2020 Acura TLX

The 2020 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. The AWD configurations are further strengthened by Acura's Sport Hybrid tech that aids frugality and performance. The PMC (Performance Manufacturing Center) edition of the TLX is also on offer but as a limited-run model and adds some sporty enhancements over the standard TLX.

Model	Standard	Technology Package	A-Spec	Advance Package
MSRP I-4 FWD	$33,000	$36,700	$39,600	-
MSRP V6 FWD	$36,200	$40,100	$42,800	-
MSRP V6 SH- AWD	$38,200	$42,100	$44,800	$45,950
Key Features	Power Moonroof	Adds/Upgrades from Standard	Adds/Upgrades from Technology Package	Adds/Upgrades from A-Spec
	Remote Operated WIndows	4 Door Smart Entry	Fog Lights	Auto-Dimming Exterior Side View Mirrors
	LED Headlights, Taillights	Voice Recognition	A-Spec Front and Rear Bumpers	Puddle Lights
	LED Turn Signals on ORVM's	Frameless Rearview mirror	A-Side Side sill garnish	3 Level Heated Rear Outboard Seats
	Heated and Reverse Tilt Down ORVM	ELS Premium Audio System	Metallic Footrest pad	Heated Steering Wheel
	Driver's 10 Way powered Seats, Passengers 4 way adjust	Driver's 12 Way powered Seats	A-SPEC garnish on steering wheel, door sill	Remote Engine Start with Vehicle Feedback
	Auto Climate Control	GPS Linked Climate Control	Black Headliner

Which trim to go for?

The Standard Trim offers a lot of bang for the buck for its asking price. However, people wanting a bit more luxury and some more features can opt for the Technology package.

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 any and every situation. The engine is mated to a brilliant 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The gearbox feels like it operates butter instead of gears.

Power is transferred to the front wheels, or all the wheels if you opt for the all-wheel-drive V6 model. The V6 feels far more engaging to drive and is better suited for enthusiastic drives.

Models	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
MSRP	$37,195	$39,595	$40,295	$36,580
Engine	3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6	3.0L Turbocharged V6	3.6L Naturally aspirated V6	3.5L Naturally aspirated V6
Transmission	9 Speed Automatic	7 Speed Automatic	9 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Automatic
Horsepower (hp)	290	300	310	301
Torque (lbs.-ft.)	267	295	268	267

*2019 figures used for reference purposes only

Rivals of the Acura however, trump it in terms of sheer power and torque numbers. The Buick offers the most among the segment and is then followed by Toyota and the Infiniti respectively. All the cars here come with Automatic transmissions and the Infiniti is the only one here, with a turbocharged motor.

How fast is it?

Acura is offering 2 engines with the 2020 TLX. The Standard Turbocharged 2.4L Motor isn't the one to talk about as you do feel the need for higher power output. The V6, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of Turbocharged Motor. It has good power on tap and the performance figures, reflect the same.

terms of the overall feel, the TLX feels eager to rev and overtake and doesn't lose out of breath, easily. There is enough power on tap available at all times and the Acura motor feels eager to reach speed limits in no time.

Models	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
0-60 MPH	5.7 sec	5.7 sec	6.0 sec	6.0 sec
Quarter mile	14.5 sec	14.2	14.6 sec	14.6 sec
Engine	3.5L Naturally Aspirated V6	3.0L Turbocharged V6	3.6L Naturally aspirated V6	3.5L Naturally aspirated V6
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.7	8.0	7.4	7.1

In terms of the rivals, the Infiniti matches the performance of the Acura and is tied for the top spot. The Buick and the Toyota fall slightly short of the Acura's and the Infiniti's performance but are decently quick overall.

What about the driving dynamics then?

The all-wheel-drive variant is the best handler without a doubt. 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 are fun to drive too 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.

Ride quality is fine, 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. Smiles are guaranteed here.

How does the Acura TLX fare on the braking front?

With big 12.6" Rotors on the front and 12.2" Rotors at the back, the Acura feels one of the most confidence-inspiring cars, as far as braking performances are concerned. The pedal feel is precise and the brakes themselves are very responsive.

You also get automatic emergency braking, which is great for distracted drivers.

Model	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	12.6	12.6	12.0
Brake Rear (in.)	12.2	12.1	11.3	11.1
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3616	3730	3358	3560
60-0 MPH (ft.)	113	109	119	120

All the cars in this segment come fitted with discs on all four wheels, which aids braking a lot. Under a 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 distances in this segment are simply astounding and the Infiniti leads the way, in this respect.

The Acura motor isn't the most powerful, as discussed earlier. What it is, is an extremely frugal commuter. You could ferry your entire family around all day and still the fuel bills won't hurt your pockets. You get 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.

Model	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
MPG (city)	23	23	20	22
MPG (highway)	33	30	30	32
MPG (combined)	27	25	24	26

While the Acura is the best in the segment as far as MPG figures are concerned, the Infiniti follows it closely behind. The Toyota is the next in line and the Buick, loses out on the same front.

Unsurprisingly, this 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. 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. 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.

Models	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Headroom (cu.ft.)	37.2	38.3	38.4	38.5
Front Shoulder Room (cu.ft.)	57.5	56.4	57.7	58.3
Front Legroom (cu.ft.)	42.6	42.6	42	42.1
Rear Headroom (cu.ft.)	36.7	37	37.2	37.9
Rear Shoulder Room (Cu.ft.)	55.4	54.8	56.6	57.1
Rear Legroom (Cu.ft.)	34.5	36.4	38	40.3

As with the big exteriors, the Buick is the most impressive of the lot in terms of the space on the inside as well. The Toyota comes as the closest to the Buick's space and the Infiniti falls in the 3^rd spot here. The TLX is the least spacious here, courtesy of its compact dimensions.

How is the Infotainment system like on the Acura TLX?

Acura's have not been the most popular in terms of the infotainment system that they offer in their vehicles and sadly, this is the case with the 2020 TLX as well. While the Infotainment System features all the apps that you would expect from a sedan of this category, we particularly don't like the feel and feedback of the interface of the system.

• 10 Speaker ELS Audio System
• Sirius XM Radio/ HD Radio/ Pandora compatibility
• USB, AUX, Bluetooth connectivity
• Apple Car Play, Android Auto compatibility
• Acura Navigation with Real-Time traffic and Rerouting feature
• Color Multi-information Display with Homelink

Creature comforts on offer?

In a category of sedans like the TLX, all manufacturers leave no stone unturned in offering the best that they have to offer. Such is the case with the 2020 TLX. Acura has left no stone unturned in offering the best of the convenience features that they can deck their cars with. The following list shows a few of those features

• Milano Leather-Trimmed Sports Seats
• 12 Way Power adjust driver seat and 4 way adjust passenger seats
• 3 Way Heated front seats and Rear Outboard seats
• 60/40 Split-folding rear seats
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with GPS link
• Push Button Start
• Leather Wrapped Heated steering wheel with Tilt/Telescopic function
• Steering Mounted Cruise, Audio, Telephony controls
• Auto Up/Down power windows

How good is the Acura TLX on the cargo front?

Acura engineers did a lot of good on the TLX, but designing a large trunk was not one of them. The boot space is quite small compared to the Kia Stinger, which utilizes its hatchback design to incorporate more space in the back. Still, the Acura is better than average, with more than 14 cubic feet on offer.

You could easily stuff two big backpacks in the back easily. The 60/40 Split-folding seats, furthermore liberate space on the inside.

Model	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	14.3	13.5	15.0	16.1

The Toyota Avalon manages to lead the Buick in terms of the cargo capacities on offer. The Acura comes in next to the Buick and the Infiniti has to suffice with the last spot here.

Japanese cars offer magnificent engineering, 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 look brilliant.

The 2020 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 aren't too great. You can feel the weight when driving around. The TLX is the widest of them all and has a decent height as well. The 5.8" of ground clearance on offer, makes the Acura's underbelly, the least prone to scraping or damage from speed humps.

Model	Acura TLX FWD	Infiniti Q50 3.0t LUXE RWD*	Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring FWD*	Toyota Avalon XSE FWD*
Curb weight (lbs.)	3616	3730	3358	3560
Length(in)	191.7	189.6	197.5	195.9
Width(in)	73.0	71.8	73.5	72.8
Height(in)	57.0	57.2	57.5	56.5
Ground clearance (in)	5.8	5	N/A	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	109.3	112.2	114.4	113.0

The Buick is the longest, widest and tallest sedan among all its adversaries and that shows in its interiors. The Acura follows it in terms of length but misses out on its height. The Q50 has the most compact proportions and comes with the lowest ground clearance as well.

Any eye-catching features?

Yes and in plenty as well. Modern-day Acura's are known to be sleek in their design and the way they look and the TLX is no different either. Here is a list of few of those eye-catching features that you can find in the Acura TLX

• Remote Operated Moonroof
• LED Headlights, Foglights, and Taillights
• Heated, Powered and Auto-Dimming Exterior RVM
• Decklid Spoiler
• Puddle Lights
• LED Turn Indicators on Mirrors

One of the growing concerns among the Car buyers these days is in terms of the Safety tech on offer as standard. The 2020 Acura TLX, manages to address this issue by offering a long list of Safety tech as standard. These are some of the features on offering

• Multi Rear View Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
• Surround View Camera
• Front, Side Curtain and Driver's Knee Airbags
• VSA with Traction control and motion adaptive steering
• 4 Wheel ABS with EBD and Brake Assist
• Hill start Assist with Auto brake hold
• Front and Rear Parking sensors
• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor
• Lane keep Assist
• Road departure mitigation system

IIHS Safety Ratings

Moderate Overlap Front Test Results	Good
Side Impact Test Results	Good
Rear Crash Protection Results	Good
Roof Strength Test Results	Good
Small Overlap Front Driver Test Results	Acceptable
Small Overlap Front Passenger Test Results	Not Rated
Headlights Results	Acceptable
Front Crash Prevention Results	Superior

Acura TLX vs Infiniti Q50

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.

Acura TLX vs Buick LaCrosse

The Buick Lacrosse has been built, keeping in mind the average-sized American. The Lacrosse is big on the inside, offers decent cargo space and comes loaded with a long list of creature comforts and features. However, in comparison with the Acura, the Buick loses out on the build quality, standard safety tech, and the Japanese reliability. The Buick is surely, the more fun car to drive but if you were to look for a car on a long term basis, the Acura would still be our pick.

Acura TLX vs Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon has been a long-standing segment benchmark for its practicality, performance, and reliability. The New-gen Avalon is the better car to drive of the 2 and feels slightly more stable and nimble and agile around the corners. The Acura, on the other hand, offers terrific MPG figures, a good infotainment system and a long list of safety features as standard. Choosing one of these is purely a matter of choice but we would prefer the Avalon for its better looks and design over the Acura.

To conclude, it's safe to say the 2020 Acura TLX is a great car for your average car needs. It doesn't offer much excitement but is a strong contender for a good daily driver. While you can find overpriced and underpowered German rivals of the Acura, there aren't many sedans that can combine the reliability and features of the Acura. Looks aside, the 2020 Acura TLX does everything that's asked of it and we aren't complaining about that.