2017 Acura TLX

The Acura TLX comes with an optional V6 engine, same as other cars in the luxury mid-sized segment. Producing the 206 horsepower from it's 4-cylinder engine in the base trim and goes all the way up to 290 horsepower if you go for the Advance Package, with V6. We have to agree the base engine of the Acura TLX is underwhelming. And not to mention that the Acura TLX has got the less cargo space than all. So going for the base trim of the Acura TLX might not be a good decision.

With the Acura TLX, Honda has got you got covered with a wide variety of options available. You get to choose from the inline 4-cylinder and V6 engine to choose your preferable power under the hood. Other option you get to choose from is FWD and AWD to prefer your terrain of choice.

With the Acura TLX, Honda has got most of you covered with a wide variety of options made available. You get to choose from the base in-line 4-cylinder engine and the performance packed V6 engine. You also get to choose from the Front-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive depending on your preferable terrain. And the pricing for all these trims ranges from $33,000 to $44,900, still cheaper than the cars by other brands.

Trims	Standard	Technology Package	Advance package
MSRP (Inline-4 FWD with P-AWS)	$33,000	$36,050	N/A
MSRP (V-6 FWD with P-AWS)	$35,450	$39,500	$42,700
MSRP (V-6 SH-AWD)	NA	$41,700	$44,900
Features	17-inch wheels Keyless entry and ignition Dual-zone automatic Climate control Simulated leather upholstery Power-adjustable front seats.	Keyless entry for the rear doors Leather upholstery Automatic wipers Climate control system that compensates for sun direction Navigation 10-speaker premium audio system Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.	Parking sensors Remote engine start ventilated front seats Heated outboard rear seats Heated steering wheel wireless device charging Auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors Surround-view camera system and a heated windshield.

We Recommend 

We recommend you to buy the ALX with the optional V6 engine. You get more power and if tagged with the Technology package trim will add a series of electronic safety features like seat-belt electronic pre-tensioners, remote engine start, auto-dimming side mirror, adaptive cruise control and more. 

"Around town and on the highway, you'll enjoy the 2017 TLX's comfortable and discernibly refined ride. Shoppers who might still associate Acura products with elevated road noise will find a counterpoint in this sedan, as there's little wind or tire roar to interfere with conversations or music"- Edmunds

Engine and Transmission 

The 2017 Acura TLX is powered by a 2.4L 4-Cylinder engine and a 3.5L V6 engine option in the performance trim capable of producing 290 hp. The 8-Speed dual clutch transmission is standard in all the trims, an advantage over the competition as they either have a 6-speed or 7-speed transmission. The base variant feels underwhelming in terms of the power. The Acura should have given a little more power to the base variant.

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
MSRP	$33,000	$38,950	$35,170	$37,300
Engine	2.4L DOHC 16-Valve VTEC 4-Cylinder	2.0L turbo I-4	2.0L Turbocharged I-4	2.0L TFSI I4 DOHC
Transmission	8-Speed Dual Clutch	7-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	7-Speed Automatic
Power	206 hp	208 hp	240 hp	252 hp
Torque	182 lb-ft	258 lb-ft	270lb-ft	273b-ft

The base TLX engine might fall short in terms of raw power, but the V6 changes the game itself. It surpasses every car in the competition big time. But for now, the weak 4-cylinder engine is the lager in this lot. Cars like Lincoln MKZ and Audi A4 are backed with way more power, however, the Infiniti Q60 is even with the TLX when it comes to power. 

Acceleration

The Acura TLX is a fast car even for the mid-size luxury standards. From a standstill, the TLX takes off to attain a 60 mph acceleration in 7.2 seconds. Further nailing down the accelerator, the car finished the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds. Quite impressive for a 4-cylinder engine, the optional V6 take things to another level.

Models	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
0-60 MPH	7.2	6.9 sec	7.0 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter mile	14.2 sec	17.3 sec	13.7 sec	14.0 sec
Engine	2.4L	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year	6.3	7	7.3	6.3

While the TLX's speed is worth noticing, it's not the top of the line. Cars like Audi A4 exceeds all 3 cars in the lot both in the quarter-mile and 0 to 60 test. Where the TLX and the MKZ shares a neck to battle the Q60 was performed poorly. 

Braking

The brakes in the Acura TLX are quite sizeable, the front brakes are set at 12.6 inches on the front and 12.2 inches on the back. Although the Acura TLX weighs lighter than the other cars it performed weaker than other heavier cars in the competition. Push down the paddle at 60 mph, it covers 121 ft. to stop. 

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
Brake Front(in)	12.6	12.6	12.4	13.3
Brake Rear(in)	12.2	12.1	12.4	13.0
Curb weight(lbs)	3483	3727	3739	3483
60-0 MPH (ft.)	121	113	108	105

Even the heaviest car in the lot took 108 feet to halt, followed by the Lincoln MKZ and Infinity Q60 which performed evenly.

Ride and Handling

The driving experience in the Acura TLX is somewhat of a mixed experience. The 4-cylinder variant of the car feels weaker. It doesn't throw you back in the seat when you accelerate. But the case is different with the V6 trim of the car. It gives you the thrill of that powerful mid-sized sedan.

When driving the Front-Wheel Drive, the car feels to throw the rear out of the curve. But that's just a feeling. And that feeling seems is cured in the All-Wheel Drive variant. You feel more control over the car in the AWD trim of the car. And the AWD + 3.5L V6 trim is just great.

The 8-Speed dual clutch standard transmission is smooth. As smooth as the power delivery in this car. One thing you might feel odd in this is that instead of using shift lever, you will have to reverse, park and drive the TLX using a few buttons. Yes, it might feel messy in the beginning but you will soon get used to it. The Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) had four driving modes: Economy, Normal, Sport and Sport+. And none of those driving modes need any explanation. Ride quality is comfortable in this car no matter what mode you select.

With the 2.8L 4-cylinder engine, you will get the city gas mileage of 24 miles per gallon and on highway roads it stretch out to 35 miles per gallon. Although the numbers drop when you switch to the V6 engine in your car. Giving you the better fuel economy than the Infiniti Q60 and Lincoln MKZ but couldn't beat the Audi A4.

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
MPG (city)	24	22	21	27
MPG (highway)	35	30	31	37
MPG (combined)	28	25	24	31

"Historically, Acura interiors are precisely tailored, closely detailed and intuitively user-friendly, and the 2017 TLX sedan maintains that appreciated tradition"- KBB

Seating and Comfort

The Acura TLX is a regular 5-seater car with the seats for three in the back. And if the middle seat of the three in the rear is empty, you can pull out the armrest on that seat housing two cup holders. You may expect some compromises with the legroom or headroom because of the rather small dimensions of the car but that's not the case here. The space inside the cabin is quite good even for taller people to sit comfortably without hitting their head on the roof or the knees into the front seats. But if you need any more space, you can always ask the person sitting on the front to adjust.

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
Passenger capacity	5	4	5	5
Passenger Volume (ft cube)	93.3	85.4	96.6	NA
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.2/57.5/42.6	37.9/54.6/43.1	37.9/57.7/44.3	38.9/55.9/41.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.7/57.5/34.5	34.5/52/32.4	36.6/55.3/37	37.4/54.5/35.7

Interior Feature

The 2017 Acura TLX comes with all the essential luxury comfort features. It comes with power adjustable seats, power windows, power sunroof. Every little bit to make you put less muscular effort.

• 8-Way Power Driver and Front Passenger Seats
• Bucket Front Seats
• Height Adjustable Driver and Front Passenger Seats
• Multi-level heating driver and front passenger seats
• Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
• Folder center armrest in rear seats
• Rear ventilation ducts
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Electric Power Steering
• Rear View Camera
• Transmission, Cruise and Audio Controls on Steering Wheel
• Climate Control
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Memorized Settings for 2 drivers

Infotainment

The Acura TLX has the premium 10-speaker audio system to give you the essence of the nirvana. Complete details are below.

• 1 Subwoofer
• 10 Total Speakers
• 445 Watts Stereo Output
• USB Connection
• Auxiliary Audio input and USB with external media control
• Satellite radio
• Speed sensitive volume control
• Surround audio

Cargo

Some might say, the storage is below-average in the Acura TLX. But when compared to the Infiniti and Lincoln, the TLX exceeds its rivals. With the available 13.2 cubic feet space, it really comes down to the personal preference that how much space do you really need. But considering this is a mid-sized sedan, you might be planning to use TLX for the family trip next summer. So you might run out of space for your large suitcases.

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
Volume (ft.cube)	13.2	8.7	15.4	13.0

"Acura’s 2017 TLX performance-luxury sedan might not stand out in a crowd but it is an elegant and handsome piece of work"- KBB

Dimension and Weight

Weighing at almost 3500 pounds, the TLX is slightly heavier than the Audi A4 but is lighter than the other two by more than a couple hundred pounds. Although the TLX sits at 190 inches long and 73 inches wide. The height of the Acura TLX is at 57.0 inches with a ground clearance of 5.8 inches, which is more than other cars the Acura TLX is standing against. It shares a shorter wheelbase at 109 inches, you will definitely feel that less legroom space in the rear.

Model	Acura TLX	Infiniti Q60	Lincoln MKZ	Audi A4 Premium
curb weight(lbs)	3483	3727	3739	3450
Length(in)	190.3	184.4	194.1	186.1
Width(in)	73.0	72.8	73.4	72.5
Height(in)	57.0	54.9	58.2	56.2
Ground clearance(in)	5.8	4.9	5.0	5.0
Wheelbase(in)	109.3	112.2	112.2	111.0
Track width(in) F/R	62.8/63.1	61.2/61.2	62.3/62	61.9/61.2

Exterior Features

• One-touch power sunroof

• Power glass sunroof

• Rear Defogger

• Remote Sunroof operation

• Variable intermittent rain sensing wipers

• Alloy Wheels

• All Season tires (P225/50R18 tires)

• Dusk Sensing headlamps

• Daytime running LED lights

• Tire pressure monitoring

• Traction control

• Turn Signal Mirrors

The 2017 Acura TLX comes packed with a plenty of safety features. From the standard airbags to the notification you get regarding the safety to-do for the passengers like buckling up your seat belt. You get them all. List of the standard safety features is listed below.

• Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)

• Dual-Stage

• Front Seat Belt e-Pretensioner System — A A Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ) with Traction Control and Motion Adaptive Steering

• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Location, Pressure Indicators, and Tire Fill Assist

• Expanded View Driver’s Mirror

• Theft-Deterrent System with Electronic Immobilizer

• Tire Sealant and Repair Kit

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Ratings

CrashWorthiness
Small overlap front driver side	Acceptable
Small overlap front passenger side	N/A
Moderate overlap front	Good
Side	Good
Roof strength	Good
Head restraints & seats	Good

 

Crash Avoidance & Mitigation
Front Crash Prevention	Superior
Headlights	Marginal
LATCH	Marginal

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Ratings 

Overall Rating	5 Star
Overall Frontal Crash Rating	5 Star
Frontal Crash Rating Driver Side	5 Star
Frontal Crash Rating Passenger Side	5 Star
Overall Side Crash Rating	5 Star
Combined Side Barrier and Pole Rating Front Seat	5 Star
Combined Side Barrier and Pole Rating Front Seat Rear Seat	5 Star
Side Barrier	5 Star
Side barrier Driver	5 Star
Side barrier Rear Passenger	5 Star
Overall Side Pole Star Rating	5 Star
Rollover Rating	5 Star

The 2017 Acura TLX is built to protect its passengers. It might even have the highest ever safety ratings in a mid-sized luxury sedan by the NHTSA. So if you want to buy a car with the best security features, the Acura TLX might be it.

 Acura TLX  Vs.Infiniti Q60

With the striking looks of the Infiniti Q60, many might prefer the Q60 over the rather dull looks of Acura TLX. However, the TLX is a well-designed car sharing its resemblance with the company's sports NSX. But those sporty bits doesn't fit good in a sedan body. TLX do get a bigger engine but the lack of turbocharger might upset some. But it doesn't make a lot of difference, you get 2 extra horses in terms of power. When you take the lower price of TLX in consideration, the choice becomes clear.

 Acura TLX  Vs.Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln's MKZ has been around for a decade now. While the TLX has been available just couple years ago. Both stand true to the 'luxury mid-sized' statement. Both sedans are premium on the inside. But MKZ does look like a businessman's car from the outside too. Powered by a rather small 2.0L engine, it is capable of making 240 hp with a turbocharged engine. Even the boot space is bigger than the TLX. The TLX doesn't beat out the MKZ but all that extra you get comes with the extra price.

Acura TLX  Vs. Audi A4 Premium

Audi A4 has been around for two decades now. And the TLX gives the competition to the 5^th generation of the A4. The A4 is definitely a better car but it is the costliest of all. Well, you might expect it to be costly with the Premium in the name. And when you compare the TLX with a premium car like A4, the A4 might create some extra boxes in the list which TLX might not tick. But all said both cars perform well on road and the AWD V6 variant of the car is really fun to drive.

With the Acura TLX, Honda has tried to enter the market shared by the premium sedans from the brands like Audi and BMW. And to steal the market share of those cars, Acura really need to think something out of the box. But in no sense, the Acura TLX is a bad choice to make when you're into saving that extra 5 grand. You can go with the Acura if you want to try something new like the mid-sized luxury sedan by Acura. It will not really disappoint you.