2023 Acura TLX vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2023 Acura TLX faced several challenges, including a consumer shift to SUVs, pandemic-related supply chain constraints, and rising interest rates. These factors made it difficult for Acura to offer attractive lease deals, resulting in fewer TLXs on the road. The TLX Type S, tested in Southern California, stood out with its Tiger Eye Pearl paint and performance upgrades, bringing its MSRP to $59,100. The TLX's design, based on a concept vehicle, featured a long, low, and lean look with a rear-wheel-drive appearance, though this impacted rear-seat room and cargo space. Inside, the TLX's layered dashboard emphasized width but sacrificed practicality, with a control layout that required relearning.

The 2023 Nissan Versa borrowed design elements from larger Nissan sedans, giving it an upscale appearance. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance, along with standard 15-inch steel wheels and optional 16- and 17-inch alloy wheels, contributed to its modern look. For 2023, the Versa received styling updates, including a new front end and wheel design for the SR model. Inside, the Versa's creative design featured large round air vents and an elaborate dashboard, with good fit and finish even on pre-production models. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, heated front seats, automatic climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2023 Acura TLX offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the trim and drivetrain, this engine achieved 24-25 mpg in combined driving. The TLX featured multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding a Sport+ mode. The SH-AWD system, available on higher trims, provided mechanical torque vectoring for improved power, grip, and control. The Type S model, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, accelerated to 60 mph in five seconds and reached a top speed of 155 mph, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, with its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, produced 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. The base Versa S came with a five-speed manual transmission, while a CVT was optional on the S and standard on the SV and SR trims. The CVT-equipped Versa SR test car felt satisfactory in traffic, with responsive handling and a comfortable ride. The Versa exhibited body roll in corners but maintained remarkable grip, providing a reassuring feel. The suspension cushioned impacts well, and cabin noise levels were lower than expected. Overall, the Versa felt more substantial than typical subcompact cars, with handling and refinement that exceeded expectations.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S featured premium Milano leather interiors with Ebony artificial suede inserts and contrast stitching. The flat-bottom sport steering wheel had analog gauges with low-contrast red markings, making them challenging to read. The 16-way power-adjustable front sport seats offered excellent comfort, but the rear seats were cramped with narrow doors and limited legroom. The TLX's trunk held 13.5 cubic feet of cargo, more in line with a compact car.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, offered 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the base S trim and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR trims. The Versa's front seats provided more headroom and legroom than competitors, though rear-seat space was less generous. The front row felt spacious with good outward visibility, but small-item storage was limited. The shifter's raised platform looked cool but wasn't the best use of space, though the optional wireless charging pad was conveniently tucked away.

The 2023 Acura TLX's True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system was a source of frustration, with a 10.2-inch display controlled by a touchpad and buttons. The system's one-to-one relationship between the touchpad and display proved distracting. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a three-year subscription to AcuraLink connected services. Higher trims added wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and premium audio systems. The TLX lacked Alexa Built-In, relying on AcuraLink Remote for Alexa compatibility. The 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system sounded terrific.

The 2023 Nissan Versa S trim level came with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, three USB ports, and keyless entry. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The SV trim added a 7-inch driver information display and wireless phone charging, while the SR trim included an 8-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and NissanConnect Services telematics. The touchscreens were small, and the graphics on the 8-inch screen looked outdated. The digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, showing vital information next to an analog speedometer.

The 2023 Acura TLX came standard with AcuraWatch, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The Type S included rain-sensing wipers and a wiper de-icer system. The TLX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Nissan Versa exceeded expectations with standard driver-assist tech, including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SR trim included adaptive cruise control. The Versa received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover categories. The IIHS had not published updated safety ratings for the 2023 Versa.