My Thoughts Exactly: 2024 Acura TLX Type S

You know I love a good Acura.

This comes from a former owner who thoroughly enjoyed his 1991 Integra RS 3-Door. 

The opportunities to drive Acuras are rare these days. Not because they’re not available for us to work with. It’s just that you have to be patient until the right one shows up at your doorstep. 

For example, the 2024 Acura TLX Type S sedan. 

To review, this is the TLX that has been given a boost of energy through a 355-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. That engine is your ticket to a fun drive. 

Sometimes, a car is more than the sum of its parts. In this case, the TLX Type S is more than the turbocharged V6 underneath its hood. It is the main attraction, but there’s more to it. 

I know you can get the same engine – and driveline – in the MDX Type S. Then, we start comparing apples with oranges. Rather, a sedan and an SUV. Yet, a sedan has a lower center of gravity, lower to the ground, and with less weight to push around. That should make for a better vehicle drive, if you believe the science.

In this case, the science adds up. 

The 4,221-pound curb weight may seem bulky. It is 520 pounds lighter than the MDX Type S. Which means that you can put the throttle down without carrying that weight around with plenty of confidence. 

That’s where the magic begins. It does not take much for the TLX Type S to be motivated. Once you did your initial acceleration, the turbo V6 just lets you cruise. Or, attack a bunch of curves. 

The trick is to work the knob that sits in the middle of the lower center stack. The one that controls the Integrated Dynamic System. Through the "Dynamic Mode" dial, you have five choices to make your drive worth every moment. Everyday driving is done well in Normal mode. It offers a balance between performance and comfort, especially when you’re fighting traffic or getting around town to get your appointments. 

Once you flip that knob over to Sport. Then you get to play after work – or, on the way to work. The suspension and steering systems tighten up, so you can corner better and stay in your lane. Blipping the paddle shifters will help you make smart choices when going through the TLX’s 10-speed automatic transmission. 

If you’re hungry for more fun, then turn the knob again and hold it. You are now in Sport+. The first thing you notice is that the gears are held longer. That means more interaction with the paddle shifters. Oh, and your ears will notice that the four exhaust outlets will emit a louder roar. 

Keep in mind that Sport+ is not for everyday driving. Far from it. You can drive in Sport+ all day long, if you want. However, you will find one flaw in the TLX Type S that some enthusiasts will point out. 

It’s not a hardcore high-performance sports sedan that dye-in-the-wool enthusiasts want and desire. It’s not an M3. Nor is it an AMG C-Class, IS 500 F Performance, or a CT5 V-Series Blackwing. 

That is why I like the TLX Type S. Because it does not have to be any of those cars. 

It just drives well. It is mature with some swagger – like a guy my age with a flat-billed cap and a hoodie to match.  Must be the Urban Gray paint job on this tester…

The red-and-black two-tone interior is full of swagger. That fits with the experience of having something that screams “canyon carver” with a feature list of premium touches. For example, the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System. It emits a luxurious sound that can relax you or make you dance in your seat. 

The flip side of that system is the True Touchpad Interface. Although, the 2025 MDX will delete this semi-fiddly system and move the screen towards the edge of the center stack. Then again, I am on the verge of nitpicking here…

If you just use the steering wheel controls, then you can enjoy the TLX Type S in Sport mode on a curvy roads along the bluffs.

There are plenty that I have touched upon here. Such as how to distinguish the Type S from the other two 2024 TLX models. On the outside, there’s the 20-inch black-finished alloy wheels with Pirelli high performance tires. Up front there’s a black splitter. On the trunk there’s a black spoiler. I already mentioned the set of four exhaust outlet tips in chrome – two on each side of the rear bumper. 

Speaking of the trunk, there is 13.5 cubic feet of space available. Not bad, really. It could do with two 21-inch pieces of luggage and a few more items for a weekend away. 

On important item of notice regarding the TLX Type S: The fuel consumption. While it averaged 22.7 MPG at the end of my time with it, it did hit a high figure of 23.7 MPG. As I looked back at my first run with the current generation of TLX, that is practically equal to the numbers I got from the standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Let me scratch my head on that piece of data…

There is a final piece of good news to dispense here. As equipped, this 2024 Acura TLX Type S tester came with a sticker price of $59,037. If we wanted something comparable from, say, Germany, we will clearly pay more than $60,000. In other words, the TLX Type S is a great value for a premium performance sedan. 

That’s really it – the value proposition for a performance premium sedan is enticing. For under $60,000, you can get a 2024 Acura TLX Type S wrapped in joyful package. 

While it is a joyful car to drove, it can be all business. That is what an Acura should be – the balance between business and pleasure. You can get that in one of their SUVs rather easily. The TLX Type S? Yes – and much more!

You can have your hardcore performance sedan. You can have something with a more desirable badge. Me? I have to stick with what I know at a more attainable price with the right amount of science. That is the Acura TLX Type S – a good Acura, in my book.

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 

All photos by Randy Stern