When Acura first announced the TLX Type S in 2021, I was skeptical- skeptical that they would just tack on some better brakes, stiffen the suspension- and maybe even add a couple of extra horses up front.
However.
Acura has done much more than that. As a matter of fact, they gave the Acura TLX Type S a new engine, developed by the same engineers who built the Acura NSX, so you know they mean business.
Aggressive Exterior
And judging by the exterior’s styling, you’d think the TLX’s business was performance- and you’d be right. That’s because the Type S moniker is Acura’s in-house performance division, and Acura really didn’t let me forget I was reviewing a Type S considering the four Type S badges on the exterior on this TLX.
Beyond just badging, there is a lot of good stuff packed in this exterior. Most noticeably, you’ve got a quad-exhaust, that when in the Type S-exclusive Sport+ mode, sounds pretty damn good. This Type S also features 20-inch Shark Gray Multi-Spoke rims, which while they suit the exterior of the TLX quite well, they hurt the turning radius significantly. Hiding behind those rims are enhanced front brakes from Brembo.
In the front, the TLX features a Type S-exclusive open-surface diamond pentagon grille which sucks more air into the engine.
Speaking of the engine, let’s talk about what getting an engine made by the same engineers who built the NSX’s engine gets you. For one, it gets you 3.0L Turbo V6, 355-horsespower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Pair that with Acura’s self-proclaimed Super Handling All-Wheel Drive with torque vectoring and the sport-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and you get a pretty zippy sedan considering its size.
I mention its size because it’s one of the TLX’s biggest flaws. Frankly, the TLX feels massive, and though Acura has done a lot to mitigate this, like giving it a sport-tuned chassis, sport-tuned suspension, and active dampers, it doesn’t make a world of difference. That’s not to say that the TLX feels like a Honda Accord, but it’s no M3 either.
Comfortable Interior
There are benefits of having a big sedan, however- especially when it comes to its interior. Nothing about the TLX Type S’s interior feels cramped, and legroom isn’t really an issue unless your name is Shaquille O’Neal.
Beyond that, I was greeted with a gorgeous red interior that complements the aluminum accents around the dashboard and doors. Speaking of the seats: they are very comfortable. Surprisingly so. Even more surprising are the headrests which are genuinely the most comfortable headrests I’ve ever had the pleasure of resting my head on in any sedan.
Comfy headrests aside, let’s get into what matters. The red seats push all sorts of different temperatures of air up your bum: cold or warm, with three settings each. Needless to say, my butt was treated like royalty during my time with the TLX Type S.
However, my fingers were not treated like royalty. As a matter of fact, my fingers felt overworked after trying to master Acura’s infotainment system arrangement (ok, maybe an exaggeration, but it’s not as intuitive as you think it should be). The handsomely sized center screen isn’t a touchscreen, which would be fine if the manual controls were easy to use; however, as you can probably guess by now, it’s not.
Acura’s infotainment system works with two touchpads which control the two parts of the touchscreen. Trying to get this touchpad to get you were you want to go is a struggle- especially when using Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. I oftentimes found myself trying to go from one app to another, and failing. The owner tells me that with time you get used to it, though I can’t help but wonder what went wrong with the tried-and-tested scroll wheel.
Luckily for Acura, I can’t judge an interior just by an infotainment system. Even luckier for Acura is that the rest is all good news. The steering wheel is thick and feels significant, with perforated leather right where your hands are when you drive. Should you decide to shift the TLX Type S yourself, your fingers will be greeted aluminum-trimmed paddle shifters that feel nice to the touch and press.
There is no traditional gear lever in the TLX Type S; however, unlike the lack of a scroll wheel, Acura’s replacement for the traditional gear shifter works just fine. Dead-center on the dash are your gears in the form of buttons. Right above those buttons is the drive-mode selector, which is limited to Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ (TLX Type S-exclusive). There’s also a Personal mode, which allows you to control steering feel, throttle response, and engine modes to your liking.
Wrap It Up
So this is the end of this review of the TLX Type S. We have been through a lot together, from talking about the NSX-inspired engine to the comfort of my bum; however, that begs the question: what do I think of this car?
For one, it’s a great sports sedan. The Type S badge adds far more than just some stiffened suspension, and despite a lackluster turning radius, I could feel the TLX Type S come alive shooting out of corners. And when I was done having my fun, I could just put the drive mode in Comfort and the car would go back to being a civilized, comfortable commuter. Like I said before, it’s no BMW M3, but it’s a damn good (and significantly cheaper!) substitute.
