The transmission generally performs well, though at times the changes aren't as smooth as you'd like. With a 68-litre tank, fuel economy of this magnitude means you'll get less than 400 km from a full tank, and premium fuel is required. The steering is very sharp and not at all heavy, providing good response and an effortless turn-in for such a big car, and the TL50 has high grip levels when punching through corners. Traction control adds to this feeling of security. The damping is very good, providing solid rebound control over even big hits.
Brakes are another area which have had a lot of attention.
They included twin pot callipers and the latest generation Bosch anti-lock brakes, building on the previous EL GT brake package. On test, the brakes of its sibling the TE50 were tremendous, but I found the braking performance of the TL50 to be not quite as good. Maybe this particular test car had experienced a hard life, but you had to really work the brakes hard to elicit good stopping response. With such as strong focus on handling, the suspension set-up won't please those who enjoy a soft and comfortable ride around town. However, the TL50 has a strong, responsive engine, loads of interior space and offers plenty of engineering, equipment and handling traits for the money.