2021 Acura TLX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The TLX is a good-looking, sporty sedan in a class crowded with the same. Its styling is distinguished by a very assertive stance accentuated by a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. There’s nothing timid about TLX’s face, either, with a grille pattern that looks like it exploded out from the big Acura logo at its centre, and squinting lines of “jewel eye” LED headlights arrayed horizontally on each side. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes flow exhaust below the rear bumper. Paint quality is top-notch, and tasteful badging and hints of chrome enhance the look of this premium sedan.

Inside, a similar level of quality and attention to detail is on display. Acura describes its driver’s position as a “sport sedan cockpit,” and the descriptor is apt. The dash is sectioned off with different functions clustered together, and authentic materials with good hand feel throughout the design. If it looks like metal, it is metal; if it looks like leather, it is leather; if it looks like open-pore wood, it is wood. Gaps are tight and even, fonts match, and there’s good flow and visual movement and interest throughout. The 10.2-inch, landscape-oriented infotainment screen is neatly mounted at the top of the centre stack, right where it should be, and it manages to look like it is floating above the dash intentionally, not as an afterthought.

If you’re going to compete in the premium sport sedan class, you’ve got to pay attention to the “sport” part of the equation. Acura developed a new engine for TLX, a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder direct gasoline-injected unit with variable valve timing and double overhead cams, tuned to produce 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It uses a drive-by-wire throttle system and a shift-by-wire connection to its standard 10-speed automatic transmission. Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) with torque vectoring is standard on all models in Canada; front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered. Natural Resources Canada estimates fuel use at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving (11.3 for the A-Spec model), 8.0 on the highway (8.1 for A-Spec), and 9.8 combined for all models.

Sporting performance is about much more than just power figures; it’s about how the power is delivered to the road, how the car handles, steers, and stops. Having the combination of standard drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and electric power steering allows for distinct driving personality from the Integrated Dynamics System (drive modes), so that when you select Comfort, Normal, Sport, or Individual mode, the car adjusts those parameters accordingly. The Platinum Elite grade adds adaptive dampers to the mix, another variable that can be tuned to unleash the desired ride behaviour. The TLX is nimble, easy to drive, and fun to toss into the corners when the opportunities allow. Acura reports 50% greater global torsional stiffness and up to 100% greater rigidity at the suspension mounts over the outgoing TLX, and while we have no way to confirm this report other than a seat-of-the-pants feeling, we can say that TLX feels solid and substantial over a multitude of road surfaces, and that its weight feels well distributed and balanced.

At the launch event that we attended, we drove U.S. versions of the A-Spec and Platinum Elite models. Our drive was on public roads, on a loop that went through suburban neighborhoods, rural backroads, and brief highway blasts. The TLX performed as advertised, with an eager, sprightly character and inspiring handling. There are a lot of opportunities to personalize the setup on a TLX, and it was tantalizing to imagine what more time in the cockpit could deliver. Sport mode was more to our taste, mostly because it tamed a slight amount of turbo lag that cropped up in Normal and Comfort modes, and also delivered a richer exhaust note.

Many of the performance decisions that Acura made on the TLX have had a real impact on the form and function of the car. For instance, having a shift-by-wire transmission frees up designers and engineers to re-think the gear selector mechanism. They don’t need to make space in the centre console for a gear selector lever or shift linkage; they don’t need to put a shifter on the column; they can put the controls anywhere. On the TLX, the transmission is engaged via a control panel in the centre stack, modeled after the controls on the NSX. The low-profile controls are simple, straightforward, and easy for the driver to access, and they are backed up with a pair of paddle shifters on the steering wheel. That means that the centre console can house the interface for infotainment, a mini touchpad with hard buttons and a smartly positioned hand rest to ease operation and precision. Two big cupholders are also on the centre console, tucked over to the passenger’s side, and out of the way of the driver’s hands and elbows. There are also bottle holders in the door panels. Under the armrest, there’s a good-sized storage cubby.

The rear seat is comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom for average-sized people. The centre position in the second row is for short hops only. Both the driver and the front passenger are treated to comfortable, supportive sport bucket seats, available with Ultrasuede inserts or perforated leather. They have 12-way or 16-way power adjustability, including four-way power lumbar adjustability and four-way adjustable headrests. Heated front seats are standard; ventilated front seats come with the A-Spec and Platinum Elite.

The second row folds down in a 60/40 split to allow access to the trunk. Cargo space in the trunk is a generous 382 litres, with a 120-centimetre-wide opening and 107.5 cm of depth.

TLX is loaded with technology, both on the performance end and on the comfort and convenience end.

Performance technology we’ve already discussed includes drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. Additionally, the 10-speed automatic transmission is equipped with several useful technologies. Grade Logic Control alters the transmission’s shift schedule while ascending or descending hills; Shift Hold Control keeps the transmission in a lower gear during aggressive driving; Cornering G Shift Control monitors each rear wheel's speed and avoids upshifting while the car is turning, which could destabilize the car. All of this happens in the background, without conscious driver intervention, using technology to read the driver’s actions to uncover intention, and predicting and implementing the best actions.

Some of the technology is not as subtle and is more for occupant enjoyment rather than ride enhancement. There are multiple ambient interior lighting and illumination themes. These can be triggered automatically in concert with the drive modes, or owners can customize lighting to match their moods (or clothing, or whims, or favourite sports team colours, or whatever). Cool and fun.

Perhaps the TLX’s most impressive available technology is the new ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system (A-Spec and Platinum Elite). Developed with music producer Eliot Scheiner, the system uses 710 watts of amplification and 16 discrete channels to deliver a rich, layered soundstage, thundering bass, crisp highs, clear midrange, and some of the best car audio ever delivered in a factory setup.

Acura's navigation system with voice recognition is standard above the base trim level, with coverage of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The infotainment system comes with Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The Platinum Elite grade includes a head-up display that works with polarized sunglasses, a big plus with this useful technology. In an entertaining tip of the hat to the TLX’s sporty stance, there’s a G-Metre and Turbo Boost Indicator included on the instrument panel.

All TLX models come with driver-assist technologies, which includes adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, blind-spot monitoring (on all models but base), and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features include a pedestrian injury mitigation design, Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, a full complement of airbags, adjustable head restraints, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, LATCH connectors for child seats, ABS, vehicle stability assist with traction control, and a multi-angle rear-view camera system with dynamic guidelines. New for 2021, the TLX now has a next-generation front-passenger airbag and passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing and forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and traffic jam assist.

Available safety features include rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and the head-up display.

The 2021 Acura TLX received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), scoring the best possible rating in all categories. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it a five-star overall rating, with only the front passenger side crash test receiving four stars.

Acura has a streamlined pricing structure, which makes it pretty simple to select the model that matches your needs. The base TLX starts at an MSRP of $44,105, not including a $2,375 destination charge. The Tech trim level starts at $47,005. The TLX A-Spec starts at $49,905. Platinum Elite starts at $52,305. An Acura TLX Type S model with a V6 engine has just launched in Canada with pricing starting at $60,000.

Acura has positioned the TLX as a segment-buster, straddling the line between compact and midsized premium sports sedans. It expects buyers to compare the TLX with the Audi A4 and A6, BMW 3 Series and 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, where it looks like a comparably equipped TLX comes in at a lower price than either compact or midsized competitor. We’d add the Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Cadillac CT5, and Volvo S60 to the list for consideration.

Every new Acura is covered by a four-year/80,000-kilometre new vehicle limited warranty and a five-year/100,000 km major components warranty. The body is covered for rust perforation for five years.

There are many reasons buyers aspire to own premium sport luxury sedans. Of course, performance, luxury, and comfort are big parts of the equation, but image, status, and style also contribute to the decision to buy. Acura qualifies as a premium brand by virtue of its quality and level of technology and craftsmanship, but it doesn’t have the prestige of the German brands or even Lexus in the United States right now, nor does it have an air of exclusivity. For some, these shortfalls might be a reason to avoid a TLX; for others, the fact that the 2021 Acura TLX represents a thoughtful, independent choice may be just the ticket.