Launched in 1996, the Acura CL gave Honda a softer premium coupe for the US market, built on the fifth-generation Accord platform. The 145 hp 2.2 VTEC and 200 hp 3.0 V6 offered two clear flavors, but both focused more on smooth everyday use than on outright sportiness.
Today, a good CL I is bought on timing-belt history, healthy engine and gearbox mounts, and a 4-speed automatic that still shifts cleanly. It feels more subdued than a Lexus SC, but that is also its strength: simple Honda mechanicals, decent long-term durability and no real appetite for deferred maintenance.