I drove Acura’s $62,000 TLX to see if it could compete with Cadillac and BMW

• The Acura TLX Type S is a high-performance variant of Acura’s TLX compact luxury sports sedan.
• I was impressed by its turbocharged V6 engine, superb AWD system, and sporty looks.
• My biggest complaints are its trackpad infotainment screen and cramped rear seats.

Since its launch in 1986 as Honda’s premium nameplate, Acura has firmly established itself as a purveyor of fun-to-drive luxury automobiles.

Vehicles like the compact Integra and the NSX supercar (Business Insider’s 2016 Car of the Year), have helped firmly establish the brand’s reputation among enthusiasts.

Since the NSX sailed off into the sunset in 2022, the TLX Type S has taken up the mantle as the brand’s performance flagship, competing against the Audi S4, Cadillac CT5-V, Genesis G70, and BMW M340i xDrive.

The current generation of Acura’s compact TLX luxury sedan launched in 2021 and received a mid-cycle refresh in 2024 with tweaked styling, updated tech, and a quieter cabin.