Contenders
PRO Sporty design • still a value • high-quality interior details CON Lazy transmission • below-average mpg • small back seat
2021 Acura TLX t’s best not to judge a car by its design, but sometimes we can’t help it. The 2021 Acura TLX’s more premium proportions and sporty detailing instantly distinguish the luxury sport sedan from its predecessor, but there’s more to the picture than just styling. Priced like a compact luxury sedan from Europe but built closer to a midsize, the Acura makes a compelling value play. But as a tweener, getting a sense of where it actually resides in the market can be a challenge. “This is an unexpectedly sweet car to drive,” testing director Kim Reynolds said of our A-Spec AWD test car at the track. “There’s a very mild but nice tremble to the steering that gives it an alive feeling, but the best quality is how enthusiastically it turns in.” With a standard 272-hp turbofour engine, the 2021 TLX will beat with the heart of a turbo-six in Type S form (when it arrives in spring 2021). Both engines are mated to a 10-speed automatic that—at least with a 2.0T four-cylinder engine—produced
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divergent opinions among the MotorTrend staff. A couple editors didn’t have an issue with the transmission tuning (as we noted in our initial review), but others found its gearshifts subpar compared to European and Korean competitors. “The engine makes good power, but the gearing of this transmission is far too tall and shifts far too slow to make good use of it,” features editor Christian Seabaugh said. “The TLX’s sheetmetal is writing checks this car just can’t cash.” Associate road test editor Erick Ayapana agreed, saying he “would enjoy this car more if the gearbox was more responsive.” Then again, if the transmission were more responsive, the fuel economy might dip even further into irrelevance. As it is, the 2021 TLX 2.0T is less efficient than many competitors, including the Audi A4 and Alfa Romeo Giulia At least AWD is available on both engines, not something the last-gen TLX offered. (FWD is standard.) And as with other
SPECS
2021 Acura TLX SH-AWD A-Spec
Base Price/As Tested Power (SAE net)
$47,275/$47,275 272 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
280 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph
7.0 sec
Quarter Mile
15.4 sec @ 91.5 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph
127 ft
Lateral Acceleration
0.83 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight
26.9 sec @ 0.64 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb
21/29/24 mpg
Acuras, value remains a strong point—even though this new car carries an MSRP thousands above its predecessor. For less than $40,000, a base 2021 TLX includes LED headlights, real aluminum trim, a 10.2-inch infotainment system, a 10-speaker sound system, heated front seats, and AcuraWatch active safety tech. That 10.2-inch infotainment interface isn’t a touchscreen; its touchpad controller’s learning
curve and distracting nature divided the staff. As someone who spent a year in a 2019 RDX with a similar system, I know the system’s one-to-one touchpad-to-screenspace mapping can make things easier than tasks might be with a Lexus touchpad. But most judges felt other touchscreen or scrollwheel systems provide superior interfaces. However, few cars will feel as well-screwed-together as the Acura. “First impression of the cabin is excellent,” senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said. “All the usual Acura stuff is here, but it looks high-quality. It even feels like quality. The A-Spec steering wheel is the steering wheel BMW owners have been dreaming of for a decade—beefy without being needlessly fat.” Great, but the new TLX can’t overcome its issues of efficiency or performance of intended function. When we crowned the Genesis G70 our 2019 Car of the Year, the car wowed us with its remarkable balance—it’s a small sedan that’s engaging to drive but still has a good ride and premium feel. The Acura doesn’t inspire the same praise from our staff. The TLX confidently splits a couple well-stocked segments of smartly equipped luxury sport sedans, and we appreciate the TLX 2.0T for what it is—a good premium option with sporty styling and value but without the chops to back up its looks. Zach Gale
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/10-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,969 lb (57/43%) WHEELBASE 113.0 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 194.6 x 75.2 x 56.4 in ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 160/116 kWh/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.81 lb/mile 32 MOTORTREND.COM JANUARY 2021
