2024 Acura TLX Review: The Alternative Sports Sedan
The Acura TLX defies being pigeonholed. Its exterior size puts it on par with the mid-size luxury Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, but its lack of interior space and $45k starting price align it with premium compacts such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Yet it doesn't have quite the brand image to take on the formidable Germans, suggesting the car should more fairly be compared to semi-luxury rivals such as the Lexus IS and Genesis G70. Whatever your take, a 272-horsepower four-cylinder and 355-hp V6 and a predominantly all-wheel-drive lineup play the sporting card convincingly, even if the base front-wheel-drive powertrain isn't quite the 3 Series beater Acura's marketing wants it to be. The current generation was freshly redesigned three years ago at a time when most car buyers in the USA have moved on to crossovers and SUVs, which limits its appeal. This year, it's come in for its mid-cycle refresh with cosmetic enhancements, improved tech, and fewer trims, none of which is likely to boost it beyond the sidelines of a shrinking market sector.
New for 2024
The 2024 Acura receives a facelift with a new frameless Diamond Pentagon Grille like we saw on the Acura Type S Concept. New 19- and 20-inch wheel designs become available, there are two new paint colors - Liquid Carbon Metallic and Urban Gray Pearl - and refinements to the A-Spec include a gloss-black rear spoiler and dual exhaust finishers. Inside, dual 12.3-inch digital displays are now fitted - one a gauge cluster and the other an infotainment display with new software and features, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa Built-In, two rear-seat USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad. Noise insulation is improved with thicker carpets across the board, and the A-Spec also gets acoustic front windows and new wheel-well liners and door insulators. The Type S gains a sportier Sport+ driving mode.
The base price of the 2024 Acura TLX is nearly $5k more than before due to last year's base trim being dropped and the new entry-level trim in the simplified three-trim range now being the TLX w/Technology Package with FWD. The only two other trims in the 2024 range are the A-Spec and Type S, both with AWD, because three of last year's trims have all been discontinued.
2024 Acura TLX Price: Which One to Buy
For 2024, the price of a new Acura TLX starts at $45,000, up from last year's $40,050. The reason is the discontinuation of the base trim, so the second-from-bottom TLX w/Technology Package is now the cheapest option in the lineup - itself only $950 more expensive than it was last year, and compensated for by the refresh and upgraded tech. Only two more trims remain in the 2024 lineup, namely the $50,000 A-Spec and the V6-engined Type S, which will cost you $57,000. Keep in mind that the pricing is MSRP and excludes the $1,195 destination fee.
Potent the Type S may be, but it's expensive, and the best value lies with the highly specced Technology Package base model. With a power moonroof, leather upholstery, a fully featured infotainment system, and a comprehensive suite of driver assists already included, we'd suggest taking advantage of its entry-level price. True sports-sedan buyers will look at the 3 Series anyway, so the TLX is best enjoyed for its value for money and high feature count, which is best in base format.
Technology Package | A-Spec Package | Type S |
---|---|---|
Best Buy | Mid Range with AWD | V6 Sports Trim |
$ 45000 | $ 50000 | $ 57000 |
2.0L turbo inline-four (272 hp/280 lb-ft), 10-speed automatic, FWD | Equipped with the Technology Package’s features, plus: | Equipped with the A-Spec Package’s features, plus: |
19-inch alloys, LED headlights, power moonroof | AWD, LED foglights, Sport Appearance package | 3.0L turbo V6 (355 hp/354 lb-ft) |
Leather seats, heated power front seats, dual-zone climate control | Leather/ultrasuede upholstery, ventilated front seats | 20-inch alloys, unique grille, front splitter, & rear diffuser |
Dual 12.3-inch displays, 13-speaker audio system | Flat-bottomed sports steering wheel | Adaptive dampers, four-piston Brembo front brakes |
AcuraWatch driver-assist suite | Geometric-patterned brushed aluminum trim | 16-way power front seats |
17-speaker premium ELS Studio 3D audio system | Head-up display, rain sensor, surround-view camera |
Best Deals on 2024 Acura TLX
Interior and Features
The modern interior wears its swooping curves and upscale materials with confidence, but the tech bucks the current convention, requiring a learning curve to master.
The interior design and quality of the TLX were already strong suits, and it's even better this year. The quality of the materials is still genuinely premium, the dashboard is modern yet classy, leather upholstery is standard from the base level, and the equipment level is high. The cherry on top is the inclusion of eye-catching dual 12.3-inch digital displays this year - for both the gauge cluster and infotainment display. However, the center display is still not a touchscreen, as Acura persists with its criticized relative-position trackpad, despite a raft of infotainment upgrades and the big new screens. It will be a deal-breaker for some, as will the lack of interior space in the second row, considering the size of the body. It's easy to get in, though, because the slope of the roofline is not too severe, and the doors open widely. Multiple adjustment options for the seats and steering wheel make it easy to find a comfortable driving position.
Space
Despite having the longest body and wheelbase in its price class, second-row space is not only way less than similarly sized sedans such as the Honda Accord, but no more than most of its compact price rivals, with especially headroom being under par. It's a lost opportunity to add some value and provide the space of a mid-size car at the price of a compact one, and we count zero advantages to having the large footprint. Especially rear headroom is scant for the class and rear-seat passengers above average height will feel hemmed in. Three across in the rear will find the accommodations cramped.
Cargo
If you hoped for decent trunk space as compensation for the small second row, you'd be mistaken, because the 13.5 cu-ft behind the second row is reasonable but far from exceptional. At least the 60/40-split rear seat folds down to increase trunk volume, but Acura doesn't say by how much. The rear bulkhead bracing in the Type S severely restricts the through-loading of large items, though.
Wallets, keys, sunglasses, and all the other paraphernalia that go with daily life will easily find a home in the TLX. There's a glovebox, spacious door pocket front and rear, a large lidded storage bin in the center console with two cupholders in front of it, and a wireless charging pad next to them. The rear passengers have access to front seatback pockets and a fold-down center armrest that contains a small storage receptacle and two cupholders.
Acura TLX | BMW 3 Series Sedan | Genesis G70 | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5-seater | 5-seater | 5-seater |
Headroom | 37.2 in. front 36.3 in. rear | 38.7 in. front 37.6 in. rear | 39.8 in. front 36.9 in. rear |
Legroom | 42.5 in. front 34.9 in. rear | 42 in. front 35.2 in. rear | 42.6 in. front 34.8 in. rear |
Trunk Space | 13.5 ft³ | 16.9 ft³ | 10.5 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
Every TLX comes with leather upholstery and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. The TLX Technology comes in four exterior colors and two interior colors - and they're tied together. With Lunar Silver, Majestic Black Pearl, and Liquid Carbon paint colors, you can only have an Ebony (black) interior, and only with the Platinum White paint can you select a Parchment (dark beige) interior. Silver brushed aluminum trim and a headliner matched to the interior color are used. The A-Spec and Type S have access to considerably more paint colors and three possible interior color schemes - Ebony, Red/Ebony, and Orchid (light beige)/Ebony, but you'll have to check the configurator to see which paint colors go with which interior colors. These two trims get geometric-patterned aluminum trim and an Ebony headliner.
Features and Infotainment
The TLX Technology comes with a lot of desirable standard features right out of the box. Some of the ones you might not expect on a base model include leather upholstery, adjustable 27-theme ambient LED interior lighting, a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a power tilting/sliding moonroof. Other standard fitments include keyless entry with push-button start, heated 12-way power sports front seats, GPS-linked dual-zone climate control, brushed aluminum trim, a HomeLink transceiver, a wireless charging pad, and a leather-trimmed manually tilting/telescoping steering wheel. The higher trims gain additional features such as a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, faux-suede seat inserts, 16-way power front seats, and aluminum trim with a geometric pattern.
The overhauled infotainment system gets a 12.3-inch display along with new software and a faster processor. Unfortunately, the system is still operated with a relative-position trackpad in the center console, and while we're fine with retaining that option for the Acura faithful, it's disappointing that no touchscreen functionality is included as an alternative input method. The system is certainly fully featured and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth audio streaming, an auxiliary input jack, HD Radio, Wi-Fi capability, AcuraLink Connected Services, Siri Eyes Free, navigation, and an MP3-capable ELS Studio premium audio system with 13 speakers. In the upper two trims, the audio system is upgraded to an ELS Studio 3D setup with 17 speakers, but only the Type S gets a head-up display.
Technology Package | A-Spec Package | Type S | |
---|---|---|---|
Heated 12-way power front seats & leather upholstery | S | S | S |
Power tilt/slide moonroof | S | S | S |
Dual 12.3-inch displays with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation | S | S | S |
ELS Studio premium audio system | S | S | S |
Head-up display | N/A | N/A | S |
Performance
Outputs look good on paper, but the TLX’s size and weight stunts performance slightly, while the four-pot could do with improved refinement.
The engine in the Acura TLX Technology and A-Spec is the familiar Honda-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. According to most independent tests, this should be enough to give the Acura TLX a 0-60 time in the low-to-mid six-second range, on to a limited top speed of 130 mph. Such performance is decent, but it's beaten by several rivals in this class. The Type S packs a powerful turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 developing 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, slashing the 0-60 sprint down to just over five seconds in real-world conditions; it's good for a 155-mph top speed, but only with performance tires optioned on. The Technology is FWD, but both the A-Spec and Type S feature Acura's Super Handling AWD. Regardless of the drivetrain configuration, all TLXs use a ten-speed automatic transmission.
Acura has gone to a lot of trouble to make the TLX handle well and it succeeds to a large extent. Stiff control-arm front suspension, finely tuned spring and damper settings, and an Integrated Dynamics System that helps point the TLX into a corner provide sharp and enjoyable handling. The net effect is a sporty driving experience but a firm - though not harsh - ride. The four-cylinder engine can sound a little coarse at times, and the ten-speed auto isn't always as responsive as you'd like, often ignoring a request from the paddles. Both recede into the background if you drive sedately. The V6 is powerful, and with the Sport+ mode engaged, the transmission wakes up. It's properly quick, too, but the intelligent AWD system can be dimwitted and lead to inconsistent results around seemingly similar corners, not always shuttling power to the back and tightening the line as you'd expect. The brake-by-wire system isn't as easy to modulate for every driver, but you get used to it, and the Brembos in the Type S consistently haul you down without tiring.
Fuel Efficiency
The Acura TLX's mpg figures are mediocre, with even the best EPA estimates - for the FWD four-pot - coming to a middle-of-the-road 22/31/25 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycles. Compare this to the class-leading BMW 330i's 25/34/29 mpg and you'll see what we mean. The AWD four-pot loses out more, coming in with 21/29/24 mpg. Predictably, the worst gas mileage belongs to the V6 Type S, with 19/25/21 mpg.
With a 15.9-gallon fuel capacity, the base car will achieve a range of just under 400 miles, while the figures for the A-Spec and Type S are 382 and 334 miles, respectively.
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 10-Speed Automatic FWD | 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas 10-Speed Automatic AWD | 3.0L Turbo V6 Gas 10-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|---|---|
Power | 272 hp | 272 hp | 355 hp |
Top speed | 130 mph | 130 mph | 155 mph (w/ summer tires) |
MPG | 22/31/25 mpg | 21/29/24 mpg | 19/25/21 mpg |
0-60 | Est. 6.2 sec. | Est. 6.5 sec. | Est. 5.1 sec. |
Safety
Safety levels are right at the top of the class, with stellar crash results and a full suite of driver assists.
The NHTSA's safety review of the Acura TLX rates it highly, with five stars out of five for all tests, including the overall evaluation. The 2024 TLX has so far only been partially tested by the IIHS, but received the agency's top Good score for all the major criteria. The 2022 model received a Top Safety Pick+ award.
The AcuraWatch suite of driver assists is standard on all TLXs and includes front-collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-departure alert with lane-keep assist and road-departure mitigation, traffic-sign recognition, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors front and rear, and automatic LED headlights with auto high beams. Also standard are hill-start assist, automatic brake hold, cruise control, reverse auto tilt-down side mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Only the Type S gets rain-sensing wipers, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display.
Technology Package | A-Spec Package | Type S | |
---|---|---|---|
Front-collision alert with braking | S | S | S |
Lane-keep assist with lane-departure mitigation | S | S | S |
Adaptive cruise control | S | S | S |
Blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert | S | S | S |
Head-up display | N/A | N/A | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Reliability
JD Power rates the reliability of the Acura TLX as unexceptional at 79 out of 100 for the Quality & Reliability evaluation. However, there shouldn't be much to be concerned about because the 2024 Acura TLX's warranty coverage is decent, with the basic warranty valid for four years/50,000 miles and the powertrain warranty for six years/70,000 miles.
Recalls have been few, with none so far recorded in the last couple of years, the last one being for the 2022 TLX - and that was only for a possibly damaged tire bead.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / 70,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 2 Years / 24,000 Miles |
Design
The TLX is a low, wide, and sporty sedan adorned with details such as the brand's familiar Diamond Pentagon grille and Chicane DRLs. The exterior lighting is all-LED, and a power moonroof is standard on all trims, but only the top two trims get LED foglights as well. The four-cylinder cars run on 19-inch alloy wheels, while the Type S gets 20s. A Sport Appearance package, black rear diffuser, and matte-black decklid spoiler are standard features on the A-Spec and Type S, but the former gets round dual exhausts, while the latter comes with quad exhausts. Only the Type S gets an open-surface variant of the Diamond Pentagon grille, along with a gloss-black front splitter.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Acura TLX A Good Car?
The TLX is an excellent car in many respects. Its premium interior looks modern and upscale, its handling and ride pay more than lip service to the sporty sedans that were so common ten years ago, and you get a physically larger car for the price of a compact one. However, a few negatives threaten to undo all the good work. The interior may look modern, but some people couldn't live with the touchpad-based infotainment system, while the size advantage comes to naught when you realize a 3 Series is bigger inside and in the trunk. It loses out to the class leaders in performance terms as well due to its size and weight. Had Acura been able to score more hits and fewer misses, this upscale and dynamic sports sedan might have been able to earn a few conquest sales, but right now, it seems tailored more for people already in the Acura fold, which limits its appeal.