2024 Acura TLX Review: Striving for Sportiness, Falling Short

We suggest that you detach yourself or step away from the car-enthusiast-bubble because for many individuals, cars serve a singular purpose: transporting you from point A to point B with minimal demands. To those uninitiated in the fervor for automobiles, the notion of sporty sedans such as the Audi S6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac CT5-V, and indeed, the 2024 Acura TLX Type S under scrutiny here, appears confounding. Why would anyone want a car that is less efficient, less comfortable, and more costly than conventional sedans? For the select few addicted to performance, the surge of dopamine experienced when pushing an engine to its limits, the visceral sensation upon heavy braking, the rush of adrenaline as we hit a corner’s apex, and above all, the craving to return to the driver’s seat for more exhilarating drives, justifies the concessions made.

Perhaps this explains the disappointment towards the updated TLX Type S for the year 2024.

The 2024 Acura TLX Type S comes with enhancements that cater to our expectations: improved aesthetics and enhanced intelligence. Minor adjustments to the car’s front and rear ends accommodate a more advanced driver assistance system. Inside, the instrument cluster gauges make way for a 12.3-inch screen, while the infotainment display also expands to 12.3 inches. 

Acura completes the updates by standardizing features such as a head-up display and premium audio system, introducing new color choices and wheel options, and refining the Sport+ drive mode for a quick throttle response.

When it comes to performance enhancement the 2024 Acura TLX Type S only receives the Sport+ modification. This car retains a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 positioned predominantly ahead of its front axle, coupled with a 10-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. Steering the 355 horses and 354 lb-ft of torque is a brake-by-wire mechanism, featuring 14.3-inch four-piston Brembo brakes at the front (with the rear equipped with the standard 13-inch units of the lesser TLX). 

The 2024 Acura TLX Type S isn’t exactly synonymous with speed, but it does offer a commendable level of swiftness. It’s even enjoyable to accelerate swiftly in a straight path; Acura’s “Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive” system effectively channels the power, while the 10-speed automatic transmission, though sharing its gear ratios with less potent four-cylinder TLXs, adeptly keeps the hefty Acura’s engine operating within its optimal power range. 

In the recalibrated Sport+ mode, throttle response feels assertive, and when combined with shifting the transmission into its Sport mode, it helps alleviate some of the turbo lag typically experienced by the V-6 upon initial acceleration.

The powertrain offers enough enjoyment that you might feel inclined to increase the pace and tackle winding back roads in the TLX Type S. However, this is where shortcomings become evident.

When maneuvering the Acura into a corner, you’re met with noticeable body roll and imprecise, artificially weighted steering, offering little feedback from the front tires regarding road conditions. Switching to a more aggressive driving mode only results in heavier steering and a stiffer ride, without enhancing the overall feel or control of the chassis. The braking performance exacerbates the issue. While adequate for everyday driving, the brakes feel spongy and challenging to modulate smoothly during sudden stops, such as when traffic unexpectedly halts in front of you.

This TLX truly shines when cruising along gently curved and relatively smooth roads. In such conditions, particularly at moderate to high speeds on the highway, the Acura exhibits a poised and athletic demeanor. However, once you begin demanding more from the vehicle, it transitions from a unified sport sedan to feeling more like an amalgamation of separate performance enhancements.

Despite being an improvement over the previous iteration, the updated interior fails to redeem the TLX here. While we acknowledge the presence of features like the pinstriped digital dashboard, the heads-up display (HUD), and the larger infotainment screen, we still find interacting with the TLX’s software suite cumbersome, especially through the finicky console-mounted trackpad. Similarly, the revised driving aids, though effective, lag behind the more advanced offerings found in vehicles like the CT5-V.

Plus with the adjustments, the 2024 Acura TLX price has inched upwards; it now starts at $58,195 (approx ₹48,51,740), up from last year’s$56,945 (approx ₹47,47,527). This figure positions it slightly below the Audi S6, BMW 5 Series equipped with M Sport, and Mercedes-AMG E53, but notably pricier than competitors such as the Cadillac CT5-V, Audi S4, and AMG C43. By the way do read our review article on 2024 Land Cruiser: What we Know so far

While there are subtle improvements, the 2024 TLX Type S ultimately falls short of the high standards set by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes, or even Acura itself with its exceptional Integra Type S. This isn’t to say that the TLX Type S is lacking; it boasts moderate power, a pleasing sound, attractive aesthetics, and sufficient speed. However, the two critical questions that arise are: Are the enhancements made to the TLX Type S to enhance its sportiness worth the accompanying cost and efficiency drawbacks? And will we include this Acura in our collection of sporty cars? The answer to both queries is a resounding “no.” This verdict spells trouble for any sport sedan.

2024 Acura TLX Type S Specifications