Acura CL: which version to buy

If the question is which Acura CL to choose, the numbers split the catalogue into two jobs. Generation 1 (1996–1999, Coupe, 5 versions) is the lighter, smaller-engine car: 2.2 MT and 2.3 MT both list 1390 kg kerb weight and 8.2 s to 100 km/h.

If the question is which Acura CL to choose, the numbers split the catalogue into two jobs. Generation 1 (1996–1999, Coupe, 5 versions) is the lighter, smaller-engine car: 2.2 MT and 2.3 MT both list 1390 kg kerb weight and 8.2 s to 100 km/h. Generation 2 (2000–2003, Coupe, 4 versions) is the 3.2-litre V-shaped 6-cylinder car: the 260 hp 3.2 MT is the fastest (6.6 s, 235 km/h) and the lightest per horsepower (1615 kg / 260 hp = 6.21 kg/hp). The 225 hp 3.2 MT and 3.2 AT sit in the middle (7.8 s, 215 km/h, 1610 kg). Buy generation 2 if you want the highest horsepower and the shortest 0–100; buy generation 1 if you want the lowest kerb weight and 92 octane on the four-cylinder versions. Do not treat same names as the same car: two 3.2 MT and two 3.2 AT exist, and they differ by 35 hp.

Acura CL generations compared: what actually changed

Generation 1 ran 1996-01-01 to 1999-12-31 as a Coupe with 5 versions: 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.3 AT, 2.3 MT, 3.0 AT. Generation 2 ran 2000-01-01 to 2003-12-31 as a Coupe with 4 versions, all named 3.2 MT or 3.2 AT.

The body type did not change (Coupe both times). Drive did not change (FWD on every version). Boost did not change (No on every version). Fuel system did not change (Distributed injection (multi-point) on every version). Engine placement did not change (Front, transverse). Tank volume did not change (65 L). Front brakes stayed Ventilated disc; rear brakes stayed Disc. Front and rear suspension stayed Independent, spring.

What did change is engine size, cylinder count, and mass. Generation 1 four-cylinders are 2156 cm³ (2.2 MT, 2.2 AT) and 2254 cm³ (2.3 AT, 2.3 MT), Inline, 4 cylinders. Generation 1 3.0 AT is already V-shaped, 6 cylinders, 2997 cm³. Generation 2 is only 3195 cm³, V-shaped, 6 cylinders. Kerb weight where measured goes from 1390 kg (2.2 MT, 2.3 MT) and 1465 kg (3.0 AT) to 1610 kg (225 hp 3.2 MT / 3.2 AT) and 1615 kg (260 hp 3.2 MT / 3.2 AT). That is +220 kg from the lightest generation 1 coupe to the 225 hp generation 2 coupe, and +225 kg to the 260 hp pair. Ground clearance is 110 mm on every generation 1 version and not measured on every generation 2 version.

Acura CL specs table: every version by name

Use horsepower in the name when two rows share 3.2 MT or 3.2 AT.

VersionhpNmcm³FuelCylindersLayoutBoostGearboxGearsDrive
3.2 MT (225 hp)2253153195956V-shapedNoManual6FWD
3.2 AT (225 hp)2253153195956V-shapedNoAutomatic5FWD
3.2 MT (260 hp)2603143195956V-shapedNoManual6FWD
3.2 AT (260 hp)2603143195956V-shapedNoAutomatic5FWD
2.2 MT1471992156924InlineNoManual5FWD
2.2 AT1471992156924InlineNoAutomatic4FWD
2.3 AT1522052254924InlineNoAutomatic4FWD
2.3 MT1522052254924InlineNoManual5FWD
3.0 AT2032642997806V-shapedNoAutomatic4FWD

Peak rpm: 225 hp 3.2 MT / 3.2 AT 6200 rpm and 3500 rpm for torque; 260 hp 3.2 MT / 3.2 AT 6100 rpm and 3500 rpm; 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT 5500 / 4500; 2.3 AT / 2.3 MT 5700 / 4900; 3.0 AT 5000 / 4700. Bore × stroke: 89 × 86 on all generation 2; 85 × 95 on 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT; 86 × 97 on 2.3 AT / 2.3 MT; 86 × 86 on 3.0 AT. Compression: not measured on generation 2; 8.8 on 2.2 MT / 2.2 AT; 9.3 on 2.3 AT / 2.3 MT; 9.4 on 3.0 AT. Valves per cylinder: 4 on every version.

Acura CL horsepower and engine: power per litre

Specific output (hp per litre of displacement):

The four-cylinder pair and 3.0 AT sit in a 67–68 hp/L band. The 225 hp 3.2 is only +2.2 hp/L over 2.2 MT. The 260 hp 3.2 is the outlier: +11.0 hp/L versus the 225 hp 3.2 on the same 3195 cm³, same V-shaped 6, same No boost, same Front, transverse placement. Torque almost does not move: 315 Nm on the 225 hp pair versus 314 Nm on the 260 hp pair (−1 Nm). The extra 35 hp is not extra torque in these data.

Inside generation 1, 2.3 MT versus 2.2 MT is +5 hp and +6 Nm on +98 cm³. 3.0 AT versus 2.3 AT is +51 hp and +59 Nm, still Automatic, still FWD, still 4 gears, but cylinder count goes 4 Inline → 6 V-shaped and fuel goes 92 → 80.

Acura CL weight and kg per horsepower

Kerb weight is measured on six of nine versions:

2.2 AT kerb weight: not measured. 2.3 AT kerb weight: not measured. Gross weight: not measured on all nine versions.

The 260 hp 3.2 MT and 3.2 AT add only 5 kg over the 225 hp pair and drop 0.95 kg/hp. Generation 2 225 hp versus generation 1 3.0 AT is almost the same kg/hp (7.16 vs 7.22) despite +145 kg, because power also rose +22 hp. Versus 2.2 MT, the 260 hp 3.2 MT is +225 kg and +113 hp; mass rose 16%, power rose 77%.

Wheel sizes: not measured on all versions in both generations.

Acura CL performance: 0–100 and top speed

Measured 0–100 km/h:

Not measured 0–100: 2.2 AT, 2.3 AT, 3.0 AT. Not measured top speed: 3.0 AT. 2.2 AT and 2.3 AT top speed is 220 km/h (15 km/h above the manuals of the same engines, which are 205 km/h).

Arithmetic on the measured pairs: 260 hp 3.2 MT is 1.2 s quicker than 225 hp 3.2 MT (7.8 − 6.6) and 20 km/h faster (235 − 215). Automatic costs 0.5 s on the 260 hp engine (7.1 vs 6.6) and 0.0 s on the 225 hp engine (both 7.8 s). Generation 1 manuals at 8.2 s are 0.4 s slower than generation 2 225 hp and 1.6 s slower than 260 hp 3.2 MT.

Acura CL mpg: the only measured consumption

Fuel consumption is not measured on eight of nine versions. The one row with figures is 3.2 AT 260 hp: city 12.4, highway 8.1, combined 10.2. City, highway, and combined are not measured for 3.2 MT 225 hp, 3.2 AT 225 hp, 3.2 MT 260 hp, 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.3 AT, 2.3 MT, and 3.0 AT. CO2 and eco class: not measured on all versions.

Fuel grade still differs and is measured: 95 on all generation 2; 92 on 2.2 MT, 2.2 AT, 2.3 AT, 2.3 MT; 80 on 3.0 AT. Tank is 65 L on every version, so range cannot be ranked except for the one 3.2 AT 260 hp combined figure.

Dimensions: what is measured, what is not

Length, width, height, and wheelbase are not in these data, so dimensions in millimetres are not measured here. What is measured:

A “dimensions” search for 1997–1999 can use 110 mm clearance and 1390 or 1465 kg kerb weight. A 2001–2003 search can use 1610 or 1615 kg kerb weight and must treat clearance as not measured.

Which Acura CL version to choose

Fastest measured car: 3.2 MT 260 hp (6.6 s, 235 km/h, 260 hp / 191 kW at 6100 rpm, 314 Nm at 3500 rpm, Manual 6, FWD, 1615 kg). Versus the other 260 hp car, 3.2 AT 260 hp, you give up 0.5 s and one gear type (Automatic 5 instead of Manual 6) and gain the only mpg figures in the catalogue (12.4 / 8.1 / 10.2). Torque is the same 314 Nm. Weight is the same 1615 kg.

Same 3.2 without the 260 hp tune: 3.2 MT 225 hp and 3.2 AT 225 hp. Versus 260 hp 3.2 MT that is −35 hp (−13%), +1 Nm of torque (315 vs 314), −5 kg, +1.2 s to 100 km/h, −20 km/h top speed, same 3195 cm³, same 95 fuel, same FWD. Manual and Automatic are tied at 7.8 s and 215 km/h on the 225 hp engine, so gearbox is not a performance split at 225 hp in these data.

Lightest measured cars: 2.2 MT and 2.3 MT at 1390 kg. They share 8.2 s and 205 km/h. 2.3 MT is +5 hp and +6 Nm on +98 cm³ versus 2.2 MT, which is 3% more power on 5% more displacement (specific output slightly worse: 67.4 vs 68.2 hp/L). Choose 2.3 MT if you want the extra 5 hp at the same mass; choose 2.2 MT if you want the smaller 2156 cm³ four-cylinder.

Automatic four-cylinders: 2.2 AT and 2.3 AT. Power matches the manuals (147 and 152 hp). 0–100 is not measured. Top speed is 220 km/h, 15 km/h above 2.2 MT / 2.3 MT. Gears: Automatic 4 versus Manual 5. Kerb weight: not measured. These two are the versions to pick only if Automatic is required in generation 1; the data do not show them as quicker to 100 km/h.

Generation 1 V-shaped 6: 3.0 AT (203 hp / 149 kW at 5000 rpm, 264 Nm at 4700 rpm, 2997 cm³, Automatic 4, FWD, 1465 kg, fuel 80). Versus 2.3 AT it is +51 hp and +59 Nm. Versus 225 hp 3.2 AT it is −22 hp, −51 Nm, −145 kg, and 80 fuel instead of 95. 0–100 and top speed: not measured, so 3.0 AT cannot be ranked on sprint against generation 2.

What the generation step buys in numbers, not in story: +998 cm³ from 2.2 MT to any 3.2 (2156 → 3195); +2 cylinders and Inline → V-shaped; Manual 5 → Manual 6 or Automatic 4 → Automatic 5; fuel 92 → 95; kerb +220 kg (1390 → 1610) or +225 kg (1390 → 1615); peak power +78 hp to 225 or +113 hp to 260; measured 0–100 −0.4 s to 7.8 or −1.6 s to 6.6. Ground clearance is lost as a measured number (110 mm → not measured). Mpg stays not measured except on 3.2 AT 260 hp.

Short pick list

1. Want the lowest 0–100 and highest hp: 3.2 MT 260 hp. 2. Want 260 hp with Automatic and the only mpg row: 3.2 AT 260 hp. 3. Want generation 2 without the 260 hp output: 3.2 MT 225 hp or 3.2 AT 225 hp (same 7.8 s, same 215 km/h). 4. Want lowest measured mass: 2.2 MT or 2.3 MT (1390 kg). 5. Want a 6-cylinder before 2000: 3.0 AT (203 hp, 1465 kg, 80 fuel; sprint not measured).

There are no prices in these data, so “extra money” here means extra horsepower, extra mass, extra displacement, and extra gears — not a sticker. Wheel specs, engine codes, and engine-bay layout beyond Front, transverse / cylinder count / V-shaped or Inline are not measured in this catalogue.