The Acura TLX – and the RLX before it – has long been a competent premium sedan with somewhat of an identity crisis. Straddling the line between luxury and performance, the car doesn’t go far enough in either direction to be particularly memorable, but it’s quick and comfortable and offers a good deal more value than its European rivals. Acura gave the car a much-needed mid-cycle refresh for 2024 as it enters the fourth year of its second generation.
The list of upgrades for the new model year reads more like a generational overhaul than a mid-cycle update, and the car picked up a few new styling elements in the process. A new mesh pattern highlights the frameless grille and the large Acura logo hides a new radar package for the car’s advanced driver aids. Several new wheel designs are available, including a shark gray 19-inch wheel with the Technology Package, updated 20-inch wheels for the Type S, and a fresh 19-inch wheel for the A-Spec.
Acura included a load of tech updates with the refresh, giving the TLX a larger 12.3-inch HD infotainment display and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Unfortunately, it’s still a non-touch interface with a frustrating touchpad controller in the center console. The learning curve is steep, and using the touchpad still feels clunky even after an extended period of use.
On the upside, the TLX gets a long list of standard tech to control with that touchpad, including wireless Apple carPlay and Android Auto, an ELS Studio premium stereo, and ambient LED interior lighting. Acura also offers a head-up display, a surround-view camera, and a remote start.
The TLX’s powertrains carry over, but that’s a good thing, especially for the Type S. Most models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The TLX Type S gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, making 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Both engines come with ten-speed automatic transmissions, and the Type S gearbox gets sport tuning.
[Images: Acura]
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