2023 Acura TLX

Pros:

• Several good things come with the price
• The TLX handles better because it can be equipped with all-wheel-drive technology.
• The optional ELS audio system gives you good sound.

Cons:

• The touchpad controller for the entertainment system is a pain to use.
• It can feel crowded in the backseats.
• Not as fast or as good for the environment as many of its rivals

How does the TLX get its power? We tested the TLX A-turbocharged Spec’s four-cylinder engine. The fact that our vehicle could be driven on all four wheels was a nice bonus. From 0-60 mph on our test track took 6.5 seconds, which is a touch longer than the time it takes for compact premium cars with base four-cylinder engines.

On the plus side, the all-wheel-drive technology makes it easier and safer to turn in tight spaces. Even though the steering doesn’t give you much feedback, switching to Sport gives the wheel some weight and makes it feel better for driving quickly.

Even though it’s still not perfect, the 10-speed automatic transmission is a big step up from the 9-speed automatic from the last generation. Regular and comfort shifts too early and feels a little slow. It keeps the turbo boost ready, though, for when you switch to Sport mode and need to speed up quickly.

The TLX’s level of comfort. The TLX could be faster overall, but its smooth ride makes up for that. The back seats are tilted back to make them more comfortable, and the front seats are padded excellently. Still, the front seats could be more flexible, and the side bolsters could be more supportive of racing.

Even though sharp-edged road bumps can make a loud thud inside the cabin, the ride is usually a great mix of softness and calmness on various road surfaces. There isn’t much noise. Even though instrumented testing shows that the TLX is a few decibels noisier inside than its competitors, the car is still peaceful. The front seats of the A-Spec can be set to an automatic mode that adjusts how much they heat or cool based on the temperature outside and the temperature you want inside the car. The system to change the temperature is easy to use.

What’s the inside like? There are a lot of nice things inside the TLX cabin. There is a lot of flexibility in the seat, and the steering wheel can be adjusted for both tilt and reach, so it’s simple to find a suitable position behind the wheel. It’s a breeze to get in and out of the car, thanks to the large doors and the sloping roof. The back seats don’t have enough room for legs or heads, and tall people will feel uncomfortable being so close to the top.

The old TLX had a dual-touchscreen entertainment system, but the new TLX had a display screen controlled by a trackpad. From our point of view, it’s a step backward. The trackpad acts like a touchscreen, but it isn’t big enough and isn’t accurate enough to use simultaneously with the many virtual buttons on the screen.

How are the gadgets? Even though the touchpad interface isn’t perfect, the built-in navigation system is easy to use and has clear maps. But in our tests, the point-of-interest search on the navigation system sometimes gave us wrong results. Also, there is no direction indicator, so you can’t tell if the Starbucks you asked for is close by or more than a mile away from where you are standing. Getting the A-Spec or Advance trim is worth it just for the ELS audio system. It’s great.

Standard smartphone integration features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, although the wireless operation is not. Some competitors, however, let you connect your phone wirelessly. Also, there are no USB ports in the back, which seems odd for a high-end car. We understand that most high-tech driving systems are standard and come close to mimicking how people naturally drive. Some things could be improved, like the slow response time of the adaptive cruise control system when the car in front of you drifts out of your lane.

What is the situation with storage? The trunk of the TLX is 13.5 cubic feet, which is bigger than the trunks of most of its competitors. The box’s opening is enormous, making it easy to load long things horizontally. Because of the decklid’s low height, you have to stretch to load or unload objects that are wedged between the back seats and the trunk floor. There is a lot of storage space in the cabin, but most of it is only about average size.

You should know that the lower anchors for car seats are hidden under a leather strip with Velcro on the back. This strip needs to be taken off if you want to use your sports sedan as a family car. Even though the TLX is small, there is little room in the front seats. However, the wide doors should make it easy to load a car seat.

How efficiently does it use gas? The EPA says the Acura TLX we tested, which has all-wheel drive, gets 24 mpg. That’s a few mpg less than competitors like the BMW 330i xDrive (28 mpg) and the Audi A4 S line (27 mpg). On our real-world test route, our test TLX got a more competitive 26.2 mpg, but the TLX’s gas mileage could be better overall.

Is it a good deal? Starting at less than $40,000, the TLX is cheaper than almost every other small luxury sedan on the market. Our TLX A-Spec with all-wheel drive costs about $48,000, a significant discount compared to other cars with similar features. Taking into account the high-quality materials and craftsmanship, this Acura is a great deal.

Even though its powertrain warranty of six years/70,000 miles is better than what its German competitor offers, its bumper-to-bumper warranty of four years/50,000 miles is standard for the segment. But unlike many of its German rivals, the TLX does not come with free maintenance.

The so-so engine doesn’t have the power you’d expect from a real sport sedan, so only the Sport mode gives you the steering weight you need to turn the car precisely. On the other hand, the TLX’s different parts are designed to make you feel excited. When fitted with summer tires, the TLX can compete favorably with vehicles such as over winding mountain roads, a BMW 3 Series, and an Alfa Romeo Giulia being driven.

This sleek car will look great in the driveway of almost anyone. This is especially true of the A-Spec version, which takes style cues from the Type S and adds them to the rest of the TLX line. The inside is made of leather and fake suede and looks excellent. Even though the TLX doesn’t handle corners as well as some of its competitors, it’s hard to justify spending thousands more on a sedan that is only slightly better. You must pay more if you wish to avoid the TLX’s touchpad controller.

As of this writing, Acura hasn’t officially said anything about the 2023 TLX. Based on this year’s lineup, we recommend the TLX Technology with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. If something changes, we’ll change our recommendation (SH-AWD). The SH-AWD technology improves traction when wet or snowy and makes driving more responsive when dry. The Technology package adds bigger wheels, leather seats, and a complete set of safety and entertainment features for a shockingly low price.

Versions of the Acura TLX

The Acura TLX’s trim levels are its available add-on packages. There are the “Base,” “Tech,” “A-Spec,” “Advance,” and “Type S” models. All of them are front-wheel drives powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with ten gears and an automated transmission (272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque). The only variant is Type S. Selective Hybrid All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) is an available option for Acura vehicles. The TLX Type S has a 3.0L V6 engine turbocharged for 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.