What happened to the Acura TL?
The Acura TL was discontinued after the 2014 model year and replaced by the TLX for 2015, as Acura moved to a simpler, more tech-forward sedan lineup.
What follows is a detailed look at the TL’s history, why Acura retired the name, and how the TLX inherited its mission while pushing the brand forward in the premium midsize segment.
A concise history of the TL's life
Below is a straightforward timeline of the TL’s major phases and milestones to frame how it ended up being retired.
- First generation: The TL debuted in the mid-1990s as Acura’s premium mid-size sedan, built on a Honda platform with front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive on some trims.
- Second generation: A redesign in the late 1990s/early 2000s brought updated styling, technology, and refinement, keeping the model competitive through the early 2000s.
- Third generation: In the mid-2000s, the TL gained more horsepower and a richer interior, while adding more safety and tech features for a premium experience.
- Fourth generation: The 2009–2014 TL offered sharper styling, improved dynamics, and SH-AWD on higher trims, but sales and brand strategy moved Acura toward a unified approach with the TLX.
In the end, Acura retired the TL name after the 2014 model year as part of a brand-wide shift to streamline its sedan lineup and to introduce a more modern, technology-driven successor.
Why Acura discontinued the TL
To understand the decision, it helps to know the factors Acura cited when retiring the TL name and adopting a single, more versatile model line.
- Brand simplification: Consolidating the TL and TSX into one core model (the TLX) to reduce model overlap and clarify the lineup for buyers.
- Technology and efficiency: A new platform and updated tech—infotainment, safety systems, and powertrains—that could be deployed more consistently across sedans.
- Competitive positioning: Aiming to better compete with rivals in the premium midsize segment with a cohesive design language and improved performance options.
- Sales dynamics: The TLX gained traction with buyers seeking a modern, feature-rich sedan, helping Acura focus marketing and development resources more effectively.
These moves reflect a broader industry trend toward fewer, more capable models that share underlying technology across a brand’s lineup.
TLX: The successor and where Acura stands now
The TLX inherited the TL’s premium-luxury aspirations while offering a more streamlined and tech-forward package. It launched for the 2015 model year and has evolved with updated styling, safety tech, and performance variants, including a high-performance Type S introduced in the early 2020s.
- Original concept: A compact premium sedan that blended the best elements of the TL and TSX, with available all-wheel drive on certain trims and modern conveniences.
- Performance evolution: The TLX expanded into more powerful configurations for enthusiasts, culminating in high-performance Type S models in recent years.
- Tech-forward approach: Continual updates to infotainment, driver-assistance features, and efficiency improvements to stay competitive with rivals.
Today, the TLX remains Acura’s mid-size sedan focal point, carrying forward the brand’s emphasis on performance, technology, and luxury without a separate TL badge.
Summary
In summary, the Acura TL ended its run after the 2014 model year as Acura rebranded and consolidated its lineup around the TLX. The TLX preserves the TL’s spirit while offering a more modern, tech-enabled approach to the premium midsize segment, including powerful variants like the TLX Type S to satisfy performance-minded buyers. The TL name itself has not returned, but its legacy informs Acura’s current sedan strategy and ongoing product updates.
What replaced the Acura TL?
The Acura TL was replaced by the Acura TLX starting with the 2015 model year. The TLX was introduced to replace both the outgoing TL and the TSX sedan, consolidating Acura's sedan lineup.
- The TLX was a new model for the 2015 model year.
- It replaced both the TL and the TSX models.
- Production of the TL ceased in late 2014, with the 2015 TLX becoming the new offering.
Does Acura still make the TL model?
No, Acura does not still make the TL. The TL was discontinued in 2014 and replaced by the TLX, which was in turn discontinued in 2025 due to low sales.
- TL: The final generation of the Acura TL was produced until 2014.
- TLX: It was introduced in 2015 to replace both the TL and TSX, but its production ended in 2025.
- Current Sedan: The Integra is now the only non-SUV sedan in Acura's lineup.
Why was Acura TL discontinued?
Despite its dramatic look and decent performance, the second-generation TLX and torch-carrier for the TL lineage saw continued sales declines. Figures provided by Acura show that the TL's annual sales peaked in 2005 at 78,218 before falling off steeply through 2014, the year it was replaced by the TLX.
Why is Acura not making TLX anymore?
Acura is discontinuing the TLX primarily due to declining sales and the broader market shift away from sedans towards SUVs and crossovers. In recent years, TLX sales have dropped significantly, and Acura is focusing on higher-demand vehicles, including new electric SUVs like the upcoming RSX, which will replace the TLX on the production line.
- Declining sales: The TLX's sales have been in a steady decline since 2015, with sales figures for 2024 showing only a fraction of its previous peak. For example, in the first half of 2025, only 3,634 units were sold.
- Market shift to SUVs: The automotive industry is seeing a major shift in consumer preference from sedans to SUVs and crossovers. Acura's decision reflects this trend, as they are reallocating resources to their more popular SUV models.
- Focus on electric vehicles: Acura is also pivoting towards electrification, and the production capacity at the TLX's Marysville, Ohio, plant will be used for a new electric SUV, the RSX.
- Brand strategy: The discontinuation is part of Acura's larger strategy to streamline its lineup and focus on future growth areas, such as electric vehicles and its SUV offerings.
