Last fall, when I took my 2003 Acura CL in for some new oil, I drove a new Acura ILX around for a day and wrote about it. I commented on how, despite its lineage being traceable to the 2012-2015 Honda Civic (which itself is TWO generations removed from the current Civic), it had enough "special sauce" to generally separate itself from its humble roots, especially considering its under-$30K price point. At the time, I was anxiously awaiting my chance to sample the all-new 2021 Acura TLX, which debuted on its own all-new and Acura-specific platform. No Honda-in-disguise funny business here!
I should add that the anticipation was extra intense, as I've previously owned the 2021 TLX's predecessor from two generations ago (RIP to my 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD six-speed).
At long last, when my 2003 CL's power steering pump gave up its ghost and needed replacement, I sampled the 2021 TLX for a couple days. My questions were as follows:
1. Was it a true Acura, and no longer just a gussied-up Accord, given that it no longer could justify any perceived deficiencies due to sharing a platform with a Honda model? In other words, can it genuinely compete against offerings from other well-established luxury brands without any qualifiers?
2. Should someone in the market for a TLX splurge on one of the three available upgrade packages (four if you include the high-performance Type-S model), or is the base model so well-equipped and well-done that upgrades aren't necessary?
3. Does a base TLX make more or less sense than a fully loaded Accord Touring 2.0T, and should the two even be cross-shopped, despite the fact that both cars go for around $37K, give or take?
After driving the TLX for two days in my daily life as a school band director with a 47-mile one-way commute that involves highways and back roads, the answers are quite complex. Let's wait to address each of the aforementioned questions until we take a look, in isolation, at the various aspects of the TLX. So, in no particular order, here we go with some immediate takeaways:
1. The driver's portion of the interior is a VERY nice place to spend time, despite this being the base model. Fit and finish were both excellent, and material quality was outstanding for a $37K car, and even for a $40K to $50K one. This version had leatherette upholstery, but I would not have known had I not read the press release for this car; the seats felt like they were covered in real leather. The front bucket seats were extremely comfortable and supportive. Other than some low-rent plastic covers on the door-mounted stereo speakers (which are replaced with authentic metal grilles on versions with the optional ELS audio upgrade), this interior punches far above its price class, and well above the current Accord (which itself is quite well-done).
2. All of that said, the rear seat is unforgivably small and cramped. I am exactly six feet tall and, with the front seats positioned such that I could comfortably occupy them, there was barely any rear-seat legroom and ingress/egress were exercises in contortion. Furthermore, even though there are climate vents for the rear seat, some other amenities that might be expected at (or even below) this price range are noticeably lacking. I'm referring to things like USB charge ports, 12V power outlets, a dedicated climate zone, etc.
3. As far as generic features and amenities go, again, this car punches well above its price tag. Unlike on several European luxury cars, where expected amenities often cost extra, the standard equipment list is massive. This base model included items like full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane assist, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and multi-adjustable front seats with driver's-side memory, one-touch up and down windows at all four corners, proximity key with push-button start AND auto walk-away lock (the car locks as you walk away with the key fob in your pocket -- BRILLIANT!), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and much more. Some additional items are included in the various upgrade packages (Technology, A-Spec, and Advance) -- these include the aforementioned ELS premium audio system, built-in navigation, blind-spot monitoring, heated steering wheel, key-fob remote start, heads-up display, heated rear seats, and some others. Overall, though, the features-per-dollar ratio is fantastic, even if most of the upgrades in the preceding sentence ARE included in the similarly-priced top-tier Honda Accord.
4. The TLX shares its 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four engine and ten-speed automatic transmission with the Honda Accord Touring and, as much as I might miss the linear, rev-happy, and aurally-pleasing 3.5 liter V6 of the previous generation, this is a very strong powertrain. The car never felt underpowered, and was always a downshift away from a quick burst of acceleration for merging or passing. Additionally, the transmission was so well-sorted that I never needed to use the paddle shifters on the wheel to manually shift the car. Yes, I would have loved to have a true six-speed manual, but only because I enjoy that irreplaceable mechanical connection between man and machine. Otherwise, aside from the slightly industrial engine note that speaks to its lower cylinder count, I quite liked this powertrain.
5. Given that this was the base model TLX, with smaller wheels and tires than the three higher trim levels, I expected the ride and handling balance to skew more toward a comfortable ride and less toward crisp cornering. Boy, was I wrong. The ride was not uncomfortable by any stretch, but it was not glass-smooth, and certainly was not as absorbent as the prior TLX. It was roughly on par with my 2012 TL, which rode quite stiffly and which itself was the performance-oriented version of that generation. However, this car steered and cornered eagerly, crisply, and with excellent responsiveness, more so than expected. It felt very athletic, if a bit "big" from behind the wheel. I am a bit nervous that the upper-trim versions, with their larger wheels and tires, might ride TOO stiffly, even though they may handle even more impressively than the car I drove.
6. In my opinion, after owning and driving several Honda and Acura products, they generally tend to struggle with road noise suppression. Unfortunately, despite the prior-generation TLX bucking this trend and delivering a very quiet highway ride, this model suppressed wind rush quite well but graced me with too much road noise for its price point. Again, this was the base model; if anything, I suspect the higher-trim models with their larger tires would transmit even more road noise.
7. Ergonomically, things generally work well. Most controls fall right where one would expect them to fall. There is one glaring exception, however, and that is the infotainment system. It is not a touchscreen, but rather a large, high-mounted screen controlled by a "true touchpad" where your finger position on the touchpad manipulates the corresponding position on the screen. In theory, it should make sense. In practice, it's obnoxious, less-than-accurate, and possesses a steep learning curve. Using Apple CarPlay is especially maddening. Even Acura's prior two-screen rotary-knob system in the ILX I reviewed last fall integrated better with Apple CarPlay than this newer system. I could see this being off-putting to most folks who aren't highly tech-savvy.
8. It's no secret that I think Acura's ELS audio systems are among the best factory audio systems on the market at any price point, and that they're one area where Acura clearly stands head and shoulders above its parent Honda brand. As such, I was initially disappointed that my loaner car had the base, non-ELS unit. However, as far as base systems go, this one is very good. Clarity, bass response, and presence are all excellent, and this system is entirely at-home in a base-trim luxury vehicle. With a base system this strong, I absolutely cannot wait to sample the new and improved ELS systems in the upper trims of this car (particularly the ones with 3D audio made possible by four ceiling-mounted speakers).
Now, let's answer our three leading questions:
1. Is the car a true Acura? Yes, absolutely. It's obvious that this car is not a re-badged Accord thanks to its outstanding interior fit and finish, unique (and maddening) infotainment system, and exceptionally crisp on-road handling.
2. Should a TLX customer splurge on one of the upgrade packages or stay with the base trim and save some money? If you're an audio snob (as I admittedly am), upgrading to a trim level with the ELS audio system would absolutely be the thing to do. Ditto if you MUST have items like ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, built-in GPS, etc., or if you regularly take your car to the track. However, if you don't absolutely need the best available audio option and can use your phone for navigation, you would likely be better served by sticking to the base model. Not only will you save money, but you will still get a very sporty-to-drive car that gives up nothing in power to its pricier iterations AND likely comes with better ride quality and quietness (though, as previously mentioned, neither of these attributes are stellar or class-leading).
3. For $37K, does the base TLX or the Accord 2.0T Touring model make more sense? This one depends on your priorities. If you're a sucker for outstanding interior quality, excellent audio, outrageously comfortable front seats, brand prestige, and excellent handling prowess, I'd recommend the TLX. However, in nearly all other situations, I'd recommend the Accord. Here's why:
-- The infotainment system in the Accord is a responsive touchscreen system, and it is significantly more intuitive and user-friendly than the maddening touchpad system in the TLX.
-- The Accord gives up nothing in acceleration, as both share a powertrain and the Accord saves some weight.
-- Most importantly, if you ever carry more than one passenger, the TLX's rear seat is just too small to be usable by anyone larger than a third or fourth grader. I wish I was joking. In contrast, a six-footer can ride behind another six-footer all day in the Accord and, at this price point, would enjoy heated rear seats and rear USB charging ports while doing so.
The TLX would make a great car for a single, tech-savvy person that loves to drive and appreciates attention-to-detail. Unfortunately, its obnoxious infotainment system could be a deal-breaker for many folks, and its unforgivably small back seat knocks this car out of contention as a family vehicle.
So clearly the TLX caters to a different buyer than the Accord, even when comparing similarly-priced versions. And honestly, from an objective standpoint, the current Accord is just a damn fine car. That said, why would Honda/Acura release two cars to compete with each other? Maybe a logical fourth question addresses how the TLX competes with its intended competition -- namely base versions of the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes C-Class. So.....
4. How does the TLX compare with the aforementioned European luxury sedans? I haven't driven any of them, and I have only had quite limited seat time in them at auto shows. However, from what I know from my limited seat time plus objective data regarding features/specs/price, here's what I'll postulate:
-- None of these cars are known for their rear-seat room, but it'd be pretty hard for any of the German cars to do WORSE than the Acura on this front. So don't expect any of them to match the space of the aforementioned Accord, but you might be able to fit larger kids or smaller adults in one of the Germans more easily than in the Acura, and they'd likely have more amenities to boot.
-- I haven't tried the other cars' infotainment systems, but again, I'd be shocked if they didn't beat Acura in this area.
-- Features-per-dollar and fit-and-finish -- Acura wins, ESPECIALLY at this price point. To get the same equipment in the German cars, and to some extent, similarly classy interior materials, be prepared to dig deeper into your budget. Value has long been an Acura hallmark, and it's as strong as ever in this car.
-- Driving experience -- again, I can't comment much on this as far as the European cars go, but this Acura drives WELL. While it might steer a bit "sporty" for someone cross-shopping an Accord, I have no reason to doubt that this car would keep up just fine with, and maybe even surpass in some areas, the driving experience of these German vehicles.
So, all said and done, if you're looking for a premium-brand compact luxury sedan, and you never carry more than one passenger, you'd be an idiot not to thoroughly test drive and consider this Acura. It fulfills its intended mission very well, especially in the sense of dollar value. Just look elsewhere if you need a usable back seat or if you hate technology.
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