2020 Acura TLX: Design, Review and Price
Overview
Despite its undeniably awesome face and sporty enhancements, the 2020 Acura TLX is commonly a mild-mannered sedan. Its comfortable experience and composed driving demeanor are offset by way of sportier entry-luxury rivals. However, the TLX presents a host of proper standard facets and interesting options, such as rear-wheel steerage and an all-wheel-drive gadget that honestly improves handling. Its cabin fails to excite they eyes however incorporates at ease seating and satisfactory materials. Although the TLX has lost its once absolutely sporty traits, it stays an equipped and underappreciated sedan.
Acura TLX : Front View
What's New for 2020?
The TLX receives very few exchanges for 2020, with paint new paint colorations joining the palette. These encompass Canyon Bronze Metallic, Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red Pearl, and Apex Blue Pearl, which is exclusive to the A-Spec variations The largest news is an ultra-limited-edition model called the TLX PMC Edition. Acura says it will solely make 360 examples of this distinct TLX, which fees $50,945. While these sedans are hand-built in the equal manufacturing unit as the Acura NSX supercar, they have the identical powertrain and more often than not the same elements as the TLX A-Spec. However, the PMC Edition is sprayed with Valencia Red Pearl paint—otherwise one of a kind to the NSX—and receives quite a few other unique exterior treatments.
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| Acura TLX: Side View |
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The 2020 TLX presents two special engines, front- or all-wheel drive, and three wonderful packages. Those who want all-wheel force as we do should additionally pick out the 290-hp V-6, which quantities to a $5200 investment. Still, that combination delivers snappier acceleration and all-weather capability. Since the flashy A-Spec package requires the Technology package deal that together prices $6600, we would surely pass the set to hold Acura's price proposition.
Engines, Transmission, and Performance
Likes: Stirring V-6 growl, all-wheel force improves handling, accurate steering and supple ride.
Dislikes: Transmission is gradual to downshift, missing the intangibles that outline a genuine sports activities sedan.
The widespread 206-hp four-cylinder pairs with an eight-speed computerized transmission. This powertrain is offered only with front-wheel drive but consists of a rear-wheel-steering system that can flip the rear wheels barely for elevated cornering. The V-6 develops 290 horsepower routed via a nine-speed automatic. The V-6 is reachable with Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) device that can shuttle strength to every wheel separately as needed, which improves traction and handling. So equipped, our all-wheel-drive check vehicle directly spoke back to all manner of throttle inputs, and an audible growl answered our heavy proper foot. Too awful the automated hesitated to downshift when we knew as for a speedy ignore at motorway speeds.
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| Acura TLX: Back View |
Although Acura markets the TLX as a sports activities sedan, the automobile feels too satisfied and refined to be called such—and that's okay. The stable brakes and responsive steerage boost using fun—but solely to a point. While the four-cylinder model now can be had with the sporty A-Spec package, only the V-6 model receives the quicker A-Spec steering setup and stiffer suspension. The TLX can be exciting to pressure quickly, however it still trails competitors such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Audi A4 that have sharper handling and more responsive powertrains.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The TLX is available with a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or a greater powerful, less frugal V-6. The former has among the best EPA scores of the rivals we tested, earning up to 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. However, the V-6 has worse estimates at up to 20 mpg in the metropolis and 31 mpg on highways. We examined both engines on our 200-mile dual carriageway fuel-economy route the place the four-cylinder 2019 TLX earned 37 mpg and the V-6 earned 31.
Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo
Likes: A-Spec package spruces up the interior, responsive touchscreens, astonishing baggage capacity.
Dislikes: Least back-seat area amongst similar rivals, two show screens make infotainment confusing to use.
Understated great is higher than low-grade ostentation. This factor is proved in the interior of the TLX's cabin, with its satisfactory substances and relaxed seats. The sedan has competitive indoor space, although its lower back seat is the tightest among comparable rivals. While it is no longer the most luxurious indoors in the class, keep in mind that the TLX is additionally one of the least expensive cars in the segment.
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| Acura TLX: Interior View |
Acura's infotainment setup, with separate upper and lower display screens, is a double-edged sword. Although two shows exhibit more records and can cope with greater operations at one time than a single screen, the gadget can be distracting and difficult to use. We admire the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but outdated infotainment images and a single USB port are unbecoming.
Generous baggage houses and abundant indoor storage set up the TLX as one of the higher tour companions in this class. Its average-size trunk is fashioned so efficaciously that it held as many carry-on suitcases as extra voluminous rivals, and there's a huge rubberized bin hidden below the cargo floor.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2020 TLX earned a high-quality five-star crash-test ranking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, the 2020 TLX once again used to be no longer named a Top Safety Pick by using the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The lineup nonetheless includes a host of trendy driver-assistance technology, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are bundled only with the Technology package. Key protection elements include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
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| Acura TLX: Front View |
The TLX has one of the most satisfactory powertrain warranties in the class. Its restricted guarantee is comparable to most rivals, but neither it nor the Mercedes-Benz C-class offers complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- The limited guarantee covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- The powertrain guarantee covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled preservation