Easy-on-the-eyes, backlit, blue-around-white, LED gauges look out from inside three pods tucked under a hood shading them from noon-time sun. A large, round speedometer sits directly in front of the driver and is centered on the steering column, which is also properly centered on the driver's seat. To the left is a slightly smaller, but no less legible tachometer. The righthand pod contains the fuel and water temperature gauges.

Top most in the center stack is the LCD screen that displays the climate control and audio system settings and selections and, when so optioned, the navigation system's visual aids. With the optional navigation system comes a line of PDA-like buttons and cursor controller arrayed beneath the screen. Bracketing the screen are perpendicular rows of large, finger-friendly buttons for setting driver and front passenger climate control preferences; noteworthy is the presence of an Off switch for when the outside weather begs to be enjoyed. The moonroof switch is located on to the overhead control pod, more intuitive than having it on the dash.

Below is the control head for the sound system, containing the six-disc CD changer and cassette player, the latter useful for books on tape. Large, round knobs adjust volume and tuning/tone/fade/balance. Right-sized station preselect buttons easily pass the fingernail/winter glove test.

The much-touted DVD-Audio 5.1 surround sound system fell short of expectations. Through a couple Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac selections provided by Acura and selected by the system's developer, Grammy Award-winning music producer/engineer Elliott Scheiner, the most discernible difference between the 2-channel CD/DVD system and the 6-channel DVD-A 5.1 system was just that, four more channels. Granted, the sound was physically more surrounding, but it was no fuller or richer. We're not audio experts, but we recall the dimensional depth Dolby added to analog recordings as being a bigger leap forward.

Comfortably bolstered seats brace thighs and shoulders against lateral forces during spirited cornering. Seat bottom cushions could extend a bit more beneath the thighs, but overall are quite supportive without being overly firm. The B-pillars are indented in their forward edges about mid-height to make a little more elbow room for front seat occupants. Oddly, in that the new TL is some three inches taller than the '03, front seat headroom is actually down by more than an inch, while rear seat passengers gain only half an inch. Front and rear legroom varies by less than a half inch.

The trunk space is reduced by almost two cubic feet, and the opening is somewhat smaller, further limiting the size of any individual parcel one might wish to transport. The trunk is fully finished, with an inside pull down, and the goose-neck hinges are encased to avoid threatening fragile contents of grocery bags. Save for the trunk, interior space and dimensions are close enough to those of the BMW 5 Series and the Volvo S60, the two cars Acura expects most buyers to cross-shop, that personal taste will likely influence decisions more.

Storage places abound but lack flexibility. Seatback-mounted magazine racks are solid, hinged affairs, for example, as are the front door-mounted map pockets, meaning they'll hold only magazines and maps and maybe a slim, self-guide tour book. The center console is a deep, bi-level affair, with a power point in the lower level and a notch in the upper tray to accommodate a cell phone cord. The armrest on the front center console adjusts fore and aft.

Interior quality is up to Acura standards. Fit and finish, even in early production cars, was above average. A nice touch is a grained, matte-finish section on the top of the dash over the instrument cluster that will reduce reflective glare off the inside of the windshield on bright, sunny days. A seamless dash masks the presence of the passenger-side front airbag, making for a more elegant and stylish look.