Acura is Honda’s much-lauded luxury line, and for the last decade it has been competing head-to-head with the likes of BMW, Infiniti, and Lexus. With bold styling, elegant details, sporty performance, and economical efficiency, the 2012 Acura TL has plenty to crow about, but here’s a look at the top ten coolest things about this sought-after luxury sedan:

1. Sleek New Design. The 2012 TL’s refreshed exterior styling streamlines the car’s distinctive metallic grille. In doing so, the TL retains its distinctive visual flair but but brings with it an enhanced subtlety and sleekness that will appeal to luxury buyers. The highly angular body manages to look sensuous and serious at the same time, and the horizontally slicing headlights look positively predatory. The bottom line: this is one seriously good-looking car.

2. Bluetooth HandsFreeLink. It’s easy to fall in love with a feature that lets you use your phone while driving using nothing but verbal commands and two easily accessed buttons mounted on the steering wheel. It’s great to have your phone working for you, and not against you, while you drive.

3. Cutting-Edge Surround Sound Audio System. Yes, you read that correctly. The TL’s Acura/ELS Surround®32 Premium 10-speaker Sound System was designed with help from Grammy® Award-winning recording engineer and producer Elliot Scheiner with the goal of reproducing music the way it’s heard in the recording studio. The system can play 5.1 surround sound DVD-A discs, the highest-fidelity sound medium available. Surround sound can also be extracted from any stereo digital source, thanks to Dolby®5 Pro Logic® II circuitry. The Song by Voice™ feature, meanwhile, uses the Voice Recognition system to help the TL driver find music from the hard disk drive or a USB7-connected iPod®8 simply by voicing a preference.

4. Luxury Interior. TL stands for "Touring Luxury," and that is exactly what the interior communicates. The seats are wrapped in buttery-soft leather, the front seats are heated for cold-weather comfort, and dual-zone climate control ensures that everyone rides in comfort. The rear accommodations, meanwhile, seat three adults in spacious comfort, each with their own adjustable climate control vents.

5. Power Seats. The driver’s seat is power adjustable in ten ways, allowing any driver to find the "sweet spot" for driving long distances. The passenger seat has a similar feature, with 8 different ways to adjust his seat. In either case, a comfortable ride is a foregone conclusion.

6. GPS-linked Temperature Control. The Technology Package reminds us why computers are a good thing, with the smartest temperature control known to man. A GPS system determines the car’s position relative to the angle of the sun, while a dash-mounted sensor measures the intensity of sunlight. Using this information, the car automatically adjusts the temperature, keeping both sides of the car in perfect balance. It is the greatest feature you’ll never notice, which is the way it should be.

7. Rearview Camera. You’ll parallel park like a champ with this premium safety feature that gives you an in-dash, on-screen view of everything directly behind your vehicle.

8. Engine Performance. The standard TL engine is nothing to sneeze at, and with 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, it has plenty of pep. That, plus the impressive fuel economy (EPA-estimated 20/29)* and ultra-soft suspension, make it an excellent option for many drivers. The optional 3.7L 6-cylinder engine, however, is a lion. Roaring with 305 horsepower and 273 pounds of torque, this engine makes tucking in and out of freeway traffic a breeze.

9. Safety Features Come Standard. The clearest way to tell how much a car company cares about its customers is by looking at its safety features. And with the TL, all of Acura’s most cutting-edge safety features come standard. In addition to six airbags and anti-lock brakes, the TL is equipped with a Vehicle Stability Assist™ system, which uses an array of sensors, along with ABS, to minimize the dangers of oversteer or understeer; an electronic tire-pressure monitoring system; and active front head restraints designed to cushion the blow from rear passengers. The car even disables its ignition in case of a break-in. It’s a smart system, and every Acura buyer gets it.

10. The Navigation System. The 2012 Acura TL significantly upgrades this year’s navigation system, which is housed in a sleek 8-inch screen, with a larger hard drive and other features. You can search for a destination using the Voice Recognition System and use the extensive destination database to find ATMs from your bank only, local restaurants or just local Chinese restaurants, or any other number of places to go. You can also get restaurant reviews from Zagat and subscribe to Real-time Weather and Traffic to keep your daily drive highly informed.

*Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.