The most recent era of the Acura TLX wormed its approach into our hearts from the second we acquired behind the wheel. It’s a driver’s automobile, and Acura’s made that clear from the get-go. Then we tried out the TLX Sort S and appreciated it sufficient to even give it the nod over a BMW M340i in a head-to-head comparability check. Now that it’s been a number of years because the sport sedan got here out, Acura has a mid-cycle refresh able to sweeten the pot a little bit extra.
Our first go-around with the up to date mannequin is that this 2024 Acura TLX Sort S, however a lot of the updates apply to the pared-down assortment of different trim ranges (extra on that later). The inside sees probably the most substantive upgrades, together with a brand new set of screens for each the infotainment system and the analog-turned-digital gauge cluster. The latter is the extra controversial of the bunch as a result of regardless that a digital cluster is essentially seen as an improve as of late, the white-trimmed gauges of the pre-refresh automobile had been a fantastically distinctive contact in an age of principally nameless digital clusters.
However, the cluster is now a 12.3-inch display that comes normal on all TLX fashions. There are a number of completely different views together with a standard two-dial method, one which pushes the gauges all the best way to the sides, and unique to the Sort S, a 3rd that contains a horizontal tach harking back to the S2000’s rev counter. The ADAS graphics within the heart are a pleasant contact, and the display is fairly crisp, although we’re unsure that everybody will discover it to be an improve over the analog cluster. On the very least, couldn’t Acura have replicated the outdated white-trimmed gauges (beneath, white) to take care of some continuity and appease purists like us? The 2024 Mustang’s retro Fox Physique gauge design reveals such issues are attainable.
The infotainment show is bumped from 10.3 inches to 12.3, although the ever-controversial Acura Precision TouchPad stays. It responds faster and extra fluidly to inputs than earlier than, and the newly-added wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality is a nice-to-have. And because the cherry on prime, Acura added a brand new customizable head-up show and a 360-degree digital camera to the Sort S.
The remainder of the TLX’s inside is acquainted. You sit low and are surrounded by easy-to-operate buttons, knobs and scroll wheels aplenty. The rear seat continues to be a scrunched affair for the TLX’s footprint, however Acura by no means meant for this sedan to be a limo. Step exterior, although, and also you’re met with some delicate however impactful design adjustments.
A brand new entrance fascia with a mesh sample for the grille stands out initially. Look nearer, although, and also you’ll discover the ugly radar sensor that beforehand backed the Acura brand is gone. As a substitute, Acura built-in the radar into the Acura brand itself, leaving you with a far cleaner look than the pre-refresh grille. For the Sort S pictured right here, new 20-inch wheels completed in Berlina Black are the usual setup with all-season tires. Fortunately, you’ll be able to nonetheless spec the copper-painted 20-inch Y-spoke wheels which are wrapped in high-performance summer time tires. Lesser trims get 19-inch wheels normal now (up from 18s beforehand), and A-Spec vehicles get new, twin, spherical exhaust exits and a shiny black rear spoiler. City Grey Pearl (pictured right here) and Liquid Carbon Metallic are new paint choices for 2024, with the previous being unique to the Sort S. And don’t fear, the attractive Tiger Eye Pearl paint continues to be within the coloration palette for the Sort S, too.
The powertrain lineup is an identical to the pre-refresh automobile, and whereas we didn’t have many complaints about how any variations of the TLX drove, a horsepower enhance would’ve been appreciated. That sentiment most strongly resonates with the Sort S variant and its 3.0-liter turbocharged V6. It makes 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, which is respectable by itself, however lags behind extra highly effective competitors just like the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C 43.
Regardless of wishing for a little bit extra go, the TLX Sort S is a hoot to pilot. Regardless of a low redline of simply 6,200 rpm, the V6’s tuneful and high-winding sound urges you to rev it out. The shifts come rapidly from its 10-speed computerized transmission, and it’s a lot sensible in Sport+ to kind out downshifts all by itself. The paddles are responsive sufficient that you simply’ll have simply as a lot enjoyable tapping by them, although we want it didn’t robotically shift up each time you run close to to redline.
Acura says the one replace to the driving expertise was the throttle tuning in Sport+ mode. It’s onerous to say that the go-pedal feels a lot completely different with out a direct comparability, but it surely’s feels a lot responsive. It doubly helps that each time you choose Sport+ mode the transmission immediately downshifts into an aggressive and ready-to-pounce low gear. Word that Sport+ is unique to the Sort S – lesser variations due to this fact don’t take pleasure in these sharper, extra fast transmission responses.
The TLX’s dealing with continues to shine as brightly because it did earlier than. The massive distinction with this second strive of the Sort S is that Acura fitted the usual all-season tires as a substitute of summer time rubber (it’s chilly right here in Michigan as of late). Because of this, the steering, significantly in Sport and Sport+ modes, is much less satisfying. There’s a contact of sunshine vagueness off-center earlier than it transitions to a lot heavier – and pure feeling – steering. That off-putting, stepped transition disappears while you put the steering into Regular or Consolation, and in the end Regular ended up being probably the most pure and feelsome mode to be in.
SH-AWD is dynamite to mess around with in tighter corners the place you’re feeling the torque vectoring shoving you thru from the surface rear wheel. Change off traction management, and also you’ll even get the Sort S to offer you a good quantity of slip angle do you have to ask for it with the throttle. It does a whole lot of nice work in masking the Sort S’ 4,221-pound curb weight. That stated, the poundage continues to be sufficient that you simply’re going to really feel it beneath braking and on twisting roads, however don’t let or not it’s forgotten that the TLX is only some inches shorter than a 5 Collection and significantly bigger than the three.
Acura says it’s added sound deadening, but it surely’s not solely obvious on the freeway. We weren’t essentially of the thoughts that the TLX wanted to be quieter to start with. Listening to the V6 and its accompanying valved exhaust is an important a part of this Sort S expertise. For the four-cylinder variants, we’re fully tremendous with some highway or engine noise disappearing.
And in terms of these four-cylinder variants, Acura diminished the variety of selections from seven down to 2 primarily based on what prospects had been overwhelmingly getting: the front-wheel-drive TLX with Expertise Bundle and the SH-AWD-equipped TLX A-Spec. That places the A-Spec on the next efficiency pedestal, accurately, however you continue to can’t get it with adaptive dampers. They had been beforehand unique to the now-discontinued Advance trim stage and are due to this fact now extinct on the four-cylinder TLX. That’s a disgrace.
The worth for all TLX trims is up for 2024, however not an insurmountable quantity with the largest enhance being $1,750 for the Sort S. Eliminating the bottom mannequin is probably the largest draw back there, because it successfully makes the brand new “entry” worth $5,540 greater than 2023. You wouldn’t have discovered us choosing a base mannequin anyway, and if it’s true that the surviving four-cylinder fashions had been certainly the most well-liked, we weren’t alone in that opinion. To go one step additional, choosing one of many two SH-AWD fashions is a requirement because it’s simply so darned good, going above and past the standard all-wheel-drive system in a significant approach.
As a complete, the refreshed TLX seems like a step enchancment in the fitting path. It appears higher each in and out, has some sensible characteristic add-ons, and continues to be an completely pleasant driver’s automobile.
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