Acura CL ModelsThe Acura CL is available in two distinct models, both of which are very well equipped. In fact, only one option is available: Acura's DVD-based Global Positioning Satellite navigation system. The standard 3.2 Acura CL coupe has virtually all the features buyers expect in a more expensive luxury car. The Acura CL Type S comes with a higher-revving V6 engine that makes 35 horsepower more than the standard CL's V6. The Type S suspension is tuned for more responsive handling, and it features Acura's anti-skid stability electronics. Driving the Acura CLThe Acura CL is smooth and tight, with a single-billet feel to the unibody. The ride is firm, and well-suited to a driving enthusiast's tastes. The Acura CL delivers better brake pedal response than most Acuras we've tested, and it stops in short order, without jitters or swagger in full-on, panic-type braking. At least in the Type S, there's minimal understeer (a front-end push that puts an element of safety into a car's handling, but can become excessive with the typical front-drive layout). Driven aggressively, the Type S bears up well, and its tail tucks in nicely when the driver lifts from the throttle. There's plenty of acceleration-producing grunt in the engine, although it is biased toward higher rpm. You might never know how quick the Type S actually is if you don't keep your foot on the gas pedal. The sequential shifter works well, even if it's more conservatively programmed than some from other manufacturers. It won't allow the driver to repeatedly bump the rev limiter in low gears without shifting up on its own. In general, the 3.2 Acura CL feels lighter and more nimble than many of its competitors. Yet one competitor might matter a bit more than the others. For years, BMW's 328Ci has been the best selling import-brand coupe in the United States, and favorite among those who rank driving as a pleasurable pastime. How does the CL stack up? The new CL's steering is just as precise as the 328Ci's, though the BMW's might be purer in the sensations it feeds back to the driver's hands. There are tiny hints of torque effect in the CL's steering wheel while accelerating hard through a curve because the power is pulsing through the front axles. The 328Ci scores points with enthusiasts because of their predilection toward rear-wheel-drive: You can turn the BMW with the gas pedal. BMW's inline six-cylinder engine seems to torque up faster than Honda's free-revving V6, but in the absence of an instrument test, we'd venture that the Acura CL Type S is quicker, compared to 328Ci automatic. Most drivers aren't likely to notice many of the distinctions, and many are a matter of taste. In objective terms, there isn't much to separate the 328Ci from the CL. Factor in the CL's price advantage, and the Acura looks like a sweet deal. |