Rental Review: 2018 Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD

"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
06/28/2018 at 13:01 • Filed to: Acura TLX

When I reviewed a FWD V6 TLX earlier this year, I said I didn’t want one. The AWD version is much better though, and I’d consider bringing it home.

I was very surprised to get an AWD TLX as a loaner, as it retails for $42,000, but I was pleasantly surprised with both the car itself and its performance. In March I mentioned the FWD version didn’t drive as well as my TSX, Adding the torque vectoring AWD system really helps a lot, as it felt more planted both in corners and taking off. It also shifted more smoothly, a major complaint of mine about the earlier car. I spent two days with it, and put it through several different situations: back roads, city traffic, day, night, auto mode, manual mode, alone, with passengers.

The SH-AWD badge has been changed from the pre-2018 version of the car.

There’s a 1st gen TSX off to the right.

Hipster central. Around the corner is a restaurant that proclaims it has the best avocado toast in Richmond.

Top of the town. Or at least the parking deck.

The A badge is far too big on the 2018+ version. I actually prefer the beak on this car. The LED headlights are fantastic, though.

Crystal Black Pearl is one of my favorite Honda/Acura colors.

You can tell it’s a loaner...look at those scuffs!

LS yo

The brown, or Espresso, interior is only available with the Technology Package.

I don’t think I’d be at the pumps THAT often with one of these, but it wouldn’t be that rare a sight.

Overall, I enjoyed the TLX this time around, although there were a few annoyances. First and foremost, the driver’s seat and side mirror kept reverting back to their default settings every time I turned the car off and back on. I’m sure there’s a way to fix it (in fact, with the seat, I know there is for sure). Secondly, and I touched on this before, I didn’t like the sound system. The volume knob is tiny and plastic, and feels like it would break easily. The speakers themselves also didn’t sound as good, though I didn’t play with them that much. Still, there may be changes coming in my life that would make it much more of a hassle to continue DDing a manual car, so an AWD TLX may be in my future, albeit almost certainly a pre-facelift version. First, though, I’d like to check out its AWD V6 predecessor, the unloved 4th generation TL, since it has a real shifter and a more usable number of gears (6 vs. the TLX’s 9). So we’ll see.

DISCUSSION (18)

CompactLuxuryFan > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 20:40

Man, that snout is almost Lexus levels of hideous. Too bad because it looks great from anywhere you can’t see the nose.

The 4th gen TLs look great with a painted beak!

jvirgs drives a Subaru > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 20:49

Its sad when i recognize the gas station in your last picture just from the little bit I can see around it.

interstate366, now In The Industry > CompactLuxuryFan
06/27/2018 at 20:56

Yeah, I actually think the pre-facelift ones with the beak are actually pretty good looking. They finally had the beak dialed in with that and the NSX and then they got rid of it. And the facelifted beak TL is miles better than the early one, painted or not.

interstate366, now In The Industry > jvirgs drives a Subaru
06/27/2018 at 20:59

It’s funny, that sketchy used car dealer in the background used to be a gas station (at one point it was an Agip, of all things, then a Citgo, then IIRC briefly a Sunoco before it closed), and, back in the 90s, the Wawa site was a sketchy used car dealer.

Shift24 > CompactLuxuryFan
06/27/2018 at 21:53

Had to defend the color nose beak last week. There are also some good aftermarket solutions as well

Kinja'd!!!

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 22:23

I would take a new 6 speed accord over that shit 9 speed transmission because Honda can’t tune a trans. I doubt ZF fucked up that trans.

Al so remember the TLX 3.5L is down on power compared to the TL 3.7L V6. 305 hp to 290 hp. (Also the 3.7L has is actually closer to 330hp.)

The TL is an underrated sedan and I think better looking with aftermarket solutions

Kinja'd!!!

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
06/27/2018 at 22:37

The TL is definitely more within my price range, and I had noted the extra power of the 3.7. My TSX has a 6-speed manual, which is of course brilliant, but my work situation is set to change within the next year or s o and I may have a much longer commute through city traffic (as of now, my commute is entirely within the suburb in which I live) and, while I don’t have a problem with driving a manual in traffic, 50 miles a day of stop and go traffic would cause a lot more wear than the 5 on 2 city streets does, so I regrettably am looking to go automatic for a DD. I definitely want to test drive the TL before I make a decision.

Also I forgot to mention it in the review, but the TLX had a stop-start function that got annoying after awhile, but is easily turned off.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
06/27/2018 at 22:41

Also there’s this (which can probably be done with the TLX as well, to be fair)

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 22:54

100% screw the stop start function. Nice to know it can be turned off.

And one other thing is the 3.7L requires premium, the 3.5L TLX doesn’t.

Also it’s not an end all on the automatic. I was looking for a sedan 2 years ago as a DD and settled on 540i auto. But it’s still fun with the slap shift.

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 22:58

While true with the 3.5L, the old statement still holds true, N o replacement for displacement.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
06/27/2018 at 23:10

Yeah, the TLX just says premium recommended, not required. Manual A WD TLs exist, but they’re extremely rare. The auto on the TL after the facelift also has 6 speeds, but longer ratios than the manual. But I imagine it’ll still be plenty fun, especially with double wishbones.

MonkeePuzzle > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/27/2018 at 23:36

oh i really like the interior colour scheme

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
06/27/2018 at 23:57

Ooh, that BB1 in the back is the perfect shade of green...

TylerJ > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/28/2018 at 02:47

Is there torque steer with the SH-AWD system?

interstate366, now In The Industry > TylerJ
06/28/2018 at 07:52

Little to none. Definitely not the case with the FWD version, which had it in spades.

interstate366, now In The Industry > MonkeePuzzle
06/28/2018 at 15:32

It’s lovely

TylerJ > interstate366, now In The Industry
06/29/2018 at 00:44

Thanks! I’ve been looking at these, but I hate torque steer.

interstate366, now In The Industry > TylerJ
06/29/2018 at 12:46

I’d say check one out on a curvy road if you can. That was the first place I took it.