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It's longer, lower, and wider than the current MDX.
.... and following the TLX's footsteps, has less room inside.
Sorry, I couldn't resist ...
And it may be splitting hairs, but the MDX had to take the place of "flagship" status with the axing of the RLX. The NSX is Acura's 'halo car'. 'Flagship' is more the biggest, most luxurious model they have. That can only really be the MDX at this point.
After reading this, I am SO HAPPY we bought our 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid last year. We bought that a few years earlier than we needed, but we LOVED the Sport Hybrid and HATED the 3G RDX and figured we'd hate the new MDX. Making a larger SUV longer and wider makes it SO MUCH HARDER to park inside modern garages. Having less usable space and lower makes it less practical for an SUV.
Have no interest in any of modern redesigned Acuras, but very happy we bought what we bought when we did.
Have no clue what we'll replace these with, maybe something from Genesis or Volvo.
I understand the basic principles, and without watching the whole video, are you saying SH-AWD is not similar to Quattro in AWD operation?
It is not. The new SH-AWD system relies on the clutch packs entirely to handle the power. It's very similar to the GKN Twinster systems that are being used in some of the other domestic products. Quattro still has a mechanical Torsen differential that can handle much higher torque loads. The old SH-AWD systems were more like the traditional systems with a planetary gear set center diff, which is why those systems were able to handle the full torque of the V6. This new system is lighter, more compact, more fuel efficient, and has more fine-grained torque-vectoring control, but the tradeoff there is the max torque load.
If they beefed up the 10AT for the AWD Type-S, it seems the solution already exists for a higher 2.0T tune to work with SH-AWD. If not, I'm missing something.
Last edited by Carnage719; 10-01-2020 at 07:34 PM.
After reading this, I am SO HAPPY we bought our 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid last year. We bought that a few years earlier than we needed, but we LOVED the Sport Hybrid and HATED the 3G RDX and figured we'd hate the new MDX. Making a larger SUV longer and wider makes it SO MUCH HARDER to park inside modern garages. Having less usable space and lower makes it less practical for an SUV.
Have no interest in any of modern redesigned Acuras, but very happy we bought what we bought when we did.
Have no clue what we'll replace these with, maybe something from Genesis or Volvo.
Wondering if bringing in the 2.0T to the MDX will completely kill hydrides in Acura. It makes no sense that the NSX is the only electrified car in their lineup. They really need to one trim per model. Acura had a chance to make the TLX interesting by adding a third engine combo, but no.
If they beefed up the 10AT for the AWD Type-S, it seems the solution already exists for a higher 2.0T tune to work with SH-AWD. If not, I'm missing something.
Can you quote where anyone is saying the Type-S will have a "beefed up" 10AT? All I've seen is that it will have different tuning, but nothing about the internals being stronger. I'm not saying they didn't, I just haven't seen it. It would be a welcome surprise if they are actually throwing some more robust components into the drivetrain.
Wondering if bringing in the 2.0T to the MDX will completely kill hydrides in Acura. It makes no sense that the NSX is the only electrified car in their lineup. They really need to one trim per model. Acura had a chance to make the TLX interesting by adding a third engine combo, but no.
The outgoing MDX Sport Hybrid is the one Acura product that really hit every single checkbox I cared about. For me it is a home run. It is super efficient in city driving, very practical, and fun to drive. Easy intuitive touch screen, lots of features, and the vehicle really performs. The open pore wood for the 2019s was icing on the cake, much better than what the TLX or RLX had, and better implemented than the current TLX.
Acura really hit a home run with the MDX Sport Hybrid. All they had to do was put the IDS, adaptive dampers, and the updated Infotainment in the RLX Sport Hybrid and I would have EASILY bought it over everything else on the market.
I liked the MDX SH so much that I really wanted an RLX SH, but could not get past the lousy suspension and the dinosaur infotainment. Instead I got a 1G TLX V6 as my second vehicle, which I like, but I would have ponied up for the RLX SH had Acura completed the MMC as they should have.
I have ZERO interest whatsoever in the new TLX and MDX. Although I love my MDX and really like my TLX, I will likely abandon the brand altogether when it's time to replace these.
Last edited by AcuraGuy2016; 10-01-2020 at 08:27 PM.
Can you quote where anyone is saying the Type-S will have a "beefed up" 10AT? All I've seen is that it will have different tuning, but nothing about the internals being stronger. I'm not saying they didn't, I just haven't seen it. It would be a welcome surprise if they are actually throwing some more robust components into the drivetrain.
Nope, but I recall seeing it mentioned in the many discussions prior to and during the official release.
Can you quote where anyone is saying the Type-S will have a "beefed up" 10AT? All I've seen is that it will have different tuning, but nothing about the internals being stronger. I'm not saying they didn't, I just haven't seen it. It would be a welcome surprise if they are actually throwing some more robust components into the drivetrain.
Skip to @ 12:40. Speaks to a beefed up transmission and SH-AWD. We'll see what that actually translates to for the Type S.
Can you quote where anyone is saying the Type-S will have a "beefed up" 10AT? All I've seen is that it will have different tuning, but nothing about the internals being stronger. I'm not saying they didn't, I just haven't seen it. It would be a welcome surprise if they are actually throwing some more robust components into the drivetrain.
Marc Ernst in the Official video at around 12:00 minutes (intro to Type-S).
If I had to get a luxury performance sedan today, I'd 1,000% go for the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. Would ya look at that ... base price went up, but the F-sport actually got cheaper.
IS 350 F-Sport AWD in white with optional black wheels, please. I hope hope hope Lexus comes out with a Type-S competitor that's within the same ballpark as far as pricing. I just don't see what it could be with their current powertrain offerings. V8 isn't going to be AWD, and I hear the TT V6 doesn't fit under the hood of the IS. Who knows. God, if Lexus does build a Type-S fighter, I'm definitely making the leap. They'll probably actually build something made for performance, rather than a compromised family sedan with a bigger engine with a drivetrain holding on by a thread. And with the hysterically terrible build quality coming out of those OH plants, I'd gladly never park an Acura shitbox in my driveway ever again.
If I had to get a luxury performance sedan today, I'd 1,000% go for the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. Would ya look at that ... base price went up, but the F-sport actually got cheaper.
IS 350 F-Sport AWD in white with optional black wheels, please. I hope hope hope Lexus comes out with a Type-S competitor that's within the same ballpark as far as pricing. I just don't see what it could be with their current powertrain offerings. V8 isn't going to be AWD, and I hear the TT V6 doesn't fit under the hood of the IS. Who knows. God, if Lexus does build a Type-S fighter, I'm definitely making the leap. They'll probably actually build something made for performance, rather than a compromised family sedan with a bigger engine with a drivetrain holding on by a thread. And with the hysterically terrible build quality coming out of those OH plants, I'd gladly never park an Acura shitbox in my driveway ever again.
Try to find a GS F. Excellent car and very underrated. That car is wow.
Dont tell me they are unbiased, because they sure as hell seemed biased to me! Yuri hated the 2G's true touch so much but didnt even mention how awful this looked.
Dont tell me they are unbiased, because they sure as hell seemed biased to me! Yuri hated the 2G's true touch so much but didnt even mention how awful this looked.
I think they gave the 2nd gen TLX an honest review as they did with the 1st gen TLX (Which they liked). As for the K5, it seems like a spot on review for what it is and nothing more.
Dont tell me they are unbiased, because they sure as hell seemed biased to me! Yuri hated the 2G's true touch so much but didnt even mention how awful this looked.
I think he was referring to the touch pad itself, not how the screen looked.
I understand the basic principles, and without watching the whole video, are you saying SH-AWD is not similar to Quattro in AWD operation?
The key difference between SH-AWD (and the Twinster system on Ford RS) is that the rear is overdriven, that means the rear wheels always spin 2.7x faster than front wheels if the car is lifted and the clutches are locked. Why? This gives us the maximum 70% rear bias (2.7/3.7=72%). Therefore, the clutches control the amount of front/rear torque distribution. Fully locked is 70% to the rear, fully open is 100% to the front. However, for some reasons SH-AWD does not allow the clutches to be fully decoupled, so the clutches are in a controlled slipping state in a straight line to absorb the speed difference. I guess the reason for the constant coupling might be for smoothness or to improve reliability, because I assume more wear if the clutches need to go from fully open to fully closed in a short time. Acura published the torque capacity in RDX press kit (2213 lb-ft), and the wheel torque is >5600lb-ft if full power is allowed in 1st gear. So depending on the minimum rear bias, the rear differential might be the limiting factor in 1st gear.
On Audi, the front/rear distribution is usually controlled by a mechanical center differential, hence its sport differential does not deal with >50% rear torque bias all the time. The sport differential clutches are solely used for torque vectoring purpose, so less wear because they are mostly locked I believe.
At the end of the day, it is a complex decision among cost/reliability/packaging. Why Acura cannot beef up the powertrain components enough to fully use the K20c power? I hope someone ask Acura this question one day. Maybe we will know more when Type-S arrives.
The key difference between SH-AWD (and the Twinster system on Ford RS) is that the rear is overdriven, that means the rear wheels always spin 2.7x faster than front wheels if the car is lifted and the clutches are locked. Why? This gives us the maximum 70% rear bias (2.7/3.7=72%). Therefore, the clutches control the amount of front/rear torque distribution. Fully locked is 70% to the rear, fully open is 100% to the front. However, for some reasons SH-AWD does not allow the clutches to be fully decoupled, so the clutches are in a controlled slipping state in a straight line to absorb the speed difference. I guess the reason for the constant coupling might be for smoothness or to improve reliability, because I assume more wear if the clutches need to go from fully open to fully closed in a short time. Acura published the torque capacity in RDX press kit (2213 lb-ft), and the wheel torque is >5600lb-ft if full power is allowed in 1st gear. So depending on the minimum rear bias, the rear differential might be the limiting factor in 1st gear.
On Audi, the front/rear distribution is usually controlled by a mechanical center differential, hence its sport differential does not deal with >50% rear torque bias all the time. The sport differential clutches are solely used for torque vectoring purpose, so less wear because they are mostly locked I believe.
At the end of the day, it is a complex decision among cost/reliability/packaging. Why Acura cannot beef up the powertrain components enough to fully use the K20c power? I hope someone ask Acura this question one day. Maybe we will know more when Type-S arrives.
So why can't they change rear bias in a way that rear gets 2213 and rest goes to front? Why neuter the power? 2213 is better than 0.
At the end of the day, it is a complex decision among cost/reliability/packaging. Why Acura cannot beef up the powertrain components enough to fully use the K20c power? I hope someone ask Acura this question one day. Maybe we will know more when Type-S arrives.
Pure speculation, but I'm gonna go with fuel economy. The RDX in SH-AWD actually gets worse gas mileage than pretty much any one of its competitors. Having a beefier drivetrain with more parasitic drag would only hurt that more. I'm also under the impression that Acura fudged those numbers, as I can barely manage 21 MPG in mixed driving with mostly highway driving. Yes, I do do spirited runs from time to time, but 98% of the time it's being driven very tamely. 0W-20 Mobil 1 synthetic and Mobil or BP 93 Octane fuel, in case one of the weebs want to come in and claim that bullshit as being the cause of poor gas mileage. Though, it has gotten better with miles. It used to be in the 19.x range for a while, but that was in the winter with the winter blend of fuel. I'm sure the heavy 20" A-Spec wheels don't help, but still ...
Pure speculation, but I'm gonna go with fuel economy. The RDX in SH-AWD actually gets worse gas mileage than pretty much any one of its competitors. Having a beefier drivetrain with more parasitic drag would only hurt that more. I'm also under the impression that Acura fudged those numbers, as I can barely manage 21 MPG in mixed driving with mostly highway driving. Yes, I do do spirited runs from time to time, but 98% of the time it's being driven very tamely. 0W-20 Mobil 1 synthetic and Mobil or BP 93 Octane fuel, in case one of the weebs want to come in and claim that bullshit as being the cause of poor gas mileage. Though, it has gotten better with miles. It used to be in the 19.x range for a while, but that was in the winter with the winter blend of fuel. I'm sure the heavy 20" A-Spec wheels don't help, but still ...
Same here. Did ok with the 2014-MDX gas-mileage, but we never achieved their numbers. I think you have to drive-around with no passengers, no cargo, and always keep RPMs below 3000.
Obviously, using the large 7-seater SUV as intended, those circumstance never arose.
If I had to get a luxury performance sedan today, I'd 1,000% go for the Lexus IS 350 F-Sport. Would ya look at that ... base price went up, but the F-sport actually got cheaper.
IS 350 F-Sport AWD in white with optional black wheels, please. I hope hope hope Lexus comes out with a Type-S competitor that's within the same ballpark as far as pricing. I just don't see what it could be with their current powertrain offerings. V8 isn't going to be AWD, and I hear the TT V6 doesn't fit under the hood of the IS. Who knows. God, if Lexus does build a Type-S fighter, I'm definitely making the leap. They'll probably actually build something made for performance, rather than a compromised family sedan with a bigger engine with a drivetrain holding on by a thread. And with the hysterically terrible build quality coming out of those OH plants, I'd gladly never park an Acura shitbox in my driveway ever again.
I have been very critical of Acura with the 2nd Gen TLX, however, they actually have Type S coming in few months and Lexus still has NOTHING that will compete. The new IS does look good but the power plant is ancient history. They barely updated the interior as well. You are pretty much buying a brand new 8 year old car. Sales have been in the shitter and Lexus is just waiting for an excuse to kill this thing off just like they did to GS.
The new IS does look good but the power plant is ancient history. They barely updated the interior as well. You are pretty much buying a brand new 8 year old car. Sales have been in the shitter and Lexus is just waiting for an excuse to kill this thing off just like they did to GS.
People that know Lexus say they are happy to sell SUV and more luxury-like sedans.
I have been very critical of Acura with the 2nd Gen TLX, however, they actually have Type S coming in few months and Lexus still has NOTHING that will compete. The new IS does look good but the power plant is ancient history. They barely updated the interior as well. You are pretty much buying a brand new 8 year old car. Sales have been in the shitter and Lexus is just waiting for an excuse to kill this thing off just like they did to GS.
Agreed, which is why I was hoping they’d do the IS 500 with something like the V8 in it. Only issue with that is is pricing. If it’s 10k more than the Type S to match the RC-F, it’s already DOA.
The only glimmer of hope I have is that Lexus actually built a dedicated test track that’s quite sizable for their performance ventures going forward. I hope this is a good sign for their future endeavors.
As for having a dated interior, it does but I think it has aged well. All the materials look high quality and everything seems to be well laid out. The Drive mode center stack that Acura has is the dumbest thing ever, and I hate it in the RDX. It was cool at first, but it takes up way too much space and is useless. Getting to the cubby underneath is also awkward. Between the two, I honestly prefer the Lexus design. The other thing that pushes Lexus way over the top is the fact that it will likely not have the same heinous interior build quality that Acura is crapping out of those OH plants.
Pure speculation, but I'm gonna go with fuel economy. The RDX in SH-AWD actually gets worse gas mileage than pretty much any one of its competitors. Having a beefier drivetrain with more parasitic drag would only hurt that more. I'm also under the impression that Acura fudged those numbers, as I can barely manage 21 MPG in mixed driving with mostly highway driving. Yes, I do do spirited runs from time to time, but 98% of the time it's being driven very tamely. 0W-20 Mobil 1 synthetic and Mobil or BP 93 Octane fuel, in case one of the weebs want to come in and claim that bullshit as being the cause of poor gas mileage. Though, it has gotten better with miles. It used to be in the 19.x range for a while, but that was in the winter with the winter blend of fuel. I'm sure the heavy 20" A-Spec wheels don't help, but still ...
It's like a fuckin miracle when ours rarely gets up to 20mpg. Right now it's stuck on 19.7 My right foot is heavy, but it ain't that heavy.
Good review. Having spent the last several days pondering the test drive I experienced last Saturday, I cant disagree with their impressions on the new TLX.
Honestly, Acura did a better job with this generation at creating a great 'also ran' offering in this segment. If that was their goal then they succeeded. Seems like the this platform which is "not shared with the Accord" was more to do with addressing the additional weight and adaptation of a future V6 turbo than anything.
Good review. Having spent the last several days pondering the test drive I experienced last Saturday, I cant disagree with their impressions on the new TLX.
Honestly, Acura did a better job with this generation at creating a great 'also ran' offering in this segment. If that was their goal then they succeeded. Seems like the this platform which is "not shared with the Accord" was more to do with addressing the additional weight and adaptation of a future V6 turbo than anything.
Doubt it. Why would they engineer something towards a niche vehicle that's going to sell less than 3% (it's the internet ... trust me, dude) of the units that the more pedestrian models sell? I could be wrong, obviously, but I just don't see it.
Compared to prior generations, the reviews are pretty flat.
Another dull Acura.
Pumped in sound to the cabin
Speaking of sound I knew that this thing was going to be a total dud when I started seeing the articles about the stereo and oh yeah, you get a car with it too
I re-read this article from Road and Track (circa 2016) and started to wonder if this pattern is continuing on with the 2G as well (granted, there is a Type S coming, unlike the 1G):
Good review. Having spent the last several days pondering the test drive I experienced last Saturday, I cant disagree with their impressions on the new TLX.
Honestly, Acura did a better job with this generation at creating a great 'also ran' offering in this segment. If that was their goal then they succeeded. Seems like the this platform which is "not shared with the Accord" was more to do with addressing the additional weight and adaptation of a future V6 turbo than anything.
I am just baffled to want to be a fly on the wall of the early product development meetings. They clearly should have been talking about who their competitors are and they plan of attack to develop a car that can holds its own against the competitors. I get the feeling they still get together and say “hey we need to give those Accord buyers and solid upgrade path as to not loose them”. They should be watching the Koreans as they blow right by Acura. As they beef up their quality and reliability they nibble away and the last key strength Acura holds. They are also breathing down Acura's neck on driving dynamics. I love that the car got bigger, but I want some of that to show up inside the car. The TLX Advance as the flagship car vs. the Type-S is stupid, the Type-S need to be the car that has everything and bring people to the dealership.
10-01-2020, 07:17 PM
Consumer Reports
