The 2021 Acura TLX starts at $38k

"LJ909" (lj909) 09/29/2020 at 11:26 • Filed to: 2021 Acura TLX, Acura, Acura TLX, 2021 Acura TLX Pricing

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New for 2021, the TLX has been redesigned from the ground up. From the looks and early reviews, its looking like Acura is actually trying to get its sporty mojo back and be taken serious in the competitive sport sedan category.

Full pricing & options for the Type S (of course) haven’ t been released yet, so this will just cover the base, AWD and A Spec trims.

Power for all TLX’s (excluding the Type S of course) comes from a 2.0L I4 turbo with VTEC. It puts out 272 horses and 280 ft/lbs of torque. That power gets routed through a 10 speed auto to front or SH-AWD which is available on any trim for $2k. Even on the base car.

Acura is pretty straightforward with its pricing and options which makes things easier. Exterior colors total out to 8. 2 (Platinum White Pearl & Majestic Black Pearl) are $500. 2 color options require packages. Apex Blue Pearl is only available on the A Spec and Phantom Violet Pearl requires the Tech Package and only can be had with a Black interior.

Interior upholstery total out to 5 as well and follow the same lines as the exterior colors in that only 2 of them can be had with certain options/packages. Standard colors are Black, Parchment & Gray. The last 2 that require packages are Espresso (Which requires the Tech package) and Red. With how I had the car configured with the Black Peal exterior color, required that the A Spec package be equipped along with the Tech package. More on those in a bit.

Wheel options total out to be 5. The standard wheel is an 18” multispoke wheel while the other options are all 19”s. The A Spec gets a standard 19” Gray wheel. The only Black wheel option is $1,840.

Packages are pretty simple compared to other automakers. There are just 3.

Technology Package $4,000 : Extensive. Comes with, among other things, specific silver 19” wheels, smart entry on all doors, 12 way power front sport seats, Acura/ELS Studio 13 speaker audio system, drivers aid suite, HD radio, 2 usb ports for the rear seats, navigation.

A-Spec Package $2,750 : Think of it as Type S lite. Special A Spec badging, rear spoiler and rear bumper trim, 19” dark gray wheels, premium leather sport seats, A Spec specific gauges, stainless steel sport pedals, adaptive front lighting.

Advance Package $4,800 : Builds on the Tech package. Actually requires it as well. Comes with things like LED foglights, acoustic front side glass, wood trim, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, 10.5” heads up display, surround view camera system.

One cool feature the TLX has that stood out to me is its Iconic Drive Ambient Cabin Lighting system. It gets 24 different ambient lighting modes inspired by famous driving destinations and tracks from around the world like:

Suzuka

PCH

Kanjo Loop

Vegas Strip

Icefield Parkway

Atlantic Road

Baja Highway

Now while the Advance Package requires the Tech Package, you cant all 3 packages together as the Advance Package can’t be combined with the A Spec package. Without choosing any of the 23 individual accessories, the 2021 TLX A Spec configured here is $45,775; $47,775 for a TLX A Spec with SH-AWD; $46,800 for the TLX with the Tech and Advance pack; $49,825 for the Tech/Advance Packs & SH-AWD.

Pricing looks to be competitive for sure as the mid to high $40’s, low $50’s seem to be the starting price point if you want a sport sedan. I give kudos to Acura actually trying this time around. The new TLX is a looker for sure. But it remains to be seen if the driving dynamics can back up those looks, especially on the A Spec and Type S.

way2blu does a rev update > LJ909 09/29/2020 at 12:41

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They Type S looks like it’ll tick most of the right boxes as an enthusiast’s luxury car. Only 2 beefs:

1. Offer a stick shift (imagine the enthusiast cred this would have!)

2. This is not an okay badge. It’s like a bent iPhone with an Acura logo trapped inside it. It’s tacky, and it’s not fooling anyone.

LJ909 > way2blu does a rev update 09/29/2020 at 12:43

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Wow I didn’t even notice that badge. That’s tacky as hell to be honest. 

way2blu does a rev update > LJ909 09/29/2020 at 12:47

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The 2021 S-Class is even worse. Radar cruise control is a plague upon car design.

LJ909 > way2blu does a rev update 09/29/2020 at 12:51

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You’d think they’d find a way to integrate it into the front fascia somehow. Or at least in like a good ornament or something.   

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > way2blu does a rev update 09/29/2020 at 13:55

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My wife’s Highlander has adaptive cruise and there’s nothing outwardly visible to indicate it...

Textured Soy Protein > way2blu does a rev update 09/29/2020 at 14:45

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This integration of the active cruise sensor is literally a combination of HyunKia’s attempts to slap a design on the sensor that matches the grille pattern surrounding the sensor, and Mazda’s that’s a big plate which closely follows the shape of the badge.

Perhaps Acura should’ve gone the Mazda route and enlarged the badge so they didn’t need to have a rectangle that integrates some of the grille pattern.

Short of doing that, the only alternative would be to just have an un-disguised black square in the middle of the lower air dam opening like the Accord.

Textured Soy Protein > LJ909 09/29/2020 at 15:14

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I think Acura will sell (relative) buttloads of these, given that sedans in general are dying. The original TLX was pretty instantly behind the competition but in the past few years Honda & Acura have really gotten their mojo back.

The new TLX even in 4-banger form competes on specs with the Euro performance/luxury competition but with way more room inside, and Acura’s usual reliability and resale value.

I don’t think it’ll be as engaging to drive as the Stinger & G70 , and their infotainment is much more straighforward than Acura’s fiddly touchpad interface. But the TLX still outdoes them on rear seat room and resale value.

Manny05x > LJ909 09/29/2020 at 18:09

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I would buy a g70 over this and if i wanted to save and get a honda product i would go with a 2.0t accord.  

someoneatacura > Textured Soy Protein 10/03/2020 at 14:57

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“ Perhaps Acura should’ve gone the Mazda route and enlarged the badge so they didn’t need to have a rectangle that integrates some of the grille pattern.”

they did that with all the previous diamond pentagon grills, much to the disapproval of everyone that saw the badge that size. An Audi A7 has 2 big sensors in the grill, that look like security light sensors painted black. I’m not a fan of either, but I don’t care about it either at the same time. As a car detailer by hobby, I like that the badge is flat so I don’t have to fiddle about cleaning the areas between the a symbol .

Textured Soy Protein > someoneatacura 10/03/2020 at 16:16

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Personally , I’m not all that bothered by any of these sensors . I love active cruise and as long as the sensor is reasonably well camouflaged they don’t raise my hackles in the least. If I had to choose, I prefer the old slightly oversized badge/sensor with no excess surface area over the new badge + grille pattern-mimicking surround, but meh, it’s no big deal to me either way.