Why was the Acura CL discontinued?
The Acura CL was retired after the 2003 model year because sales were weak, the model overlapped with the TL, and Acura shifted its strategy toward more popular sedans and SUVs. In short, it wasn’t selling enough to justify its place in the lineup.
Launched in the late 1990s as a two‑door luxury coupe built on the Honda Accord platform, the CL aimed to blend sporty performance with premium features. Over two generations, market demand for two‑door luxury coupes declined, and Acura reallocated resources to the TL sedan and to SUVs such as the MDX. The result was the discontinuation of the CL after 2003, with no direct replacement in Acura’s lineup.
Background: The CL in Acura’s lineup
The CL was positioned as a mid‑size, two‑door coupe intended to offer a premium, sportier alternative to Acura’s four‑door sedans. It shared engineering with the Accord but targeted buyers who wanted a more exclusive, performance‑leaning vehicle. The model existed in two generations before Acura retired the nameplate, signaling a broader shift in the brand’s strategy in the early 2000s.
Key milestones in the CL's lifecycle:
- 1997: First-generation CL launches as a two‑door luxury coupe built on the Accord platform.
- 2001: Second-generation CL arrives with refreshed styling and updates, including performance variants in some markets.
- 2003: Last model year for the CL as Acura retires the nameplate.
These milestones illustrate the CL’s brief two‑generation run and its abrupt end as Acura reshaped its lineup around other models.
Reasons for discontinuation
Several factors converged to end the CL’s run. The following points summarize the primary drivers behind the decision.
- Sales did not meet expectations for a niche two‑door luxury coupe.
- Overlap with the TL: similar luxury features in a more practical four‑door package reduced the CL’s distinct value proposition.
- Market shift away from two‑door luxury coupes toward sedans and SUVs in the early 2000s.
- Acura’s strategic refocus on more profitable models, including the TL sedan and later SUVs like the MDX, to streamline the lineup and reduce costs.
- Rising development and production costs for a specialized model with limited demand.
In sum, weak demand combined with strategic lineup changes made the CL untenable, leading to its retirement after 2003.
Legacy and context
The CL’s discontinuation reflected a broader shift in the premium segment during the early 2000s, when automakers reevaluated the market for two‑door luxury coupes. Acura’s move toward a more streamlined, SUV‑ and sedan‑focused lineup helped define its early- to mid‑2000s strategy and influenced how the brand priced and positioned future models.
What came after
There was no direct CL replacement in Acura’s lineup. The brand continued to emphasize four‑door sedans and, later, crossovers/SUVs as core offerings. While Acura has revived other nameplates and introduced newer performance variants, the CL nameplate itself remained retired, underscoring how market dynamics and product strategy converged to end the model’s run.
Summary
Acura discontinued the CL primarily due to weak sales and overlapping positioning with the TL, set against a broader shift in buyer preferences away from two‑door luxury coupes. Coupled with Acura’s focus on more profitable sedans and SUVs, the CL’s two‑generation run came to an end after the 2003 model year, with no direct successor in the lineup. The move helped shape Acura’s modern emphasis on practical luxury and crossover popularity.
How rare is an Acura CL?
Very few manual transmission models were built; there were 2,690 without navigation and 824 with navigation, for a total of 3,514 in the US market.
Is the Acura CL a reliable car?
Overall, while the Acura CL is generally a reliable vehicle, this particular issue is something to keep an eye on if you're considering buying or currently own one.
How much is a 1999 Acura CL worth?
The value of a used 1999 Acura CL ranges from $554 to $2,699, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options. Get a free appraisal here.
Why did Acura discontinue the CL?
However, with the CL's sister car, the TL, coming up on a redesign for the 2004 model year, the CL was dropped from Acura's lineup with no mid-size luxury coupe replacement. Total Acura CL sales from 2000 until 2003, when the last new model was sold, was less than 31,000 units.
