Finally got a chance to test drive the i4 tech this week ( I have test drove v6 tech before) and I like it

The i4 definitely feels like an i4 but it is very fast when push hard. Under Normal driving, it feels refined/smooth but nothing special--and it's not bad thing for daily commute

The 8 speed dct is very fast but the gears are very close so I have to down shift at least 2-3 gears to get some power out of the car. Probably because I have a v6 with 5 speed and each gear is much farther apart on my TL compare to the a TLX

I was semi underwhelming with the power on the i4 (but I have always own a v6) until the salesman said push it hard. I did and I gotta say the engine does well when push hard(aggressive driving)

I did not experience any jerkiness or noise of anything. The drive was very brief without traffic.

Still hate the i4 wheels and love the v6 wheels. Before test drive the i4, the magazine got me thinking of buying a i4 but now after test driving the i4, the v6 will definitely be reconsider. I will test drive them back to back to see

Everything else is much better than my 04 TL with the exception of the rear end , I still like the expose tail pipe on my 04

 

The magazines made me think I'd want an I4, too. But after driving both I4 and V6 twice it felt too much like a 4cyl for me to spend $36k. The V6 was so smooth and powerful it felt like what my opinion of a $36k+ car should feel like and still managed to corner better than my TSX which was the final check box for leaving a deposit.

 

I tested an I4 Tech today in a suburban area near Philly, which did not include any highway driving. I was very impressed with the 8DCT, but I think there's a learning curve to get the most out of it within the different driving modes and one's driving style. I could envision using manual mode frequently. The power seemed sufficient, probably thanks to the broader torque curve than my TSX's. Despite the notably quiet cabin, I could always hear the engine, which is a plus IMO.

I was most impressed with the chassis dynamics and suspension tuning, at least in my drive which probably never exceeded 6/10. The word that comes to mind is "composed." Uneven surfaces? Rough roads? Tight turns? No problem. It just tracks through. It's smooth but not isolating, and strikes a nice balance. I felt like I could drive it MUCH faster than my TSX over similar roads, with a greater sense of control. Maybe the PAWS contributes. I think this confidence-inspiring nature will help the TLX succeed in the market.

Unfortunately, as with the TSX (and many other cars with EPS), any sense of control isn't coming from real feedback through the steering. I hoped Acura would improve its EPS tuning with the TLX, but any improvements over my TSX's steering are subtle. Perhaps it has better on-center feel on the highway as assist drops at higher speeds. I don't know, but I'd need to test that before I'd buy one. I also thought the steering was too light outside of Sport and Sport+ modes.

As a comfortable, practical daily driver/family car/road trip machine, the I4 TLX seems like a big winner to me. It's not a hard core sport sedan, but it is fun to drive and its capabilities will probably exceed those of most drivers. Would I give up MT for one? Not so sure, but I'll keep my TSX long enough to find out whether an MT will work its way into the TLX. Maybe with repeated test drives I'd decide I could live with the 8DCT, but I'm just not there yet. (Interestingly, the salesman said he's had a few customers "on the fence" about the TLX due to lack of MT. They love the car, but don't want to give up the stick.)