25 Votes

Winding Road Review - Acura TL vs. Nissan Maxima

theoptimisticpessimist submitted on 12/31/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 5:37:57 PM

38 user comments | Category: Reviews | Source: | SOURCE: wrmag.nextautos.com

Tag Links: Acrua, TL, BMW, 3, Nissan, Maxima

These two near-luxury sedans from Japan may not be the picture of pulchritude, but our editors find that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

Ride along with us.

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Winding Road Review - Acura TL vs. Nissan Maxima

About the Author

No matter where you go, there you are. -Buckaroo Bonzai
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

User Comments

Not too surprising that the TL is the better overall car, despite its appearance - imagine how well it would do if it looked good...sigh...
— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 1:46:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

yeah it is very sad that honda could let its designers do such a thing to such an amazing vehicle. Even if they only fixed the beak it would be a vast improvement.

Maybe their goal is to attract attention to the brand by putting a very unique beak on their cars. This gives the media some reason to talk about the TL. A good way to get free advertising lol! :)
— zairnaim (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:02:21 PM | | Votes: 5

I finally saw a TL on the road. Everyone who think pics of the TL are bad should reserve judgement until they have the opportunity to see it up close. It's even MORE HIDEOUS in person. I did a loop around the parking lot to see it coming and going. There's nary a decent angle on the whole car. Hopefully, the proud new owner thought my jaw had dropped out of admiration. But, such is not the case. BTW -- it looks especially awful in WHITE.
— grysko (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 5:01:54 PM | | Votes: 4

The Maxima is too downscale to be even considered a 'near luxury sedan'.
— LuxuryFan (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:10:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

the lexus es maybe based on the camry, but its interior is of much better quality than the maxima
— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 3:45:16 PM | | Votes: 1

"The Maxima is an upper mainstream vehicle clearly over the border of the premium. The comparison is valid."

Too funny!
— LuxuryFan (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 4:50:35 PM | | Votes: 0

CVT is crap.....
— hao420 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 8:16:58 PM | | Votes: 3

maximas are for loser who HAVE to shop at target and walmart. dont cry because you cant afford a luxury car. get your ged and then go to community college and then a real college or get a skill then maybe you can achieve a luxury car ownership status. or buy used like most people. maxima is and has always been driven by low class people with poor taste.
— OneOfOne (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 4:13:22 PM | | Votes: -2

Awesome...... The age old question of the ES350 vs Maxima. ha ha ha
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/7/2009 5:22:53 PM | | Votes: 1

Both cars are good, but at this price point a fully loaded G8 GXP blows them both away.
— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:50:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9

In most performance numbers, but not in anything else...although i do like the ol' school BMW styling
— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:54:40 PM | | Votes: 2

I wouldn't be advising anyone to buy a Pontiac these days. That brand is not long for the world.
— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/6/2009 11:49:46 AM | | Votes: 1

What about a Saturn? Surely they've got another 6 mos left.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/7/2009 5:23:52 PM | | Votes: 1

Enough about the car's styling. The only thing "offensive" about it is the grille and it doesn't look that bad in the real world.

The people most critical of the design are probably the same people that would chide it for being too conservative if the grille wasn't so overstated. Basically, you people are never happy anyway.
— senorgato (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:52:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I've seen it in person, and while it is striking (can be good or bad I guess), the grille isn't the only problem. The last gen TL hid the FWD proportions much better and the new TL is just downright busy with alot of it's detailing. Acura needs to find the right balance - not conservative and not forced...

— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:58:44 PM | | Votes: 9

it looks like it cribbed from the last gen maxima. honda/acura stylists have no imagination. I guess though if you compared the last civic si for europe to the one america got you could say there is some hope. but I guess not.
— OneOfOne (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 4:16:59 PM | | Votes: 0

So you mean the TL is altogether ugly.....I see what you're cooking.
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/7/2009 5:25:13 PM | | Votes: 1

And to add, yeah, that grille does make a statement. Unlike the numerous anonymous Lexi that go rolling past you unnoticed.
— senorgato (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:52:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

This must have started out as a contest to see which is the ugliest jap sedan of 09. The Ac is bad, but still better looking than that godawful nissan thing.
— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 2:54:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

yea it is when your on acid...
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 9:04:50 PM | | Votes: 0

God, my heart is beating fast. How would one ever choose between these two? What a dilemma.
— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 4:18:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

I'd take the maxima and enjoy the extra cash
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/1/2009 9:05:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

strongly suggesting acura to facelift TL asap.
its a good car, just not a good looking car.
i think the rear looks okay, but not the front.
i think the problems are the grid and the bumper, maybe they should pull the bumper out a little bit so we get some layers in the front, also make the headlights bigger if possible??
— dayday (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 3:49:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

A longer front end is the last thing the TL needs!
— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 9:54:55 AM | | Votes: 4

I think the Maxima is vastly underrated. I rented a base model in Houston and just flat loved the thing.
— blackbr (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 9:24:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

A proper new White TL w/ the larger rims is hot w/ armorall on the tires.
— StickShiftCamry (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 9:51:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Despite the outcome of the article I'd take the Maxima. It just looks so much better than the TL & is lighter & faster.
— MunichRob (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 10:43:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

The TL cannot be considered a near luxury car anymore with the bells and whistles it has that's all I am saying. The looks of the car a futurastic when I look at the IS and ES and G for that matter they look bland to me already, something I know Acura was not looking for the design will catch on just like the 5 series design did.
— mikeydred20 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 12:09:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

The interesting thing about the TL is that while there are some cars that can be described as "boats," it actually looks like a boat. The odd pointed rear end is particularly hull-like. It also looks like it has two faces--the rear fascia looks like a front. The overhangs are massive and it looks ungainly from the side. It just seems like Honda is self-destructing, one ugly car at a time; the Honda Element was just refreshed (again) and it got the Pilot's grille, which looks terrible.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 2:00:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

there is no such thing as 'near luxury' its a stupid media/marketing term that means nothing. just like 'crossover'. you have to be young or stupid not to know this.
— OneOfOne (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 4:18:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Acura is not that bad in darker colors in person , but not really atractive , maxima deff looks much better , however quality still stays with acura , even though maxima really improved since last gen , I would take the maxi though , the tl is just a sedan aztec looking car , and maxima with just a drop is a better looking car , it's more for young people , but then I'd rather go for the infinity G
— NUggAitsME (View Profile)

Posted on 1/2/2009 5:16:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Nissan killed the 4DSC long time ago, crying shame. But the TL is soooo ugly. State Troopers can see you coming from states away with that chromed out grill! Can you say, "Lazer..."
— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/7/2009 5:20:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Winding Road Review - Acura TL vs. Nissan Maxima

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