Luxury sports sedans are still emerging on the market, and Acura TLX WORLD One of the freshest cuts of meat in the window. Its AcuraThe big return of the Type S performance models. Benchmark versus dialect best performance sedan In this segment, Acura aims not only to compete, but also to win air battles like these.
To see if the return of the Type S is all that happened, we decided to take on the historic penalty shootout of the king of sedan sports: a BMW 3 Series. Specifically, Type S is using M340i xDrive, which is Acura’s most natural competitor from Munich. So tough people BMW car Driving to Japanese shows? Will the Type S do enough to elevate this Acura to Germany’s best? There are a lot of variables at play here and it all makes choosing a winner complicated.
The similarities between the two start at the top of the spec sheet and go down. Both have 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engines – BMW arranges the cylinders in line, while Acura opts for the V configuration. A quick-shift automatic transmission is standard. BMW uses an eight-speed, while Acura uses a 10-speed. Both have large, electronically controlled dampers. brake and sticky summer rubber. Each offers usable rear seat space and reasonably sized drawers. We would feel as confident going to an important business meeting in either meeting as we would in a day. That’s the beauty of this mid-range performance segment.
After looking at their specs, it’s no surprise that the M340i is faster of the two here. Its 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque are significantly more powerful from any speed than the Acura’s 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The Acura also bears 232 pounds more curb weight than the Bimmer, which makes the M340i’s 1-second advantage in the 0-60 mph sprint perfect. For the record, BMW quotes a time of 4.1 seconds, and Acura only gives an approximate time of 5 seconds. Both estimates are correct.
In addition to sheer acceleration, both engines offer their own versions of thrilling cargo. BMW’s inline six is as smooth as ever as it blasts its high note all the way to the end of the 7,000rpm engine. There are few sounds in the automotive universe that surpass the jubilation we felt when listening to the BMW inline-six in full talk mode, and that rule still applies to the M340i. The BMW-built exhaust shackles and bangs are fun, but not necessary when you have an engine as sweet as this one.
Acura must have known that it would be difficult to beat an engine as good as BMW’s, that’s why TLX The S-type is the first Acura to get the company’s new product turbocharged V6 with a focus on performance. Even if it doesn’t quite match the BMW in terms of numbers, the Type S engine is still extremely lovely. It curls up and howls with nostalgic comfort Honda’s motobike while the quad coils sing an angry, high-pitched tune of the world. The Redline may be just 6,000 rpm, but the high-pitched sound that crisscrosses the cabin at full throttle is enough to make you think the engine is running at and above 7,000.
However, the TLX’s noise would have been even better if it hadn’t always been ping ponging between such short gears. With 10 to work with, each gear shift won’t move the needle too far back in the rev range. That is ideal for keeping the engine in optimum operating range, but does not encourage the use of quick response stirrups. You’ll have to hit a beat or two more than natural to keep up with the engine speed into the red line. Tight gearshifts are rarely a bad thing, but keeping up with such quick bursts of speed in each gear before the next pull-out quickly turns from a state of joy to a mental burden on the driver. Perhaps eight gears is the maximum number so you can enjoy maximum paddle shifting. As a result, the M340i’s eight-speed is much more satisfying in this respect, while sharing Acura’s fast shifting speeds. Unfortunately the tiny plastic paddles are flimsy and limp, making us happy to leave it on autopilot. And when you leave them on auto, both will intelligently switch up and down as needed (one of the more important upgrades for the Type S). other TLX models), but BMW’s tuning is still just a hair better at predicting exactly what you want.
With both cars set to full attack mode – “Sport+” for Acura and “Sport Plus” for BMW – the TLX Type S shines brighter. Good things do not come from being able to run fast; sure, the BMW was faster there. But instead, the TLX Type S impresses with its connected chassis and ability to make drivers smile.
You sit in the Acura lower than you sit on the BMW. The shape of the steering wheel and the driving position are much more natural in the Acura, as the M340i’s wheels sit just a little too high to be able to handle. right. The Acura’s brake pedal has better initial engagement and isn’t as uncertain as the BMW’s. Although we may like the new M3In terms of steering, the M340i doesn’t benefit from the same feel. It’s numb and synthetic, while the TLX Type S steering wheel adjustment does a great job at informing you of how grip those Pirelli P Zero summer tires are. Acura accurately communicates your speed and chassis condition through the wheels and seats, but that communication is simply not available in the BMW. The M340i’s ultimate performance is undeniably great, but that performance is barren and impersonal. Better can be done, and the TLX Type S is direct proof.
So yes, the Acura offers better invisibility, but there’s no denying that the BMW’s dynamism and sportiness are anything but out of the ordinary. Both are four-wheel drive, but their all-wheel drive is not created equal. Acura’s SH-AWD is one of the most sophisticated cars on the market and gives you proper torque vectoring over the rear axle. That’s a big part of what makes Acura so nimble and eager to shoot to the next corner on a twisty road. Meanwhile, the M340i uses BMW’s active electric differential at the rear. Unlike Acura’s push-button SH-AWD, the M340i will trick your child’s brain. Its rear-wheel drive makes wagging its tail a lot easier, and BMW’s sporty stability control is a pleasure to use right out of the box. You can even make donuts on command, something Acura won’t be able to do without a wet trackpad.
Regardless of BMW’s playfulness, the Apex Blue Pearl TLX Type S is the one we keep wanting to come back to and pass again. From the stiff platform, to the interaction of the double wishbone front suspension with road surfaces and imperfections, the Type S shows what it means to be both entertaining and capable. But even after leaving Acura, the powertrain in our Daytona Violet Pearl M340i test car continued to beckon us back to the German side of the world. If only there was a way to combine the BMW powertrain and the TLX chassis.
Sorting out which car is better to use on your daily commute is just as difficult as choosing a better car. The TLX Type S feels lighter and smoother on rough roads, but the BMW cabin is quieter. City driving is smoother and more efficient with BMW’s 48-volt mild-hybrid system that shuts down the engine smoothly and frequently. In general, efficiency is a huge plus that makes the M340i favored. Even with significantly faster acceleration and more power, BMW absolutely crushes the TLX in energy saving, as it has a combined 26 mpg compared to the TLX Type S’s combined 21 mpg. This is more important than it sounds, as the average driver will save about $550 per year on fuel. using the M340i xDrive versus the TLX Type S. That means that in just five years’ time, fuel costs alone will be enough to offset the higher BMW basic price compared to Acura.
While we were intrigued by the TLX’s sporty interior design, the technology and infotainment – minus Acura’s outstanding ELS sound system – it all feels a step behind what’s found in the BMW. It is largely a wash in the luxury debate. Both are luxury-designated sedans, but don’t stand out as a classy, luxury experience. Any rear-seat passenger would prefer sitting in the M340i, but again, it’s close enough to the TLX that passenger comfort is only a half-check against BMW’s interests. Two swap positions for real-world trunk space – not that great, but Acura just beyond the BMW. In other words, practicality won’t shake this debate.
No, the most important thing is to get the best performance and best daily driver for your dollar. Acura gives you a pretty nice car with the Type S’ starting price of $53,845. Add the performance wheels and tires that our test car had, and you’re still at a reasonable $54,645. In typical BMW style, the M340i requires you to open your checkbook for options, and our test car went for $71,570. Nearly all of the extras, minus the $4,500 purple paintwork, are necessary if you want to walk out the door with a vehicle that matches the standard feature set of the TLX Type S.
Having to choose between these two options is a really good deal, as you can’t go wrong either way. Engine junkies should rally by BMW, but those seeking maximum value should turn to Acura’s way. If forced to choose just one, the TLX Type S will find a place in our garage. It differs from the M340i by a long shot and it is a more attractive car to drive. BMW would win in a pure numbers comparison, but the TLX Type S steps up like a premium sports sedan when you put the numbers aside and keep it simple. drive.
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