2021 Acura TLX Review

　　

2021 Acura TLX Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The Acura TLX is a small luxury sedan that competes with the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. While older Acura sedans have developed something of a cult status, more recent four-door models have fallen short in terms of both performance and luxury. Acura is looking to reset expectations with the fully redesigned 2021 Acura TLX.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Acura TLX 4dr Sedan w/2.0T (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$181/mo  for TLX Base

　　TLX Base

　　4dr Sedan w/2.0T (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $37,500 MSRP4dr Sedan w/2.0T and Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) (Most Popular) - $41,500 MSRP4dr Sedan w/2.0T and A-Spec Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $44,250 MSRP4dr Sedan w/2.0T and Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $46,300 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/2.0T (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $39,500 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/2.0T and Technology Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $43,500 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/2.0T and A-Spec Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $46,250 MSRPSH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/2.0T and Advance Package (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $48,300 MSRPType S 4dr Sedan AWD w/3.0T (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $52,300 MSRPType S 4dr Sedan AWD w/3.0T and Performance Wheel & Tire (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) - $53,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　This new Acura has been built from the ground up on a new platform to improve every facet of the TLX experience. Outside, it's longer and wider, with a longer hood and more aggressive proportions. In person, the TLX certainly looks the part. It gets new engines, Acura's latest tech features and higher-quality materials in the cabin. Notably, the new performance-oriented TLX Type S has a turbocharged V6 good for 355 horsepower.

　　All these changes add up to the best Acura sedan in years. But is that enough to make you want to buy one instead of the typical Audi, BMW or Mercedes? Read our Expert Rating below to see how the TLX stacks up against the competition.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the TLX drive? We tested the TLX A-Spec, which has the turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Our vehicle also came with all-wheel drive. At our test track it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, which is a bit slower than rival small luxury sedans with base four-cylinder engines.

　　On the upside, the all-wheel-drive system contributes to more agile and controlled body motions while you're navigating tight turns. The steering lacks communication, but turn the drive mode selector to Sport and the wheel gains some heft, which feels better suited to spirited driving.

　　The 10-speed transmission is a massive improvement over the last-gen nine-speed automatic, though it still isn't quite perfect. It shifts early under light throttle and feels a little lazy in the Normal and Comfort drive modes. But it keeps the turbo boost at the ready when you have Sport mode selected and need responsive acceleration.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the TLX? The TLX makes up for the lack of outright performance with a comfortable driving experience. The front seats are nicely padded and the rear seats are angled back for a relaxed seating position. That said, the front seats aren't highly adjustable, and the side bolsters provide little support for performance driving.

　　The ride achieves a great balance between suppleness and composure over a variety of road surfaces, though sharp-edged road bumps can still send a prominent thunk through the cabin. Noise is well abated. It's a pretty quiet vehicle overall, even though instrumented testing shows the TLX is a few decibels louder on the inside than rivals. The climate control system is easy to use, and we like that the A-Spec's heated and ventilated front seats can be set to an automatic mode that adjusts the amount of heating or cooling based outside and desired interior temperatures.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? There's a lot to like about the TLX cabin. It's easy to find a good driving position thanks to the seat's ample amount of travel in all directions and the similarly generous tilt-and-reach range for the steering wheel. The large door openings and gently tapered roof help you enter and exit the vehicle gracefully. On the downside, there's not an abundance of rear leg- or headroom, and tall folks will feel uncomfortably close to the roof.

　　The outgoing TLX's dual-touchscreen infotainment has been replaced by a display screen with a trackpad controller. We consider it a step backward for this generation. The trackpad mimics your inputs like a touchscreen, but it isn't large enough and lacks the precision needed to successfully navigate the numerous virtual buttons on screen at any one time.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Touchpad-interface issues aside, the integrated navigation system has sharp-looking maps and is easy to use. But results from the navigation system's point-of-interest search were sometimes a bit wonky in our tests. There's also no directional information, so there's no way of knowing if the nearest Starbucks you requested is on your intended travel route or a mile behind you. It is worth upgrading to the A-Spec or Advance trim for the ELS audio system alone. It's that superlative.

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but cannot be operated wirelessly; some rivals offer wireless phone integration. There also aren't any USB ports in the back, which is odd for a luxury car. We like that most of the advanced driving systems are standard, and they do a respectable job of approximating natural driving. There are some missteps — for example, the adaptive cruise system is slow to react when the driver ahead moves out of your lane.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? At 13.5 cubic feet, the TLX's trunk is larger than the trunks of most rivals. The trunk opening is also wide, allowing you to load long items horizontally without issue. However, a short decklid somewhat hinders your access to the deep end of the trunk, and it'll be a reach to load and retrieve items butted up against the rear seats. The cabin offers numerous places to store items, though most are modestly sized.

　　If your sport sedan will also be a family hauler, know that the lower LATCH anchors for car seats are hidden behind a Velcro-backed strip of leather that must be removed. The wide doors should make it easy to load a car seat, but the TLX's compact size will require some compromise on front seat space.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Acura TLX with all-wheel drive (which is what we tested) gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway). That's a few mpg worse than what rivals such as the Audi A4 S line (27 mpg) or BMW 330i xDrive (28 mpg) achieve. Our test TLX posted a more competitive 26.2 mpg on our real-world evaluation route, but overall the TLX's fuel efficiency is a little disappointing.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the TLX a good value? The TLX starts below $40,000, which is lower than just about every rival small luxury sedan. Our well-equipped TLX A-Spec with all-wheel drive rang in at under $48,000 — thousands of dollars less than similarly equipped competitors. This Acura makes a strong value statement, especially when you consider the pleasant materials and build quality.

　　Its bumper-to-bumper warranty of four years/50,000 miles is typical for the segment, though its powertrain coverage of six years/70,000 miles is more generous than what the German competition offers. But complimentary maintenance is not included on the TLX, unlike many of its German rivals.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The so-so engine doesn't give you the thrust you'd expect of a real sport sedan, and only the Sport driving mode has the steering heft you'll want for accurately placing the vehicle while cornering. But the rest of the TLX is tuned to provide a sense of excitement. Slap on a set of summer tires, and the TLX could probably hang with the BMW 3 Series and Alfa Romeo Giulia on mountain roads.

　　This is a sharp sedan that will look good in just about anyone's driveway. That's especially true of the A-Spec model, which brings the styling elements of the Type S to the standard TLX lineup. The leather/faux suede interior is also pretty spiffy. It isn't the corner-carving all-star that some rivals are, but at the TLX's bargain price tag, it's hard to justify paying thousands of dollars more for an incrementally better sedan.

　　It might be worth paying extra to never deal with the TLX's infuriating touchpad controller, however, but that's not an option.

　　

Which TLX does zzdcar recommend?

The 2021 TLX is well equipped right out of the gate, but buyers looking to upgrade from a loaded Honda Accord might find the features on the base TLX a little lacking. We think it's worth upgrading to the A-Spec, which offers ventilated front seats, a sporty appearance package and the supremely satisfying 17-speaker ELS audio system. Tick the box for the SH-AWD system if you want to have a little fun on mountain roads. No matter which trim and powertrain you choose, however, rest assured that you're getting more bang for your buck than your neighbor with a new C-Class.

　　

2021 Acura TLX models

The 2021 Acura TLX is a compact luxury sedan available in five trim levels: base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance and Type S. Technically, Acura refers to each as packages, but they're no different than trim levels. The first four trim levels come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque), a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system is optional. The Type S sports a unique turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (355 hp, 354 lb-ft) and comes with AWD standard. Feature highlights for the TLX include:

　　Base

　　Starts the TLX off with:

　　18-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Sunroof Keyless ignition and entry Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery Dual-zone climate control 10.2-inch infotainment screen with touchpad controller 10-speaker sound system Satellite radio Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Wi-Fi hotspotThe TLX also comes standard with these safety features and driver aids:

　　Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (steers the TLX back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the TLX and the car in front) Traffic sign recognitionAll TLX models can be ordered with these useful stand-alone accessories:

　　Remote engine start Wireless charging pad Heated steering wheelTechnology

　　The Technology package adds, as you might expect, more technology:

　　19-inch wheels Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse) Leather upholstery Navigation system Customizable ambient lighting Upgraded 13-speaker sound system A-Spec

　　The A-Spec starts with the Technology package and includes more features and a sportier appearance package:

　　Sporty exterior appearance package available in unique colors Unique brushed aluminum interior trim Flat-bottom steering wheel Microsuede seat inserts 17-speaker ELS sound system Ventilated front seats Wireless device charging padAdvance

　　The TLX Advance starts with features from the Technology package and adds:

　　Adaptive suspension (enhances ride comfort and handling stability) Rain-sensing wipers Puddle lights Front-seat bolster and thigh support adjustments Premium leather upholstery Heated steering wheel Heated rear seats Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the TLX and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Type S

　　This sporty TLX has the more powerful engine as noted above. Feature-wise, it's similarly equipped to the A-Spec. It also has:

　　20-inch wheels Adaptive suspension Brembo performance brakes Sport+ driving mode Extra chassis bracing (can help to enhance handling) Rain-sensing wipers Puddle lights Front-seat bolster and thigh support adjustmentsThe Type S can also be optioned with lightweight wheels with summer performance tires.

　　

2021 TLX Highlights

Type: Type SSedanSedan

　　Trim: BaseSH-AWDType SBase

　　

Base MSRP	$37,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles