The following review is for a 2021 Model Year. There may be minor changes to current model you are looking at.

Introduction

The new 2021 Acura TLX is a five-seat, four-door luxury sedan that's underpinned by a new and exclusive chassis. It remains front-wheel drive, but torque-vectoring all-wheel drive is on the menu. It's priced like a compact sedan, but sits a size class larger-and gets daring style and heaps of technology to round out its package. 

Under the hood, the new TLX works with the same 2.0-liter turbo-4 found in the Acura RDX. Producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, it makes slightly less horsepower than the outgoing V-6 but more torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission shared with the RDX handles gearchanges. Slated for a spring 2021 debut is a Type S model, which should arrive with a 355-hp twin-turbo V-6. 

Fuel economy figures for TLX are strong. Most front-drive turbo-4 models return 22 mpg city, 31 highway, 25 combined. Getting an A-Spec trims the city figure by a single mile per gallon. Going for all-wheel drive drops things to 21/29/24 mpg. 

Found among the standard-issue safety equipment are features like automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, a driver-attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Buyers can further spec blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alerts and front and rear parking sensors. 

The TLX has not been crash-tested by federal or private testing bodies. 

Lineup

Like other Acuras, the TLX doesn't really offer trim levels, though its three primary packages essentially comprise the model lineup. Skip these and you'll be spending $38,525 for a base model, which comes with features such as a 10.2-inch display screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, and dual-zone climate control. 

An additional $4,000 buys the $42,525 Tech package. It adds navigation with real-time traffic information, leather upholstery, a 13-speaker ELS audio system, 19-inch wheels blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.
The A-Spec costs $45,275 and builds on the Technology package. It mostly adds sporty cosmetic touches, but heated and cooled front seats, 17-speaker ELS audio, and wireless smartphone charging are all part of the deal. 

At the top of the lineup-at least until the Type S arrives-is the $47,325 Advance. It gets adaptive dampers, a surround-view camera system, 16-way power-adjustable front seats, wood trim, a head-up display, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. 

Walkaround

Sport sedans are as much about how they look as how they drive. A new platform gave designers the leeway they needed to style the new TLX like a proper sport sedan. Indeed, few will even recognize which wheels are driven thanks to proportions that are more akin to rear-drive sedans than front-drivers. Look from the side and there is a pleasing distance between the leading edge of the windshield and the trailing arch of the front fender. 

That detail won't jump out at passers-by, but it does subconsciously suggest something potent and athletic. It is accentuated by the 'longer, lower, wider'? mantra that dictated the rest of the sedan. This look began with the RDX back in 2018, but is even more effective here due to the low-slung nature of the TLX. 

Interior

A redesigned interior is intended to match the dramatic new exterior. The vertical nature of recent Acura dashboards has been eschewed in favor of a low-set layout that enhances the width of the cabin as well as the overall airiness. The pushbutton shifter is artfully integrated into a tidy little sloped section that bridges the center console with the upper dash. Materials are distinctly nicer than the last TLX, let alone any Honda-badged product. 

Atop the dash is a wide, 10.2-inch display screen. Unlike most competitors, Acura passed up making this a touchscreen. Instead, it is manipulated by a touchpad mounted in the center console. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come standard with the system. 

Front seats have no shortage of power adjustments, and we found it easy to get comfortable. The synthetic leather looks fine, but the real leather options brings softer hides. Opt for an A-Spec and the seats get suede inserts and a little more bolstering, but all seats are appropriately bolstered for both comfort and performance. 

The rear seat of any sedan won't be as accommodating as an equivalent crossover, but the long seat bottoms provided excellent thigh support without sacrificing leg room. The rear windows aren't huge but do let in a decent amount of light to keep things from feeling cramped. 

The trunk is a bit short on space at 13.5 cubic feet, but the folding rear seatbacks somewhat alleviate this. 

Driving Impression

The old TLX wasn't a slouch, but it couldn't match the segment heavies for crispness or responsiveness. This new model fixes that. A 50-percent stiffer structure and new suspension deliver a more neutral and playful driving experience. 

Even a base model drives with a newfound verve that recalls the glory days of the brand. Eager turn-in and a balanced chassis overcome the inherent limitations of a front-wheel-drive platform. The all-wheel-drive system, which can split power unevenly between the rear tires, will give the TLX further credence among sport-sedan shoppers for its performance-oriented tuning. The only time the chassis falters is at the limit, where the understeer that's endemic to front-wheel-drive rears its head. It's a reminder that the TLX still can't match the rear-drive competition for feel and poise, but there is no doubt that it comes close. 

The 2.0-liter turbo-4 won't smoke the tires, but it plays well with the fun-loving chassis. The only part that doesn't feel in line with the rest of the car is the 10-speed automatic, which can sometimes feel one step behind you; a hint of lag as you pull the paddle shifter and an occasional unwillingness to hold gears mars what's an otherwise fine transmission. 

Summary

The 2021 Acura TLX is a return to form. Fresh and attractive styling, a truly nice interior, and handling that will have drivers seeking out corners have us cheering on Acura's latest svelte four-door. It might not outsell the RDX or MDX, but anyone who hasn't yet been won over by a crossover would do well to give this a once-over. We suggest picking one up with the Technology package. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos with driving impressions by The Car Connection.