2020 Acura TLX

Acura is a Japanese Luxury brand, and is a subdivision of the ultra-successful Auto Giant Honda. You, of course, know Honda as the maker of inexpensive family cars. You might also know Honda from those sporty turbocharged cars (probably Civics) that make much more power than their innocent looks suggest. Of course, if you are the latter kind, you won’t be interested in any Acura except the NSX coupe. If you are the former kind though, well, Honda has a whole lineup of cars waiting to be discovered by you.

Acura TLX is a very simple sedan; not too expensive, but good looking, comfy, and has great practicality. It isn’t very engaging to drive, and the base engine is a lot less powerful than other cars in this class. If you upgrade to the V6 though, you won’t complain about the power, only the handling. You get a lot of different trims and options to choose from, which helps consumers set their own budgets.

"Comfortable ride, top-notch seat comfort, choice standard features." - Car and Driver

The 2020 Acura TLX is offered with 4 choice of trims: Standard (base), Technology Package, A-spec, and Advance Package. Then you have a choice of engines as well, coupled with a choice of drivetrain (front-wheel or all-wheel drive) in a few, making the total possible choices up to 14. No other manufacturer currently offers 14 different choices in a family sedan, which makes the TLX a winner in this regard.

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There is a TLX for every budget! Still, does it make sense to go for the higher variants, when you can find a perfectly functional Mercedes for the same price? If you want more features, well then it does. If you want to flaunt your possession to your friends and family, then it doesn’t. With that in mind, its the Standard (base trim) that makes the most sense.

Sport-minded drivers may not like the sluggish downshifts and inability to fully disable stability control. City drivers may not like the heavier steering and stiffer suspension.-Edmunds

Engine and Transmission of the 2020 Acura TLX

Sitting under the long hood is a smooth 2.4-Liter turbocharged 4-cylinders engine, which produces a generous 206 horsepower. Maximum torque is rated at 182 pound-feet, which is strong enough to pull the car out of any and every situation. The engine is mated to a brilliant 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The gearbox feels like it operates butter instead of gears. Power is transferred to the front wheels, or all the wheels if you opt for the all-wheel-drive V6 model.

The closest competition to the Acura comes in the form of Infiniti Q50, at least in terms of engine. The Infiniti is just 2 hp ahead of the Acura in terms of power, but offers one gear less on the transmission front. Genesis G70 and Kia Stinger are also close competition to the TLX. Other than that, you have the Premium performance brands such as Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, and Mercedes trying their hand in the affordable luxury segment.

Acceleration of the 2020 Acura TLX

The 2.4-Liter turbo engine isn’t the most powerful motor around, and the performance reflects that. The base engine powered TLX takes a weak 7.1 seconds to reach 60 MPH. The V6 engine utilizes the extra power to reach 60 MPH in a significantly better time of 5.7 seconds.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia runs from naught to 60 mph in an impressive 5.5 seconds. The Mercedes C300 stands neck to neck with this Italian stallion in terms of performance. The rest of 2 liters in the competition take a fair bit longer to gain speed.

Ride and Handling of the 2020 Acura TLX

The all-wheel-drive variant is the best handler without a doubt. It offers great traction, owing to the brilliant Acura SH-AWD system, which sends power to all wheels independent of other wheels. This maintains tractions on all four anchor points, without losing control even when not on tarmac. The front-wheel-drive variants are fun to drive too, but are simply outpaced by other cars in the segment, especially the German and Italian rivals. Other than that, the handling isn’t particularly exciting.

Ride quality is fine, and the TLX balances the suppleness of ride and stiffness under cornering well. If the weather is pleasant, and you have no plans for the weekend, throw in your bags and set out on a road trip. Smiles are guaranteed here.

Braking of the 2020 Acura TLX

The 2020 Acura TLX uses disc brakes on both the front and the rear wheels. These bring all 3500 pounds of this tame beast to a standstill in a hurry. While the exact braking performance isn't known at this point, the brakes work well in real-world conditions. The pedal feels precise and the brakes themselves are very responsive. You also get automatic emergency braking, which is great for distracted drivers.

All the cars in this segment come fitted with discs on all four wheels, which aids braking a lot. Under panic braking situation, you could simply bury the pedal into the floor, and the electronics will make sure you safely come to a halt. Braking safety in this segment is simply astounding.

"The TLX is available with a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or a more powerful, less frugal V-6." - Car and Driver

The Acura motor isn’t the most powerful, as discussed earlier. What it is, is an extremely frugal commuter. You could ferry your entire family around all day and still the fuel bills won’t hurt your pockets. You get a brilliant gas mileage of 23 MPG in the city and 33 on the highways, figures good enough to stay at the top of the segment.

Balancing fuel efficiency with performance sees the Jaguar lead the competition; drinking a super frugal 29 miles per gallon. The rest follow closely, and none of cars here disappoint on the economy front.

Understated quality is better than low-grade ostentation. This point is proved inside the TLX's cabin, with its quality materials and comfortable seats.-Edmunds

Seating and Comfort of the 2020 Acura TLX

Unsurprisingly, this Acura sedan has a lot of space on offer on the inside. You can easily seat 4 or even 5 people on the inside, which is quite wonderful. The space is actually the best in this segment, and taller passengers would be the most comfortable in the Acura.

The interiors quality leaves you somewhat dissatisfied though. You will notice road and wind noise creeping into the cabin at speed, and prolonged use may also bring forth squeaks and rattles, especially in the rear armrest. This annoying niggle is shared by the Honda Accord too, although the lower price tag of the latter forces you to look the other way.

The Genesis G80, Infiniti Q50, and Kia Stinger offer quite an impressive interior space as well but fall behind where it matters, i.e., the rear head and legroom. Lexus IS sedan makes a good case for itself with plenty of space all around, and to be honest, it bests the Acura in rear cabin space, which makes it the best pick in terms of space.

Infotainment System of the 2020 Acura TLX

The TLX utilizes a twin display setup on the dashboard, one of which is a touchscreen display while the other isn’t. The latter screen is controlled via a knob on the center console. There are plenty of features on offer like:

• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Bluetooth Hands free Phone and Audio
• AM/FM Radio
• 8-Speaker Audio System

Cargo Volume of the 2020 Acura TLX

Acura engineers did a lot of good on the TLX, but designing a large trunk was not one of them. The boot space is quite small compared to the Kia Stinger, which utilizes its hatchback design to incorporate more space in the back. Still, the Acura is better than average, with more than 14 cubic feet on offer. You could easily stuff two big backpacks in the back easily.

With last year’s significant update, the Acura TLX entry-level luxury sedan finally has the styling that gets it noticed.-Kelley Blue Book

Weight and Measurements of the 2020 Acura TLX

The 2020 Acura TLX is a heavy car, at over 3 and a half thousand pounds. This isn’t uncommon though, as other cars in this segment weigh the same. This, however, means that the ride and handling aren’t too great. You can feel the weight when driving around.

Acura is the longest car here, with the stinger following closely behind. The rest of the cars are comfortably smaller, with their dimensions ranging from 190 inches on the upper side to 180 inches on the lower side

Design and Styling of the 2020 Acura TLX

Japanese cars offer magnificent engineering, but their designs are best described as low on the priority list. Usually, the Japs either nail it or try too hard and fail miserably. The Acura however, doesn’t believe in both those extremes. It is a moderately good-looking car, but that isn’t a bad thing. The design language is quite subtle. The LED strips in the headlamps and taillamps are brilliant.

There are plenty of safety features on offer in the 2020 Acura TLX. The most important ones are listed below:

• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Front Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Air Bag
• Front Side Air Bag
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist

Acura TLX vs Infiniti Q50

Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50 are two of the most practical, affordable, and easy-to-live-with cars in this segment. They’re built by two premium Japanese manufacturers, which is actually the reason for all those things. Japs have consistently built good and affordable cars. You can’t go wrong with any of these sedans. If you were looking for a little more interior space and slightly more compact dimensions, the Infiniti makes a stronger point. In terms of looks, efficiency, and trunk space, the Acura takes the lead.

Acura TLX vs Mercedes C-class

While both these sedans represent the affordable luxury bracket, you could easily figure out the more expensive one simply by looking at them. With a more powerful engine, better interiors, and most importantly, the premium brand image, the Mercedes C300 is simply the better car here. The Germans take the cake here until you consider the price. The Merc is easily a few grand more expensive than the base TLX, and even the highest trim is comparable to the base C-class. From a practical, real-world point of view, the Benz doesn’t hold much appeal.

Acura TLX vs Kia Stinger

While the Kia Stinger is a fairly new sedan to the market, it has lovely performance, great interior, and is extremely practical. It also has a lot of safety features, as well as a comfortable ride. The Acura is much less a driver’s car, especially compared to the Stinger. Its base variant is also cheaper, which tilts the scale in its favor. The Infiniti only takes the lead in terms of rear passenger space which, although important, doesn’t make the strongest case for the TLX.

To conclude, it’s safe to say the 2020 Acura TLX is a great car for your average car needs. It doesn’t offer much excitement but is a strong contender for as impressive since the previous year. The sedan combines beauty, drivability and power, and a little bit of practicality while remaining kind on fuel economy. If your primary use for the car is family duties, this is the car for you.

FAQs about the 2020 Acura TLX.

Let's go through some of the most frequently asked questions about the 2020 Acura TLX.

What is the difference between the 2019 and 2020 Acura TLX?

The 2020 Acura TLX is equipped with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Whereas, the last year's model missed out on both. 

Is the 2020 Acura TLX AWD?

The 2020 Acura TLX is available with an all-wheel-drive system with the V6 engine option. 

Is the 2020 Acura TLX bigger than the 2020 Acura ILX?

The TLX is much bigger when compared to the ILX. The ILX is a compact sedan whereas the TLX is a full-size sedan. 

2020 Acura TLX FAQs