Acura TL MPG by year — every rating on record
The Acura TL has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 11 model years, from 2004 to 2014. Across those years its best rated version returned 23 mpg (2012) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (2007). The EPA record holds 29 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #19 of 55 (67th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2005 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #20 of 56 (65th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2006 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #23 of 61 (63th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2007 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #27 of 68 (61th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2008 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #27 of 70 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2009 | 2 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #29 of 66 (57th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2010 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #34 of 63 (47th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2011 | 3 | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | #42 of 71 (41th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2012 | 3 | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | #40 of 76 (48th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2013 | 3 | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | #57 of 92 (38th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2014 | 3 | 23 mpg | 20 mpg | #70 of 107 (35th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Acura TL placed highest in 2004 at #19 of 55, and lowest in 2014 at #70 of 107. It spent 6 of its 11 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 29 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 442 | 5/10 |
| 2014 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 421 | 5/10 |
| 2014 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 385 | 6/10 |
| 2013 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 442 | 5/10 |
| 2013 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 421 | 5/10 |
| 2013 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl, start-stop | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 385 | 6/10 |
| 2012 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2012 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2012 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 29 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 2011 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 18 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2011 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 17 | 24 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2011 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2010 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2010 | 3.7L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2009 | 3.7L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.7L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2009 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2008 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2008 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2007 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 17 | 26 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,900 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 2007 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2007 | 3.5L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2006 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2006 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SOHC 4 | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2005 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | SOHC 4 | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SOHC | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2004 | 3.2L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | SOHC | 18 | 26 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 → 2012 | 21 → 23 mpg | +2 mpg | 500 gal |
What TL fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2014 Acura TL burns 500 to 575 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,500 | $1,725 | $225 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,750 | $2,013 | $263 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,000 | $2,300 | $300 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2014 model year is $3,350 to $3,900 a year in fuel, or $5,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 23 mpg the Acura TL is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $140 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Acura nameplates
Every Acura model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.