4G vs TLX
 

Was at the Acura dealership and looked at the TLX. I came away disappointed, seemed to be an inferior product, tons off plastic and the drive was not as spirited as the 4G. Anyone else feel this way?


Maybe I'm in the minor but came away really disappointed with what Acura is doing with the product lines.

Which trim level?

Interesting you feel that way. Seems to me like the TLX has less plastic than the 4G (real aluminum and that wood stuff). Don't know how it drives, haven't been in one.

If you drove an i4, you might feel that way because it's got less power and less refinement. If you drove the V6, then I don't know what to say.

:whyme:Yup!!! I felt the same way man. TLX I4 Reminds me my wife 2015 Honda Civic just for the ride of course. The interior of the TLX way better than civic. If you are looking to buy NSX in GB you would be out of luck.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/me...-sold-britain/

Which trim level? If you drove a 4 cylinder TLX of course it wouldnt compare to your V6 TL.

This is also a problem for Acura, there was never a difference in their vehicles when you looked at the same cars. Besides tech options, a base TL still had the same interior as a loaded one. I know there was a difference between faux wood for base and faux carbon fiber for techs. But they both had the same amount of plastic and leather. The TSX didn't get a better interior for the V6 and a lesser interior for the I4. This was one of Acuras biggest sales gimmicks all of their cars were loaded and that was why they weren't Hondas. The TLX I4 is built like a Honda and priced like a Honda.

Not entirely true, the Sh-awd TL got a beefier steering wheel and premium leather over the lower trims. not sure about the V6 TSX though.

I had one for half a day. SH-AWD top trip TLX.

From what i can tell:
- The SH is more aggressive than the 4g's. (It would break traction in the rear with VSC on if you hammer it down, both in corners and in a straight line. BUT, I was on the crappy oem all season Michelins, and it was around 5C that day).
- Much better gas mileage (direct injection and the 9 speed auto)
- Econ and Normal modes feel unresponsive.
- Sport is the equivalent to the 4g's "Normal"
- Sport+ is the equivalent to the 4g's "Sport"
- Interior didn't initially feel as nice as the 4g, but I would need to spend more time with it to really tell.
- quieter overall

I didn't mean to include the SH or the type S versions. But even including those the plastic to leather ratio is still the same.

4G's interior looked very high end with all the buttons. I find the TLX exterior is better.

4G is very underrated (from 2009-2014). I compared it closely to G37 and IS (comparing only to Japanese) TL was much better in terms of quality, space and technology.

Please remember that the I4 TLX is actually the TSX replacement.

So only the V6 TLX is more comparable with the 4G TL.

To clarify, I drove both the I4 and V6 with SH-AWD. I compared the SH-AWD with the 4G SH-AWD and that is where my disappointment lies.
I'm glad people like the TLX and seems to be selling well, but I walk away disappointed with the TLX SH-AWD.

I can only comment on the design which I don't really like. The 4G is aggressive - kind of in your face trying peck your eyes out with its beak. I like that. This new tlx with its hidden exhaust pipes...oh man what were they thinking?!. Why hide them pipes, people who have fear of exhausts can just f... right off and buy a prius. No wait, even the prius has a visible exhaust!

It looks nice, wasn't there a transmission recall of some sort about the TLX? What's the deal with that?

The TLX is overall a lower segment product which is not surprising given that it replaces both the TSX and the TL.

Styling is bland and derivative, suspension setup is cheaper (struts in the front vs, Double Wishbones), interiors have a cheaper feeling, less "rich" and detailed (for example, just look at the door panels)
Cabin space feels more cramped, especially in the rear seat.

Tires are cheaper. Handling and steering precision did take a dive.

The cars feels, as a whole, less substantial when your drive it on the road...but it is quieter, I give it that...

It may and it will sell well but it ain't a 4G TL and I do not see how a 4G owner can aspire to own one....

Whats funny is you would probably get an exact opposite answer in the 5G TL forum. I prefer the 4G overall myself, but I definitely prefer the 5G exterior. Although I like the 4G exterior also. (after MMC). None compare to the 3G TL-S, but that's growing a little dated IMO.

Thank goodness. Acura needed to do something to bring customers back. The TLX has lots of room for improvement but it's a step in the right direction.

Cheaper prices are bringing customers back....sales of the TLX are still lower than the TL and TLX combined so hold on the champagne.

If people are ok with a "me too" derivative style, more power to them.

When I drive my TL is makes me feel like a big man, like I got up that day and put on my big boy pants. Does the TLX give that same feeling?

It was something along the lines of the car (w/9speed) indicating that it was in park, while not actually being in park.

My overall view is Acura killed the TL and just replaced the TSX with the TLX. The TL seems to have less in common with the TLX than the TSX does.

apparently not. i test drove both the I4 and V6. The interior feels cheap, i feel like even the 3G has much better interior feel than the TLX minus fragile dash.

My 3G MDX has this latest generation Acura dash/interior layout and when I drive the MDX, it makes me feel like a even bigger man than driving my 4G TL.

However, the TLX is also equipped with the similar latest gen Acura dash/interior layout, but when I drive the TLX, it makes me feel like driving a TSX.

I believe it has everything to do with the interior volume of the vehicle.

I was kidding of course lol

The TLX is a very nice car, but I completely relate to the sentiment expressed above. In no way have I been tempted emotionally to "upgrade" from my 4G SH-AWD to a TLX. Now, if I didn't own my 4G but needed a car like the 4G, I would still shop the TLX, but that's because it's currently the only choice in the Acura stable. By itself, the TLX is simply not quite enough of an overall upgrade to trigger an impulse buy.

By the way, I wonder how much of the interior road noise improvements are due to quieter, comfort-oriented tires, since there's been so many comments about how the grip of the TLX OEM tires do not compare with the sportier rubber on previous Acuras.

No offense to TLX owners, but the TLX seems more like an entry-level premium car. When I owned my 09 TL Shawd, it felt more like an upper level luxury car.

I have to be honest that the non-premium brands are making it very difficult for Acura, with so many non-premium manufactures stepping up with their bread and butter models it's making it very tough for entry-level luxury brands like Acura to remain sustainable...The biggest bonus the TLX has for Acura is it will make their business model a little more sustainable with one less model car to produce.

The leather in the tech package is different and much softer than the base model. I owned a base before I traded it in for the tech model. On a side note, my sister has a '13 C300 loaded and the leather on that was hard and rough. The Nav screen, half the size and half as bright. It was small and cramped compared to the 4G. I was not impressed at all. It was almost a night and day difference. Which makes me appreciate the 4G even more. :D

I've seen only one TLX on the road and thought it was a Civic at first. Completely bland design.

I happen to like the TLX but IMO this is the problem.

While there was nothing wrong with the TSX it was a good car, the TLX is a big improvement over the TSX. This is why most (not all) of the happy TLX owners are previous TSX owners.

The V6 TLX while more refined and improved compared to the 4G TL, as it should be, is still not making a strong enough case for 4G owners to make the switch. Of course some have made the switch, but a lot don't think its worth it.

And especially not now when you consider all of the first year problems that have appeared.

^ I couldn't agree more and in addition IMO, due to the refinements, it lost some of that sporty characteristics that many 4G owners enjoy. Some of us like feeling the road and hearing the engine a bit. I think the TLX will compete with the Lexus ES very well.

I fail to see how more refined the TLX V6 engine is compared to the 4G...more fuel efficient maybe and with a more advanced/modern automatic transmission for sure (I drive a 4G manual so it does not apply to me anyway)


The only improvement over the 4G TL is that the car is quieter but this may be also be due to the more comfort oriented tires.

I think the TLX in current form is doing exactly what they hoped, grabbing the attention of the TSX crowd and the 3Gers. Lets face facts, the 4G didn't have the sales numbers, so we're the (loud) minority. My hope is that the complete and utter refusal of the public to give the RLX a second glance means some of that hybrid tech will funnel down to the TLX within the near future.

There is only one little detail...so far (admittedly it's still early to say for sure but there is a trend) the sales of the TLX are below the combined TSX+TL sales (I did a month by month comparison with the oldest solid data available on Good Car Bad Car blog, 2010).

In the final months of 2010 the TSX and the TL were already 2 years old and the economy was still in the doldrums.

So I do not see, so far, that great sales success...thew good thing is that for sure Acura (Honda) is saving some money selling only one model instead of two.


Personally I do not think the current model lineup is what will take Acura out of its funk.

I've had a fair bit of experience with Acuras. Having owned a '94 Legend, an '05 3G TL, an '08 TSX, and still having my '12 TL SH-AWD, the new TLX SH-AWD I bought recently is hands down the best car Acura has ever built (not counting the two NSXs I've owned).

Sincerely many have more experience and disagree. The TLX is a large cost cutting exercise as can be shown in numerous ways. Glad you enjoy the TLX in the end it is all about how you feel about your car. Your opinion is just far out on the bell curve.

Haha, that's pretty funny.

There is something to be said about this given your history in the variety of high end cars you've owned.

My 12 AWD TL is having warranty work done and I have been given a TLX Tech while the parts are on order. I am very underwhelmed with the TLX. Although I will admit I still need to learn the interior controls, I feel really out of sorts with just finding a radio station. It does not handle anything like my AWD and I thought I was driving the I4. I thought it ran great for a 4 cylinder then found out it was actually the V6. My AWD is a lot more comfortable, it feels and drives like a luxury car. This TLX feels like a Camry rental car to me or maybe just like the TSX I drove a couple years ago. Nice car, all the fancy stuff in it, but it just confirms how happy I really am with my SH AWD.


I do not mean to offend any TLX owners, it's just not the car for me. I am also not comparing AWD to AWD.

I have not driven a TLX not sure if you have, but I have been told by several people that have that they feel the car is more refined and quieter than their 4G's.

When I finally decide to test drive one (not anytime soon) I'll see for myself, but IMO it makes sense based on how much more refined the 3G MDX was when I test drove it compared to the 2G MDX we used to have. And the 2G was more refined than the 1G MDX we had prior to the 2G.

You could be correct that part of the reason that it's quieter is due to the tires, but I would have to guess that it also has to do with sound deadening and other improvements..

These same people who drove the V6 TLX all decided to keep their 4G's except for the 3G owner who bought an IS350...

I just saw another TLX on the road this weekend, and while it looks ok IMO the 4G has road presence while the TLX just blends in with everything else..

I drove the TLX (V6 FWD)....quieter yes, more refined definitely not. The 4G TL feels to me a more "substantial" and more luxurious car all around, the way it drives.

Got it, like I said I haven't driven a TLX yet and only went but what I was told.. I guess I'll have to wait and see what I think when I finally drive one. :thumbsup:

If it is quieter, isnt it more refined or is it up for interpretation?

I, personally, went from really excited to disappointed with the TLX. Something I hate because I was looking forward for it to be my 5th TL(X).

I have tested both, V4 and V6, several times. As a matter of fact I had a V6 as a loaner the whole day last Saturday and I was once more sad to see that it doesn't make it for me.

It drives quieter than my '13 TL and has a nice design but I don't feel it as premium. It's a combination of things... Materials quality, the dual screen, smaller interior size (even when Acura engineers say it's the same)... It just doesn't "click" with me which is the first time it happens in my 11 years with Acura.

No offense to TLX owners in any way and it's not my intention to put down the TLX but it is my very personal opinion that Acura retired the TL and gave a nice upgrade to the TSX. When I see the TLX, "TSX" is what comes to my mind.

This is how I feel too... I don't know, maybe someday I'll change my mind

No, two very different things...a Camry is very quiet but also not a very refined ride, especially on the driving dynamics.

I would like to update my TLX complaining from yesterday. Someone here said that the sport mode on the TLX is like the normal on the 4G. I have to agree. I switched to sport mode today and the car drove a lot better. It did not have that sluggish eco feel that I was hating. Still feels like i'm driving a fancy TSX but a least it doesn't feel as underpowered as before. Sport plus is more like our 4G sport mode.

I recently had my 2012 SH AWD TL in for service and they gave me the 2.4 TLX Tech. There were a few nice things like the heated steering wheel was great and the steering had a light feel (which I like). However, it did feel a lot more plastic the my TL and had less of a luxury feel overall. Also, I quickly realized that I could never be happy with the 2.4 engine with FWD, if I switch my TL someday for a TLX I must have the 3.5 SH AWD, I just can't believe how accustomed I have become to the AWD and the big engine.... I could never go back. I also like the centre-stack buttons rather than the touch screen on the TLX, but that's personal preference and what I'm used to. Overall I'm in no rush to switch out of my TL. I would however like to try the RLX when I go in for my next service, just for the sake of comparison.

Got a TLX 6-cyl as a loaner. Didn't look to see whether it was a SH-AWD or not but here is my impression. The car is quiet and felt rock solid. I also concur with those that said that car throttle wasn't as responsive but once it does get moving, the thing does haul ass. Handles the bumps a heck of lot better than the 4G. Having no shifter was a bit awkward and the dual screen was a bit confusing but I guess both are something that would need a little getting used to. Didn't get to push the car due to horrible road conditions in Northern NJ, so not sure of the cornering capabilities but it did feel a bit softer than the 4G and the seats were not as supportive.

The TLX seems to have lost the "sports" in luxury sports sedan and bulked up in "luxury" in the sense that it feels like a true luxury car as in that it is quiet and soft in its driving dynamics. It lost the "sports" in muted engine noise and it didn't feel aggressive. It kind of felt like a neutered 4G and lost a bit of the fun factor. It did feel like a great cruiser for a long distance trip and had good road manners but it did not inspire one to push the car as it does with the 4G.

In summary, the TLX did impress me but it is a very different car when compared to the 4G. For any 4G owners who was on the border line in choosing between the 4G and the Lexus ES, I think they will be very happy with the TLX. But if you were crossing shopping between the 4G and the Infiniti G, you will not be too thrilled with the TLX.

Which is what I have read people say here about the 4G compared to the 3G
"less sporty, more luxury"

and then the 4G manual compared to the 4G auto
"auto 4g is like a neutered 4G manual"

And now the same thing about the 5G.

I agree with all those statements.

When I drove the 4G manual tranny the other day, I didn't want to get out of
the car( I still have this feeling in my TL-S too). When I had a 5G V6 loaner, I couldn't wait to get out of the car.
Beyond feeling less sporty, its just...boring, to me at least. Plus the jumpiness of the transmission to me made it feel dangerous and unsafe.

I am at an age where soft and neutered is not a necessarily bad thing.
If I am going on a long distance trip, I think I would be happier on the TLX... but I am also at an age where the fun factor still matters and if I can have only one car in the garage, it would be the 4G. Nonetheless, to have both the TLX and 4G TL in the garage wouldn't be redundant for me as both has its pros and cons.

I hear you on that. I have a 2011 MDX for a softer ride which is awesome on long trips, and awesome in general to be honest. In my cars I want a little more sport as its usually just me in the car and maybe one other person.
I think the other thing that really bugs me about the TLX is the downgrade in seats. The 3G TL/TL Type S and 1st Gen RDX had tremendously comfortable sporty seats. The 2G MDX are very comfortable as well not as sporty but still great. The 4G TL continues the trend, their seats are amazing as well, the best overall. I love that cockpit feel of the 4G TL.
As soon as I got in the 5G, I was immediately turned off by the seat quality or lack thereof. These seats would be fine in an accord or civic, but not a 45k dollar car.

I agree on the TLX being softer than the TL (and quieter) so it may have appeal for those looking for a more soft, hushed ride.

But the TLX did not feel as rock solid and substantial as the TL, driving precision went down and the cabin is a downgrade IMHO.

I envy you.... I think the perfect Acura duo would be the 4G TL and the MDX. :thumbsup: