Starting Price: $38,900 | Price Yours
KBB Rating: 4.2 out of 5
The Acura TLX is an attractive choice for drivers looking for a lot of bang for their buck in a midsize luxury car. It’s roomy, refined, and reasonably priced, but another big part of its appeal is the choice of two engines under the hood.
The Popular Engine (Recommended)
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
272 horsepower
280 lb-ft of torque
EPA City/Highway/Combined fuel economy: 22/31/25 mpg, 22/30/25 mpg (A-Spec FWD), 21/29/24 mpg (AWD)
Price of entry: $38,900
The base engine in the Acura TLX is a gutsy 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. It has impressive power and torque numbers for a base engine in a midsize luxury sedan at this price point.
This 4-cylinder is also fairly fuel-efficient. It’s capable of up to 31 mpg on the highway, and even with all-wheel drive (AWD), it’s good on gas. However, 91-octane premium gas is recommended, which doesn’t help with fuel costs.
A 10-speed automatic transmission delivers power to either the front or all four wheels.
This engine strikes an excellent balance of performance, efficiency, and smooth driving comfort. It’s a big part of what makes the TLX a well-rounded midsize luxury sedan that’s worth a look if you’re shopping for something practical and affordable in this class.
The Fast Engine
3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (Type S)
355 horsepower
354 lb-ft of torque
EPA City/Highway/Combined fuel economy: 19/25/21 mpg, 19/24/21 mpg (Performance wheel/tire package)
Price of entry: $53,700
After a long dry spell of exciting sport sedans in the Acura lineup, the TLX Type S is a satisfying return to form for the brand. It’s powered by a turbocharged V6 that delivers a significant performance upgrade over the base engine. It’s mated to the same 10-speed automatic transmission that the base engine uses.
Other performance upgrades include standard Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), a sport-tuned adaptive damper system, and Brembo front brakes. It comes with a fuel economy penalty compared to the base engine with AWD, but it’s still reasonably efficient.
The turbo V6 is a good fit for drivers looking for a true luxury sport sedan, but who don’t quite have the budget for something like a BMW M5 or Mercedes-AMG E 53. The closest rival of the TLX Type S in terms of price and performance is the Cadillac CT5-V.
More 2022 Acura TLX
Now that you know which engine is right for you, build and price your own 2022 Acura TLX to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Acura TLX models for sale near you.
