2018 Acura TLX A-Spec Review and Road Test in 4K UHD!
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2017
- The Acura TLX has long been a middle-of-the-road option living somewhere between the Lexus ES and BMW 3-Series in driving dynamics and between the Audi A3 and A4 in terms of price. For 2018 Acura decided sharpen the TLX's value proposition with more aggressive styling, more standard feature content like Apple CarPlay and then they made most of their active safety tech standard in all trims. The TLX still lives on the fence between the Kia Cadenza and Lexus ES on one side and the BMW 3-Series and Jaguar XE on the other, but it's a better value than ever before.
0-30 : 2.3 Seconds
0-60 : 5.8 Seconds
1/4 Mile : 14.3 Sec @ 100 MPH
60-0 Braking : 118 Feet
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So many haters, I think the car looks beautiful and I'm an BMW owner
Allen Sanchez I’m a Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Acura kind of guy. And I think this Acura is a great looking vehicle. If I was to pick out any luxury car to own, next to my 2016 Ford Escape, I would choose the Acura TLX or the Audi A5 or A6.
So many haters. Just test drive it and see for yourself. I have a 2018 TLX V-6 and love it. The transmission is only sometimes wonky at low speeds when you mash the accelerator and then let up quickly.
I got mine 3.5l SH-AWD at the end of 2019 and I love it. Not that shiny like German competitors but exactly Audi feeling. Very comfortable and quiet cabin with a smooth ride. Love the V6 noise and on Sport+ you get a kind of a GTR drive. Wider tires help a lot. Had some concerns about 9 speed ZF, but in real life, it is great tuned, no issues. Android Auto is very convenient. I hope next model will get a better resolution display (comparing to Germans), but not a big deal. Great mileage for a 3.5 V6 SH-AWD 32mpg on highway. Very happy with my TLX. It's a steal for the money!
Haters could always go with Honda but it's not the same whenever you say.
Thank you Alex for the great review, well done!
M T .i just bought a used 2018 TLX V6 A Spec with only 6400 miles! And I love it. Traded my WRX for it and I have no regrets. All the bells and whistles with all the safety features, sporty drive and comfort. And my annual insurance dropped by $100 too. Win-win for me.
That’s good to know! I used to have a A4 Quattro, I loved the way it handled. I like these cars!
Alex does the very best reviews on all cars, better than anyone. Thank you Alex for your great work.
You make the absolute best car videos!
X2
Thank you! Your reviews are easily the most informative and non-biased! You deserve way more subscribers!
Just re-watching this review. How unique to watch a review by someone incredibly knowledgeable of the model he is evaluating, as well as being able to compare features to so many other competitors. He gives you the facts, in great detail, that you need to help you determine if you're interested or not.
Most professional informative video review of this vehicle then the half dozen or so I watched.
I've been watching way too many car review videos over the last year... I finaly bought a 2018 TLX aspec last month, and while there's a couple of good reviews of this model on youtube, I'd say this one here was the one that most convinced me. Good job Alex!
You are the best car reviewer in the industry the way you break facts down ... very objective, tons of information!
Why do ALL CZcams reviewers leave out One Of The Most Important ratings - Reliability and Cost of Repairs and Parts? Afraid they will lose their sponsorships?
Acura won the award for the lowest maintenance cost fyi
Great review! I love the '18 TLX A-Spec. I will very likely buy one within the next couple of years. Handsome car.
Have you made it yet
Im thinking about getting one at the end of this year once my rdx lease is done
Im torn between lexus gs350 and tlx aspec! I like the design of tlx aspec better. Seems like tlx has many recalls and problems!
Really?
Great review Alex. I too like the new look of the grille.
Awesome review!! Thanks Alex.
You review is on point with no bias. I just purchased an inline 4 one three days ago and it is very very quiet inside even at highway speeds. The suspension soaks up all the bumps even with low profile 19in rims. The fuel economy is awesome as well. Last it came equipped with more standard than i could imagine. The adaptive cruise control and lane assist makes this vehicle almost fully autonomous. Anyways I'm a very happy customer
lewis key does it require premium gasoline?
@@psychotheorywithdocjoe4961no
I like it better when you show the turn signals in some shots. Keep up the good work!
Nice job man..Really appreciate your comparisons.
One of the best car reviews I’ve seen.
Excellent review and comparisons!
Excellent review, great comparisons.
Great video! Very informative and good comparison.
As always, reporting facts only no personal opinion. Great review! You are NPR of car review. Doing review in Los Gatos, California, one of the most expensive area to live. The value of pavements
he has driven on are worth more than entire area of some state in America.
Silly comment. By him saying that it handles well or not is a personal opinion, not a fact. His rating system, particularly for handling and ride quality is a personal opinion. You're just saying that b/c you agree with him.
Great reply, smart dude you are. that is a fact. very sharp comment.
I agree with him 100% so, it is a fact to me and to many people who watch his reviews. Fact: what many people finds to be true.
You know what they say, perception is not always reality. The handling and ride quality never can be stated as a fact. Do you believe in existence of a God or supreme being, is that a fact. If I do believe in God is that a personal opinion of a uneducated person like me. He dresses just like my uncle, blue jean and shirt, now that is a fact you may not be able to agree because you did not agree with my original statement saying how Alex does best fact based review of cars.
Last time I checked, NPR was a fact based reporting media. I was pointing out the fact that Alex was unbiased on his review of vehicles. Chief, I will tell you this, some ways all media are supported by public but, not all media are "public subsidized propaganda" . Let's get back to topic of Alex's great reviews and our love for cars. From my perspective reynard and friends are spewing most propaganda. We all have different opinions that's why we drive different cars. I saw one lady driving new fiat, I was think what was she thinking when she bought that car. I am an Asian living near where Alex lives but, I own and drive American cars -Cadillacs, all my friends are saying why aren't you buying Mercedes?
gedaman oh shit 😂😂😂
paul choe you think NPR has no bias when they report? Because that's completely wrong at best, both NPR and Alex on Autos are quite opinionated and bring their bias into their reporting. This guy actually doesn't do a thorough and comprehensive job when it comes to objective reviews.
Great video - as always
Yes I love the new design. I had an 1993 Acura Vigor - the best Stereo ever!
Thank you for the very detailed review!
Great review. I wish someone would review the AWS with the lower horsepower. All the reviews are the top end F-Sport versions. I don't want to "feel the road" and I'm not driving the winding mountain pass. I just want a quiet comfortable car to go to work every day, and enjoy a bit of luxury doing it. I'm not going to the track - don't even know where it is...
Love your videos Alex!
Wow! Great review! Well done sir 👍
Wow, great review. Really helpful.
Acura is coming back fast and furious.... Great review Alex 👍looking forward to see the next year model
Damn daddy, ur sexy af 😍
2005 6 speed manual TL was one of my favorite cars. I was rear ended and totaled it. Had it for a little over two years was given 28k from insurance company just for the car. Only paid 33k. Glad Honda is making the TLs look good again.
Great review, Thank you!
Good review. I've been considering the TLX A Spec, Infiniti Q50 Red Sport, and the Audi S4 because they're the best AWD sedans in my budget
Good review. I really liked the "vs competition" segment at the end.
X2
Awesome review!
I really, really like it. This should've been what the 4th gen TL was in terms of looks at least.
I really like the TLX A-Spec desipte any shortcomings. For the price, it's a great car with sporty looks, nice interior, and great reliability.
Nice review dude. Thanks. Subbed
Alex, you kill me! Most detailed auto reviews on CZcams! But, man, you must talk in your sleep! Your brain certainly works overtime. All these details on the tip of your tongue. How do you do it? Whatever...thanks for all.
That was really comprehensive thanks
Man, the rear....so beautiful!
Goo acura with this car I Love IT!!!!!!
Great car !!! Just bought one 2018 TLX Tech V6 AWD for my Parents. FYI, noone should pay MSRP price for any cars. I bought this one with $8500 BELOW MSRP. Talk about VALUE, RELIABILITY , LOOK, AND POWER. Yes, Give me Natrually Aspirated Engine all day every day. No turbo junks. !!!
You can get a fantastic deal on this car. I just picked up a 2019 TLX Aspec SH-AWD for my daily commuter and paid 38k out the door for a 48k MSRP. I previously had a 2016 MB C300 4matic and the lease ended. I hated the turbo 4 in that car and on 10 different occasions I would randomly get error messages about the tire pressure sensor being lost. They replaced that same sensor 10 times! No way I was going with another c-class. Not to mention the $400 yearly maintenance. I do wish the interior was a bit more luxurious in my TLX, but I have come to appreciate the dual screens in daily traffic. I can run apple car play and waze or google maps while still controlling my music without changing apps. The heated and cooled seats have an auto setting that works really well, I never have to go into the screen to change those.
Haggle the shit out of them. Look closely at the options and dealer fees/markup list. Pay MSRP and options. Do not pay dealer mark ups.
Because Acura sales are trash. Should have bought them a Lexus.
As usual, great review.
Could you review the 400hp Lincoln Continental?
Shawn Mayers a lincoln? No thanks
We're on the hunt for one presently. The SH-AWD drives phenomenally and has many more features than an ES300.
Your videos have always been great. I just got a Sony 4K camera and I just wanted to know if it's better to shoot in 24fps or 30fps? Thanks Alex, great work.
Ever since someone said the grille on the RLX/MDX looks like a spider web...I can't stop seeing it.
Thanks Alex for your details...But also your rational for why this over that explanation and specifically "why" you go into your detailed response to your reasons...
Sorry I don't understand why you spent so much time comparing this to the CLA and A3, they're not meant to be compared. A4, C300, 3 Series, IS/ES, Q50 are direct competitors to the TLX and are the models Acura/Honda used to benchmark for development. Compact to compact, mid-size to mid-size IMO.
I bought a 2020 2.4L so I could get the 8-speed transmission...great drivers car!
Great review, wish you would have reviewed the stereo too.
Now that I have been looking at the new body more on the road now, i think this model looks much better. Also the V6 of this is so much smoother than the new turbo 4.
It's 2021, and I've traded my fully loaded 2015 Mustang GT Premium for a 2018 TLX 3.5L awd, with 13,000 miles, certified pre-owned. After trade-in, I paid a difference of $1000. I needed a more comfortable ride for my wife, who is in Chemotherapy now, as well as something that can handle the cold & wet pavement of the S.F. peninsula. From the San Jose dealership to my home in San Bruno along the rolling hills of I280, I got 34 mpg. The Acurawatch system worked like a champ, practically self-driving. At low speed it was fine too. Thanks again for your great reviews.
Hope your wife recovers inshallah
Great Review. I like the TLX but would chose the Q50 over it since it looks better in my opinion.
Great review. Any chance to review a 2017 edge sport?
Great review Alex! Could you line up any or all of these SUVs?
2017 Lexus LX
2017 Lexus GX
2017 Land Rover Discovery
Ive seen the front light signature at night. That is the only redeeming thing about this car. Acura may you continue to find your way. Gimme a new Accord please.
Oh yea - 4K! This looks awesome on my new XPS 15 with the 4K monitor!
I love the TLX A-SPEC
Great vid, very unbias and factual :)
I test drove a 2017 TLX SH-AWD. I really liked the exterior styling but the handling and interior didn't do much for me. I opted for a 2016 Audi S3 instead for pretty much the same price. It's smaller but it was much more fun to drive.
I just traded my 2016 es350 for a 2018 acura tlx a spec Fwd, the acura handles more like a rwd and I love it. I test drove 2 q50 3.0t's and they felt junky, the q4 2.0 I drove just felt slow but I was impressed with the tech in the Audi.
I really like the new diamond-pentagon grille much more than the shield grille. I actually plan on buying a used 2018 Acura TLX Advance in a few years once my 2008 Honda Pilot is no longer usable
My favorite used Acura sedan I want to buy.
Extremely beautiful 🤩
Great looking car inside and out
very thorough.
On the TLX it looks good.
That PRNDL with the jumble of buttons is a no go for me. That looks even more confusing than the Lincoln MKZ.
I was looking at Acura TLX 2017 and ended up buying M-B C300. At the end of the day turbocharged i4 in Mercedes was about as fast (if not faster) as V6 in Acura, and I did prefer the dynamics ( relatively flat torque curve) and handling of C300. BMW 328i feels even faster. On the other hand Acura is bigger and for some it might be more important.
Hi Alex! I wonder if you have/can review the Buick Regal GS for the 2018/19 model year? I really wish to get your take on the GS model. Thanks Alex! 75/85m.p.h. I'm OK with that!
Nice review alex and thank god they didnt add those stupud thor lights they have on the side of the mdx headlights. They better not put that concept navi display which obstruct your vision like they have in BMW in the new acura mdx coming in 2020
One of the best well balanced review of the car. No matter what car you buy, it's always going to be a compromise. I would have given a rating of 8 for seat confort but I agree with most of the assessment. Note however that for comparable cars, the Kia Cadenza is FWD only, a MAJOR difference especially if you live in the northern part of the continent... For me, the new TLX AWD is the best sport luxury CONFORTABLE car you can get for the price and at with 0 - 60 in 5.8 sec, it's not exactly a slouch. The Audi A4 fully equipped maybe slightly more fun to drive on winding roads but since 98% of my driving is in the city, the highway or in traffic, the TLX gives me comfort and all the new safety assistance systems at a cheaper price when comparably equipped. For winter driving, I'm looking forward to the SH-AWD.
Could not agree more with your statement "One of the best well balanced review of the car. No matter what car you buy, it's always going to be a compromise. "
Alex, what shoes are you wearing? They look pretty nice. They remind me of an oxford version of some Timberland Earthkeeper boots I have.
Alex, did you experience any VCM vibration? I've read that the vibrations still exist? However, no reviews mention this as if Acura asks not to mention it.
Good information. Looking at a 2018 TLX trading in my 2015 TLX.
Russell MacKenzie or wait for next generation TLX
They put the RL's 3.5L 286 HP engine in the '07-'08 TL Type S models and sold it pretty well. If they follow the same formula with '18 RLX (ahem.. 378 HP engine) and address the cons with current model, I would consider trading in my beloved '08 TL Type S for it. As for the grill, I didn't like it at first, but it's kind of growing on me now.
So will the V6 be also discontinued for the Acura line after this platform? Is this also the same three and a half liter Honda uses with a belt-driven valve train? .... just considering the extra cost and maintenance on that, thanks for the great videos Alex, as a car nut I really enjoy all the specs you give they are very helpful. My father has had pearl white Avalon's from 1996 he would order a new one every two years and worked for the industrial side at Toyota his current car is a 2007 pearl white Avalon and he's looking on the market for a new car I told him new genesis, ES350 for GS350 and maybe the new Accord I'm not quite sure about Acura's lineup.
I agree with Timbo. Will the 6 go away for a screaming 4? Belt drive valve trains? Why? This engine (the 3.5l) still drives the SOHC's with a belt. Big money for replacement down the road. I like Acura's, time for them to get up to the competition, don't rest on the past.
I wish these carmakers would keep making manuals. Thankfully the 18 accord is available in a manual with both engine options
i am very interested in the Acura TLX,in your opinion is the Acura as reliable as the Lexus or a Honda ? thank you
Do you think it would be worth it to consider a '18 TLX over a fully-loaded '18 Accord (taking $$$ into consideration)? Particularly if you're looking for better styling, handling and a "more fun" car to drive.
So, do you think they will ever bring the 6 speed manual transmission back? It would be great of they offered a 6 speed , 4-cylinder with awd!
To me, this is Acura. In the same playing space, some cars will be cheaper, some will handle better, some will go faster, some will be more comfortable, and some will have more room. If any one or maybe two of those factors are important to the buyer, they will probably go there. But I don't think there is a car in this playing space that does so many different things as well as the TLX.
This is the best handling
I wonder how the new (2018) regal GS AWD w/V6 stacks up against this A-spec?
Thank God! They got rid of the stupid beak look in the front!!
Alex, can you name 5 cars, or crossovers, you have tested that have the best ride-handling balance on the market?
Upon second hearing, I noticed you did not explain how sport differs from sport plus. Shall I assume everyone already knows that the paddle shifters only work with sport plus since they have been around since 2015? In addition I don't believe you mentioned voice commands are included or that you can talk directly to Acura simply by pushing one of two overhead buttons, lit up either in blue (for general directions etc) or red (for emergencies), which I found quite useful on many occasions.
Why is the LED DRL yellow? Can you change the colors, or did you just turn the parking lights on?
I like the new grill, never cared for the "beak". Push button shifters don't bother me at all, nor do rotary dial shifters. Basically, I put them in gear and then pretty much use paddle shifers for manual gear changes, so the push buttons or rotary dial are a non issue for me. I drove a TLX SH-AWD about 18 months ago and agree it's about the best handling front-drive based V6 on the market. Have not drive the FWD version, but I'd bet it's handling is nowhere close to the SH-AWD model.
Why not compare this to the Infiniti q50??
Alex, is it more exciting driving this Acura than 2018 Camry XSE V6 ?
Doubt it...new Camry is sharper looking too!
Lynn The SH-AWD can compete with Audis and BMW's dynamically I doubt the Camry can touch it
Camry has stepped up but still can't handle anywhere near as well as the Acura or Honda for that matter. As for speed, I've always felt lag in the Toyota's. The engines are not as willing to redline as the Honda/Acura designs.
beautiful car looks real sporty and more expensive now thanku for all the facts the only thang good about Bmw and Mercedes is that they all over the used car lots its time to be different and getting your money worth not cars that u pay over 50,000 and they don't even want to give 20,000 grand for on trade after 2years u might of sold me on the Acura a-spec more car and features for u money so thanku
When enabling the BRAKE HOLD button, does the car's taillights remain on (when in drive)?
Tully3674 I've had the car for almost three years, I'd hope so.
the grill design looks similar to that of benz, whom i think has introduced the design first
Beautiful crisp picture quality but CC is not available.
anyone have an idea what a factory a spec, redondo red pearl 3rd gen a spec with a 6 speed manual 90k miles would be worth now?
Alex, How is Zf 9 speed in this TLX Aspec?
Interesting that he listed the ZF as a con (20:00) but did not mention why. I know that Acura has improved the jerky shifts from the 2015+ models but it still appears that the ZF has some problems. I would seriously consider this car if the ZF9 was replaced....too much delay/lag when it seeks gears in the downshift.
SO, my issue with the design language is that they finally "fixed" the beak, just in time to give it this new ho-hum front fascia. The last iteration of the beak worked well on the TLX, MDX and the RDX. Distinctive and kind of handsome (especially on the MDX/RDX). The problem with the TLX was that the rear looked plain. No exhaust outlets and a pretty boring looking design. NOW, the front looks plain as hell, and the rear looks like it SHOULD have originally looked in the last design. Whoever was working on the design, and coordinating with the product managers, really messed up there.
My other issue is that this model is a lame duck. The Accord is getting a new 2.0T and 1.5T motors (INCLUDING A MANUAL ON THE TOP TRIM MOTOR), and this still has the same K24 motor in the base, $30k FWD Sedan. If those engines dont make it up to the Acura models, whats the point? The V6 is great but it's lagging WAY behind it's competition and the 4 cylinder is eclipsed by the motors in the "lesser" accord. They engines HAVE to be updated.
Personally, I HOPE Acura puts the 260hp 2.0T from the new accord in the base TLX with a MANUAL OPTION, and The top trim SH-AWD (which is great) gets either an updated V6, turbo 6, or even the Civic Type-R motor with a that nice ass DCT or the 9 speed. That would be something.
They should have a hybrid option like the mdx
While that sounds good, this SH-AWD will send a lot more power to the rear wheels than the system in MDX hybrid.
Jon Dittmar that'll pretty much be the end of the RLX.
MarioPL i just want an additional option not to replace or remove other options
Agreed JD, Acura's lack of hybrids steered me over to Lexus and I couldn't be happier with my ES 300h and 39 mpg combined.
The rear motors in the MDX Hybrid allows for faster AWD response with more torque and also reverse drive torque vectoring, offering a far more sportier on-road dynamic.
Off-road rear power is not as good as the non hybrid though.
My next car