What, if anything, would you like to know about the 2018 Acura TLX?

"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
03/20/2018 at 10:00 • Filed to: Acura TLX

I dropped the TSX off for service at the Acura dealer, and they entrusted me with a car with an extra 80 horsepower and two more cylinders. I know the TLX doesn’t get much love around here, but anyone want to know anything about it? I’m going to do a review regardless, but I can go more in depth if wanted.

DISCUSSION (23)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:09

Is it the SHAWDy version?

camarov6rs > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:10

A-spec?

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/20/2018 at 10:10

Sadly, no. It’s a FWD V6 Tech.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > camarov6rs
03/20/2018 at 10:15

Definitely not A-spec. The wheels , side skirts and lower grill openings give it away.

Speaking of which, the A-spec is a good car, not great but very closely comparable to the new Regal GS.

camarov6rs > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/20/2018 at 10:19

Aah good looking car though! I feel like the exterior writes a check the interior and chassis can’t cash.

Party-vi > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:20

How’s that back seat room?

WilliamsSW > camarov6rs
03/20/2018 at 10:24

I drove a V6/SHAWD back in 2015, unless it’s changed, you nailed it right there.

PartyPooper2012 > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:24

Can you see through the windows?

Chariotoflove > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:39

Detailed review of interior please to go with the driving. I’m curious how it stacks up against older gen Acura.

interstate366, now In The Industry > PartyPooper2012
03/20/2018 at 10:53

Not as much as I’d like to. Front and sides are fine, but the rear...whew. Backup camera and blind spot monitoring are my friends.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Party-vi
03/20/2018 at 10:55

Not bad. More on par with the TSX than the TL.

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 10:55

As some one pretty familiar with it, I understand the hate. Now the design is improved over the nose beak but it’s still pretty much there, just subdued.

The main issue I have with the car is the drivetrain. The V6's 9 speed is clunky and only option since they did away with the manual.

This car was supposed to be an improvement over the TL. Size wise they shrunk it some to get TSX buyers. I get that. But they dropped 20hp by switching from the j37 to j35. Acura has always been behind other luxury brands in hp and losing power just makes it worse. And the 4 banger isn’t enough for the car. I get it’s only there to be a volume seller but then make the v6 a real power contender. Also the A-spec is as much of a joke as the 8th gen civic Si Mugen.

I know kind of off topic but remember as you do your review, Acura could have tried with this car but they fell on being conservative. The TL was and still is a better car, nose beak and all.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
03/20/2018 at 11:03

You’re dead on about the transmission. Manual mode is so sluggish. Feels like half a second between shifts.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Shift24
03/20/2018 at 11:15

You pretty much nailed it on how Acura lost the plot with the TLX. I was *THIS* close to buying a previous gen TL SH-AWD with the Advance Package.

I didn’t like the TLX one bit. They could have fixed everything along with the beak in 2018 but made it such a mediocre car. I think the A-spec looks good but I want more! Give it power (Turbo is even better), fix the transmission, replace the dual screen BS with even the Accord’s pop up screen...and I guess it still won’t be enough because people are only going to end up with more RDXs and MDXs. sigh.

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/20/2018 at 12:09

This is, in general, how I feel about it. They left a lot on the table. It’s a shame, because I feel like it’s a much better looking car on the outside than the beaky TL.

interstate366, now In The Industry > WilliamsSW
03/20/2018 at 12:18

It hasn’t. The interior is pretty good, but driving it...sigh.

WilliamsSW > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 12:21

I saw what Shift24 and KingTChallaofWakanda wrote, and they nailed it, sadly.

interstate366, now In The Industry > WilliamsSW
03/20/2018 at 12:45

They did. It sadly confirmed my suspicions.

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 12:49

Yeah and they shouldn’t be since its a ZF transmission. I have a feeling the issue is in the software

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
03/20/2018 at 13:03

Yeah. It’s a shame, because it’s such a good-looking car. But I now know I don’t want one.

Shift24 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/20/2018 at 13:05

And that was my point about the A-spec. If you remember Honda came out with a Mugen Si for a couple years. But all it had was aero kits, different wheels, and a small suspension upgrade. No power increase, which everyone hoped for since it said Mugen. Well same with the A-spec, its a body kit, wheels, and small suspension upgrade. A total let down of what they could do.

I will say though all of what you are saying is coming, (NSX derivative motor) but not for at least another 2 years. Though with the SUV craze it might be too late.

ranwhenparked > interstate366, now In The Industry
03/20/2018 at 18:09

Have you felt the urge to constantly pronounce it as “Tlix”?

interstate366, now In The Industry > ranwhenparked
03/20/2018 at 18:25

No, Tilx.