Advance Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
SH-AWD PMC Edition 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
Advance Package 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
Advance Package 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
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Find all cars near me?Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
SH-AWD A-Spec 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
Advance Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Overall Rating
Even though Acura markets the TLX as a sports sedan, it is really hard for anyone to call it sporty due to its lethargic transmission and supremely refined engine. Thus, it is no driver’s car and better handling would have certainly made it more engaging to drive. Where the 2019 Acura TLX scores full points in terms of comfort and quality
As many of you might know, Acura is a luxury car brand that is a subdivision of the widely recognized Japanese auto giant, Honda. Thus, while Honda is known as the maker of inexpensive family cars, Acura is all about making affordable luxury vehicles. One such vehicle is the Acura TLX Sedan which has entered its 2019 model year with many small updates. The TLX demands a starting price tag of $33,995 and offers you two engine options, a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, and a more powerful V6 engine.
There is a TLX for every budget! Still, does it make sense to go for the higher variants, when you can find a perfectly functional Mercedes for the same price? If you want more features, well then it does. If you want to flaunt your possession to your friends and family, then it doesn't. With that in mind, its the Standard (base trim) that makes the most sense.
Avid drivers would not like the sluggish downshifts and there is no way to fully disable stability control wither. The heavier steering and stiff suspension might not appeal to the city drivers as well.
A-Spec 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
SH-AWD A-Spec 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)
Technology Package 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
Even though Acura markets the TLX as a sports sedan, it is really hard for anyone to call it sporty due to its lethargic transmission and supremely refined engine. Thus, it is no driver’s car and better handling would have certainly made it more engaging to drive. Where the 2019 Acura TLX scores full points in terms of comfort and quality
As many of you might know, Acura is a luxury car brand that is a subdivision of the widely recognized Japanese auto giant, Honda. Thus, while Honda is known as the maker of inexpensive family cars, Acura is all about making affordable luxury vehicles. One such vehicle is the Acura TLX Sedan which has entered its 2019 model year with many small updates. The TLX demands a starting price tag of $33,995 and offers you two engine options, a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, and a more powerful V6 engine.
The 2019 Acura TLX is offered with 4 choices of trims: Standard (base), Technology Package, A-spec, and Advance Package. Then you have a choice of engines as well, coupled with a choice of drivetrain (front-wheel or all-wheel drive) in a few, making the total possible choices up to 14. No other manufacturer currently offers 14 different choices in a family sedan, which makes the TLX a winner in this regard. The recently introduced A-Spec package makes the Sedan title a bit towards the sporty side due to its revised suspension and handling tuning.
Trim |
Standard |
Technology Package |
A-Spec |
Advance Package |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRPI-4 FWD |
$33,000 |
$36,700 |
$39,400 |
- |
MSRP V6 FWD |
$36,200 |
$40,100 |
$42,800 |
$43,950 |
MSRP V6 AWD |
$38,200 |
$42,100 |
$44,800 |
$45,950 |
Key Features |
Integrated Dynamics System |
Same features as Standard with following additions |
Same features as Technology Package with following additions |
Same features as A-Spec with following additions |
Sport seats with leatherette-trimmed interior |
Sport seats with perforated Milano premium leather-trimmed interior |
Dark Chrome grill and lighting details |
Auto dimming side mirrors |
|
Rear wheel steering (FWD only) |
Electrically dimming IRVM |
Rear Decklid Spoiler |
Puddle lights - welcome lighting |
|
Electronic Power-assisted rack and pinion steering |
Cornering lamps |
Round LED fog lights |
Rectangular LED fog lights |
|
Power Moonroof |
||||
Remote-operated windows and moonroof-open function |
||||
Jewel Eye LED headlights |
Which trim should you buy?
There is a TLX for every budget! Still, does it make sense to go for the higher variants, when you can find a perfectly functional Mercedes for the same price? If you want more features, well then it does. If you want to flaunt your possession to your friends and family, then it doesn't. With that in mind, its the Standard (base trim) that makes the most sense.
Avid drivers would not like the sluggish downshifts and there is no way to fully disable stability control wither. The heavier steering and stiff suspension might not appeal to the city drivers as well.
The 2019 Acrua TLX offers two engine and powertrain options. For starters, sitting under the long hood is a smooth 2.4-Liter turbocharged 4-cylinders engine, which produces a generous 206 horsepower. Maximum torque is rated at 182 pound-feet, which is strong enough to pull the car out of most situations. Power is transferred to the front wheels and there is no all-wheel drive system available with the 4-cylinder motor. However, you do get rear wheel steering which helps in manevouring this long car. The better or the more powerful engine option is the V-6 motor that generates 290 horsepower which is put down through a nine-speed automatic gearbox. This engine is offered with Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) that can send power to a single wheel if needed.
You might also know Honda from those sporty turbocharged cars (probably Civics) that make much more power than their innocent looks suggest. Thus, if you miss the originals Civic, you won't be interested in any Acura except the NSX coupe and this is where the TLX Sedan comes in. It is much more sedate to drive and offers a relaxed driving experience.
Models |
Acura TLX Inline-4 |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$33,995 |
$31,900 |
$34,900 |
$35,550 |
$36,995 |
$38,195 |
Engine |
2.4-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
2.0-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
2.0-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
2.0-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
2.0-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
2.0-Liter Inline-4 turbocharged |
Transmission |
8-speed Automatic |
8-speed Automatic Transmission |
8-speed Automatic |
7-speed automatic transmission |
8-speed Automatic |
8-speed Automatic |
Horsepower |
206 hp @ 6800 rpm |
255 hp @ 6200 rpm |
252 hp @ 6,200 rpm |
208 hp @ 5500rpm |
247 hp @ 5500 rpm |
280 hp @ 5200 rpm |
Torque |
182 lbs.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm |
260 lb.-ft. @ 1400 rpm |
260 lb.-ft @ 1,400-4,000 rpm |
258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm |
269 ft-lbs. @ 1300 rpm |
306 lb.-ft. @ 2000-4800 rpm |
The closest competition to the Acura comes in the form of Infiniti Q50, at least in terms of engine. The Infiniti is just 2 hp ahead of the Acura in terms of power, but offers one gear less on the transmission front. Genesis G70 and Kia Stinger are also close competition to the TLX. Other than that, you have the Premium performance brands such as Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, and Mercedes trying their hand in the affordable luxury segment.
The Acura TLX gives you the option to choose between performance and fuel efficiency. It’s 2.4-Liter turbo engine isn't the most powerful motor around, and the performance reflects that. The base engine powered TLX takes a weak 7.1 seconds to reach 60 MPH. The V6 engine utilizes the extra power to reach 60 MPH in a significantly better time of 5.7 seconds. Thus, if you want performance you know which engine to choose.
Models |
Acura TLX |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
7.1 sec |
6.0 sec |
6.0 sec |
7 sec |
6.3 sec |
5.5 sec |
Quarter mile |
N/A |
14.6 sec @ 96 mph |
14.6 sec |
15.4 @ 90 mph |
15.0 sec |
14.1 sec @ 100 mph |
The Alfa Romeo Giulia runs from naught to 60 mph in an impressive 5.5 seconds. The Mercedes C300 stands neck to neck with this Italian stallion in terms of performance. The rest of 2 liters in the competition take a fair bit longer to gain speed. The Acura offers the biggest engine in terms of displacement and thus loses out to the rivals due to its heavier weight.
When it comes to the ride and handling package, Acura has made sure that the TLX is focused on offering the best ride. The all-wheel-drive variant is the better handler without a doubt, especially due to the extra weight that help controlling the shock-rebound. It offers great traction, owing to the brilliant Acura SH-AWD system, which sends power to all wheels independent of other wheels. This maintains tractions on all four anchor points, without losing control even when not on tarmac. The front-wheel-drive variants offer confident handling, but are simply outpaced by other cars in the segment, especially the German and Italian rivals. Other than that, the handling isn't particularly exciting.
When we talk about ride quality, its best to say that the passengers are a priority for this car and the TLX balances the suppleness of ride and stiffness under cornering well. If the weather is pleasant, and you have no plans for the weekend, throw in your bags and set out on a road trip, your family is instantly going to appreciate the choice of your car due to its comfortable ride.
The 2019 Acura TLX uses disc brakes on both the front and the rear wheels. These bring all 3500 pounds of this tame beast to a standstill in a hurry. While the exact braking performance isn't known at this point, the brakes work well in real-world conditions. The pedal feels precise and the brakes themselves are very responsive. You also get automatic emergency braking, which is great for distracted drivers.
Model |
Acura TLX |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brake Front (in.) |
- |
12.6 |
13.8 |
12.6 |
12.8 |
13 |
Brake Rear (in.) |
- |
12.4 |
- |
12.1 |
12.8 |
12.5 |
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
3,505 |
3649 |
3516 |
3671 |
3500 |
3521 |
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
- |
185ft (70-0) |
- |
NA |
184 ft* (70-0) |
124 |
All the cars in this segment come fitted with discs on all four wheels, which aids braking a lot. Under panic braking situation, you could simply bury the pedal into the floor, and the electronics will make sure you safely come to a halt. Braking safety in this segment is simply confident as well as technologically advanced.
The Acura’s motor isn't the most powerful, as discussed earlier. What it is, is an extremely frugal commuter when it comes to the turbocharged mill. You could ferry your entire family around all day and still the fuel bills won't hurt your pockets. The base engine provides brilliant gas mileage of 23 MPG in the city and 33 on the highways, figures good enough to stay at the top of the segment. The V6 engine is not the best in terms of fuel efficiency but offers much better performance in comparison to the 4-cylinder motor.
Model |
Acura TLX |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
23 |
22 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
MPG (highway) |
33 |
29 |
28 |
30 |
34 |
33 |
MPG (combined) |
27 |
25 |
23 |
25 |
28 |
27 |
Balancing fuel efficiency with performance sees the Jaguar lead the competition; drinking a super frugal 29 miles per gallon. The rest follow closely, and none of cars here disappoint on the economy front. The Acurca TLX comes second when it comes to offering the best fuel efficiency and thus you should go with the base engine if fuel efficiency is what you are looking for.
Unsurprisingly, the 2019 Acura sedan has a lot of space on offer on the inside. You can easily seat 4 or even 5 people on the inside, which is quite wonderful. The space is actually the best in this segment, and taller passengers would be the most comfortable in the Acura.
The interiors quality leaves you somewhat dissatisfied though as you will notice road and wind noise creeping into the cabin at speed, and prolonged use may also bring forth squeaks and rattles, especially in the rear armrest. This annoying niggle is shared by the Honda Accord too, although the lower price tag of the latter forces you to look the other way. In comparison to the Germans, the Acura’s cabin quality might feel inferior but it is quite acceptable for a luxury sedan. Acura has tried to offer a sporty touch by offering red stitching on the front as well as rear seats. Most of the touch points are soft and the car maker has paid quite a lot of attention to detail. The front seats offer excellent support and the rear seats keep the passengers quite pampered too. Thus, the cabin of the car scores higher on comfort rather than luxury.
Models |
Acura TLX |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front (cu. ft.) |
Head room |
37.2 |
38.2 |
39.7 |
38.3 |
- |
Shoulder room |
57.5 |
55.9 |
56.3 |
56.4 |
- |
56.1 |
Leg room |
42.6 |
44.8 |
42.6 |
42.6 |
- |
42.4 |
Rear (cu. ft.) |
Head room |
36.7 |
36.9 |
36.9 |
37.0 |
- |
Shoulder room |
55.4 |
53.4 |
54.6 |
54.8 |
- |
53.6 |
Leg room |
34.5 |
32.2 |
34.8 |
36.4 |
- |
35.1 |
Cargo Volume (ft.3) |
14.3 |
23.3 |
10.5 |
13.2 |
16.1 |
13.0 |
The Genesis G80, Infiniti Q50, and Kia Stinger offer quite impressive interior space as well, but fall behind where it matters, i.e., the rear head and legroom. Lexus IS sedan makes a good case for itself with plenty of space all around, and to be honest, it bests the Acura in rear cabin space, which makes it the best pick in terms of space.
The 2019 Acura TLX utilizes a twin display setup on the dashboard, one of which is touchscreen display while the other isn't. The latter screen is controlled via a knob on the center console. It offers a smooth experience but we did face a couple of glitches during its usage. You get android auto as well as apple carplay compatibility which works flawlessly.
There are plenty of features on offer like:
The Acura TLX offers some interesting exterior elements but this sedan can be a bit boring for some people. The car looks very much like the Type S concept car which the car maker showed at Pebble Beach. From the front its looks bold as well as wide with its sporty long hood. Acura's five-pointed grille also helps it render an enhanced look. From the sides it looks a bit too simple with the A-Spec model spicing things up to an extent. With its redesigned grille, lower bumper and a clean front-end look, it offers a refined look. The 2019 Acura TLX is a heavy car, at over 3 and a half thousand pounds. This isn't uncommon though, as other cars in this segment weigh the same. This, however, means that the ride and handling isn't too great.
Model |
Acura TLX |
Kia Stinger |
Genesis G70 |
Infiniti Q50 |
Jaguar XE |
Alfa Romeo Giulia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Curb weight (lbs.) |
3,505 |
3649 |
3516 |
3671 |
3500 |
3521 |
Length(in) |
191.7 |
190.2 |
184.4 in |
189.6 |
183.9 |
182.6 |
Width(in) |
73.0 |
73.6 |
72.8 in |
71.8 |
77.4 |
73.7 |
Height(in) |
57.0 |
55.1 |
55.1 in |
57.2 |
55.8 |
56.5 |
Ground clearance (in) |
5.8 |
TBD |
5.1 in |
5 |
- |
NA |
Wheelbase (in) |
109.3 |
114.4 |
111.6 in |
112.2 |
111.6 |
111 |
Track width (in) F/R |
62.8/63.1 |
62.8/64.8 |
- |
60.8/61.6 |
62.8/62.4 |
61.3/63.9 |
Acura is the longest car here, with the stinger following closely behind. The rest of the cars are comfortably smaller, with their dimensions ranging from 190 inches on the upper side to 180 inches on the lower side
Japanese cars offer magnificent engineering, the but their designs are best described as low on the priority list. Usually, the Japs either nail it, or try too hard and fail miserably. The Acura however, doesn't believe in both those extremes. It is a moderately good-looking car, but that isn't a bad thing. The design language is quite subtle. The LED strips in the headlamps and taillamps are brilliant.
In terms of safety, Acura has not compromised in any way which is proved with its 5-star crash test safety rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, it was again not named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
There are plenty of safety features on offer in the 2019 Acura TLX. The most important ones are listed below:
Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50 are two of the most practical, affordable, and easy-to-live-with cars in this segment. They're built by two premium Japanese manufacturers, which is actually the reason for all those things. Japs have consistently built good and affordable cars. You can't go wrong with any of these sedans. If you were looking for a little more interior space and slightly more compact dimensions, the Infiniti makes a stronger point. In terms of looks, efficiency, and trunk space, the Acura takes the lead.
While both these sedans represent the affordable luxury bracket, you could easily figure out the more expensive one simply by looking at them. With a more powerful engine, better interiors, and most importantly, the premium brand image, the Mercedes C300 is simply the better car here. The Germans take the cake here, until you consider the price. The Merc is easily a few grand more expensive than the base TLX, and even the highest trim is comparable to the base C-class. From a practical, real-world point of view, the Benz doesn't hold much appeal.
While the Kia Stinger is a fairly new sedan to the market, it has lovely performance, great interior, and is extremely practical. It also has a lot of safety features, as well as a comfortable ride. The Acura is much less a driver's car, especially compared to the Stinger. Its base variant is also cheaper, which tilts the scale in its favor. The Infiniti only takes the lead in terms of rear passenger space which, although important, doesn't make the strongest case for the TLX.
To conclude, it's safe to say that the 2019 Acura TLX is a great car for all your average car needs. It doesn't offer much excitement, but is quite a practical as well as a safe sedan. It is a sedan in which your family will love to undertake long distance journeys and feel safe. By offering a fuel effienct engine as well as performance focused engine, Acura has made it easy for you to choose a vraint according to your need. The sedan combines beauty, drivability and power, and a little bit of practicality while remaining kind on fuel economy. Thus if your primary use for the car is family duties, this is the sedan for you.