” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
SH-AWD on V6 models; replaced by the TLX alongside the TSX.
2010 Photo: “DGJ 7362 - 2010 Acura TL - My new toy (4747330214)” by Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
2012 Photo: “2012 Acura TL Tech (6879429003)” by qJake / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
2014 Photo: “2014 Acura TL SH-AWD, Front Left, 11-21-2021” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Sedan
Notable special editions & performance variants
TL Type-S
Higher-output V6, sport-tuned suspension, and visual upgrades in two separate generations.
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