2016 Acura TLX review

1. Quiet and spacious cabin 

It may only be ‘midsize’ on the outside, but the 2016 Acura TLX seems bigger on the inside than you might expect. Step into the capacious cabin, and you’ll find seating for five passengers with ample legroom - 42.6 inches in the front and 34.5 inches in the rear. While your passengers stretch out and make themselves comfortable, they also get to enjoy features like a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, and a seven-speaker sound system all as standard.  

2. Sizable feature list 

Speaking of standard equipment, the 2016 TLX’s feature list is stacked from top to bottom. Because there are no traditional trim levels to speak of, a significant amount of those features listed are available as standard. For more, look out for models with the available Technology package, which adds automatic wipers, full leather upholstery, and an enhanced ten-speaker ELS^® sound system. V6 models can be found with the optional Advance package, which adds ventilated front seats, LED foglights, and front and rear parking sensors.  

3. Smooth, thrifty engine options 

You have a choice of two engine options for the 2016 TLX, and both motors strike a good balance between performance and minimal pump trips. First up is a 206-hp 2.4L four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel-drive. This combination is capable of an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined and 35 mpg on the highway.

Alternatively, there’s the 290-hp 3.5L V6 engine that's teamed with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In the all-wheel-drive configuration, this allows the 2016 TLX to achieve zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. And the best part is, it's also capable of an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined and 31 mpg on the highway. 

4. Driver convenience tech in abundance 

Driving a midsize luxury sedan should be a relaxing and serene experience, and the 2016 TLX helps to achieve that by offering a suite of driver convenience technologies. Models with the available Technology package include lane departure warning and intervention, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning. The Advance package adds adaptive cruise control and an upgraded forward collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking.  

5. Available all-wheel-drive  

When you want to pick up the pace and put a smile on your face, the 2016 TLX is more than happy to oblige. The 3.5L V6 engine produces more than enough power to make putting your foot down away from the lights a fun experience, but the 2016 TLX can also hold its own in the corners in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations. Front-wheel-drive models also come equipped with rear-wheel steering, which helps enhance agility and maneuverability. For maximum handling though, you want an all-wheel-drive model. Not only does the all-wheel-drive system improve grip, but also features a torque vectoring system that distributes power evenly across all four wheels as needed.