2009 Acura TL SH-AWD Long Term Update 4

After 7500 miles of dormancy, the Acura TL's Maintenance Minder light came on at 14,000 miles -- it was time for the second service. We stopped in at Acura 101 West of Calabasas, which performed an oil change, full inspection, tire rotation, and replacement of the rear differential fluid, all for $229.62. Thus far, fuel economy, at 19.7 mpg, has been quite good and basically what we expected (EPA numbers are 17/25) for a 305-horse AWD sedan, but the V-6-powered TL barely outperforms our long-term V-8 Hyundai Genesis, which is achieving 19.2 mpg.

Nevertheless, the 3.7-liter SOHC engine is impressing senior editor Ron Kiino. "The TL's V-6 doesn't feel like a 305-horse engine-more like 275-but boy does it swing sweetly and rev smoothly. It's palpably racy yet still exceptionally refined. Very nice."