The 2021 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD Drives Home The Fun
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2020
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The second-generation Acura TLX has a lot going for it- a new exclusive chassis, a double wishbone front suspension, and a more powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that’s standard. Oh, and it’s lower, longer and wider too so it looks like it means business. TLX is another way to spell FUN. And for maximum grins, don’t forget to check the $2,000 torque vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive box. Tom Voelk checks out a loaded A-Spec model and finds that buyers that don’t check this sport sedan out simply haven’t done their homework.
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About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting). But really, all you need to know is in the videos. Watch a few and you'll subscribe. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I kinda like that you do the video even in less than ideal conditions. Gives a more real world feel. Happy New Year!
Benefit of the fog = get to see those beautifully menacing DRL LED lights 😏
I appreciate your videos. You are one of the best automotive journalists on TH-cam. Professional, concise, and practical for real life drivers/commuters.
Own a 2018 TLX V6 SHAWD- bullet proof reliability... it’s fun to drive because you can drive it at or near 100% a lot of the time... solid vehicle
Love this TLX. Good work Acura!
The host is an great reviewer. It's like I'm in the car itself and he's explaining it
tom is the shizzle my corn kanizzle.
The quality of your videos are stellar
Hope you hit the 200k mark in 2021
This is one that is on my "to test drive" list. Thank you.
Beautiful photography in this review, Tom. I know those roads well having put many miles on them on two and four wheels and in the 50 Shades of Gray that we get to experience in the Pacific Northwest fog so prevalent this time of year. The fact that the summer and fall balance it out with glorious sunshine and views of Mt. Rainier is a secret we usually don't share with Californians.
As far as the TLX is concerned, I'd take it over most if not all of the competition. The often ignored VW Arteon being a possible exception especially with the current discounts on the top trim model. SH-AWD is the best of breed for our messy but rarely rarely frozen winters but the absence of even a temporary spare tire is a crime against nature. And having grown accustomed to the excellent dual clutch transmission in my GTI I'd miss it. As far as the options are concerned I'd opt for the "Advance" package over the "A-Spec" options each of which require the "Technology" package, as well. A mystery why adaptive dampers are offered in the Advance package rather than the A-Spec. (In fact the three option packages offered are a rather confusing mess.)
Enjoyable, sufficiently quick, and reliable. A solid choice.
Wow Acura! This car is actually very beautiful.. interiors too. This color looks cool.
Acura found their groove again. The TLX and the RDX is Honda Wow. Last year I purchased the RDX Tech. (Thanks to Tom for opening my eyes to Acura) and its superb. These vehicles are true drivers cars for road goers, especially for peeps that have long work commutes (Still). Drive one its that awesome. 🖖
Thank you for another year of awesome content, despite the challenges we faced this year. Wishing you and your family all the best in 2021!
This TLX is the only sedan who makes me turn my head but, these...Thrill red upholstery seats seems really to come from the 80's. Safe and Happy New Year!
I really look forward to your reviews Tom, informative and entertaining without any silliness. You and Steve Hammes should have way more subscribers and views.
I was waiting for your review on this! Thank you!!
Just want to wish you and your friends and family who help on these reviews all the best this year , may it be much better and safer. Great work, Tom.
Thanks. My friends and family make it possible for these reviews to be here. Kind of a cliche to say I couldn't do this without them but it couldn't be more true.
Would take the TLX any day over a BMW 3 Series, especially longer term. Great review as always.
It's always obvious who leases and who buys their cars from comments. The Alfa Romeo and BMW crowd are definitely leasers! Acura and Lexus and maybe even Genesis are made to own longterm.
@@dansourile5444 I know someone who has a genesis with over 200,000 miles on it. It's been an extremely good car long term.
@@TheSH1N1GAM1 yeah I'd trust Genesis over Alfa or BMW in terms of longterm reliability and lower cost of ownership.
Tom & Martin has been coming through on this channel forever now lol always love your videos Tom! Happy new year you guys both.
Great Quality Concise Review...As Usual.
The “thriller jacket” reference was priceless..
The best presentation this year
The best video of the year
Thank you
Thank you for all your videos! Happy holidays!
Happy New Year and Great review as always. Get some rest sir you deserve it.
Great-looking shots, Tom. Even in (or especially in) the fog.
Thanks Sir for your reviews. Your passion really shows!
This guy is just so awesome. I love his reviews.
You produce a great product Tom. Keep it up!
Love your work! Keep up the great informative videos! Watching this review on the TLX was awesome! I recognized one of the roads you were driving on! I live in Carnation, WA and it looked like you were driving on snoqualmie river road!
I like that you left the neighborhood for this test. Outstanding review.
I like to shoot in a car's natural habitat.
Acura is back. The type S will be a wet dream for enthusiasts.
Nice review and the fog was interesting. Thanks.
Never saw the "H" until you mentioned it in today's fun fact. Thanks again Tom and Mr. Martin for providing this quality information and entertainment!
Tom--I've been watching you for years and enjoy your style and reviews. I just bought a Ram 1500 Limited after doing months of research. I thought I would try your website to obtain quotes to see if it would have saved me time and frustration. I did not. I can say without reservation that it's junk and question your judgment in recommending it. It is basically a sign up for dealers to contact you about vehicles in your area. It is not a website to get "immediate" quotes. You'll still have to go through the salesperson runaround (i.e., let me see what I can do for you, I'll have to discuss it with my manager, and can you come in today?"). Even for cars listed on the website, it simply redirected me to the FCA website where all Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles are for sale at employee pricing. So it's not immediate and it would not get you easy or fast quotesimmediately
I would say I have had a somewhat similar experience while searching for a used GTI.
Good to know. It's why I'm asking. I need all the info I can get.
Love these vids
I was so looking forward to this review of the new TLX but then you rev'ed the 2 liter mill and I just laughed! I think I'll get more excited with the up and coming "S" model tbh...I do love the double wishbone front clip though...
YES!!!!! Finally someone else who listens to Chicago
That back seat looks a lot smaller than the accord
Glad to see Acura back to making drivers cars!!!
Absolutely!
I love this interior
This interior seats exactly same from 2017/18 Acura ILX A-Spec, lol.
Mister Campbell and Costco are your life savers, aren't they, Tom? ;-) Excellent fun fact!
Great review & great car as well !
Love the blue on black
Now that the 2023 Accord is out, I’m THRILLED with the great deal I got on my trade in and enjoying my new TLX a LOT. Great review 😎🎂
What kind of deal did you get?
@@gladdy02 the dealership accidentally listed my TLX online and on the lot for $4,000 less than they should have because they thought it was a base model, but it had the tech package. In NJ you have to sell for the advertised price, so the manager was not happy with the salesman, the salesman got a mini commission and I got a rare deal on a flawless 2021 TLX w/ tech pkg and 17k miles.
Tom, your video is very well done. I enjoyed it and watched multiple times.
Were you able to finish?
"MJ Thriller jacket look" LMAO!!! Ohhh Tom, you sure know how to make a great presentation of a video and make people LAUGH in the process.. I love it!!!!
Acura would be remiss not to do a Thriller commercial for this car. Can't unsee those Thriller jacket seats now.
Overall, it looks like Honda/Acura did a good job with the new TLX. I too wish that Acura would get back to using, umm, Legendary names like Integra.
I find the front grille to be a bit of a mess. I will never get used to massive plastic plates on the grille for the safety stuff. Tom, I have never known anyone that had/has a car with red instrument lighting. Is it really easier to read, especially at night? Maybe it isn't an issue any longer with more manufacturers using digital instrumentation. As for the audio system, I have no idea what you were saying. I just know that I like a great sounding system, and this one sounds like 'the one' to get. Thank you Tom and crew for a year of excellent videos. Happy New Year to you all!
Wow, never knew you did music production!
Used to. Kinda gave it up when I started the car gig. My son is having a field day going through my now vintage synths.
I'm happy with my v6 tlx 2019 technology package. It has all that I need and more. Plus with amazing warranty. And for the dual clutch action get the v6. You'll have a better oomph for the car than the 4cylinder.
And watching a movie in the car is amazing. If you know how to, the sound system is very well placed for atmos sounding. Wish their media system was bigger or on the longer side from middle to passenger instead of the small 10 inch screen or 7.8 inches screen. In all a very good car 🚗
Thanks for the review - keep up the good work and watch out for those cats!
Nearly hit three of them than day. The fog didn't help.
totally agree with you re: Acura's current naming conventions.
Great review, nice looking car. Still keen on the G70......only because there is no nearby Alfa dealer which is needed for a good night's if I got a Giulia.
I'd go with the MJ jacket color while listening to Thriller.... :)
5:11 Hey Martin! 👋😊
Great song choice, Tom Misch...
Great review Tom - do you make your own music for these videos?
Nope. Way too much work.
Agreed on the missing panoramic moonroof it should be a standard in today's luxury vehicles!
I miss the original TL. Had a 1999 version. The V-6 3.0L could move. Nice styling at the time.
theres just something SO NICE about the older acura models bro. still driving my 06 rsx type s in 5 spd manual.
@@Dec2707 Type S is 5 speed??
@@itsatrap4986 lol no my bad its a 6 spd
heated rear seats and some others should be availabe on the a-spec atlst, if u want the cool design but want the more luxurious features
0:57 wow so this would be my first American USA car if i do get it one day, which i do and want a type s. I have owned a silver 2003 TL Type-S and a blue 2006 RSX Type-S and a black 2014 Chevy SS
like the upbeat music
Great review, you nailed the good, bad and ugly. This car should skip the small engine, especially if they truly are targeting the "driving enthusiast", as it's too heavy and big for the 4cyl. I test drove this, and as a former two-time TL owner, I was underwhelmed.
Christian Seabaugh, a features editor for MotorTrend, said it best... “The engine makes good power, but the gearing of this transmission is far too tall and shifts far too slow to make good use of it … The TLX’s sheet metal is writing checks this car just can’t cash.”
I'm hoping the Type S surprises me, but if not, the Genesis G70 has earned my next car purchase.
Agreed 100%
Considering the performance, might as well get the Honda Accord over this. This 600lb weight difference is major
Florida Hotboy Agree Accord power to weight to price is better, although only front wheel drove and that damn CVT.
I'm in Canada so the awd is a must. I currently own a Lexus IS350 and test drove a ton of cars. If you haven't yet, give the G70 3.3T a rip. It'll put a smile on your face.
@@gregwiens35 AWD is NEVER a "must". Unless you drive in Antarctica.
mrsj1417 lol Preferred, if you want to get technical.
Fantastic improvement from the outgoing version. I wonder why Acura didn’t stick with their dual clutch from their prior MDX hybrid.
I'm guessing fuel economy which is already on the low side.
Astonishing how many features the US model is missing compared to the Canadian one, heated rear seats being one of the major ones
Also happens. Korean cars get way more features in Korea vs the US, it’s sucks
@@KittRembo really? i thought the quality on US is better than the korean ones. I saw many korean people complaining the genesis in their home country have a quality issues and said the US version is better than theirs
can you use regular gas ?
I see tunee accore with the 2.0t engine with 390 pound ft torque can tune this to
okay, acura has my attention again.
Hopefully the Type-S will be equipped with the full digital gauge cluster from the new MDX, HUD, rear HVAC control, rear heated and ventilated seats. Standard Adaptive dampers would be nice too.
Funny how that's becoming a divisional thing. Some people love digital gauges, others demand analog. Eventually, it'll be cheaper for the manufactures to do digital and everyone will complain that they miss the real thing. Right?
@@DrivenCarReviews yes. I'm wary of the digital cockpit reliability across brands in the future
Type-s will not be getting HUD and Ventilated seats. It has already been announced.
The Type S won't have the Digital Cockpit, the MDX will though!
I'm watching this as if it's a travel channel
1:55
Lol check out the tiny pipes with huge tips.
This car is larger then the Nissan Maxima. This is large car!
Excellent car.
Personally I would go for fwd technology
variant.W/o spending fortune...
The biggest issue is the.price. Acura got pricier, so as a lot of Japanese brands.
That's still good,reliable brand,and a lot cheaper to maintain than European brands.
That's what I'm getting TLX technology with SH AWD, I really wanted the AWD.
I like the colored seats
Is anybody else watching this thinking the 2021 Honda Accord Touring is a much better buy? More interior space, Standard heated seats in the rear, wireless apple car play and Android Auto. All for 36k. I just bought my mom one over this car. Great review as always Tom.
Drive the two and then tell me what you think.
@@DrivenCarReviews Except nobody drives like that all the time day to day. Fact is this car is brand new and isn't selling. For this price I'd get a real luxury car, slightly used. Over 50k for a Honda is ridiculous.
Wow talk about fog! Btw with that extra wheelbase why are the rear seat space so terrible ?
Yupp disappointed in interior space from previous gen.. Gonna go with a kia stinger🤷♂️
Superb car brilliant blue color unfortunaly not sold in europe
great car
I assume that the TLX is being assembled at the Honda auto plant in Marysville, OH where the Accord is assembled at even though this new TLX has drifted further away from being an expensive copy.
From the press kit-
The 2021 TLX is built on an all-new, Acura-exclusive body and chassis architecture designed for Type S levels of driving performance and shared across the full TLX lineup. Styling design was led by Acura Design in Torrance, California, while development was led by engineers in the company's Raymond, Ohio R&D center. Engineering development of new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine was led by the company's Tochigi, Japan, R&D center and supported by powertrain experts in Ohio.
The new TLX will be manufactured at the company's Marysville, Ohio, plant using domestic and globally sourced components. The TLX's 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter turbocharged engines will be produced at the company's Anna, Ohio, engine plant, also home to the NSX twin-turbocharged V6. Its 10-speed transmission will be manufactured in the company's Tallapoosa, Georgia, plant. The rear differential and the torque-transfer unit for the SH-AWD® system are manufactured in the company's Russels Point, Ohio manufacturing plant.
I was told the logo is both the letter A, and a calipers indicating the precision with which Acuras are created...
Today those calipers are tarnished and rusty.
Price quotes available for Canada? Or nah? Great video as usual
Don't think so. I'm meeting with the team on Weds.
Top trim is 53k with destination in Canada. A-Spec a bit less. That's too much for this.
5:12 tom becomes a big moustachioed Mexican man while driving.
Listening to 6LACK ?? I see ya 😎😎
So you live in the Moors..who needs a panoramic sunroof..lol..great review ..thank you
That's why I need it. It can get pretty drab here. You need some light inside the car.
Good point
My money wlll be spent on a 2.0 Turbo. I'll also save at lease 10 grand with about 85% of the performance of the TLX
I wish Acura still made a wagon
I’m assuming rear heated seats & hud are available on a different package? Not having a touchscreen is a big miss. Feel like my ‘20 Accord Touring is a better deal.
Yes, the Advance package that's not available on A-Spec.
If you’ve used Acura’s touchpad interface you won’t miss a touch screen. It is so easy to use
I had a 2004 Acura TL with Navigation which was a beautiful looking car in it’s day. That was the last Honda product I’ve ever owned, needless to say that car didn’t impress me at all. The transmission in that car was beyond junk, lots of them ate themselves well before 60K miles. I remember just how laughably slow it would shift until mine stopped shifting and required replacement. It looks like they’ve improved a few things in this latest generation so kudos to Honda from learning from their mistakes. Funny you mentioned Michael Jackson I thought the same thing seeing that red interior.
Yes, those are beautiful machines.
I feel so badly for owners of the 04-06 TL that had to deal with the garbage transmission that tainted an otherwise excellent car.
With the increased dash to axle length did they move the engine further back for midship better handling?
Don't think so. There's now a good amount of space between the T4 engine and the firewall (room for the V6?) and I believe the weight balance is shifted rearward by around 3.3 inches.
@@DrivenCarReviews Ah. Thanks for the clarity. Definitely a move in the right direction and love the fact they're back to double wishbone as well.
@@fgeiger41 That could explain the increased dash to axle distance. Double wishbones take up a lot more space than McPherson struts..
@@richardtargett4128 possibly. They used it on many fwd cars including the Civic in the past. I think it's to give a more sport/ luxury look like Volvo has done. It is more attractive.
I miss that old VTEC growl...
His music taste>>>
Tom, at 9:25 you spoke about and show to us the space of boot but did not inform the capacity (liters or cubic feet) of the trunk, something that is essential in a sedan.
13.5 cubic feet. Not class leading by any means.
@@stephenhendricks103 I agree with you. Thanks for the information
The Type S vs Stinger GT2 AWD...hmmm...
That’s really cool you guys are twins doing this together. I know 5 set of twins.
I love gold.
Martin the key!
He is the man
Sedans like this are basically 2+2s. If you have taller kids/passengers, it's a tight squeeze back there. Otherwise, this would be very appealing for us dads.
Acura is awake from its sleep
I don’t understand Acura not allowing the Advance package to be had on A-Spec models and vice versa.
Me either
Have a 2005, with 235k flawless , just time belt and oil changes,, ! I don't know how people buy german
..peace
With the wider and lower stance, it has a little Audi going on when I was watching all the B roll footage. I really like these, but have never liked Acura interiors. The central control buttons and gauge cluster aren't visually appealing. I also wish they had kept the tail lights from the previous design rather than adopting the ILX style. For the price-point I don't think it is a good value. I would go for a Mazda6 turbo, G70, or IS350.
I cross shopped all the vehicles you mentioned. Mazda6 is unfortunately not being made anymore, but is a great value car for sure. I preferred the TLX over the Genesis and Lexus for a variety of reasons. Lexus is just ugly as sin in front and drives pretty boring. The Genesis is a good car but I liked the Acura better when I test drive them. Genesis interior was sort of old man like and the Acura AWD is better and the sound system is better.
@@dansourile5444 I'm glad you found that the Acura worked best for you.
Thing looks great except for that credit card they glued on the front of the grille