Acura TLX 2022 Review

The 2022 Acura TLX is a solid entry in the small luxury sedan class. Acura redesigned the TLX just last year, infusing the car with a sense of style and greater road presence as well as enhanced performance and upgraded technology. The company reports that it is making no changes to the 2022 TLX.

A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is standard, and it acquits itself well against rival powerplants in the Audi A4, Genesis G70, Lexus IS and Volvo S60. For more power and performance, the racy TLX Type S provides a turbocharged V6, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and handling improvements to ensure it can run with similarly fortified competitors.

Comfortable front seats and quality materials make a favorable first impression. However, the TLX's touchpad infotainment system interface leaves something to be desired. Also, the rear passenger room is cramped, a victim of the sedan's sleek styling. Still, the TLX is worth checking out if you're in the market for a value-focused luxury sedan. Check out our Expert Rating to get our test team's full take on this year's TLX.

Which TLX does MatoCar recommend?

When you buy a 2022 Acura TLX, you choose option packages that effectively serve as trim levels. The lineup is base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance and Type S. All but the Type S have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (272 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque), a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Acura's SH-AWD system is optional. The 2022 TLX Type S sports a unique turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (355 hp, 354 lb-ft) and comes with SH-AWD as standard equipment.

Base Feature highlights of the base TLX include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation
• Heated exterior mirrors with turn signal indicators
• Sunroof
• Keyless entry and push-button ignition
• Ambient interior lighting
• Dual-zone climate control with humidity sensor
• Faux leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• 10.2-inch infotainment screen with touchpad controller
• 10-speaker sound system
• Satellite radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• AcuraLink connected services
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Two front USB charging ports

The base TLX also comes standard with these driver assist and collision avoidance systems:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the TLX and the car in front)
• Multi-view backup camera

Useful stand-alone accessories for the base TLX include:

• Remote engine start
• Wireless charging pad
• Heated steering wheel

Technology Unsurprisingly, the Technology package adds more technology to the TLX, plus added luxury features including:

• 19-inch wheels
• Leather upholstery
• Expanded, customizable ambient lighting
• GPS-linked climate control
• Navigation system with real-time traffic data
• Upgraded 13-speaker sound system
• Four USB charging ports (two front, two back)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

A-Spec The TLX A-Spec includes the Technology package and adds:

• Sporty exterior styling
• Dark gray 19-inch alloy wheels
• LED foglights
• Black decklid spoiler
• Unique brushed aluminum interior trim
• Black headliner
• Flat-bottom steering wheel
• Faux suede seat inserts
• 17-speaker premium sound system
• Ventilated front seats
• Wireless smartphone charging pad

Advance The TLX Advance builds on the contents of the Technology package with:

• 19-inch machine-finished alloy wheels
• Adaptive suspension (enhances ride comfort and handling stability)
• Remote engine start
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Wiper de-icer system
• LED puddle lights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• 16-way power-adjustable front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• 10.5-inch head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the TLX and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

Type S This performance-tuned version of the TLX builds on the A-Spec package with a more powerful engine, standard SH-AWD and these enhancements:

• Unique grille pattern
• Aerodynamic enhancements
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• All-season performance tires
• Rev-matching transmission downshifts
• Adaptive suspension
• Brembo performance brakes
• Sport+ driving mode
• Extra chassis bracing (can help to enhance handling)
• LED puddle lights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Wiper de-icer system
• Remote engine start
• 16-way power-adjustable front seats

Acura offers lightweight wheels with summer performance tires as an option for the TLX Type S.