2021 Acura TLX A-Spec – A set of tires away from greatness

This is an excellent evolution of a good sedan. The 2021 Acura TLX looks wonderful on the outside. It has some of the best seats in the business. And the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes a healthy 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Add in the available SH-AWD system, and you have a premium sedan that offers a more affordable alternative to Germany’s best. And this is before the 355-hp Type-S version even arrives. But something is holding it back… thankfully, the TLX is just a set of tires away from being truly great.

[Disclaimer: Acura tossed me the keys to the 2021 TLX A-Spec and included a tank of fuel.]

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4 responses to “2021 Acura TLX A-Spec – A set of tires away from greatness”

  1. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Red interior inside a blue car. I’ve loved that combination since seeing it on a Volvo Amazon years ago. Nice.

    I applaud Acura for giving the dying-breed sedan some love, but the TLX admittedly isn’t my thing. The exterior proportions have definitely been improved, but Acura’s design language still misses the mark for me. The beaky grille has been toned down, which is great, but the Star-Trek-Warp-Drive insert looks chintzy. If I’m paying $45k-ish for a lux-aspiring sedan, I want it to look tasteful. The machete-shaped lamps are starting to get old, too. Inside, the fit/finish/materials the dash look lovely and the IP is clean, but ergonomically, the center stack is trying too hard to be organically pretty, and the steering wheel is littered with too many controls.

    And I know I’m probably in the minority in hating black trim paired with blue paint, but it looks like one big bruise. It looks cheap, like some teenager went nuts with the Plasti Dip one weekend in the driveway. If I don’t like that look on a Mustang GT, I’m not going to like it anywhere. Give me some silver and chrome, please, and reserve the black trim for white cars. “Stormtrooper” is timelessly classy.

    I guess what bothers me most about this car is that– juxtaposed with the now-unavailable Accord 2.0T Sport Manual– it signals Honda’s move away from a truly engaging driver’s car. I’m not saying the upcoming Type S won’t be a strong performer– I expect it will be damned fast and handle damned well. But those are just objective numbers. I would rather drive a slower, more-engaging vehicle than essentially just ride along in a faster one. I felt the Accord with the manual really urged the driver to wring the performance out of the car. The TLX seems like one that you just let “do its thing”. Paddle shifters aren’t any more engaging than an elevator call button.

    I dunno, I haven’t driven the new TLX. Maybe it’s “fine”, I just don’t expect it will be fun. Just like most of the new cars these days. /oldmanrantoff

    1. Smaglik Avatar
      Smaglik

      Make it a wagon and available in a manual, with the big engine, and my interest peaks…but, admittedly, I do like how it looks now.

      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        Wagon, manual, big engine. Add “RWD” to that mix, and you have summed-up the basics of my car philosophy for the past 30 years.

        1. Smaglik Avatar
          Smaglik

          I’m indifferent a bit on that one. I’d get snows for it either way, but not a deal killer.

          Like it’s going to happen anyway…