These are exciting times for any customer in the mid-size sport sedan market, with more choices than ever before. It used to be just the three Germans operating in this space, with BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz being the only real choices for customers in this segment. Now, though, you have choices from Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Genesis, KIA and now Acura. Not just choices, either, but great choices. This newest Acura TLX Type S could be a seriously tough competitor for the BMW M340i?
When Acura first debuted the concept for this TLX, it looked stunning. As car enthusiasts, we’d all hoped the design would translate over to an actual production car, without being dulled down. For the most part, that’s happened, as the new TLX Type S looks great and very exciting.
Some enthusiasts might prefer the more reserved, typically German styling of the BMW M340i but there’s no denying the wow-factor of the Acura TLX Type S by comparison. It’s a far more interesting and exciting looking product, the Acura, and it’s one that a lot of customers are going to be drawn to. That said, the M340i is a really good looking car in its own right, just a bit more in the typically staid German style.
On the inside, its design is a bit too fussy and complicated but it looks cool. We’ll reserve judgement on materials and/or technology, of course, as we haven’t yet sat in the Acura ourselves. Just from the look of it, though, it seems to have a flashier cabin for sure. The M340i has a great cabin but one of its few complaints is that its interior isn’t exciting enough for its price or performance levels.
What about in terms of performance, you ask? Well, the BMW M340i makes a whopping 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is sent through an eight-speed automatic gearbox to either just the rear wheels or all four wheels. While the all-new Acura TLX Type S also uses a 3.0 liter turbocharged V6 but no power figures have been released just yet, oddly enough. Acura does claim that it will be more power than the 290 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 of the old TLX. If it wants to keep up with the land-rocket that is the M340i, it had better have more than 290 horsepower. Its new engine sends power to all four wheels through a ten-speed auto.
Obviously, we can’t say which car is better, as we haven’t driven the Acura TLX Type S yet. However, judging by its looks and spec sheet, the new Acura has a real chance of challenging the already excellent BMW M340i. On the road, that is. On the sales sheet, that’s yet to be seen, as Acura has really struggled to keep up with its German rivals here in the US. So we’ll see but, one way or another, the new TLX seems like it deserves a chance from customers.
Long time ago, I was a Honda fan, seeing them smoke everyone on F1 circuit, they start up the upscale of Acura before Lexus and Infiniti, not only did they fail to make a competitive product against the Germans, they couldn’t even match those high end Toyota and Nissan. Today is just painful to see how they screw up the Acura brand completely, their RLX is no Legend, and for their TLX, is no different, because it takes this long to recognise its competition. What is wrong with Honda? They may well just redesign their platform using the Accord Coupe, that looks far more promising. Honda Accord has always been their home run, but when it comes to Acura lineup, even the exterior turns you off.
Quite dramatic, but all that in regards to 30 years of history and literally nothing about this car.
Actually, I remember a comparison test where a Legend V6 6MT Coupé was preferred to the Sacco styled 560 coupé.
The early legends were faster than the low line BMW 3er and the MB C class. And the interior materials including the leather was much better.
Thats why during the era, I was a Honda fan. The Japanese also moves to multivalve quicker, while the 3 series and the 190E are based on SOHC 2 valves per cylinder, if I recall correctly, but Lexus and Infiniti gets real, then the Germans suddenly woke up, they have since regroup, and ever since then, none of the Japanese Top 3 premium brands able to really touch them. Acura, did have a good start, the Legend, and the Vigor, plus the NSX, even the Integra, looks better than anything on Acura line up, only the NSX saves their face. The new TLX still kind of odd, although, greatly improve in terms of look, as well as interior refresh, it still doesn’t have that kind of pull that will make you go for it. The Acura badge, by far the best looking badge on the Japanese Big 3, somehow just fades, because their design team just couldn’t find a way to make the vehicle looks premium, even Honda line-up with that H batch looks better, I think its down to the way, they incorporate into the grill, and despite, its appearance looks far sharper, it just doesn’t have that consistent expression like the Accord, or the NSX. The interior is a good refresh, but the weird gear switches as well as the infotainment still need some work. I wouldn’t even call this a big step forward, since they just cut and paste the NSX interior and shrink it here, its good, but nothing special. Since Acura has been around for quite some time already, I expect more, I mean a more complete package.
Honda is FWD platform, so it’s apples and oranges.
I don’t think an AWD Acura vs an AWD BMW is an unreasonable comparison to most consumers though, regardless of what some of us know of the basis of the underpinnings.
Agree, this vehicle is not in the segment of the 3 series, its more like a 2 series competitor.