2020 Acura TLX_ Review

The 2020 Acura TLX is a mid-size luxury sedan with sporty aspirations that delivers spirited performance and impressive value. It grabs a 6.3 on our scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The 2020 TLX hasn’t changed much aside from a new, limited-edition trim built on the same Ohio assembly line as the NSX sports car.

With the TLX, Acura sketches a subdued design that may be too conservative for some, while others will appreciate its simplicity and understated character. LED headlights, LED taillights and dual exhaust tips keep the TLX from being too staid. Inside, the sedan’s interior appointments are rich and it's fit and finish are impressive. Its ambient lighting is a nice touch and its wide seats are extremely comfortable. Under the hood, buyers can select a 206-horsepower 2.4-liter inline-4 or a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Acura offers its excellent Super Handling All-Wheel Drive System with the V-6. Four-cylinder models also get an impressive dual-clutch 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for manual control. V-6 models use a 9-speed automatic, which also comes with paddle shifters.

Every TLX gets standard heated front seats, keyless ignition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a long list of active safety systems including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alerts, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. A heated steering wheel and a surround-view camera system are also available.

Acura offers the sporty TLX A-Spec trim on both 4-cylinder and V-6 models. The appearance package adds black trim, smoked headlamps, tinted taillight covers, a blacked-out grille, a rear decklid spoiler, and gray 19-inch wheels. For 2020 Acura created the TLX PMC Edition, a hand-built version of the V-6 all-wheel-drive A-Spec model. It wears special red metal flake paint and just 360 will be built for about $50,000.The 2020 Acura TLX is attractive, but it doesn’t take any chances. Some buyers may find it to be boring and even anonymous compared to the more daring designs of its competitors. We’ve rated the 2020 TLX a 5 out of 10 for its inoffensive but unexciting exterior styling.

Its best angle is from the rear. Acura dresses the sedan with dual-exhaust tips, a diffuser-style rear bumper, and sharp LED taillights. The sportier A-Spec models are outfitted with tinted taillights and larger 4-inch exhaust tips. This year Acura has also added an A-Spec exclusive color, Apex Blue Pearl, which is bright and looks sharp with the model’s dark wheels. Upfront is intricate LED headlights and Acura’s signature grille, which adds visual width.

Inside things are more interesting. The TLX has a refined look, with comfortable seats that are supportive even on long drives. In the center of the dash sit two screens for the Acura’s infotainment system.