The Acura CL is a compact car built from 1987 to 2003 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 1997 and 2003 it grew 5 cm longer and gained 209 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the CL is
The Acura CL is a compact car that Acura built from 1987 to 2003 — 17 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2003. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Acura range: Integra, RSX.
Where the CL is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 468 CLs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 19U | 1997-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Acura VIN decide which of these 2 lines your CL belongs to. What every character in a CL VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Acura CL adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
CL generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the CL's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the CL that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 483 cm | 272 cm | 1365 kg | - | - |
| 2003 | 488 cm | 272 cm | 1574 kg | +5 cm | +209 kg |
Between 1997 and 2003 the CL gained 5 cm in length (+1.0%) and 209 kg in weight (+15.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the CL that is 209 kg against 5 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Acura CL tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment CL owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Acura CL have? Power & range
The Acura CL is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.2L 6-cyl, 2.3L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Acura CL, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.2L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.3L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The CL by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Acura CL. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | CL | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 20 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 607 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Used value | 52 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Acura CL?
The CL is a compact car, built from 1987 to 2003 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Acura CL made?
Across 468 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the CL have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2003. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the CL grew 5 cm longer and gained 209 kg.
What is the Acura CL warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the CL reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific CL?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Acura
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.