What’s New About the TLX Type S?
YeSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! It’s the return of the heralded Type S to the Acura lineup. Okay, maybe not as vaunted as the Type R, but the Type S is more fitting of where the Acura brand is, and is trying to go today. As a frame of reference, I greatly enjoyed my cousin’s RSX Type S back in the early 2000s and I myself had the TL Type S, the ones you’ll now find still commanding significant $$$ on the Cars and Bids and Bring-a-Trailer worlds.
The TLX Type S takes the new TLX and cranks up the power and handling. Where the standard TLX makes do with a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder and 272 horses, the Type S cranks that up to 355 via a new 3.0-liter turbo V6. It’s still routed through a 10-speed automatic (no manual like my old TL Type S) but it does incorporate the rev-matching downshifts for an extra ounce of sporty feel. There are also Brembo brakes up front to help haul your speed back down once you see that cop up ahead. Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Type S. Price wise, it’s only about a $4,000 walk up from the TLX Advance AWD trim.
What’s Good About the TLX Type S?
The TLX Type S starts out on the TLX, which is a good thing overall. The TLX itself brings a level of sharpness and focus on driving dynamics back to the Acura fold which has been missing for a while. Type S just enhances that and finally gives it the power to back up its aggressive looks. And I do largely like the looks, at least on the outside. The TLX has a long hood, short deck proportion in profile, with a very wide stance and presence, particularly from the rear. Value is also in play, with all-in pricing in the mid $50,000 mark that seems about right. Right in the thicket of the upstart Genesis G70 3.3T and the formidable Audi S4. TLX Type S seems to walk a good balance of daily driver that can still have as much fun as anyone should realistically approach on public roads.
Key Content Available
In the past Acura would bring out performance trims, only to hamstring them by limiting what kinds of features and content they would offer. They seemed to be of the mindset that “performance” buyers either couldn’t afford or didn’t want the “bells and whistles” that luxury buyers wanted. This is why on the main model lines A-Spec trims have the show, but the Advance trims have all the niceties and there was no easy way to combine the two outside of their limited production Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) editions, which supposedly hand built A-Spec trims with Advance level contenting.
Not so with this new era of Type S, at least not entirely. The Type S is offered fairly monospec (meaning one main configuration) and pretty much fully loaded. Type S offers elements found on the 4-cylinder Advance like Adaptive Dampers, rain sensing wipers and the up-level 16-way power seats with adjustable bolsters. But still lacks certain elements that the Advance offers, like heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and oddly the head up display and surround view parking camera are also missing on the TLX Type S. Will Acura eventually add an up level TLX Type S Advance like they have on the recent MDX Type S? We’ll see.
You can option up the TLX Type S with high performance wheels and tires and some splashy colors, but that’s about it.
Quick Spin
While it’s easy to bypass the TLX Type S as just a run of the mill TLX A-Spec, all that changes once you press Start. The engine burbles to life with a bit more authority and a bit more bass. While the TLX has a big-ish footprint and stance on the outside, it’s cozy on the inside. I think that’s a good correlation to how it drives as well. It’s a weighty sedan at over 4,200 pounds with a big footprint. That’s some 300-400 pounds more than the Genesis G70 with its slightly more powerful turbo V6, and a similar weight penalty over the rear wheel drive only Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance with its angry world V8.
In a vacuum, the TLX Type S is a delightful driver. Composed and capable on the streets. The ride is firm and controlled but never overly harsh. Power seems smooth and plentiful with the automatic smoothly snicking through the gears with some added showmanship and pageantry that sporty buyers seem to like these days. Braking through the Brembos is equally firm and immediate, instilling good confidence overall.
Despite this well-rounded performance, it seems a half step behind most competitors, so that begs the question did Acura do enough to the TLX to warrant the Type S badge?
Improvement Areas
- Would love to see Acura do away with the True Touchpad Interface. Bring back the touch screen, especially with the near ubiquity of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, interfaces that were in no way meant to be used through a trackpad.
- Acura, I know you love your NSX-derived design language, but there’s no need to keep the drive mode selector front and center on the core dash area, taking up precious real estate. Please find a better use of this space!
- Lose some weight or gain some power, or both! The TLX Type S seems like it’s in some no man’s land in price and performance. G70 is sharper and quicker while the M340i nearly obliterates everything else, but with a lofty price tag to match.
- TLX Type S Advance with all the goodies would also be nice to see, but that would just add more weight I suppose. Oh what a vicious cycle we’ve entered.
