2024 Acura TLX Type S: The Brand’s Stylish Flagship Performance Sedan

Highlight: Acura engineers retuned the 2024 TLX Type S' Sport+ mode to deliver quicker throttle response.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $59,942 (Base Model Sport Hybrid: $46,595)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; traction control; a forward collision warning system; a collision mitigation braking system; a lane departure warning system; a lane keep assist system; a road departure mitigation system; a radar activated cruise control system; an electronic blind spot system; a lane change alert system; a rear cross traffic monitor; an auto high beam system; a back up camera; hill start assist; a tire pressure monitoring system; and a tire kit

Standard Equipment (Base TLX FWD): 19-inch wheels; front wheel drive; 272-horsepower; direct fuel injection; idle stop and go system; no 100,000 mile scheduled tune up; a 10-speed automatic transmission;  a variety of driving modes; 13-inch ventilated front disc brakes; traffic sign recognition; a brake hold system; a navigation system; ELS audio system with 13-speakers; wireless charging; Alexa-built-in; power front seats with lumbar support; and power moonroof

Standard Equipment (S-Type): 20-inch wheels; all-wheel drive; 355-horsepower; 24 valve; 354 torque; variable cylinder management; an adaptive damper system; high performance chassis bracing; a variety of driving modes and sport plus; Brembo braking system; 14-inch ventilated front disc brakes; a heads up display system; a 360-degree camera; rain sensing wipers; windshield wiper de-icer; a deck-lid spoiler; gloss black front black spitter and rear diffuser; power folding side mirrors; quad exhaust tailpipes; ventilated front seats; sport front seats with perforated premium leather with contrasting stitching; a flat bottom steering wheel; an Ebony headliner; 16 way power seats with thigh support and side bolsters;

Options: exterior paint color; and carpet

Other Trim Levels:

TLX SH-AWD A Spec

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: an ELS 17-speaker audio system with AM/FM

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Engine/Horsepower: a 3.5 liter, 6-cylinder engine/355-hp 

Recommended Fuel: Premium

Standard Fuel Mileage: 19-city/25-hwy (test model)

What’s New: Acura’s flagship sedan infuses a new infotainment into the interior design.

Why: (S-Type Only)

A driver’s-oriented performance sedan

AWD

A turbo engine pushing out 355-hp

20-inch wheels

Red brake bolsters

A high-quality 17-speaker audio system

Gold rims

A rear deck spoiler

Red sports seats with bolster and leg extension for front occupants

Power moonroof

A standard list of safety driving aids

Hand recognition and voice recognition utilized for navigation system

But: 

Poor fuel economy w/a 275 mile driving range

Limited rear seating

A fire-breathing hood exhaust should be infused into the design of the S-Type

Verdict: The Acura TLX goes from being an upscale family sedan to an expressive road racer, when tricked out with the Type S trim. While the 6-cylinder turbo charged Type S is no match for performance vehicles from Mercedes’s AMG and BMW’s M-Series in terms of horsepower, it is a perfect alternative for those seeking an engaging driving experience while going up against cars from Cadillac and Infiniti without breaking the bank.

Unlike a number of its German competitors, the Acura TLX Type S allows buyers to put aside extra money for the kids college fund. The sporty sedan straddles the line between being compact and midsize. While it’s not quite large enough to compete with the likes of such midsize sedans as the BMW 5 Series or Genesis G80, its slightly larger than such compacts as the Mercedes C-Class.

And being that the sporty TLX Type S literally drives a fine line, the vehicle is in a unique position to standout with its eye-popping exterior colors, perfectly placed rear spoiler, color coded Brembo brakes, and twin dual exhaust pipes with its amplified sound enhancer.

Moreover, in terms of interior layout, the snug layout doesn’t disappoint. In fact, the driver-oriented Type S has everything from bolstered front seats to a HUD (heads up display) to a high-quality ELS audio system. Although Acura has added a larger 12-inch infotainment screen, it can still be somewhat cumbersome to navigate even when attempting to use the overly sensitive hand signature touchpad.

Overall, for a MSRP that lands under $60,000, the TLX Type S gives buyers in the performance segment a lot of bang for the buck.

Competition: 2024 Audi S4;2024 BMW M340i, 2024 Cadillac CT5 V-Series, Genesis G70, Infiniti Q50 Red Sport; and Mercedes-Benz AMG C43