By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
You could be forgiven for not knowing where the TLX fits in Acura’s lineup.
It’s slotted between the smaller ILX and bigger RLX, making it a replacement for two cars that just went to the automotive afterlife: the TL and TSX that were discontinued after 2014.
Acura’s new mid-size car, the TLX, makes its reputation with advanced technology, including four-wheel steering, a brilliantly designed transmission and driving aids that make it feel nearly autonomous at times.
All that alphabet soup is enough to make me wish Acura would just name their cars Small, Medium and Large.
This brand-new Medium — sorry, TLX — is a very worthy contender, though, offering the kind of technology and refinement that Acura desperately needs to set itself apart in the tightly competitive luxury segment.
And unlike its comparatively uninspiring ancestors, it doesn’t tempt you to buy its cousin on the Honda lot to save some money. It’s such a big step up that you don’t sense a corporate connection there, making it seem more like a luxury car that’s a bargain rather than a bargain car that’s made to be luxurious.
Most of the difference comes from technology, which is where the TLX shines brightest. It feels like one of the most advanced cars you can buy today, and it is, with goodies like four-wheel steering, torque vectoring all-wheel drive and the ability to automatically steer and brake by itself, almost like a robot. Its digital-heavy dash gives it a Jetsons vibe.
And because of all those interesting tech and engineering bits layered on top of the TLX, it’s almost easy to overlook what it is at its core: a spectacular driver’s car.
The eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission in my 2.4-liter test car was one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve had in a sedan recently, offering the kind of super-fast shifts and instant response that I’d only experienced in more expensive sedans from Germany before now. The TLX even one-ups them by brilliantly making use of a torque converter to deliver off-the-line smoothness that the herky-jerky German systems haven’t perfected quite yet.
The TLX is available with a powerful 3.5-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic transmission, too, along with an all-wheel drive version that uses torque vectoring to improve handling.
Two different digital displays in the center stack, one of which is touch sensitive, give the new TLX a high-tech atmosphere.
It’s also astoundingly quiet over the road. It makes great use of passive sound insulation, such as spraying expanding foam into gaps in panels to seal out the noise. Active systems also use microphones and the car’s stereo system to electronically cancel out unwanted sounds, sort of like those noise-canceling headphones people wear on airplanes.
I wish the body styling were bolder to match the TLX’s advanced, high-tech personality, though. It’s pleasant enough to look at — and certainly an improvement over the TL and TSX it’s replacing — but it needs more swagger to stand out on the road.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Acura TLX 2.4L Tech ($35,025). Options: None. Price as tested (including $895 destination charge): $35,920
Wheelbase: 109.3 in.
Length: 190.3 in.
Width: 73 in.
Height: 57 in.
Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder (206 horsepower, 182 lbs.-ft.)
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with torque converter
Estimated Mileage: 24 city, 35 highway
RATINGS
Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 10
Handling: 8
Ride: 8
Comfort: 8
Quality: 9
Overall: 9
Video Review:
2015 Acura TLX
bit.ly/2015tlx
Why buy it?
It’s a high-tech, brilliantly engineered car that sets a new standard for the Acura brand. Its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission has an ingenious design, and four-wheel steering gives it impressive handling.