I shopped the 09 Acura TL before I went with the Maxima.

The front end snout is just too much. The car looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey.

At the NYC auto show, an Acura salesperson said some dealers were painting the snout a neutral color. He said that the design derived from Acura's need to have a distinctive design motif that other manufacturers would not copy. I'd say that Acura achieved this goal! Who would copy it?

 

In deference to Acura, I looked at a drawing of the new TL front end before it was released to dealers, and in that drawing, the front end did not look bad. Of course the drawing just showed each part outlined in thin black lines on a white background. It was only after the first cars were assembled that the starkness of the thick, pinched chrome grill against a dark exterior car color became clear. And that starkness only magnified the unusual grille design. I actually sympathized with their problem . . . as I headed to my Nissan dealer to check out the stylish Maxima.

 

It reminds me more of Ironman.

 

Twin Turbo AWD Maxima

 

With the recently released CAFE standards, an AWD Maxima being made seems very unlikely.

The biggest news for future MY Maximas will be the new diesel option.

 

I tend to agree the new CAFE standards could negatively affect any decision to add an AWD option to the Maxima. AWD always seems to drop the MPG by at least one. When dealing with a relatively low-volume vehicle such as the Maxima, major powertrain options have to be very carefully chosen.

When the market collapse caused Nissan to drop the diesel from the '10 Maxima lineup, I hope that was more a postponement than it was of stopping work on this project. Of course Nissan has until 2016 before the full impact of the new CAFE standards set in, so they could delay the diesel until the 2014 model year 8th generation. But I hope they go ahead and make the diesel option a big selling point for the 7 1/2 generation 2011 model, and bring it out late next spring.

I would expect the diesel engine Nissan would put in the Maxima to be a mid-size one, well under the Maxima's current 290 HP (maybe 260 to 270 HP?), but well over the current 261 foot pounds of torque (almost surely over 300 Ft LBS). I would expect it to initially have a government highway MPG rating in the low 30s. But since the government MPG tests are flawed for CVT-equipped cars (almost everyone on the ORG is exceeding the '09 Maxima EPA highway MPG of 26 when on open freeways, some by as much as six MPG), we will have ORG members getting 36 or 37 MPG on level interstate trips with the diesel. Because of CAFE standards, that MPG figure will be gradually be inching up as each new model year arrives.

At least, with a diesel Maxima, we wouldn't have any board discussions over which grade of fuel to use.

 

I really love the inside of the TL and I really want to want to buy it. But it is so so ugly. Which is why I'm on here considering a maxima.

 

You are one more member of a very large (and growing) herd. What was Acura thinking?

 

Prior to purchasing my Maxima, I looked at just about every import sedan option in the $40,000-ish range.

TL wasn't even on the short list due to the reasons already mentioned; it's ugly and comparitively under-powered.

 

Comparing a Maxima and TL to me is like asking if I would have food but no water or water but no food.

I loved the 2008 and below TLs and its my dream to own one right out of college (Not happening) and I love Maximas as well esspecially the newest models.

Life is so hard

 

I confess I wanted my wife to pick up a TL. As a long time 4th genner I had little bad to say about that car, but I really fell for the interior of that TL. But the exterior design for us too was an absolute turn off. I initially held back and said to her that I bet the TL does better on fuel and has more power - of course upon research both of those statements were wrong - plus the max is lighter. Those numbers are important to me and once that game was won, I was very happy to choose a max.

There are a couple of other troubling things about the TL: 5 inches longer and less interior cabin room (I think - it may be less trunk space but either way that's an issue).
Nissan gave us a much better deal on our vehicle as well.

I think Acura has had what I'd call a lazy update where they just have not done enough to stay on the leading edge of performance and design. If they're smart the next update should be much better, in the same way that the 7th gen was a big break forward.

 

My vote goes to maxima loving it since day 1

 

Id take the Max over FWD TL but if i got the SH-AWD id swap out the grille

 

The heavy chrome OEM TL grille frame would not look nearly as bad on a white or silver TL as it does on a dark TL. I had not thought about that until you posted those pics.

But for a dark colored TL, your idea of an aftermarket grille sounds good.

 

I love my Max but am I the only person who also likes the TL as well? I think the rear is super sexy... The front however, is a tad chunky. Too much material in the same place. They should've allocated material evenly with more air dams and things like that.

 

LOL
the max is quicker..and as far as handling goes...i never driven a new TL or a 08 type S
its not quicker by a little but on the highway its quicker by 3-4 cars.....

as far as looks goes if ur not getting the old type S then i have nothing to say....

and for interior ..... i like acura

 

This article is pretty shocking. TL SH-AWD beats a 2008 Audi S4 Quattro manual; 2008 BMW 335i Sport; 2008 BMW 335xi Sport and a 2008 Infiniti G35s.

"The 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT kicked serious butt. And we're not talking tenths of a second on a 1.6-mile racetrack, but instead 2 seconds (a light-year on a short racetrack like this) separated the TL from the next quickest sedan, the Audi S4 Quattro, on the challenging Dynamics Handling Course."


http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*

 

I like the TL except the front grill and certain parts of the rear and the dash is too cluttered. But I can take it in a white or silver color and a nice grill (like in the above pic) if I get a good deal.

I like my 09 Maxima except the front grill (the rear is awsome though) and the dash below the screen has no design (it should have been like the EX35 but instead buttons are randomly thrown anywhere and a series of words advertising the features in the car appears).

The Maxima gets slightly better mpg than TL while the TL will probably hold its value better.

If I were to do it again, I would consider the TSX before the TL or Maxima. If the EX35 got mpg comparable to the Maxima, I would get it over anything any day.

 

Some things are just not available on the TL, such as the cooled driver's seat, the heated steering wheel, and the rear power sunshade.
The voice interface on the Nissan nav system is better than the Honda (Acura), but the Honda nav system trumps the Nissan system by having a significantly larger database of items of interest.
The rear legroom in both cars could stand improvement, and the TL lacks a folding rear seat (which of course the premium package in the Maxima does not have either).
Mileage is a wash--the only way you could get over 30 MPG in either car is to go 55 MPH on a flat road with a tail wind!
Looks is personal, but the TL looks a bit weird, and although the nose on the Maxima could stand revision, overall the Maxima is way ahead of the TL in looks.

 

You covered a lot of ground in that post, and for the parts I am familiar with (I'm not as familiar with the newer TL as you are), I have to say I agree with your analysis. For some folks, the TL will be the better fit. It is only because I have a miserably hot fanny that I love the air cooled driver seat, only because I live in a place with very long, hot summers that I love the power sunshade, and only because I have very old, gnarly fingers with zero circulation that I now MUST always have that heated steering wheel.

Were I young and healthy and living in a less-blistering climate and in a place where the Infinity dealer was more customer-oriented than the one near me, I would probably choose the current Maxima based simply on styling preference. But it could be a tough choice. The TL with a nice aftermarket grille could be a rather attractive thing.

 

When we sent our friend (with the Tuscan Red) home tonight, I showed her how to use the heated seat and the heated steering wheel, and in our 50-degree temperatures, she was very appreciative! I haven't had the chance to trying out the heated steering wheel on my '06 yet--didn't get out of the house!

 

When it comes down to it, I could easily get by without the air conditioned seat, rear power sunshade, outside mirror turn signals, double panel roof, etc, etc, but I MUST have the heated steering wheel. I actually made my wife drive for years when the weather was cold because my old fingers had zero circulation, and I couldn't even feel the steering wheel. Even gloves did not help. The heated steering on my '04 was one of the most appreciated items I ever had in a car. I felt like it gave me my automotive life back. Now I look forward to long trips in cold weather.

 

I'm happy for you! Having physical problems interfere with an enjoyable activity is no fun. Keep motoring on!

 

1. Honda supplied all the cars
2. It was a pre-production TL
3. G35 is now a G37
4. S4 is now a 330hp Supercharged beast

The Maxima is my choice. The TL isn't much if any more luxurious, its not any faster, its way uglier and is bigger for no reason.

I showed my G/F the TL as a possible choice to replace her car and she laughed.

To me the name Acura says nothing, so I don't see it as any level above the Maxima. The Maxima has most of its features, lacks only a couple and has some things the TL does not have.
The TL will have better service as NIssan dealerships are simply horrid places.

 

Are you guys comparing Sarah Palin with Jessica Simpson?

Maxi Wins.

 

lol A Honda supplied G35 is still a G35 and the 6spd TL is now available.

Performance wise the 6spd TL > Max but AT TL < Max. Lets not forget the TL has a pretty outdated 5spd auto.

 

 

Like anything, the TL is starting to grow on me, but Im not the biggest Honda fan and the 6speed manual looks great and I could car less, but what a way for Honda to shaft their TL customers by doing that, can't wait to see what happens when Honda decides to drop the new 6speed auto into the TL should close the performance gap on the manual

 

I'm sorry but they messed up the TL redesign plain and simple. It's not just the grille, the headlights are too small and the rear with the chrome is fugly. They tried to incorporate the previous generation design cues into a new design and it did not work out.

I would say the max wins this one. Anyone know what the sales numbers are?

 

FTMFW

 

Being that right now I have a 2008 TL and a 2010 Maxima in my garage I think I am well qualified to comment on the current generation TL vs Maxima debate

Being that I had the TL first, I was inclined to get a 2010 TL and favored that a little more; the interior of the new TL wins hands down for ergonomics, fit and finish, material quality and aesthetically pleasing, now that is not to say the 2010 Maxima doesn't have a nice interior, I just think the TL edges the Maxima slightly in the interior department

While the interior of the TL wins over the Maxima the Maxima wins hands down for exterior body style and amount of technology for the same price; I even waited to see the new TL in person, and even seening it with my own eyes, the car is just too massive and I just could not live with the ugly front end and rear end of the car; actually from certain angles, the rear of the new TL reminded me a little of the 6th generation Maxima's bloated out look

The Maxima's body style is almost Infiniti like and just impressed me so much; even to this day I see people constantly looking at me and the car while I'm driving; in regards to technology, for almost the same price as the TL, in the Maxima you get a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seat, dual panel moonroof, power rear sunshade, auto-dimming side mirrors, rear seat audio/climate controls, information center, and more trunk volume

The TL for the same amount of money had none of these technology offerings and features so you were getting more for your money

Because of the exterior body style and technology available I went with the 2010 Max over the 2010 TL

But I guess I have the best of both world, I have both a TL and Maxima now; so glad I got my 2008 TL when I did before Acura hit the TL with the bloated boat ugly stick!!!

 

One thing I forgot to mention which to reinforces that I made the right decision, the last few months the Maxima has been kicking the TL, G37, and ES350s butt in sales each month

Nissan has been selling between 5-6k Maxima's a month while the TL, G37, and ES350 have each sold less than 3k units the last few months, so Nissan must be doing something right with the Maxima!

 

My wife and I came from a 2008 acura TSX, we loved that car!!! So we naturally looked at Acura. The new tsx is bigger, and a lot less sporty. Didn't like that, felt so much slower. Didn't drive the v6, but at the same price as the much larger and nicer TL, whats the point. The new TL was amazing on the inside!!! If you haven't driven one... its just great. The outside, not so good. There are aftermarked grills for it now, that look great, but its a lot of money, compared to a similiarly equiped max!! Thus being said, we bought the new Max sport SV with tech, & navi, packages out the door for 33,034.00 Lots cheeper and much better looking then the TL. We also looked at the G37 sedan, but it wasn't as big as we wanted, but a great car. Also the BMW335. lots of speed, and handled great, but the interior was junk. my old Galant had a better build quality, but man that turbo was sweet