This sedan's steering reminds me that Acura and Honda have always been capable of mastering this integral bond between car and driver. Though the interior is nicely appointed, man, the TLX's dashboard is busy.

A-Spec touches give the standard TLX a Type S vibe. At $49,325 with destination, the TLX Advance is a decent sports sedan, offering a beautifully finished interior, smooth ride, aggressive styling, and zesty performance – low-speed handling niggles notwithstanding. So, I got a chance to find out if the 2021 TLX is a worthy update to Acura’s premium mid-size sport sedan, or just a life-support system for my favorite new listening room. Even so, Acura has done a lot to make the also-ran TLX into a bona fide contender. 1 of 10. Driving the 2021 Acura TLX, I’ve decided that it is much more than a life-support system for the ELS Studio 3D. On higher-speed corners, the TLX comes into its own, thanks to that sophisticated Super Handling system that shuffles power between the wheels appropriately. I have lived all over the place, but I've recently relocated to the Detroit area. September 24, 2020 . Climb in the driver's seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. The model seen here is a TLX A-Spec, which comes with 19-inch wheels as well as a few black exterior trim bits. Acura TLX Full Overview. You'd surely get used to it if you owned a TLX. Front-wheel drive is standard on the base models, and Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) is available on all models. The base TLX rides on 18-inch wheels while 20s are reserved for the upcoming Type S, which I'll get to in a minute. More familiarity with TLX will result in a deeper understanding of how the various settings and modes improve the driving experience, and savvy drivers will learn how to dial in their favorites. The front end is particularly expressive, with the Diamond Pentagon grille, four-lamp LED Jewel Eye headlights on each side and a big Acura badge in the center. Playing with it for just a few minutes, I found a setting with soft suspension and stiff steering that helped me tame the bumpy roads of Michigan without surrendering to vague handling. Driven like that, the all-wheel-drive system conspires with nearly perfect transmission tuning and the grunty, lag-free turbo four to make great time down a canyon road. It’s also got more twist – though a bit less power – than the formerly optional 3.5-liter V6, which made 290 hp and 267 lb-ft. A snappy 10-speed automatic transmission and available Super Handling All-Wheel Drive further the TLX’s spec-chart performance. 648. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. The dashboard’s attractive center stack looks like the control panel of a futuristic spaceship, its focal point being a large Integrated Dynamics System knob plucked right from the NSX. A 10.2-inch display hovers at the top of the center stack, mounted in landscape orientation. Acura only brought out SH-AWD versions of TLX to the launch event that I attended in Michigan. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I like the soft leather surfaces and the contrasting metal and piano-black trim pieces, but there's a whole lot happening on that short center stack. Compared against the more expensive, one-class-up BMW 530i xDrive, the TLX boasts a more responsive powertrain and a much nicer interior, while the Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic and Audi A4 are notably smaller inside. Of course, the TLX's biggest challenge remains the same: How do you convince someone who'd otherwise buy (OK, lease) a BMW 330i to check out an Acura instead? With its relatively thin A pillars, it offers a commanding view of the road ahead, and it's nice to be able to see the sculpting of the hood, even with the driver's seat in its lowest position. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic.

Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Chucked into a corner, the TLX responds with resolute understeer and a heaping helping of tire squeal, along with more front-end roll than I’d like to see. The car appears lower and wider than before (and it is, fractionally). What I love most about the TLX's cabin is its seating position. The Acura TLX is all-new for 2021, marking the second generation of this sedan by Honda’s luxury division.
Low, wide, sporty and sleek, the new TLX really grabs your attention. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, if they're your thing, and Acura says TTI updates can be pushed out over the air thanks to a standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Check back in a few months and I'll tell you all about its 3.0-liter turbo V6, 355 horsepower, 354 pound-feet of torque, unique suspension tuning, Brembo brakes and all the other hotness. The 2021 Acura TLX is the latest luxury sedan from the company once known for the legendary Legend and its justified “Precision Crafted Performance” tagline. Everyone I know is gaga over this thing, and with good reason. The 10-speed automatic can occasionally be dimwitted here, either holding gears too long or not shifting quickly enough, and the steering wheel-mounted paddles don't offer quick responses.

Electronics also activate torque vectoring in SH-AWD models, which directs power to the outside wheel in a turn, sharpening cornering behavior.

It's more than just a pretty face, too; the TLX is brand-spankin'-new from the ground up. Authentic materials — real leather, real wood, real metal – are used throughout, beautifully finished and fit. They expect buyers to compare it with the Audi A4 and A6, BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, where it looks like a comparably equipped TLX comes in at a lower price than either compact or mid-sized competitor. LED headlights and taillights are standard across the board, and I love the way the piano-black trim on the mirror caps visually reduce their size. Acura stuffed the 2021 TLX with its latest and greatest technology features, too. Vehicle Imagery licensed from EVOX Images, 2021 Acura TLX First Drive Review: Making Strides Toward Excellence, https://www.motor1.com/reviews/445497/2021-acura-tlx-first-drive/, give the 2021 TLX sportier, more neutral handling, GMC Hummer EV Really Makes The Same Torque As A Heavy-Duty Pickup, De Tomaso Moving Operations To America, Will Build P72 Here, Custom BMW M3 Touring Drag Races M340i In Wagon Battle, Enter Now To Win This Ultra-Rare 200-MPH Cadillac CTS-V Championship Edition, 2021 Mustang Mach 1 'Very Close' To GT500 On Short Tracks.

Acura has positioned the TLX as a segment-buster, straddling the line between compact and mid-sized premium sports sedans.

TLX comes with the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assistance technologies, along with all of the modern safety features that you’d expect in a premium sport sedan. Its striking design will make you look twice, but Acura's new TLX is more than just a pretty face. Unfortunately, there’s only so much that good science can do to counteract carrying 57 percent of a vehicle’s mass over the front axle. The new platform is also 50 percent stiffer than before, thanks to high-strength materials like aluminum and press-hardened steel. A knob provides direct access to the Integrated Dynamics System, allowing you to select drive modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport or Individual). The 2021 Acura TLX features the latest ELS Studio 3D audio system, bringing unbelievable audio quality that few sub-$50,000 vehicles can match. One of the TLX’s real party pieces is an ELS Studio 3D audio system, standard on A-Spec and Advance. From the fastback profile to the slim headlamps to that hunkered-down stance, this new TLX is my favorite Acura design of the past... uh... really long time (yes, even including the NSX). The A-Spec SH-AWD I drove demanded $46,250, while the fully loaded Advance SH-AWD cost $48,300 (plus dealer handling on both). Where there’s plastic, the quality is high and soft touch where appropriate.
I'm curious to see if there's a noticeable difference, but as it stands, I don't have a single complaint about this TLX's stock tune. And with its strong turbo power, long list of standard tech and comfortable, confident road manners, Acura's swanky compact sedan deserves much more than just a double-take. The Acura TLX has always undercut its primary competitors on price, and that stays true for 2021. But what about when paper turns to pavement?

I’d add the Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Cadillac CT5, and Volvo S60 to the list for consideration. TLX’s powertrain is covered by a six-year/70,000-mile limited warranty, and the body is covered for rust perforation for five years. I still reach for the Dynamic Mode selection dial every single time I want to adjust the audio volume, and the button-based electronic gear shifter is as weird as ever.

2021 Acura TLX Review. Front-wheel drive is standard but you can opt for Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system, while a mandatory 10-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties. Why You Can Trust Us. Engineers also worked to even out weight distribution – an aluminum hood, front fenders, damper mounts, and bumper support reduce weight over the front axle, as does moving the battery to the trunk. The beltline is pretty low, and neither the gauge cluster nor the infotainment screen exceed the height of the cowl.