1996 brought the official debut of the TL, the new "Touring Luxury" vehicle from Acura. The 1996 certainly brought a luxurious feel with it, including power doors and locks, and standard leather seats for the 3.5 trim.

The base engine is a 2.5-liter I5 rated at 176 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.2 trim comes with a 3.2-liter V6 rated at 200 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Mileage is estimated at 20/25 for the 2.5 and 19/24 for the 3.2.

Drivers of this car bemoan a lack of aftermarket parts. Complaints also include scratches on the windows left by the guides, a problem of which Acura is aware. A few have remarked on a lack of legroom in both the front and back seats. Conversely, they love the I5 engine, declaring it gives them much more power than similar vehicles with differently configured engines. They also engine the smooth ride and big trunk.