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I'm thinking it might be generational. I suspect those under 40 place a greater emphasis on infotainment usability (less tolerance for unintuitive UX), whereas those over 40 don't care as much.
Over 40's often want everything as usable as it was 20 years ago in many cases.
A touchscreen is admittedly always going to be easier to use and also easier to comprehend why it's easy to use - it's way more intuitive. Trackpads and dials - remote controls - are inherently less intuitive. But - messing with infotainment should be up to the driver whether or not they want to do so while driving or while parked. The designers should not have to babysit people. I got used to my trackpad both in the Apple CP environment and outside of it, in about 10 minutes, and I also try to keep excessive fussing with it to a minimum while the car is moving. Judging an entire car by this factor alone is unfair.
I'm surprised none of the reviewers have compared it to the Evo X. On my test drives, what stood out to me most is that the handling and SH-AWD system reminds me a lot of the S-AWC system from the Evo. The way you can just hammer the throttle early well before corner exit and it just pulls and rockets out of the corner is the absolute best thing about the car.
Looks like the TLX is not getting much love as the MDX. Looks like the MDX refresh is getting a lot of upgrades. I suppose the MDX is their flagship and they put much more effort in the MDX MMC than the TLX MMX.
Looks like the TLX is not getting much love as the MDX. Looks like the MDX refresh is getting a lot of upgrades. I suppose the MDX is their flagship and they put much more effort in the MDX MMC than the TLX MMX.
100%. Also this clearly shows that Acura will keep MDX is as their flagship and everything new will be introduced to MDX and not other cars. Basically, RDX is due for a redesign and new tech but no wit's clear that Acura is delaying the RDX by at least another 1-2 years and out everything to MDX. Acura sold over 50K units last year and if you do the math, it makes perfectly sense.
@fiatlux nailed it. "Acura knows who butters their bread, and it ain't sedan shoppers."
I'm guessing that since the TLX just had it's MMC, this press release for 2025 updates not the TLX since it was announced last year.
Originally Posted by edmua6
Looks like the TLX is not getting much love as the MDX. Looks like the MDX refresh is getting a lot of upgrades. I suppose the MDX is their flagship and they put much more effort in the MDX MMC than the TLX MMX.
Quick question for the mods: Doesn't the MY24 TLX deserve its own "reviews" thread since it's undergone a refresh w/significant interior technology change? These MY24 reviews hiding in a MY21 thread are not helping potential buyers!
Quick question for the mods: Doesn't the MY24 TLX deserve its own "reviews" thread since it's undergone a refresh w/significant interior technology change? These MY24 reviews hiding in a MY21 thread are not helping potential buyers!
Amazing review! I have to go home and watch it again on big screen and proper audio I was waiting for this and finally is here. I will it again, SG is the best out there. There is no BS and they give their honest opinion with some technical overview. By far, the best review so far and two thumbs up to these two guys!
It's a good car in a vacuum, but it sounds to me like they voiced a lot of the same complaints and qualifiers at the end that we've heard before. "It's lacking the transmission performance", "You're buying this car because you love Japanese cars", "It needs to be far more special, as an enthusiasts product, than where it currently sits", "It's like 70% there", "If you are the person who's value conscious, or you love Acura, or you just like the fact you get a lot of car for the money, I do like this thing", "The regular TLX needs to find the balance between being a really good luxury sports sedan, or the Type S needs to go to the next level, and that's what this hasn't done enough of", "A very difficult place for this brand to be; we know how this brand operates in terms of engineering budget...you have to go all in, you gotta spend the extra money to do it, and that's a really hard sell for Acura", "If you don't care about the last 20% of performance, this car does everything a fun sedan to do", "You'll love this thing if you bought it; while I do think there are better options, I don't fault anyone for buying this car".
I think they hit the nail on the head; Honda/Acura could make a best-in-class sports sedan. The chassis is there, the steering is there, the suspension is there, the looks are there, the interior holds serve, and SH-AWD allows it to punch above its weight. So many boxes are checked...but the powertrain (of all thing, Honda) keeps it from being at the top.
If Acura was a global brand, I have no doubt that Honda would have invested more money into this product and would have allowed it really to be competitive with (if not better than) the M340i, while still undercutting the price.
"2024 Acura TLX Type S | Comparison is the Thief of Joy" would probably be a more apt title. If the M340i and ITS didn't exist there would be a lot more platitudes for the Type S.
It's a good car in a vacuum, but it sounds to me like they voiced a lot of the same complaints and qualifiers at the end that we've heard before. "It's lacking the transmission performance", "You're buying this car because you love Japanese cars", "It needs to be far more special, as an enthusiasts product, than where it currently sits", "It's like 70% there", "If you are the person who's value conscious, or you love Acura, or you just like the fact you get a lot of car for the money, I do like this thing", "The regular TLX needs to find the balance between being a really good luxury sports sedan, or the Type S needs to go to the next level, and that's what this hasn't done enough of", "A very difficult place for this brand to be; we know how this brand operates in terms of engineering budget...you have to go all in, you gotta spend the extra money to do it, and that's a really hard sell for Acura", "If you don't care about the last 20% of performance, this car does everything a fun sedan to do", "You'll love this thing if you bought it; while I do think there are better options, I don't fault anyone for buying this car".
I think they hit the nail on the head; Honda/Acura could make a best-in-class sports sedan. The chassis is there, the steering is there, the suspension is there, the looks are there, the interior holds serve, and SH-AWD allows it to punch above its weight. So many boxes are checked...but the powertrain (of all thing, Honda) keeps it from being at the top.
If Acura was a global brand, I have no doubt that Honda would have invested more money into this product and would have allowed it really to be competitive with (if not better than) the M340i, while still undercutting the price.
Many of the 'counterpoints' are fair enough, particularly with respect to those who maintain an enthusiast inclination. To be transparent, I'm one of the folks here who readily WOULD pay $5k more and get the M340i over the Type S. I could probably make it up in fuel savings alone.
I do take umbrage with the contingent of those who have patronized owners that openly enjoy their Type S, as though they were simply uninitiated when it comes to performance-oriented sedans; a sentiment that has plagued both the 1G and 2G forums.
It's all a matter of what people are looking for. I don't track my cars (just my motorcycles), and I don't drive over 7-8/10s on public roads, even empty ones. For me, the TLXS would completely satisfy my driving needs, and it's a car that would last forever and rarely require much maintenance. I've seen too many up-close horror stories with aging German cars to ever drop that kind of money on one, and I usually keep my cars for 10+ years. I think the SG guys hit the nail on the head, mainly, and they were overall very complimentary of the car. My only concern would be mpg. I can easily get 25+ with my TL AWD, but from what I'm seeing, the TLX-S average is somewhat lower than that.
On the other hand, again per SG, if they built the TLX-S with a manual, I'd probably buy one tomorrow!
No one is obliged to buy TLX TYPE S or S4 or M340i or so on...I hope anyone out there if is willing to spend $50-$60 or $80K does his or her homework and chooses the car that suits his/her needs.
I have said and will say it again, TLX TYPE S is an awesome car for daily driving with lots of fun. It's actually more fun to drive it than M340i. But for some that's not enough. Some people wants a very fast car or like to use paddle shifters, which maybe the TYPE S isn't the best at it. The SG guys did an awesome job and their review is very refreshing. No it's up to you to pick all the negative points and ignore all the positives.
"If you don't care about the last 20% of performance, this car does everything a fun sedan to do", "You'll love this thing if you bought it; while I do think there are better options, I don't fault anyone for buying this car"
What are the other options? The reviews all seem to think this is a Type R not S.
Originally Posted by F23A4
I'm one of the folks here who readily WOULD pay $5k more and get the M340i over the Type S.
It's more like 10. And 10 seems to be the bridge to all the cars it's compared against. So if you're spending 15% more then you probably get closer to that missing 20%. I personally bought the Acura because that extra 10 was just too much for my wallet and value was a huge component of the equation.There's nothing that really stacks up against it except the Kia.
It's a good car in a vacuum, but it sounds to me like they voiced a lot of the same complaints and qualifiers at the end that we've heard before. "It's lacking the transmission performance", "You're buying this car because you love Japanese cars", "It needs to be far more special, as an enthusiasts product, than where it currently sits", "It's like 70% there", "If you are the person who's value conscious, or you love Acura, or you just like the fact you get a lot of car for the money, I do like this thing", "The regular TLX needs to find the balance between being a really good luxury sports sedan, or the Type S needs to go to the next level, and that's what this hasn't done enough of", "A very difficult place for this brand to be; we know how this brand operates in terms of engineering budget...you have to go all in, you gotta spend the extra money to do it, and that's a really hard sell for Acura", "If you don't care about the last 20% of performance, this car does everything a fun sedan to do", "You'll love this thing if you bought it; while I do think there are better options, I don't fault anyone for buying this car".
I think they hit the nail on the head; Honda/Acura could make a best-in-class sports sedan. The chassis is there, the steering is there, the suspension is there, the looks are there, the interior holds serve, and SH-AWD allows it to punch above its weight. So many boxes are checked...but the powertrain (of all thing, Honda) keeps it from being at the top.
If Acura was a global brand, I have no doubt that Honda would have invested more money into this product and would have allowed it really to be competitive with (if not better than) the M340i, while still undercutting the price.
This is a key statement: "You're buying this car because you love Japanese cars". Bingo. There are folks out there who will simply never touch a German car no matter how good it tests or is reviewed, because of the reliability reputation. The trade-off of reliability vs performance is a real thing for many who will gladly take reliability over performance - those buyers are not comparing any German car to a Japanese one (or, maybe, to a Korean one). Even if under warranty, constant visits to a repair shop are inconvenient. Reliability is a huge commodity that so many reviewers barely mention. SG plays the reliability card, and Alex on Autos does often. Motormouth often brings reliability into the equation as well.
This is a key statement: "You're buying this car because you love Japanese cars". Bingo. There are folks out there who will simply never touch a German car no matter how good it tests or is reviewed, because of the reliability reputation. The trade-off of reliability vs performance is a real thing for many who will gladly take reliability over performance - those buyers are not comparing any German car to a Japanese one (or, maybe, to a Korean one). Even if under warranty, constant visits to a repair shop are inconvenient. Reliability is a huge commodity that so many reviewers barely mention. SG plays the reliability card, and Alex on Autos does often. Motormouth often brings reliability into the equation as well.
Very well said and I can attest that I am one of those. I love Japanese cars. I don't care for paying $10 or 15K more but I cannot afford to do dealer rounds every few weeks. I know in fact how many trips my buddy made in 3 years with his 330i....at least 15! From front grill issue, to door handles freezing in winter, to side mirrors not closing/opening and water condensation on his tail lights and the list goes on.
Reliability and resale value are huge for me and therefore, I strongly believe Acura and Lexus give you that peace of mind.
Interestingly, they make the point in the video that used Type S cars ('21-22 models) can be had for the mid-40s. If you take a look on Auto Trader those are generally cars with higher miles on them, but in any event, the same is true for those years of the M340 too, except that those cars started out 5-10K more than the Type S when new.
I've said this before -- there is a reason that German cars depreciate so much after they are a few years old and especially out of warranty. The market understands that they won't be as reliable as a comparable Lexus or Acura product and it therefore prices them accordingly. If you buy/lease the car new then dump it before the warranty expires, you'll get some protection there, but as pointed out by others, I really dislike having to make unscheduled trips to the dealer for repairs, even if they are warranty-covered. (I think it's happened to me 2-3 times in 30+ years of owning mainly Hondas and Acuras). That sentiment is what steers me away (pun intended) from the German cars, no matter how capable they may be when new and fresh.
What are the other options? The reviews all seem to think this is a Type R not S.
It's more like 10. And 10 seems to be the bridge to all the cars it's compared against. So if you're spending 15% more then you probably get closer to that missing 20%. I personally bought the Acura because that extra 10 was just too much for my wallet and value was a huge component of the equation.There's nothing that really stacks up against it except the Kia.
Actually closer to $6K, and just realized it’s in stock by me. 🤔
4:40 in the video, Jack mentions the TLX is a "FWD architecture". Not sure why everyone keeps trying to convince me TLX is rear-wheel drive biased but it's not!
Mark had a smile through most of the video and that's probably good enough for most people!
4:40 in the video, Jack mentions the TLX is a "FWD architecture". Not sure why everyone keeps trying to convince me TLX is rear-wheel drive biased but it's not!
Mark had a smile through most of the video and that's probably good enough for most people!
Originally Posted by Acura NewsRoom
The best performing all-wheel drive Acura sedan ever, TLX Type S also features a sport-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission, double-wishbone front suspension, Brembo® front brakes and Type S-exclusive Sport+ driving mode. Power is distributed through Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ system with true torque vectoring.The rear-biased system is capable of sending up to 70% of torque to the rear axle,and 100% of that to the outside rear wheel.
When I started looking for my current car before the TLX-S was released, I looked at an S4/S5 to start as the impression is that they are a bit more reliable than BMW, definitely pricey. Then various automotive review sites and magazines started talking up the G70 with 3.3T being in S4 territory performance wise. I was going to pull the trigger on one, cheaper by 10K (by ordering as the local dealer didn't have ANY of the colors I was after), then COVID hit and cars were scarce. Then the TLX-S came out and it was about $54K, not the $65K that had been conjectured. Time to go test drive, once my local dealer had a demo, about 6 months after release. Then the reliability of the G70 became suspect in various publications.
The TLX-S is definitely fast enough, though not as fast as S4 and M340, I would not have gone with the M340 as I don't like a loose rear end. There is a comparison test out there for the M340 and TLX-S and the M340 is always stepping out in the back, don't want that on public roads. I've had a go at G70 3.3Ts and even an M340 and have not been embarrassed. Should the car have more power, yes. They could have gone to 370-380, maybe even 400, without loss of reliability.
For me it was the more lux content, the 10K vs. S4/M340, lack of reliability and actual dealer network for G70, and extensive history with Acura (see signature), and SH-AWD (it took awhile to get used to powering through corners). BTW how many stop light wars do you actually have.
The TLX-S is fun to drive, as SG stated the SH-AWD makes the car feel lighter.
You are right about having to learn the correct way to corner a SH AWD car. When first test driving a 4G TL, we were on a twisty, hilly road. Since the SA was with me, I was being conservative in the turns, braking into them, etc. On a downhill offcamber turn, the SA shouted "don't brake, gas it." I followed his advice and was amazed by the SH AWD magic. I think I ordered the car later that day based on the test drive and my revelation about what SH AWD could do. My TL weighs about 3800 pounds but when you're tossing it around through turns it definitely feels lighter.
Actually closer to $6K, and just realized it’s in stock by me. 🤔
$6k is still 10% over. Not insignificant for a guy like me and the germans lost a lot of points on reliability as mentioned above. A long time ago I was told "german cars are awesome for the first owner" and most things I've heard back that up. The S base price with the optional wheels is now 61,100 including delivery. That's almost 5 grand more than the 2021 which is the same car except the digital dash. I have to say if I didn't buy last year, crossing the $60k mark would probably have me shopping for something else.
Tested: 2024 Acura TLX Type S Keeps the Same Formula
Car and Driver's review has been updated with test numbers, which look great. Of note acceleration times are quicker than their prior tests in 2021. 0-60 mph is now 4.6 secs (previously 4.9 secs), 1/4-mile now 13.3 @105 mph (previously 13.6 @103 mph). What stands out is the from-idle to 60 time (aka 5-60 mph, or non-launch controlled acceleration) is now 5.2 seconds, which is just 0.1 seconds shy of the 6-cyclinder twin-turbo C43 AMG and G70 3.3TT (5.1 seconds), and much quicker than the Audi S4 and S5 Sportback (5.7-5.8 seconds).
Tested: 2024 Acura TLX Type S Keeps the Same Formula
Car and Driver's review has been updated with test numbers, which look great. Of note acceleration times are quicker than their prior tests in 2021. 0-60 mph is now 4.6 secs (previously 4.9 secs), 1/4-mile now 13.3 @105 mph (previously 13.6 @103 mph). What stands out is the from-idle to 60 time (aka 5-60 mph, or non-launch controlled acceleration) is now 5.2 seconds, which is just 0.1 seconds shy of the 6-cyclinder twin-turbo C43 AMG and G70 3.3TT (5.1 seconds), and much quicker than the Audi S4 and S5 Sportback (5.7-5.8 seconds).
I wonder if Acura did some tuning they didn't mention. Would be interesting to see someone put one of the new ones on the dyno to see if it's really more like 380bhp now instead of the advertised 355. It doesn't appear to launch any harder, so I imagine any gains must be purely from the powertrain. Skidpad and braking is better now too; better summer tires perhaps?
Tested: 2024 Acura TLX Type S Keeps the Same Formula
Car and Driver's review has been updated with test numbers, which look great. Of note acceleration times are quicker than their prior tests in 2021. 0-60 mph is now 4.6 secs (previously 4.9 secs), 1/4-mile now 13.3 @105 mph (previously 13.6 @103 mph). What stands out is the from-idle to 60 time (aka 5-60 mph, or non-launch controlled acceleration) is now 5.2 seconds, which is just 0.1 seconds shy of the 6-cyclinder twin-turbo C43 AMG and G70 3.3TT (5.1 seconds), and much quicker than the Audi S4 and S5 Sportback (5.7-5.8 seconds).
Originally Posted by fiatlux
I wonder if Acura did some tuning they didn't mention. Would be interesting to see someone put one of the new ones on the dyno to see if it's really more like 380bhp now instead of the advertised 355. It doesn't appear to launch any harder, so I imagine any gains must be purely from the powertrain. Skidpad and braking is better now too; better summer tires perhaps?
I'm sure Acura planned these minor tweaks all along for the refresh.
Tested: 2024 Acura TLX Type S Keeps the Same Formula
Car and Driver's review has been updated with test numbers, which look great. Of note acceleration times are quicker than their prior tests in 2021. 0-60 mph is now 4.6 secs (previously 4.9 secs), 1/4-mile now 13.3 @105 mph (previously 13.6 @103 mph). What stands out is the from-idle to 60 time (aka 5-60 mph, or non-launch controlled acceleration) is now 5.2 seconds, which is just 0.1 seconds shy of the 6-cyclinder twin-turbo C43 AMG and G70 3.3TT (5.1 seconds), and much quicker than the Audi S4 and S5 Sportback (5.7-5.8 seconds).
I cannot recall but 1 or 2 reviewers did mention that the car feels faster. This is amazing but again I highly doubt those who are buying TLX Type S or S4 or M340i want these cars to race at each light.
A sedan like TLX/TLX Type S should be well rounded. You need to have a good package and this brings me to IS350. It's a small car, outdated interior design and no turbo. But it offers a great package with Lexus' reliability. Winning formula. Lexus sold close to 23K units. That's success to me! At the end of the day, these car brands want to make money and not make Joe and Moe happy, who like to watch Youtube videos and comment.
I cannot recall but 1 or 2 reviewers did mention that the car feels faster. This is amazing but again I highly doubt those who are buying TLX Type S or S4 or M340i want these cars to race at each light.
A sedan like TLX/TLX Type S should be well rounded. You need to have a good package and this brings me to IS350. It's a small car, outdated interior design and no turbo. But it offers a great package with Lexus' reliability. Winning formula. Lexus sold close to 23K units. That's success to me! At the end of the day, these car brands want to make money and not make Joe and Moe happy, who like to watch Youtube videos and comment.
IS350 is not a hit in the Chicago area. At least judging by how many I don't see on the roads. Also, the local dealers usually have, at most, one or two in stock at any given time, usually black, white, or silver, with no Mark Levinson audio. Never see any IS300's in stock either. At 50K plus, the ones in stock usually are equipped with nav package but not the Levinson. For that price, it's not worth those kind of bucks to me. TLX-S is a far better value and arguably as good-looking, if not even more so.
IS350 is not a hit in the Chicago area. At least judging by how many I don't see on the roads. Also, the local dealers usually have, at most, one or two in stock at any given time, usually black, white, or silver, with no Mark Levinson audio. Never see any IS300's in stock either. At 50K plus, the ones in stock usually are equipped with nav package but not the Levinson. For that price, it's not worth those kind of bucks to me. TLX-S is a far better value and arguably as good-looking, if not even more so.
In terms of look, design, and performance TLX is 500% better but I won't lie I see a lot more IS than TLX in Montreal. And IS isn't cheap
01-18-2024, 03:26 PM
the naysayers are easily triggered if someone says anything positive about Type-S
I was waiting for this and finally is here. I will it again, SG is the best out there. There is no BS and they give their honest opinion with some technical overview. By far, the best review so far and two thumbs up to these two guys!
