[Auto] 2021 Acura TLX First Review

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KBB Editors’ Overview
The 2021 Acura TLX is all new and marks the second generation of this sedan by Honda's luxury division. Whereas the outgoing model was a competent entry-level premium sedan with a great value story, Acura has gone all-in with the latest TLX. The brand boasts that it is “the most performance-focused sedan Acura has ever offered, built on an all-new platform, developed exclusively for TLX, and geared to the desires of today’s sport sedaniast.”

The result is a laudable and highly recommendable sedan. The new Acura TLX gets a crisp new design inside and out, a new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and far better handling enhanced by the optional all-wheel-drive system. Amenities are better, too, such as the available open-pore wood trim and phenomenal ELS audio system. A full safety suite with active driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control is standard.

One trait the new TLX retains is its value proposition. The 2021 TLX has grown and is now nearly the size of a BMW 5 Series, yet its $ 37,500 starting price undercuts compact luxury sedans such as Audi A4, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

With the new TLX, Acura has upped its game entirely, and there’s more in store. Coming later will be the Acura TLX Type S, a high-performance model with a new twin-turbo V6 and standard all-wheel drive.

How Much Does the 2021 Acura TLX Cost?
The 2021 Acura TLX luxury sport sedan has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $ 37,500, plus a destination fee of $ 1,025. This is a bump over the 2020 model’s $ 33,000 price, but you also get quite a bit more car, including a more powerful engine and added safety features. On the other end of the TLX spectrum is the Advance model that starts at $ 46,300. Adding AWD to any model is an extra $ 2,000.

Even with its price bump, the Acura TLX remains an excellent value among luxury sedans. It’s still priced below European rivals like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Alfa Romeo Giulia, as well as the Lexus IS.

Undercutting the TLX are the 2021 Genesis G70 and Infiniti Q50, while the Volvo S60 is a hair more.

Before buying, check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying. The Acura TLX's resale value has traditionally held up quite well over the years.

Driving the 2021 Acura TLX
With its revamp for 2021, this 2nd-gen Acura TLX replaces its former base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and optional V6 with a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. This is the same powerplant that's in the Acura RDX compact crossover, and it's a good one. This new engine makes 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. That’s 66 more ponies and a significant 98 more units of twist vs. the outgoing base engine. It also represents more torque and is 18 horsepower shy of the formerly optional V6.

Numbers aside, all you need to know is that this engine is a little powerhouse, and the in-house 10-speed it’s connected to is well matched.

Our initial test took place in Southern California, testing all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions of the TLX A-Spec and TLX with Advance package. We started on the famed Mulholland Drive in the hills of Malibu, twisted and turned our way to a more leisurely cruise along Pacific Coast Highway, then back up Mulholland. It was a good blend to test both the 2021 Acura TLX's newfound power and dynamics, as well as its everyday commuting behavior.

The thing we noticed and most appreciated is its cohesiveness. Simply put, the 2021 Acura TLX is just really satisfying to drive. The steering is dialed in. The brakes stop you right now, and the AWD is excellent.

Pushed hard, the TLX rarely betrays its front-drive roots. Furthering that point is the TLX's ability to send up to 70 percent of power to the rear wheels, and then shift that power via a torque-vectoring system to the left or right wheel depending where grip is needed most.

In simpler terms, the TLX sticks. Despite some tire squeal when hammering around corners, the grip was ultimately there and secure.

Compared to rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and even a BMW 5 Series that we drove back-to-back with the Acura, the TLX can go toe to toe with them. It was more satisfying dynamically against all of them except the BMW. It was not quite as comfortable and compliant as the Mercedes, but with the adaptive dampers in Advance mode and the drive mode set to “comfort,” the gap is close.

The 2021 Acura TLX is its most satisfying version yet, and thanks to the driver-adjustable settings, it proved a worthy companion no matter the road.

 

Favorite Features
ELS AUDIO SYSTEM
Developed by renowned studio engineer Elliot Scheiner in collaboration with Panasonic, the ELS surround-sound system in the Acura TLX remains the best under-the-radar audio choice in the automotive world. The quality of the 17-speaker variant included in the A-Spec and Advance will blow you away.

SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
If you’re the kind of driver who likes to accelerate into the corners and toss your car around back roads, do yourself a favor and make sure your TLX has Acura's AWD system. It helps put this car’s newfound power to the ground better, provides excellent grip, and great traction on slippery roads in foul weather. It's well worth the extra $ 2,000.

2021 Acura TLX Interior
The TLX's 5-passenger cabin has had a makeover of its own. Material quality has been improved, and Acura execs proudly proclaimed that if it looks like wood, it's it's wood, and if it looks like metal, it's it's metal.

Space between the driver and passenger has been increased thanks to a wider center console. That console also houses Acura’s True Touchpad infotainment interface that debuted on the redesigned RDX. It takes getting used to but ultimately is logical once you get the hang of it. Practice first when the car is in Park.

Speaking of infotainment, gone is the former twin-screen stacked infotainment displays. In their place is a 10.2-inch high-def display in the center of the dash. Functions are controlled via that console-mounted touchpad. We like the thoughtful touches such as the beefy palm rest directly behind the touchpad, plus auxiliary volume and track change buttons to the right of the pad.

Acura has a knack for seat design, and we found the driver's seat's comfortable and form-fitting. The front seats have 12-way adjustability, and Advance models get 16-way operation, including adjustable thigh extension and side bolsters.

The steering wheel - which is flat-bottomed in A-Spec variants - felt satisfying in our hands, and we like the tactile nature of its switches, like the one to control volume and track selection. There’s not a traditional lever for the transmission. To put it in Park, Drive, Reverse, etc., you must push a button. A prominent silver dial above the transmission stack changes the drive modes.

Rear legroom remains only ok at 34.9 inches. A nice touch are the small fixed windows behind the B-pillar. They make the rear seat feel more open and also aid driver visibility.

At 13.5 cubic feet, trunk space is average at best. For comparison, a Honda Accord that is a bit shorter in overall length has a trunk with 16.7 cubic feet of volume.

2021 Acura TLX Exterior
More buyers may be shifting to crossover SUVs, but Acura hasn’t forgotten its sedan roots. “We love sedans,” gushed Acura vice president and brand officer Jon Ikeda at the TLX's media launch. And that passion shows.

To our eyes, the TLX is a sharp-looking vehicle with an athletic and premium aesthetic. It’s grown nearly three inches in length to 194.6 inches. At that size, it's nearly identical to the midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs. The compact luxury sedans like the BMW 3 Series which it's priced against. You really do get more metal for the money with the 2021 Acura TLX.

Wheelbase and width have been increased, and the TLX's height has been lowered compared to the 2020 model. Acura execs proclaim this gives the new sedan “near exotic” proportions. Also helping the TLX look more expensive than it is are a long hood and tucked tail.

Those seeking more aggressive or unique elements can have them with options like a decklid spoiler, black chrome badging, and rear diffuser. We are glad this TLX isn’t over-the-top. Its honeycomb grille, for example, is powerful without coming off as imposing or gaudy.

2021 Acura TLX Standard Features
The 2021 Acura TLX is again available in four trims: Standard, Technology Package, A-Spec, and Advance.

In Standard form, the 2021 TLX includes keyless entry with push-button start, leatherette upholstery, 12-way power-operated and heated front seats, 18-inch wheels with high-performance all-season tires, dual-zone climate control, moonroof , and LED lights.

A 7-inch digital information screen sits in the instrument cluster. The main infotainment system is a new 10.2-inch display with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, over-the-air updates, and a 10-speaker premium audio system with twin subwoofers.

The Acura TLX comes with a full roster of active safety and driver-assist systems. Known as AcuraWatch, it bundles forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. For 2021, it now includes traffic sign recognition, driver-attention monitor, expanded pedestrian detection, and Traffic Jam Assist. The latter operates at speeds below 45 mph to help keep the car between lanes in conjunction with active cruise control.

 

2021 Acura TLX Options
All-wheel drive (AWD) can be had in place of the standard front-wheel drive (FWD) on all models for an extra $ 2,000.

Otherwise, like other Acura and Honda vehicles, major options are bundled into trims. Stepping up to the Technology Package adds leather upholstery, navigation, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, 19-inch wheels, adjustable interior lighting with 27 themes, and 13-speaker ELS audio system.

The Acura TLX A-Spec includes a sport appearance package, the phenomenal 17-speaker ELS audio system (see Favorite Features), LED fog lights, heated and ventilated front seats, remote engine start, rain-sensing windshield wipers, wireless phone charger, flat-bottomed steering wheel, and hand-wrapped and top-stitched dash.

The top-line Acura TLX Advance includes a suspension system with adaptive dampers, heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, color head-up display, surround-view camera, power-folding mirrors with puddle lights, open-pore wood trim, and 16 -way adjustable seats.

2021 Acura TLX Engine
The new Acura TLX uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This is substantially more power than the outgoing base 4-cylinder engine, and more akin to the formerly optional V6.

The engine is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters let you have manual control of shifts if desired.

The Acura TLX comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD). Acura’s impressive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) is optional on all trims. It can send up to 70 percent of torque to the rear wheels, and 100 percent of that torque to either the left or right wheel as needed.

Like other new cars, the Acura TLX has an engine start / stop system that cuts power at idle, such as stoplights. It can be disabled with the press of a button. Premium unleaded gasoline is recommended for this engine.