When the current generation Acura TLX was introduced, I didn’t like it very much. I found it comfortable for daily commutes but it didn’t live up to the sporty driving characteristics that modern Acura vehicles are advertised to have. Fast forward a few years and the Acura TLX now has a bunch of Type-S badges on it. So does the addition of a Type-S badge help the TLX like how it did the Integra Type-S?
Performance
Engine – Under the hood, the Acura TLX Type-S does away with the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of the regular car. It is replaced by a 3.0L turbocharged V6 with a single turbo, not twin-turbo. Power output gets bumped up to 355 hp & 354 lb-ft of torque (265 kW & 480 Nm). With a fairly hefty curb weight of 1,945 kg (4,221 lbs), the 2024 TLX Type-S can sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in about 5 seconds. The turbocharger provides peak torque at under 2,000 rpms which helps this big sedan accelerate quickly in any gear. Peak power is reached at 5,500 rpms which is about 600 rpms away from the redline. This engine also sounds pretty good though I suspect that some of the sounds are enhanced by the stereo system.
Fuel Economy – With the weight, AWD system and turbo V6 nature of the engine, you’d expect it to be an inefficient vehicle. To my surprise, the TLX Type-S is not too bad at the pumps. It is rated for 12.3 L/100km (19.1 MPG) in a city and 9.8 L/100km (24 MPG) on a highway. I averaged 11.3 L/100km (20.8 MPG) during my week with the car. And yes, it does require premium fuel.
Transmission – Paired with this engine is a 10-speed automatic transmission. For this 2024 model year, Acura’s engineers tuned the transmission to provide smooth & faster gear changes. Firstly, the gear changes are smooth in all drive modes. You hardly ever notice them when poodling around town. Secondly, the shifts are quick for an automatic but only if you let the computer decide when to shift. If you decide to use the paddle shifters, they’re pretty quick to respond but there are some instances when the computer will not let you make the desired gear change. I generally noticed this while exiting a corner under full throttle. There is a bit of a delay until the computer allows the upshift. On the downshifts, this transmission will auto blip the engine for faster changes.
Braking – The 2024 Acura TLX Type-S is equipped with Brembo 4-piston front calipers that clamp down on 14.3” rotors. The rear brakes are the same as the standard TLX with 13” rotors and single piston calipers. The braking performance of this car is fantastic. The brake pedal feels firm and yet smooth to modulate when driving casually in a city. The only limitation of this demo vehicle was the snow tires which could not provide enough grip for the braking system. I tripped up the ABS a few times under heavy braking.
Handling – Almost 60% of the car’s total weight is over the front axle. This should make it feel very nose heavy but it’s hard to tell thanks to the brilliance of the SH-AWD system. It can send up to 70% of the available torque to the rear wheels when accelerating and up to 100% of that can be sent to the outside rear wheel. This makes the car feel neutral through mid-way and out of corners. The whole body rotates effortlessly allowing you to push harder on the throttle pedal and exit a corner more quickly. Steering feel is ok but it could with a less artificially feeling weight as the car is switched to Sport & Sport+ modes. Additionally, if the car carries too much speed into a corner, the clever AWD system will not be able to save it and the TLX Type-S will understeer. Overall though, if the car is not pushed to its limits, it’ll still reward a more thrilling drive than the standard TLX.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The 2024 Acura TLX Type-S is equipped with standard adaptive dampers which change firmness depending on the drive mode. In Comfort & Normal modes, I found the ride to be compliant over most road surfaces. It is still stiffer than the standard TLX but I would not call it uncomfortable. The ride stiffness is noticeable in Sport mode with potholes and road imperfections becoming much more evident. You’ll want to play minesweeper if you wish to remain in this drive mode on city streets.
Interior Space – As is expected of a luxury sedan, front occupants have plenty of leg and head room inside the cabin of the 2024 Acura TLX Type-S. Both front seats have 16-way power adjustments which include power lumbar adjustments & adjustable side bolsters. I also like the blend of leather & “Ultrasuede” seat upholstery. The rear seats are not as commodious as the front seats. On paper, the Acura TLX actually has a little bit less rear legroom than the BMW 3-series which is very surprising given the fact that this generation of the TLX is bigger than the previous. However, sitting behind my driving position – in either this or the BMW – is very tight. Granted, if a shorter person is sitting in the front, there is a bit more legroom but it’s still not a place you want to be for very long.
Cargo space in the trunk is generous at 382 L (13.5 cu-ft) with a large opening. You can fold the backrests 60/40 for more cargo volume but the Type-S has chassis braces that inhibit some of the pass-through space.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Apart from the good sounding V6 engine, the cabin does let some tire noise intrude. This vehicle was still equipped with snow tires which are generally louder than all-season tires. The road noise is not deafening on highways but I did notice myself having to raise the radio volume by a couple of notches. Otherwise, there were no squeaks or rattles and the cabin felt solid.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2024 Acura TLX Type-S will cost you $63,750 CAD ($57,000 USD). That is the only price this car has because the only options are paint colours and any accessories that you may want to add onto it. It is a fully loaded car.
In Canada, this price is less than the starting price of the BMW M340i or Audi S4 or the Genesis G70 with the V6. Additionally, in order to have the same features as this car in the German rivals, they’d need to be equipped with more packages. In the United States, the Audi & BMW have roughly the same starting price as the TLX Type-S but again, they’d have to be equipped with packages in order to have the same features.
Gadgets – Some of these gadgets include leather & ultrasuede upholstery, the 16-way power adjustable front seats which are also heated & ventilated, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, power sunroof, surround view cameras, an ELS 3D sound system, and a wireless phone charging pad. The only missing option is a head-up display, which is available on the TLX Type-S for the American market.
The infotainment screen has been updated with it now measuring 12.3” diagonally. Sadly, it still displays the Acura infotainment system that has not gone well with owners & fans over the years. It is not controlled by a touchscreen and is instead controlled by the touchpad on the center console. Acura calls this the True Touchpad Interface which means that wherever you place your finger on the pad, that position correlates on the screen. Over time, you can develop muscle memory to control this infotainment system. The problem stems when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, both connect wirelessly. While using those apps, the touchpad behaves like a traditional touchpad like the kind you use to control a laptop mouse. That means you’re endlessly swiping to highlight & select a specific item. It becomes frustrating to use while navigating those apps. The 2025 Acura MDX will receive a new touchscreen so hopefully that will trickle down to this TLX in the future too.
Interior Design – Some may say that the design of the TLX’s interior looks a bit old, I think it looks great. The contrasting red seats add flare and I love the contoured steering wheel that perfectly fits in my hands. There’s also plenty of buttons to control the climate but it doesn’t look overdone. It’s a functional and well appointed interior.
Exterior Design – The 2024 TLX Type-S received a few styling tweaks for this model year but it’s hard to tell. Overall, it’s a good looking car and as I said in my Integra Type-S review, it looks all the better in Type-S form. It has a subtle lip spoiler, larger air intakes in the bumper, large wheels, and quad exhaust pipes. It looks the part of a sporty sedan.
Safety – With the Type-S being a fully loaded trim, it already comes equipped with a lot of driver & safety aids. From automatic emergency braking, to lane keep, to dynamic radar cruise control, this car has it all.
Warranty – Although this is a high performance car, the 2024 Acura TLX Type-S is covered by the same warranty that all other Acura vehicles are covered with. This is a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. This powertrain warranty is 6 years & 70,000 miles in the United States. For more information on Acura’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – This car reminds me a bit of the Lexus IS500. In the same way that the IS500 is not as fast as the BMW M3, this TLX Type-S is not as fast as the BMW M340i or Audi S4. In fairness though, I think that’s ok because this car is quite a bit less expensive than the others. It’s also very comfortable for daily commutes considering what it is and yet, it’ll still put a smile on your face when you find yourself on more interesting roads. Just don’t push it to its limits, or beyond them.
Thank you to Acura Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Acura.ca
2024 Acura TLX Type-S Gallery
