IIHS not impressed by Jewel Eye; TLX rated Marginal
#1
IIHS not impressed by Jewel Eye; TLX rated Marginal
New IIHS ratings show most headlights are lacking
Also interesting -
Also interesting -
One of the best headlight systems evaluated has none of the new technology. The basic halogen lights on the Honda Accord 4-door earn an acceptable rating, while an LED system with high-beam assist available on the Accord earns only a marginal.
#3
^^
My neighbor just bought a brand new M3 sedan. Almost 70K. No back up camera....
My neighbor just bought a brand new M3 sedan. Almost 70K. No back up camera....
#5
I have front and rear proximity center + back up camera in the Lexus. I find the camera to be much more helpful...
#6
Halogen < LEDs < HIDs < Lazer headlights
The following users liked this post:
9SpeedTran (04-06-2016)
#7
Trending Topics
#8
mrgold35
I've noticed comparing Halogen to last Gen HIDs is:
- HIDs give a wider and whiter beam
- HIDs illuminate overhead signs and side markers atleast 2X further down the road
- I've never felt down the road range was an issue compared to wider/brighter.
Sounds like it would be an easy fix for Acura since the LEDs are in their own housing. Just change out one lens on each side to focus further down the road. I wounder how the RLX with the double lens design or MDX/RDX with the higher LED placement would do in the same test?
- HIDs give a wider and whiter beam
- HIDs illuminate overhead signs and side markers atleast 2X further down the road
- I've never felt down the road range was an issue compared to wider/brighter.
Sounds like it would be an easy fix for Acura since the LEDs are in their own housing. Just change out one lens on each side to focus further down the road. I wounder how the RLX with the double lens design or MDX/RDX with the higher LED placement would do in the same test?
#9
Suzuka Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC - USA
Age: 82
Posts: 7,674
Received 2,599 Likes
on
1,581 Posts
I like down the road range & light to the shoulders. Lots of loose deer here.
#10
Racer
He bought the model from the BMW performance division. It's purposely spartan in some areas to save on factors like weight and cost.
He bought a track car. The luxury features aren't there on purpose. I bet it has PDC, though.
If he would have bought the regular 3 series or a 5 series... different story.
#11
To be fair...
He bought the model from the BMW performance division. It's purposely spartan in some areas to save on factors like weight and cost.
He bought a track car. The luxury features aren't there on purpose. I bet it has PDC, though.
If he would have bought the regular 3 series or a 5 series... different story.
He bought the model from the BMW performance division. It's purposely spartan in some areas to save on factors like weight and cost.
He bought a track car. The luxury features aren't there on purpose. I bet it has PDC, though.
If he would have bought the regular 3 series or a 5 series... different story.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
He tracks an Ariel Atom. He went to dealer over weekend, picked the cheapest M3 sedan to daily drive, and took what they had. Traded in his CTS-V which has been in the shop 8 times in the last 13 months
#12
Racer
My track car (Lotus Elise) came standard with Nav and Back up camera. I think his M3 sedan + back up camera (negligible weight for the camera), he would have been fine on the track![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
He tracks an Ariel Atom. He went to dealer over weekend, picked the cheapest M3 sedan to daily drive, and took what they had. Traded in his CTS-V which has been in the shop 8 times in the last 13 months
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
He tracks an Ariel Atom. He went to dealer over weekend, picked the cheapest M3 sedan to daily drive, and took what they had. Traded in his CTS-V which has been in the shop 8 times in the last 13 months
Not surprised a GM product was living in the repair shop. I'm not really sure which is worse: Chrysler and GM products of 10 years ago or now...
![Tomato](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tomato.gif)
I would love to be able to pick up an M3 because I need a daily
![Too Cool](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/toocool.gif)
Maybe one day...
![Tongue](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
The following users liked this post:
2012wagon (03-31-2016)
#13
Suzuka Master
So I think Acura's LED lights are great, only thing needed to make IIHS happy is probably raise the aiming a bit. I have always thought every TL/TLX I have owned the aiming was too low. They light the immediate road bright and wide, but their long distance throw is weak, but cranking them up a few degrees would likely help a great deal. I do think the TLX LEDs throw better short distance and width light than my A6 LEDs did.
#14
Would be nice if the jewel eye headlights swiveled around corners. It was a nice touch in my 05 RL. I know it may be more difficult with the jewel eye lights but maybe next gen theyll have it
#15
Racer
To be fair...
He bought the model from the BMW performance division. It's purposely spartan in some areas to save on factors like weight and cost.
He bought a track car. The luxury features aren't there on purpose. I bet it has PDC, though.
If he would have bought the regular 3 series or a 5 series... different story.
He bought the model from the BMW performance division. It's purposely spartan in some areas to save on factors like weight and cost.
He bought a track car. The luxury features aren't there on purpose. I bet it has PDC, though.
If he would have bought the regular 3 series or a 5 series... different story.
![2 Cents](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/2cents.gif)
#16
Three Wheelin'
Forget that rating, I love my LED headlights. I think they could be aimed a bit higher, but I drive through some dark roads and they're great
#17
Burning Brakes
What I find interesting is that based on this research, it appears that Honda Accord Touring model (with LEDs) also offer worse lighting performance than lower Accord trims with Projector Halogen bulbs.
Seeing this, I would not be surprised if 2nd gen TSX and 4th gen TL with HIDs had better lighting performance than new TLX. Wonder if this is another cutting corner measure on Acura part? Offer something that in theory should offer better performance, but the facts show the opposite.
Seeing this, I would not be surprised if 2nd gen TSX and 4th gen TL with HIDs had better lighting performance than new TLX. Wonder if this is another cutting corner measure on Acura part? Offer something that in theory should offer better performance, but the facts show the opposite.
#18
#19
Three Wheelin'
For my use it's perfect. There's actually a small amount of light that shines up, almost like a reflection, that helps light up signs above the car.
I think just like any other car there should be a screw around the headlight housing that will adjust the aim of it.
I always sorta found my 3G TL aim to be a bit low, but never had any issues with it not lighting up any overhead signs on freeways or anything.
#20
Registered Abuser of VTEC
What I find interesting is that based on this research, it appears that Honda Accord Touring model (with LEDs) also offer worse lighting performance than lower Accord trims with Projector Halogen bulbs.
Seeing this, I would not be surprised if 2nd gen TSX and 4th gen TL with HIDs had better lighting performance than new TLX. Wonder if this is another cutting corner measure on Acura part? Offer something that in theory should offer better performance, but the facts show the opposite.
Seeing this, I would not be surprised if 2nd gen TSX and 4th gen TL with HIDs had better lighting performance than new TLX. Wonder if this is another cutting corner measure on Acura part? Offer something that in theory should offer better performance, but the facts show the opposite.
And no, the LED headlights are more expensive, not less. Acura's main reason for going all LED was to reduce power consumption, therefore reducing alternator draw and increasing fuel economy.
I think the Jewel Eyes could use some tweaks for around corner performance, but I'm very happy with them at night, they are FAR better than my 3G TL. The light is much cleaner, brighter, and goes further.
#22
Senior Moderator
People are glossing over that point. From the drivers perspective, other than for a lack of automatic height adjustment, and no swiveling around the bends, these lamps light up the road better than the HID projectors I've had in my BMW, Acura, Lexus, and Audi.
Having said that, I have also been flashed as if I had my high beams on more often in the TLX/MDX than in any other car.
The following users liked this post:
9SpeedTran (04-24-2016)
#23
Burning Brakes
Points are taken away for glare from another driver's perspective. That explains why the Accord and TLX with LEDs are rated somewhat lower.
And no, the LED headlights are more expensive, not less. Acura's main reason for going all LED was to reduce power consumption, therefore reducing alternator draw and increasing fuel economy.
I think the Jewel Eyes could use some tweaks for around corner performance, but I'm very happy with them at night, they are FAR better than my 3G TL. The light is much cleaner, brighter, and goes further.
And no, the LED headlights are more expensive, not less. Acura's main reason for going all LED was to reduce power consumption, therefore reducing alternator draw and increasing fuel economy.
I think the Jewel Eyes could use some tweaks for around corner performance, but I'm very happy with them at night, they are FAR better than my 3G TL. The light is much cleaner, brighter, and goes further.
See below - the first column of numbers is for Accord with projectors, the 2nd one is for Accord with LEDs and the last one is for TLX. In some scenarios we are looking at 17-30 meters performance difference when comparing Accord's projectors to TLX LEDs. I think that is fairly decent difference in performance.
LOW BEAMS
Straightaway right edge 93.5 m 75.6 m 76.4 m
Straightaway left edge 59.9 m 49.3 m 50.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 60.4 m 53.7 m 68.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.9 m 47.5 m 46.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 49.1 m 49.4 m 52.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 42.7 m 46.3 m 42.8 m
HIGH BEAMS
Straightaway right edge 163.9 m 129.0 m 132.7 m
Straightaway left edge 127.7 m 121.3 m 102.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 73.1 m 61.4 m 72.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 66.7 m 58.8 m 57.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 57.2 m 53.8 m 54.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 53.9 m 48.8 m 46.3 m
Hopefully Acura and Honda will react quickly and make necessary changes to correct the headlamp performance.
#24
Registered Abuser of VTEC
Where's the straightaway centre? Did they not measure that?
One thing I noticed when I test drove the Accord in the evening was that the light wasn't nearly as bright for what it did light up.
It also looks like the TLX lights are better on the right curves, but slightly lower on the lefts.
I don't feel they perform poorly, since I can see a lot better at night than I could in my 3G TL or the 2016 Accord Coupe EX-L V6 I test drove. IIHS measurements say they should be worse on paper, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.
Also note the other premium and luxury manufacturers. Very few of them are out of the Marginal weeds according to IIHS.
I wonder if it's because LEDs have a sharper cutoff?
One thing I noticed when I test drove the Accord in the evening was that the light wasn't nearly as bright for what it did light up.
It also looks like the TLX lights are better on the right curves, but slightly lower on the lefts.
I don't feel they perform poorly, since I can see a lot better at night than I could in my 3G TL or the 2016 Accord Coupe EX-L V6 I test drove. IIHS measurements say they should be worse on paper, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.
Also note the other premium and luxury manufacturers. Very few of them are out of the Marginal weeds according to IIHS.
I wonder if it's because LEDs have a sharper cutoff?
#25
Senior Moderator
Where's the straightaway centre? Did they not measure that?
One thing I noticed when I test drove the Accord in the evening was that the light wasn't nearly as bright for what it did light up.
It also looks like the TLX lights are better on the right curves, but slightly lower on the lefts.
I don't feel they perform poorly, since I can see a lot better at night than I could in my 3G TL or the 2016 Accord Coupe EX-L V6 I test drove. IIHS measurements say they should be worse on paper, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.
Also note the other premium and luxury manufacturers. Very few of them are out of the Marginal weeds according to IIHS.
I wonder if it's because LEDs have a sharper cutoff?
One thing I noticed when I test drove the Accord in the evening was that the light wasn't nearly as bright for what it did light up.
It also looks like the TLX lights are better on the right curves, but slightly lower on the lefts.
I don't feel they perform poorly, since I can see a lot better at night than I could in my 3G TL or the 2016 Accord Coupe EX-L V6 I test drove. IIHS measurements say they should be worse on paper, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.
Also note the other premium and luxury manufacturers. Very few of them are out of the Marginal weeds according to IIHS.
I wonder if it's because LEDs have a sharper cutoff?
IMO HID lighting is the best consumer lighting for cars until laser lights hit the market. HID's have much less glare (depending on how large the glare cutouts are in the projector) and illuminate further when properly aimed than LEDs.
#26
Great lights at night, very wide and white beam. They could go a touch further and higher but pretty good. When going up slight inclines or bumps they really light up signs. They probably tuned them low to not blind people.
Been getting flashed a lot. One guy pulled over he didn't like my lights behind him!
Been getting flashed a lot. One guy pulled over he didn't like my lights behind him!