BEAR-AvHistory

That about 1.6" ? With a console between the front seats does this make a difference. My car is only 54.3" so I am giving up 3.2" in shoulder room but don't come anywhere near a passenger. I am not that big 5'11" 198lbs but still.....

mec30

Based on what I've seen in reviews (I have have not driven the S4 or the Type S) the shifts look smarter in the Type S. It's also possible that the TLX is a better driver's car all things considered. The S4 is riding on McPherson struts vs a double wishbone, the S4 needs the sport package to compete with SH-AWD, some of the reports even say the steering feel in the Type S is better. Need a few reviews before that's all confirmed, but based on initial reports it looks like that possible. I don't see any big difference in interior quality in the 2021s, unlike the 2015-2020s.

I'm also curious how it stacks against the C43 AMG.

fiatlux

C43 comparisons are a bit of a moot point seeing as how 2021 is the final model year for the current gen C-Class. The W206 is supposed to be hitting dealerships later this year, and the C43 replacement (reports are saying it'll be called the C45 or C53) should be considerably faster than the outgoing model.

This is one of the problems with Acura benchmarking and targeting the current generation competition (the test mules were seen with C43 and S4 back in 2018). Even if you match their performance, you're going to be far behind because by the time the car comes out, it'll soon be going up agaisnt the next generation of the competitor cars.

Nexx

completely agree with you on this. same with the NSX when they were bench marking it against the 458 when the 488 was only a year away from production.

TSX69

F23A4

Good update. Although I have the FWD version, the chassis dynamics puts that of my old 3.5 PAWS to shame. I do wonder where that 'loose connection' was located though.

All that said, looking forward to adding a K-Tuner and RV6 downpipe to my A-Spec.

TSX69

BEAR-AvHistory

2022 11th generation HONDA CIVIC.

C&D DIMENSIONS

Honda Civic
Wheelbase: 107.7 in
Length: 184.0 in
Width: 70.9 in

BMW M340
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 185.7 in
Width: 71.9 in

It has really grown over the years.

sonyfever

That is crazy, Civic has become the new euro Accord. On the other hand, the Civic rear space looks about the same as TLX and 3-series, if not bigger due to the flat floor.

fiatlux

Even the 9G Civic had an inch more rear legroom than the current TLX. 10G Civic has 2.5 inches more rear legroom. The TLX is just mindboggling bad when it comes to rear seat space, especially for a FWD-based car.

Edward'TLS

Thanks to the "European car wannabe" exterior styling cues, the long dash-to-axle ratio front overhang design has robbed the 2G TLX of much usable cabin space, even for a FWD-based car.

DubPK

They are taking a bet that sedan buyers don't really care about space. I don't even think it's an awful bet, they sell way more MDX/RDX's than TLX's and more rear space probably wasn't gonna change that. Nobody buys a sedan for space anymore and if they do it's almost always one of the staples on the market. The amount of lost TLX sales from a small backseat is probably low and it was a calculated risk that the styling would sell more than a bigger rear bench.

mapleloaf

So just to be clear, you think the TLX has a major problem with rear seat space? I wish you had mentioned this before I got one! My 6 year old grandaugther is just under your height and has oodles of room

fiatlux

Just to be clear, I think it’s funny that a Civic that’s a foot shorter has a couple inches more space. Clearly it has enough space for you since you bought it, but that’s not much consolation for everyone who didn’t buy it because of the limited backseat space. Even legroom aside, it’s really a 4+1child seater since the middle seat is nigh unusable for someone over 5’5”.

DubPK

Out of curiosity who are you hauling around on a regular basis where the backseat was a deal breaker. It's more than adequate for kids of all ages, late teens might get tight if they are 6ft+ but really as much as the car is ragged on for it what's the use case that it needs a huge rear seat. If you have three kids you're getting a crossover, if you're frequently going on long trips with three kids and the dog and some camping equipment or something you're getting a crossover again. Who's driving around frequently with 4 6ft+ adults?

This car seems squarely aimed at single people, couples without kids, couples with two young kids would still work potentially, and families looking for a second car. Sedans in general are mostly a families second commuter car these days if they own one at all so I really don't see the big deal. The sedan market is changing and people have voted with their wallets that the family hauler is going to nine times out of ten be a crossover and if they are dead set on a family hauler in sedan form good luck convincing them to buy anything but the cheaper staples. People wanting sedans for space is becoming more and more niche and it's a niche that the Camry/Accord heavily dominate so why does the TLX NEED to be huge on the inside. I'm not trying to make an excuse for Acura or something, it's an admittedly poor use of space for such a big car but practically speaking I just think the market today is different than it was 20 years ago when family sedans were all the rage.

ELIN

Now that I've had the car for nearly 8 months, here are some oddball advantages of the TLX:

1) Due to the tight rear space, you will most likely not be volunteered to drive folks to lunch.

2) This heavy and well-built car will tend to be on the "positive" end of accidents, especially against the compact class it's competing with.

3) Still not too many on the road but it gets plenty of looks. Someone ahead of me at a coffee shop drive-through bought my coffee the other day!

robnalex

We resemble that remark. My wife has always wanted an SUV and loves our RDX, which is basically her car, except when we go on trips. The TLX is basically my car, and I never haul anyone around in it except my wife, who sits in the front passenger seat.

DubPK

I'm not going to lie this is a huge advantage and as a current coupe owner it was one of the highlights I thought about when I bought the thing. Man nobody is going to want to pile into this thing, perfect!

F23A4

Just for the record, my gym bag has yet to complain about the rear seat room.

fiatlux

I've already mentioned this in detail, but one of the issues with the rear seats is that the roofline is way too low. That coupled with the raised middle seat makes loading and unloading a rear-facing child in the middle an incredibly difficult task. In the 1G TLX it's already hard enough, and the 2G actually loses 1.25" in overall height for that seat (yes, I measured it). Headroom for the two outboard seats are OK, but it requires the front seats to be too far forward for it to be safe, let alone comfortable for those in the front seats. Believe it or not, a coupey sedan like the A5/S5 Sportback acutally does the job better, surprisingly so. To me it's just disappointing that a car as big as the TLX from a company that prides itself in practicality and thoughtful design managed to come out with a car that went so heavy on form over function.

As for who else would sit in the rear, we usually visit our parents every weekend (or dinner). When going out to lunch or dinner, we prefer to all be in one car. I don't know if you consider once a week a regular basis, but to us it's often enough that having more space in the rear does matter.

DubPK

Valid, just think you're in a shrinking demographic looking for space in sedan form. I'm not making an excuse for Acura they will lose some sales from the smaller rear but it was just a risk they took to go with styling instead gambling that everyone who wants space wasn't going to buy this anyways and I don't think they were very wrong about that given the dominance of crossovers and some manufacturers pulling out of making sedans altogether like Ford.

pyrodan007

The TLX is not a coupe, so all this get an SUV talk doesn't make sense. SUVs win in luggage territory, second row seat is usually similar. If you really want people space, everyone should get a minivan. And those are dying too, SUVs can't beat them for practicality.

neuronbob

I'm one of those who acually makes use of rear seat space. I ended up in a RLX instead. I'm tired of the "buy a SUV" stuff from manufacturers.

Edward'TLS

Unfortunately, there is no more RLX for this purpose. The TLX has now become the Flagship Sedan in the Acura brand, and it falls way short of what the RLX used to do.

DubPK

I'm just saying companies used to make bigger sedans and it didn't stop crossovers from taking over the roads so a sedan being smaller these days doesn't seem like the end of the world. We had big sedans, people stopped buying them anyways.

sonyfever

Has this been posted before? I am sure you 0-60 guys are going to love this.

mapleloaf

It's interesting that you and others have criticized Acura for being bland, and now that they have produced a very good looking car, the focus becomes the slightly reduced rear seat room. If I was still hauling my kids or my parents around, then I likely would have purchased an SUV or perhaps the Honda Accord. No question there is more room in the rear seat and and the trunk. However, I have comfortably fit my Granchildren in the rear outboard seats without any issue for the front passenger, so I think your comment about being unsafe in that situation isn't factual, in my experience. Unless you married a much taller gal and have exceptionally large children, you are at least guilty of hyperbole.

As others have pointed out, the TLX, in a competitive and shrinking sedan market, is targeted to style and performance. Based on my almost two months of ownership, I can attest to the latter, and the amazingly large number of commentors and gawkers I have experienced in that time, can attest to the former. If I could change 1 thing, it would likely be better fuel economy, but then I came from the 2.4 engine, so I expected to burn about 10% more fuel.

BEAR-AvHistory

Agree its a nice looking car. The rear seat room debate can go back & forth. The real question is if HONDA decided the Civic & Accord in smaller packaging needed a good amount of rear seat room why didn't the TLX designers see the same need in a physically larger car?

BUT Did you expect the 272BHP I4 to burn as much fuel as a 382BHP I6?

EPA Rating Acura TLX I4T
Combined MPG:24, City MPG:21, Highway MPG:29

EPA Rating M340 I6T
Combined MPG:25, City MPG:22, Highway MPG:30

F23A4

You see Maple… you should have picked up a 340. Im reporting you to Pontius Pilate!!

fiatlux

I said that?

Slightly? This car is substantially longer than the competition, yet has less rear seat room. This car is 7 inches longer than the A5 SB, and yet actually has less legroom. I suspect most people willl say the A5 SB is also a very good looking car, so why does the TLX need to be less efficient with how it uses its size to be good looking?

I also don’t buy the excuse that it’s because of the RWD styling. The 1G TLX rear legroom was just as bad even though it was also much longer than the RWD competitors. Seems more like this was a purposeful choice Acura made rather than a physical limitation brought on by design decisions.

Rear facing car seat? I actually have measurements for the front seats so that a Nuna Rava can fit. Would you like to give it a try to see just how much room (or how little rather) there is in the front seat to accomodate that car seats?

jhb31

Oh boy, I thought at first this was the TLX-S. Had to go back and watch it again paying more attention to realize it was the 4 cyl. Times seem to be about what I would expect. My 18 V6 TLX was pretty slow for near 300hp. Not sure what the time would have been 0-60 but it certainly didn't feel fast at all and probably not all that much better than what the car in the video was doing. A lot of feeling like a fast car is perspective so the slower or faster the car is your moving on from the more likely you may feel the car is fast or slow. At least for me.

Edward'TLS

Acura has a decent-sized TLX sedan, which approximates the exterior dimension of the roomy 4G TL. But the "European look" exterior styling fucked up the what could have been a decent-sized roomy cabin.

The Honda Accord is also decent-sized as well as roomy, and people are still buying it no matter what.

TSX69

oldsnwbrdr

I am considering a FWD one also, because of lower acquisition cost and better MPG. I have lived in winter climates all my life and most of my cars have had only FWD.

Any regrets with the FWD? How is torque steer?

leomio2.0

The more I look at the 11G Civic, the more I really like it. Plus, it's grown in size and if it sticks with the hatch configuration, will actually be more practical than the Type-S. Styling will likely be toned down simply due to the base model having muted styling (I personally love it), and I'm sure Honda heard plenty about how polarizing the styling was on the 10G CTR. If (BIG if) you can find one for sticker, I'm not sure I could justify the $15k up-charge, sticker for sticker, compared to the Type-S. Currently, I wouldn't be caught dead in a CTR due to the styling. Next gen? I'd be lying if I said it hasn't piqued my interest. FBO + tune and we know it's doing high 300 to low 400wHP. No question mark about transmission/drivetrain and about 1,000lbs less.

Unless we start seeing significant discounts on the Type-S, for me, I don't know if I could justify spending more for less vehicle. I just hope Honda doesn't botch it up by going with a boy-racer look again ...

DubPK

Biggest problem with the FWD version of the car is how poorly it competes with it's sister car the Honda Accord. You can get an Accord fully loaded with every available option, including a few that are for some baffling reason missing from the TLX like wireless carplay for 35k, to accomplish the same in the FWD TLX you're looking at $46k. Since you're already paying so much more feature for feature to get the nicer stereo, nicer materials, nicer leather, or whatever draws you to the TLX over the Accord in the first place why wouldn't you throw in the AWD for just $2000? It will help it's resale value down the road and provide a better platform in dry and wet conditions alike. Considering the premium being paid to get to feature parity with the Accord the AWD for two grand is basically a steal and should really be a no brainer.

Just my two cents, I know not everyone agrees with me on this.

F23A4

Zero regrets. In stock form, I’ve not experienced any issues with torque steer. Even with my Ktuner stage 2, it’s not as bad as my old 19 3.5 PAWS.

TSX69

Legend2TL

Not happy with drivetrain and lacking some tech features but absolutely loves the handling

TSX69

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/07/22/...car-seat-test/

Long Term

2021 Acura TLX Long-Term Update | Child and infant car seat test

John Beltz Snyder
Jul 22nd 2021 at 10:00AM

The best seat in our long-term 2021 Acura TLX is the driver's seat (though it could be more supportive). It's a fun car to drive. But what if you have a family of four, with two children in car seats?

1st, let me explain the reasoning for where I put the car seats. Wollie, who rides in a front-facing Britax Frontier high-back booster seat, often gets dropped off at the curb for school and camp — and I'm often the one doing it — so the passenger side makes logistical sense. I don't want him stepping out into traffic.

The occasions that I put Lola, who rides in a Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 infant car seat, in the Acura are rare. She doesn't have as many activities, and when she does, the whole family is usually involved. In such instances, my wife drives — she easily becomes carsick as a passenger. Plus she's got a bigger vehicle to better accommodate both kids. After all, that's why we bought a Hyundai Palisade. Furthermore, one of us has to get her out of the car, which is usually the driver, so the driver side makes sense for that reason, too.



The passenger seat in front of Wollie sees me with my knees close to, but not touching, the glove compartment. I could eat up a little more of Wollie's legroom to give me some more, but he's got big feet, and nobody likes getting their seat back kicked. Giving him that space looks like this for me (and this is actually my wife's normal seating position ... I just have long, weird legs):





Getting the larger car seat isn't too difficult, I just have to angle it in head-first before setting it in place. Then I have to install it. I've got a little room to work around the seat — or the car seat base — which help keep me from getting sweaty and angry (though the ventilated seats could remedy that after the fact).

The rear LATCH point is a little tough to reach with the booster's headrest in the way. This is actually the most tedious part of installing Wollie's car seat in any car, but in this sedan, I don't have to go around to open the rear liftgate and hope there's no cargo blocking the anchor point. In the TLX, I appreciate that the cover doesn't have to be removed. It's easy to lose those damned things.



I use the seat belt to secure the rest of Wollie's seat, but I use the lower LATCH anchors for installing the infant base. The lower anchors are hidden behind flaps of fabric that aren't held in place by anything. They're a little tricky to find by feel when you're reaching over a seat or base to attach to it, but it's never quite as difficult as I expect it to be when feeling around blind. I appreciate, again, that there are no detachable covers to lose, or attached covers to break. Once Lola's infant base is installed, it usually stays in place for multiple weeks at a time, so it's not something I have to deal with often. As for Wollie's Britax, which gets removed much more often, that seat is super easy to install with the seatbelt, so the lower LATCH anchor ease of use is a moot point.

After having a seat tethered for a couple weeks, the leather looks wrinkled. Not surprising, considered any car seat leaves its mark on pretty much any seat for some time afterward. It goes back to normal, eventually, especially if you have an adult sit on it for a while afterward.



When Lola's not in the car, I'm able to put my seat way back, as is my wont. At 6 feet even, my legs are long compared to my arms and torso. The photo on the left below shows how far back my seat sits normally. The photo on the right shows the amount of space I need to leave with her seat installed. I have to sit about 5.5 inches further forward to accommodate her. The tricky part is, I always have to move the driver seat forward first before I put her in. If I'm in my driveway, I can just set Lola down for a moment. If I'm on the street, I hold the weight of her and her seat in the crook of my arm while I adjust my seat to accommodate her. I love her.



Here's that what the driving position looks like normally, versus with the infant seat in place behind me. Normally, I've have the seat far back, with the steering wheel all the way down and telescoped out as far as it will go. With the car seat behind me, I push the wheel in and up to clear my bent knees.



As dramatic as that difference looks and feels to me, I can still drive an hour or two at a time like that. It feels odd at first, but it's not particularly uncomfortable, especially when using cruise control on the highway. It's navigating parking lots that's a little awkward with that steering wheel right in my lap and my legs more confined.

This wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me if I were considering a TLX as my daily driver. For my purposes, the occasional, minor discomfort isn't a terrible thing, especially with a larger vehicle in our stable. Sitting in front of a rear-facing car seat is almost always a compromise, with large midsize or full-size utility vehicles being the exception. I like the TLX enough — and it is roomy enough that I'd be happy to sit closer on short drives, and swap the positions of Lola's and Wollie's car seat for long drives.

And if I did that, I'd be a lot more comfortable. Here's what the high-back booster looks like behind my normal driving position.



I tried this out for a change, and I had to move my seat up an inch or so to give his clown feet some space, and to make it easier for him to get himself in and out, but that sure beats moving my seat forward almost 6 inches.