Used 2018 Acura TLX for sale 

The 2018 Acura TLX is available in 4 trim levels, Standard, Technology Package, Advanced Package and A-Spec. The prices vary according to the engine and drivetrain combinations. The price for the top trim with FWD is $42,800 and for upgrading the drivetrain to AWD, you have to shed an extra $2000. The following table gives an overview of all the trims and features offered with the 2018 Acura TLX. 

The Standard and Technology Package trims come mated to a 2.4L Inline-4 engine, making 206 horsepower. Upgrading to a 3.5L V6 engine would cost $3,200. The Standard trim comes with basic features like ESC and satellite radio and moving up to the Technology Package would get you additional features like leather upholstery and a navigation system.

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One of the biggest USPs of the TLX is its price. We’d suggest you go for the Technology Package trim with the 2.4L engine. It costs $3,700 more than the base trim, but comes loaded with premium features such as rain-sensing wipers and blind spot monitoring.

The Japanese carmaker offers the 2018 model year TLX with two engine options to choose from. The TLX comes with a 2.4L Inline-4 engine, which churns out 206 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque. The bigger and beefier engine offered with the Acura TLX is the 3.5L V6 which makes 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. The 2.4L engines are available only in FWD and come mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, while the V6 engines are available in both FWD and AWD with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Power output isn't exactly exhilarating. Despite the turbochargers, the TLX, however, manages to deliver power linearly in a relaxed and sustained fashion. The Inline-4 engine feels sufficiently potent for regular city commutes. However, it certainly feels out of breath while driving on the highway. The fatter V6, on the other hand, is a lot more exciting and delivers plenty of grunt on the fly. The 9-speed automatic sports excellent gear rations, and when upgraded to AWD, the TLX shows incredible merit in terms of refinement and driving comfort. 

Among the competition, the 2018 BMW 330i stands as the most powerful sedan in the lot, offering 248 horsepower on the tap. However, it also happens to be the priciest car in the lot. The BMW and the Infiniti are the only cars offered in RWD, which makes them inherently sportier. The 330i and the Q50 both offer the highest torque outputs, but the Audi A4 follows the figure closely. The BMW 330i also sports the best gearbox among the competition, offering precise and lightning-quick shifts. 

2018 Acura TLX Acceleration and Braking

The TLX's underperforming 206 horsepower engine isn’t quick to accelerate. The 2018 Acura TLX goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The quarter-mile performance of the 2018 TLX is below average too, taking 15.6 seconds to complete a quarter-mile run. In contrast, the BMW 330i is the quickest in both the 0 to 60 mph and quarter-mile acceleration with 5.4 sec and 14.3 seconds respectively.

The BMW 330i stands as the quickest car off the line. Going from 0 to 60 mpg in a speedy 5.4 seconds, the 330i offers the best performance among the competitors. The Infiniti Q50 ends up being even slower than the Acura TLX, with a launch time of 6.9 seconds. The 330i also posts the quickest quarter-mile times, while the tardy Acura TLX stays on the opposite end of the spectrum. The A4 and the TLX hit lower top speeds, while the BMW 330i manages to go as fast as 155 mph. 

Ride and Handling

Acura gives the option of equipping the TLX with its four-wheel-steering with the superbly handling AWD system. The car cruises smoothly at low speeds, even on bumpy roads. The ride is soft and compliant, and with great noise insulation, the 2018 Acura TLX results in a fantastic, comfortable driving experience.

The steering is fairly responsive and the suspension system provides a good balance to the car on highways. The sportier trim, A-Spec comes with agile handling, owing to its communicative steering and sporty suspension system. Overall, the TLX provides a satisfactory driving experience for day-to-day use.

Braking

The brakes of the TLX perform decently and are able to bring the car to halt fairly quickly. The braking system’s performance is decent with 12.6-inch discs at the front along with 12.2-inch discs at the rear. All competing vehicles actually have similar brake dimensions at the front and rear. The Audi A4 takes around 126 ft to come to a standstill from 60 mph. All in all, the 2018 Acura TLX slows down from 60 to 0 mph in 122 feet, showcasing great braking performance. 

Comparing the competition, the Acura TLX sports the biggest brake discs, which in turn, help in achieving one of the best stopping distances in among the competitors. The Infiniti Q50 comes fitted with brakes with a size similar to that of the TLX. On the other hand, the BMW 330i and the Audi A4 come with slightly smaller brake rotors. 

The Acura TLX comes with a decent fuel economy, considering the premium compact executive car segment on the whole. The 2018 model year Acura TLX returns 23 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on highways, for a combined MPG of 27. Skip to the 3.5-liter V6 FWD version, and you can get a city MPG of 20, highway MPG of 32, and a combined MPG of 25. The figure drops even further in the case of the V6 with AWD. If you go for the performance-oriented A-Spec trim, you can expect 20 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on highways, and a combined MPG figure of 24. 

When considering the combined MPG, the Audi A4 and the BMW 330i both have the highest combined MPG of 28 miles, followed by the Acura TLX that has a combined MPG of 27 miles. But when it comes to fuel capacity, the Infiniti Q50 has the highest fuel capacity of 20.0 gallons that helps in achieving the highest combined range of 523 miles. The Acura TLX takes the second spot with a 17.2-gallon fuel tank capacity and a combined range of 473 miles.

The Acura TLX is based on its corporate cousin, the Honda Accord, and carries a lot of its well-built characteristics. This is especially the case when you look at the TLX’s interior. Acura has done a good job by incorporating a considerable amount of good quality materials in the cabin with a lot of soft-touch materials on most of the panels. While the overall fit-and-finish might not be as good as what you would find in its competitors, the TLX holds its own without breaking a sweat. 

The base 2.4-liter TLX gets a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, while the higher trims get a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. All the trims have a 60-40 split-bench seat at the rear. The lower trims get leatherette trimmed seats, while the higher trims get leather-trimmed, and in some cases, suede and leather-trimmed seats with contrast stitching. The front row of the TLX has a good amount of space, while the second row is only apt for average-sized adults.

When looking at the overall seating space offered in the cars mentioned above, the Infiniti Q50 has the most space when compared to the others, followed by the BMW 330i. The Audi A4 and the Acura TLX’s seating space are pretty much the same with minor fluctuations here and there. There are quite a good amount of features offered in the cabin of the Acura TLX such as a sunroof that comes standard in all the trims, a leather steering wheel, a full cloth headliner, and ambient lighting, to name a few. Other than that, these are some of the other salient interior features of the 2018 Acura TLX:

• Heated & Ventilated Front Seats( Only Heated Seats for basic trims)
• 60-40 Folding Bench Front Facing Fold Forward Seatback Rear Seat
• Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Illuminated Front Cupholder
• Leather seat upholstery( Basic Trim)
• Premium Milano Leather-Trimmed Sport Seats( Higher trims/A-Spec package)
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Multi-Zone Auto-Climate Control Air Conditioning
• Full Cloth Headliner
• Simulated Suede Door Trim Insert (Higher trims)
• Leatherette Door Trim Insert (Basic trims)
• Power lift tailgate

Infotainment System

Unfortunately, the 2018 Acura TLX doesn't deliver too well in the infotainment system department. All the trims/configurations of the TLX come with a dual-screen infotainment system. The 7-inch touchscreen display placed in the lower portion of the center console gives access to the radio controls, seat controls, and vehicle stats while the 8-inch screen placed in the middle of the dashboard displays navigation. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay do not have tactile feedback and can only be controlled via a knob and few buttons placed on the center console. The whole setup is confusing to use and is a big distraction to control when you are driving.

The 7-inch touchscreen is relatively easy to use and has good feedback. But the upper screen is really difficult to control and has an outdated navigation system installed that does not have any relevance to the current systems used by other manufacturers. We hope Acura fixes these issues and offers a better information system in their future offerings. Regardless, these are some of the infotainment system features offered in the 2018 Acura TLX:

• ELS Studio Premium Audio System with 10 speakers
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Pandora compatibility
• USB audio interface w/iPod integration
• Bluetooth streaming audio
• MP3/auxiliary input jack
• Navigation system
• Voice Activated Multi Zone Auto-Climate Control Air Conditioning - GPS Linked
• Wireless charging pad
• 2 12V DC Power Outlets

Cargo Capacity

The cargo capacity of the Acura TLX is better than many of its rivals. The 2018 Acura TLX boasts a cargo capacity of14.3 cubic feet, which feels sufficient for its segment. The boot space feels enough to store up to three sizable suitcases, which is the ideal volume for weekend trips. In case additional space is required, the rear seats can be folded down to accommodate larger or longer items. As mentioned earlier, the rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split, which makes adjusting larger items much easier. 

Both the Audi A4 and BMW 330i have an equal cargo capacity of 13 cubic feet, while the Infiniti Q50 is slightly better at 13.2 cubic feet. All four sedans in the lot offer a good amount of space and therefore retain excellent practicality. 

After a timid demand for the pre-facelifted TLX, Acura gave a befitting update to the vehicle in 2017, which received positive feedback from the automotive world. The main changes that you will be able to instantly notice are the revised front fascia, a new grille design, new fenders, and restyled wheels. The 2018 model year TLX carries forward the facelifted design. Starting from the front, the Acura TLX receives auto-dimming LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The new diamond-pentagon-shaped grille adds a lot of character to the vehicle, offering a signature look to the brand. The fenders are more aggressive and add to the menacing look of the vehicle. 

By opting for the A-Spec package, most of the chrome bits are blacked out, and it also offers a small ducktail spoiler that adds to the vehicle’s sporty stature. While the base configuration receives 17-inch wheels, you get 18-inch wheels for the 3.5-liter V-6 TLX and 19-inch 5-Spoke wheels for the V-6 TLX A-Spec package. You also get heated side mirrors for all the configurations/packages of the TLX as standard. All in all, the 2018 Acura TLX is a handsome sedan, featuring tight proportions and stunning new design elements. 

When compared to its competition, the Acura TLX is the longest with a length of 190.7-inches. The Acura TLX also has the highest ground clearance of 5.8-inches. The Infiniti Q50 is the heaviest of the lot with a total curb weight of 3,671 pounds, followed by the BMW 330i that has a curb weight of 3,541 pounds. The Q50 also has the longest wheelbase of 112.2-inches while the Acura TLX has the shortest wheelbase of the lot. Other than the features mentioned above, these are some of the other distinctive exterior features of the 2018 Acura TLX:

• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Lip Spoiler
• Black Grille w/Chrome Surround
• Programmable Projector Beam Led Low/High Beam Daytime Running Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• Perimeter/Approach Lights
• LED Brakelights
• Front Fog Lamps
• 17-inch Machine-Finished Aluminum Alloy Wheels (Base 2.4-liter TLX)
• 18-inch Machine-Finished Aluminum Alloy Wheels (3.5-liter V-6 TLX)
• 19-inch Shark Gray Finish Alum Alloy Wheels (A-Spec TLX)

Backed by a reputed parent company, the Acura TLX is known for its high-quality cars. Even though Acura has lost a bit of grip on the American market, it sure has maintained its reputation. On top of that, Asian manufacturers are well known for their robust vehicles that are reliable, practical, versatile, fuel-efficient, and most importantly, safe. The 2018 Acura TLX has received a 5-star rating from NHTSA, which is the highest score the governing body offers. IIHS rated the TLX with a ‘Good’ score in most of the tests except for an ‘Acceptable’ score in the Small Overlap front: driver side’ aspect. 

The 2018 Acura TLX has some great safety and driver-assistance features such as the Lane Keeping Assist System with Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Blind Spot Information System, Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Tire Fill Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Vehicle Stability Assist. The Acura TLX also has 7 airbags, including a driver's side knee airbag. Other than that, these are a bunch of safety features offered in the 2018 Acura TLX:

• Vehicle Stability Assist Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning with Tire Fill Assist
• Back-Up Camera
• Blind Spot Information System
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Vehicle Stability Assist
• Automatic emergency braking
• Forward collision warning

Acura TLX vs Infiniti Q50

The Q50 has a better performing engine with quicker acceleration and better brakes but has a very poor cargo space compared to the TLX. Further, the fuel economy of TLX is higher than that of the Q60. The Infiniti Q50 costs about $1,000 more than the TLX. All this makes the TLX a more suitable option.

Acura TLX vs BMW 330i

The BMW 330i has the best engine in its class and it outperforms the TLX in terms of acceleration, braking and has a bigger cargo space. The BMW has slightly better fuel economy than the Acura. The BMW outweighs the TLX because of its better performance and better interior design.

Acura TLX vs Audi A4 Premium

The Audi A4 has the best in class fuel economy, braking, and quarter-mile acceleration figures. The TLX just has a slightly larger boot volume. Even though the A4 costs $2000 more, it is worth the better overall performance you’re getting.

The facelifted 2018 Acura TLX is a sensible powerhouse with a perfect mix of form and function. It has loads of features, an appealing design, and a digestible price tag lesser than its competition. While it cannot match the niceties of its competitors, the refinement speaks for itself once you take a seat inside the TLX. Plus, it comes fitted with loads of safety features, enough to keep your mind at ease. Hence, in our opinion, the 2018 Acura TLX is a premium sedan worth buying.