2023 Toyota Prius vs 2023 Acura TLX

The 2023 Acura TLX faced challenges due to a shift in consumer preference towards SUVs, supply chain constraints, and fluctuating car prices. These factors made it difficult for Acura to offer attractive lease deals, and unlike some competitors, Acura did not resort to selling its vehicles to rental fleets. This made the TLX a rare sight on the road. The TLX Type S, with its striking Tiger Eye Pearl paint and performance upgrades, was priced at approximately $67,500 in Canada. The TLX's design, based on a concept vehicle, introduced a new design language for Acura. Despite its front-wheel-drive platform, the TLX had a rear-wheel-drive appearance, though its dramatic styling compromised rear-seat space and cargo capacity. Inside, the TLX featured a layered dashboard design prioritizing style over practicality, with a control layout that required some adjustment for drivers.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a complete makeover, finally offering a stylish design that had been missing from the lineup. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look. The wheels were pushed further into the corners for better handling, and the car was longer, lower, and wider than its predecessor. The Prius rode on a solid platform, providing a reassuring feel on rough surfaces. Inside, the cabin focused on function over form, with high-quality materials and a comfortable layout. The new Prius was a comfortable and engaging daily driver, offering a more athletic and eager driving experience than before.

The 2023 Acura TLX offered a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard SH-AWD in Canada. The TLX's fuel economy was rated at 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.1 on the highway, and 9.8 combined. The TLX featured multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding a Sport+ mode. The Type S model came with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It included performance enhancements such as a sport automatic transmission, adaptive suspension, and Brembo brakes. The Type S could accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds and had a top speed of 250 km/h. However, the brake-by-wire system was a drawback, causing a mismatch between driver inputs and actual braking performance.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine combined with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, producing 196 total horsepower in AWD models. The Prius's fuel economy was rated at 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 4.7 on the highway, and 4.8 combined. The new Prius felt more athletic and eager, with improved acceleration and handling. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time was just over seven seconds, a significant improvement from the previous model. The Prius's handling was agile and athletic, with a revised suspension and longer wheelbase. The brakes had a minor squishiness typical of hybrids, but overall, the Prius was a comfortable and engaging daily driver.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S featured an Ebony interior with premium Milano leather and artificial suede inserts. The flat-bottom sport steering wheel had analog gauges with low-contrast red markings, making them difficult to read. The front sport seats were 16-way power-adjustable with heating and ventilation, while the rear seats lacked legroom due to the TLX's design. The trunk offered 382 litres of cargo space, more in line with a compact car than a midsize model.

The 2023 Toyota Prius's interior was slightly smaller in some dimensions than the previous model, with reduced headroom due to the sloping roofline. However, legroom increased, and taller passengers fit comfortably in the rear seats. The cabin featured SofTex leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Limited trim included a fixed glass roof, enhancing the cabin's openness. Cargo space was 575 litres, with small underfloor storage cubbies. The cabin had several organizational features, including cupholders, a wireless charging pocket, and USB-C charging ports.

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 was distracting and occupied valuable centre console space. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, a wireless charging pad, and a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system. However, the TLX did not support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2023 Toyota Prius XLE models came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the Limited trim featured a 12.3-inch screen. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota's Drive Connect system. All models had a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, which was too busy. The Limited trim included wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker JBL audio system, and a digital rearview mirror. The Prius offered subscription-based connectivity bundles, including Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Drive Connect.

The 2023 Acura TLX came standard with driver aids such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Type S included rain-sensing wipers, a wiper de-icer system, and a surround-view camera. The TLX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure alerts, and Proactive Driving Assist. The system was effective and minimally intrusive. The Prius also had stability control, traction control, eight airbags, and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim offered Advanced Park. The Prius received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.