PERFECT PRICE FOR POWERFUL ACURA
Drivers looking for a rousing ride — without breaking the bank — should seriously take a look at the newly revised Acura TLX A-Spec luxury sedan.
The A-Spec starts with a 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder VTEC engine. With a punch of the gas pedal, the 290-horsepower machine bellows with a deep-sounding double exhaust as it propels the driver at near breakneck speeds. Sure, this isn’t a Shelby Cobra, but it’s powerful nonetheless.
The 9-speed transmission transfers the power to its four wheels with efficiency. The steering has a solid feel and matches the power of the engine perfectly. In all adjustable dynamic modes and under several different cornering maneuvers, the A-Spec didn’t suffer from any oversteering.
The A-Spec gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 29 on the highway for an average of 23 mpg. Not exactly a gas-sipper, but that’s the tradeoff for the performance of this luxury sedan.
The TLX has a sporty exterior which features an aggressively sculpted hood and a revised front fascia with pentagonal grille. It also has newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels with high-performance tires. LED headlights and taillights frame the corners of this test car.
The mild-mannered interior has many fancy features. The TLX has keyless entry and push-button start. The power front seats are heated and ventilated. There’s also a power moon-
roof and a 10-speaker Acura ELS audio system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The shifter is very low profile and mounted to the console. While somewhat cryptic at first, it becomes second nature to use in no time. There are controls for the stereo, cruise control and cellphone on the steering wheel which also has paddle shifters mounted to it.
The TLX is equipped with a variety of standard safety features. It has adaptive cruise control, lanekeeping assist, dual-zone automatic climate control and satellite navigation. It also comes standard with forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.
Critics might point to its rear-wheel-drive competitors like the BMW 3 series or Audi A4 and decry the lack of that option in the Acura TLX. The bottom line is that for $45,750, the TLX A-Spec offers a luxury sedan with performance for a great price.