TLX

Make
Acura
Segment
Sedan

At long last, Acura will bring back its high-performance Type S sub-brand. The of these models, the 2021 Acura TLX Type S, launches nationwide on September 28th, 2020, ushering in a new era of Acura performance sedans. With a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the TLX has its luxury rivals pegged on standard power. The Type S ups the ante with a turbocharged V6 displacing 3.0-liter and producing an estimated 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

Those power and torque figures sound highly competitive, and now, we finally know how much the TLX costs. Pricing for the base TLX starts at $37,500, which is only $1,300 more than last year's V6-powered model. Adding Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) tacks $2,000 onto the price of any 2021 TLX trim level. All versions of the TLX send power to the ground through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

With a starting price under $38,000, the new TLX undercuts many of its compact luxury rivals, including the BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. There are a few options, like the Audi A4, Genesis G70, Infiniti Q50, and Volvo S60, that undercut the TLX on price, albeit with less standard power and equipment. Acura hasn't given a complete trim level breakdown but mentions a standard AcuraWatch safety suite, 10.2 inch HD center display, and available 17-speaker ELS audio system.

It is also important to note that Acura positioned the TLX between most compact and midsize luxury options. Pricing might be similar to options like the A4, 3 Series, or C-Class, but the usable space and dimensions are more comparable to an A6, 5 Series, or E-Class, making the TLX stand out as an even stronger bargain.

Moving up the range, TLX 2.0T with Technology Package costs $41,500, the sporty A-Spec Package costs $44,250, and the top trim Advanced Package costs $46,300. Adding AWD to any of these models bumps the price by $2,000. Acura wants to keep Type S pricing close to the vest but says it will arrive with a sticker in the low to mid $50,000 range. An Audi S4, the closest rival to the Type S, starts just under $50,000, but with more power and equipment, the TLX could end up as a better value. Acura says the TLX Type S arrives at dealerships in spring 2021.