TLX

Make
Acura
Segment
Sedan

BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-AMG typically lead the sports sedan race, but the established German titans are now facing stiff competition from across the globe. Acura recently revived the Type S nameplate, resulting in the superb 2021 TLX Type S that puts Acura back on the performance map.

From South Korea, we also have the recently refreshed Genesis G70 and the superb Kia Stinger GT. All three are affordable alternatives to established German sports sedans and boast similar specifications. But can the TLX Type S fend off its South Korean rivals? To find out, a drag race between all three sports sedans was conducted.

All three cars boast all-wheel drive and turbocharging so they are relatively evenly matched, making for an interesting underdog race. Out of the three, TLX Type S is the least powerful with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 producing 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, while the G70 and the Stinger GT share the same twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 good for 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. From a standing start, all three super sedans appear to be evenly matched, but just a few seconds later the Stinger GT and G70 pull away, leaving the TLX Type S languishing behind in third place.

The G70 and Stinger GT continue to race neck-and-neck, but the G70 snatches the lead. Frankly, it's a crushing defeat for the TLX Type S. Unfortunately, the TLX Type S doesn't fare better in a rolling drag race either and gets thrashed by its South Korean rivals once again. Weight is a key factor here.

While all three have similar performance specifications, the G70 is the lightest and the TLX Type S is the heaviest, weighing in at 4,028 pounds. Considering the performance-focused TLX Type S is the most expensive with a starting price of $54,645, we were hoping it would perform better. By contrast, the Kia Stinger GT is nearly $10,000 cheaper and was only narrowly defeated by the G70.