Well, between it and the m340i (the class leader), it is far slower to 60 AND is worse in handling. I mean, it's worse in every way. Of course, there's a reason they priced it's so aggressively (12-15k less). I mean, it's a fine car. But it's the budget option when you can't afford the 3 series, like it's *always* been.
@@TheNondiscriminatory I wouldn’t call it a “budget” option. The Germans can’t keep resale value and are completely oblivious to reliability. Pity because their cars make you giggle like a little kid.
Another great review. The Type-S is certainly no class leader in terms of off-the-line acceleration, but it absolutely is first-rate in terms of handling. That to me is way more important for daily driving.
@@SBM200612 and yet it probably has the best on-gas handling in its class. SH-AWD is rear biased. Neutral handling is definitely worse than 50/50 weight distribution from BMW etc
@Sergey M, that “only so much you can do” apparently turned out to be more than what the other more svelte offerings are capable of. It’s the same story with the quasi hefty NSX. In the end, it’s the results that matter, and Acura delivered!
And after a month or two, the delay would absolutely be driving me crazy. Lower, smaller, fatter and thirstier than the model it replaced - nice job Acura LOL.
It's truly remarkable engineering and art piece... It's not a car for comparison, it's a car to enjoy for what it is... Mr Honda philosophy of complete, reliable and fun to drive.
I'm going with a type s in April 2022 I don't care about the power as much as I do handling and in my opinion the best looking sedan in its class hands down
I daily drive a TL Type S that I bought new back in 2003. It's been a fantastic, trouble-free car, and I still love it. I can't wait to try the TLX Type S. I live in the mountains, so a turbocharged V6 and Super-handling All Wheel Drive make the TLX-S an ideal replacement for my old reliable TL-S.
So here's my take on the driving experience on this car comfort is way too soft. Normal is very good for daily driving. Sports Plus is very aggressive and sport mode is a lot of fun. The handling on this car is phenomenal and the acceleration is plenty
I have a 2020 A-Spec and the handling is truly something to really appreciate, I’ll swoop down a hill into a corner doing 140kmh and it just absolutely eats the road and it surprises me every time with how much confidence it has. I can only imagine how this is.
Also to note, mine also has a weird setting where it won’t allow me to go into 1st gear unless I’m in sport+ and even then I have to do it twice until it lets me. Only bullshit thing
Yea I have a 2023 type s…the handling on the type s honestly is insane…I’ve had so much fun pushing the curves and corners. Literally bites down everytime, super confident…when other cars that are “faster” slow down on curves we speed up lol BYE 💨
Wow the Type S has a massively improved aesthetic. Gorgeous. Love the rims. Remind me of my old STI rims (actually the front-end is mildly reminiscent of the STI's).
This car looks so good in blue. That Tiger Eye colour is very striking, just not sure how it'll age. Combined with either the red or white interior, it's an absolute stunner.
People tend to really underrate the SH-AWD mostly because they don't understand how to use it. Acura thankfully has made it easier to engage it during normal driving for this as well as the new MDX. Was looking to purchase the MDX Type-S but due to the uncertainty with supply and markups for an already near 70k vehicle, I went with the excellent 2021 Ridgeline which also has the SH-AWD, making it the best handling and one of the most comfortable trucks in America.
To get It into first on manual mode You have to give it very slight throttle and then shift down to it and then it’ll go into first gear on manual mode
Youremphasize what Acura's mission has always been: to be an all-around competent car. Not to be the fastest. They have never tried to out-accelerate the competition. Honda takes the same approach with the Civic Type-R. It wasn't the fastest 0-60 compared to the Golf R or other fast hatches, but it handles exquisitely and its overall driving experience stands above most, if not all, competitors. My favorite car of all time was my 1989 Acura Integra LS. It wasn't as fast as the Colt Turbos or GTIs or Escort GTs of its time, but it was such an incredible car to drive.
Picked up a 23 model last week. Drove the comp and I definitely made the right choice. 1/4 mile and 0-60 times were far down on the punchlist but it definitely has some power.
800 miles on the car so far and digging the hell out of it. Get the feeling all the experts here read an article somewhere and based their opinions on it.
I'm trying to decide between this and the Stinger GT2. I like the TLX for the handling and Honda reliability. I like the Stinger for the extra hatchback practicality, looks, performance, and warranty.
This handles much better but the Stinger GT pulls a little bit harder, doesn't have the throttle lag, has a smoother transmission, and it has a more usable hatchback so I personally like the Stinger a little better overall.
You should test drive both. I’ve had my 2019 Stinger GT2 Awd for 2.5 years and I still love it. I’ve done quite a few mods and with a beefier rear sway bar and lowering springs it handles a lot better than stock without sacrificing the ride comfort. The type s will sound better stock but they’re quite a few exhaust options out for the stinger. I have secondary downpipes and the kunstwerk valve controlled catback. Loud when open and sounds almost stock when closed. Also went 2 years before I finally ecu tuned it and it’s plenty of power stock, now I’m running 11s in the 1/4.
I own a Kia Stinger GT2 and I love it. The car in Comfort or Sport mode is amazing. The power and styling are amazing. I do like the styling of the Acura but other videos show how little of space you have in the back seat. I have two kids and dog (small) they all fit fine in my car. And if you are into modifications you can get major power out of the Stinger at no cost. I haven't done it but thinking about it. Let me know if you have any questions.
I recently brought one and I find the acceleration to be more than adequate off the line for daily driving. With the poor gas mileage, I'm not stomping on he accelerator at every light. However, if I floor it, the acceleration is too much for street driving in most cases in Normal mode. Comfort mode is sluggish. In sport or sport plus, it goes. For 0-60, brake torque to boost the turbo gives good performance. First curvy road I went on and my mind was blown. As far as the exhaust sound, in sport plus the sound is great and not piped into the car through the radio. From the outside, it sound great. I had an RSX Type-S with a catback and the sound eventually became annoying, so I'm happy with the sound in the interior. If you floor it, it will pop, at least mine does, just not as much as the BMW.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 I really like the looks of the type s and it sounds good too, just doesn’t seem like it’s a true performance vehicle. The drivetrain seems to be lacking.
You would think car companies at this point would just hire you, Matt, to test drive their vehicles before being released to the public. Then they take your input and make adjustments to the cars to make them more appealing and make sure they are hitting majority selling points for buyers.
I’d love that job, but I think there’s others much more qualified than me, car companies usually hire race car drivers or other experts to give feedback if they’re interested in an outsider perspective. I agree though, having some more regular people give their opinion might help them to get an idea of what a regular driver is looking for. It’s tough though because everyone drives a little differently too, so tuning for a wide range of driving styles is tough.
The delay is true. I test drove one the other day and that really had me thinking if I should ultimately get the car. The handling was insane though. I loved it. But that lag and the not so smooth transmission have me thinking things over carefully. Maybe I'll wait until (they better) fix the lag
A fun review with the right amount of details . I appreciate that you focus on the driving experience, thought you remark about a cars on center feel and feedback from the steering
I was loaned a TLX non-type s. I had a similar experience in that I could tell the car was a lot faster than my TSX but it didn't "feel" like a 270HP car. When I step on the gas in my mother's 2013 v6 touring the car is slower but it "feels" a lot faster and more fun. Driving and handling wise the TLX is good but my 2006 TSX is more fun to drive for some reason.
I have a 2012 TL and I used to have the 1st gen TSX. The TSX handles very well for a fwd car. I could take corners pretty quickly in that car. The TL feels too heavy and wide sometimes. I miss the high revving 4 cylinder in the TSX.
I know what you mean. Older models were more viseral, while the newer Acuras with the electronics, numbs driver experience. Staying on subject, I drove one and it feels almost like flying an airplane, floatie, quiet, butterly smooth. I, perdonally, love the Acura interior infotainment, and sound system is excellent (once again, imo).
Matt needs to understand it does have a launch mode. Step on the brake and the gas, wait until the turbo lights up (the circle on the left over the steering column) and let the brake off. Good review though. It was fun seeing his reaction to the curves. Oh, and I test drove one AND have one on order :)
This is not the video highlighting this vehicle‘s performance capabilities. He probably didn’t use the launch mode and maybe unintentionally would let up on the gas at the same time he hears the open exhaust pop. I’ve caught myself doing that multiple times over the past five days. When you’re not used to it your immediate reflects is to think did I break something back there when you hear it pop and snap initially. This car on every level is over the top my friend.
I leased the 2018 TLX SH-AWD and traded in for the 2021 RDX A Spec for my lady and test drove the Type S and was disappointed. Looks great yes no doubt on the handling but I just feel like Acura should have made the engine 385-400 hp to compensate for the weight.
10/10 should have a heads up display and a good 360 cam to protect the wheels and lip. That lag when taking off and it limiting torque in first would drive me nuts. I hope tunes can remove that. Also it’s got cylinder deactivation and that is a scary thing because in some engines it causes issues. I also guess it’s on there to make this engine get that mpg it gets. Not very good but still imagine without
Good report... I'm looking forward to test-driving this vs the G70 3.3 next year. Bonus: glimpse of a clean looking 63 or 64 Mercury Monterey 2-door with "breezeway" rear window at 14:52!
I'm sorry. That delay would be a deal-breaker for me in a performance car. That turned me off from the S5 that I drove. It's supposed to be fixed in the latest refresh. Here, not so much. Also, this car is missing too many features IMO and it's far too heavy. A nice improvement for Acura, to be sure. However, there is still a lot of work to do.
@@darrell9616 yeah I wouldn't either not for now lol. I'm sure there is a way.. honestly driving mine not sure why he had a delay but then again car is meant to be in manual shifting mode during sport + mode.
I just left Acura and they marked this thing up massively 🤯🤯🤯. I have 2 1/2 years left until my '21 TLX lease is up and I hope I can get one new for the original sticker price or a pre-owned Type S.
The tail lights on the new Integra look so much better than the ones on the TLX, and with the option of a 6-speed manual, I would say the Integra is superior.
For the purist, absolutely. Also, the Integra is lighter. The main thing I don't like about the Integra is the FWD. AWD is so much better in the winter where there's tons of snow and ice.
Agreed 100%, I’ve driven it and it is amazing, it’s obviously not the quickest in a straight line but it does so many other things very well and it’s not like 4.7 to 60 is slow, this is actually a quick car, people just love to hate on Acura
I drove it extensively (demo car). I'm taking a massive steaming pile of shit on it. Acura hyped it to oblivion, overpromised and severely undelivered. It's marginally faster than the $30K cheaper Honda Accord 2.0T with the same transmission. Car is already subject of ridicule inside car enthusiast circles. The comical part is dealers who behave like this is some supercar and want $10-15K over MSRP when the car is overpriced to begin with even at MSRP.
@@YasssStitch You Guys just love to hate on it cause it’s a Honda. Also the transmission is basically 60 Percent New with Everything they had to change with it for this setup. Also what did they over promise.. You’re looking at it the wrong way too, it meant to be quick not fast, It’s the best value in the segment besides the g70 which is matched in performance with this.
Nice review of an interesting car. Fwiw I really like the exhaust sound. My problem with the pops these days is that it used to be a byproduct of a high performance tune, now it’s more of an effect like (but not really) engine notes through the speakers.
Pops and crackles sound way too pretentious on many cars, even if it's coming from the exhaust system. I don't like it except on high performance cars with race-tuned engines that produce it naturally. Otherwise, the sound is over the top, like a wild aftermarket body kit.
Hi Matt, another great video edition from your channel, I appreciate your in-depth analysis and insightful comments. Can you please let me know why kia Stinger was not included in your comparative analysis. thanks and keep up your great work.
Thanks Dany! I didn't include the Stinger because it's not made by a luxury brand like the other competitors are. If it were my 50k though, I'd take a Stinger GT over this.
The transmission should start from first gear if you are in the "S" (sequential) mode and you manually shift it down with the paddles. While it's a completely different transmission, the ZF 9-speed in my Ridgeline starts from 2nd unless you manually downshift it. It might not be that way in the Acura, but it's worth a shot.
Put it in sand mode and use the paddles to shift. It will bounce off the limiter if you’re not quick enough with the first couple of gears. Pulls a lot harder too.
Thanks for the review. I really love the Type S, but I love my 2.0 turbo 2021 TLX with SH-AWD. It's fast, handles fantastic, and is very comfortable. I don't know if I will try to get the type S, I am very happy with the 2.0 turbo AWD in my 2021 TLX......
If you think that is fast then you are not used to fast cars. Even a Hyundai Veloster N is much faster than that 2.0T tlx. DCT Veloster N might outrun this type S 0-60 😂
@@chs665 it’s a hot hatch not trying to be a luxury car. Just pointing out how it will run laps on track around the tlx. You really should sit in one lol the new Elantra N low key has a better interior than your Tlx. Look up 2022 Elantra N and take a look at the interior
Maybe you should talk to RUclips channel throttlehouse in Toronto to see if you guys tested same car, because their reviews are less than good...I like your review
I love that you always end up longer term testing cars I buy or am cross shopping. I have had mine for 3k miles and you are spot on. The gas mileage surprised me with how poor it is vs the Acura #’s but I get almost exactly wha you got (about 17mpg average) which was disappointing, so it had to grow on me, but it is a TON of fun to daily drive to work. Awesome review, Matt!! 🔥🫡
I like your reviews bc you touch on points that others miss and also point out some of the quarks and problems that one would really know only from driving it for a while. It sounds like a typical Acura. My RDX has that heavy clunky torque converter feeling and only uses 1rst gear from a complete stop and hits 2nd at like 2mph, so you have to floor it to use 1rst gear. I also can't stand the slow throttle response. Waiting a full second for a response is stupid slow.
@@reyfuentes4572 warranty ends at some point anyways, and an aftermarket tune always gives better throttle response than a factory tune anyways, id rather have 400hp with an aftermarket tune than them charging me more for 400hp from factory
Thats strange about rhe popping and cracking that you mentioned because I've seen seveal other videos that had it. I need to see if they are the same year. Great reviews as always bro.
I drove it extensively (demo car). Acura hyped it to oblivion, overpromised and severely undelivered. It's marginally faster than the $30K cheaper Honda Accord 2.0T with the same transmission. Car is already subject of ridicule inside car enthusiast circles. The comical part is dealers who behave like this is some supercar and want $10-15K over MSRP when the car is overpriced to begin with even at MSRP.
Speak facts!!!! Lol 😂 a bunch of Acura bullshit lol 😂 I’m tired of Acura’s antics….. the interior is ugly AF and super busy and the rear leg room and trunk space is a joke!
Man that no dedicated manual mode is so disappointing. Love the looks and the performance it provides. But that lack of dedication for a manual mode is truly disappointing for someone who enjoys driving and controlling their gears. Great video as always.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 that doesn't put it in manual mode where it doesn't shift for you. That's just a sport mode where the control of gearing is more aggressive. After a minute if you stop shifting it'll go back to drive and it'll start shifting for you.
@@tristancefail it still takes you out of it if you don't push it for long enough where you want to stay in a gear and the car says no. Also in that mode it will up shift when you hit redline. Also it'll down shift for you in that mode if you're in a high gear and hit the gas hard.
It really isn't. You don't get the same performance as the smaller cars it's priced against, and you don't get the space and luxury like other cars of similar size. It's good looking except for the elongated front end that tries too hard to make you think this is a RWD car. It's missing a lot of features and the tech isn't even up to the new MDX. I see a nice, but clearly compromised vehicle.
@@MercOne I feel that you're missing the point did you not see how well this car handled? All because of SH-AWD that has 4-wheel steering and torque vectoring I don't think the S4, C43, or even the M340i has that and also that engine sounds really good sure it has a more smoother sound but it's more exciting and has more character than the S4 and C43 And like what Matt said this has the best value in its segment and is definitely better than the CT5-V and G70 as well as the S4 and C43 it's a beast on the track too
@@jordynhixson655 Ah yes a lovely sound that has more character than the turbo V6 in the S4 and S5 despite having one less cylinder the V8 does sound awesome tho
@@basithph8958 I would go by how it drives, now what I see in a video. More character? You've driven all of them already? This FWD based car is not a "beast" on the track. You're just hyping up the car with words like exciting and character with no real substance behind it. You seem to think, like a lot people, that value is just because something is cheaper, it isn't. Value means you're getting close to or the same products for less. You aren't here. You're getting a car that is bigger but doesn't offer more room, it's cheaper and doesn't offer better performance and in some cases less performance. Yeah it handles, but it's missing features you can get on a Camry now. Matt isn't the end all authority here. The TLX Type S hasn't been a single comparison test yet and there are no performance figures or anything, just a bunch of videos saying how nice it drives. I'll wait until it's actually compared by the professional publications, not youtubers driving around the city.
Based on what all I’ve test driven, FOR ME it goes CT5-V > Volvo S60 T8 > G70 > my Accord V6 > Type S. After dealer markup on the Acura and I&I and negotiations with the others, the Type S is just as expensive. For me the engine note, handling, styling, and daily drivability of the CT5-V puts it on top. Different strokes.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 I've been looking for one in pearl white with a black interior. The only ones that have been at the local dealerships have been tiger eye or black.
About Apple Wireless Carplay, Acura should provided free upgrade for all currently generation of Both TLX & RDX vehicles, with apology they didn't made it build in.
@@alwaysiyi272 yeah, Lexus will get a lot of credit for bringing a V8 to the party. Everyone else seems to be V6TT. I have a Stinger but the IS500 will probably be my next move.
@@timw2083 oh wow thats so cool, and you are right, everyone one of its competitors have turbo 6 cylinder engines, and the next c43 might even have a 4 banger
Current 5th Gen Prelude owner here. Hearing "Honda" going back to having superb handling with 'meh' acceleration truly gives meaning to the name Prelude.
@@Bornindafire Most vehicles are sold over sticker when they first hit the dealership, especially a vehicle like this. You just have to wait until the hype dies down and you'll typically get a good deal.
@@Bornindafire Acura only made 2000 of them in 2021, and there are lots of early buyers with deep pockets who don't mind paying insane prices to be the first on the block to get one. I'll wait to see if there are any major defects or reliability issues.
This is a nice car, but it doesn't even come close to a (much pricier) BMW M340i from a performance standpoint. The really frustrating part is that you can lease that $70K BMW M340i for less money than a $53K Type S. BMW's leases are hard to beat and Acura's are terrible compared to what they used to be 15-20 years ago. I was also messing around with the configurator on Acura's website and it appears you can't get the HUD with the Type S, only on the Advanced Package with the TLX 2.0T, which is a massive failure on Acura's part. Even the Accord, at $20K less expensive, has featured a HUD in the Touring trim since 2017.
Yeah, I can understand wanting to keep the price low, but they should at least offer the Advance package as a premium package for the Type S for those willing to pay for it.
Stinger for the practicality and performance. g70 for the looks, luxury and performance. Type S.... I like the looks but the performance was a bit underwhelming.
I haven't test driven these cars yet but I feel if the type s had at least 50 more HP it could be a riot but I can say the same for every car in the segment 😅
"I was very impressed with the TLX, it was very impressive, it definitely impressed, it gave me a good impression, that I was impressively impressed by it's impression.."
Acura claimed to beat the audi s5 bunch of lies when actual reviews came out and even the inline 4 is slower than cars with less hp in its segment. This car just has a nicer interior besides that it's behind its competition
Glad that you did a thorough review. Seems like everyone jumped to 0-60 times .
Much agreed. Sadly 0-60 is all people care about these days.
Well, between it and the m340i (the class leader), it is far slower to 60 AND is worse in handling. I mean, it's worse in every way. Of course, there's a reason they priced it's so aggressively (12-15k less). I mean, it's a fine car. But it's the budget option when you can't afford the 3 series, like it's *always* been.
@@TheNondiscriminatory Worse in handling seems debatable.
@@TheNondiscriminatory I wouldn’t call it a “budget” option. The Germans can’t keep resale value and are completely oblivious to reliability. Pity because their cars make you giggle like a little kid.
O-60. 5 an under án u good to go there ar so many cars on steroids 3sec would b a Boast for 4 me an most🤗🤗
Another great review. The Type-S is certainly no class leader in terms of off-the-line acceleration, but it absolutely is first-rate in terms of handling. That to me is way more important for daily driving.
type-S is front heavy, FWD based AWD car. SH-AWD or not there is only so much you can do to improve the handling.
@@SBM200612 and yet it probably has the best on-gas handling in its class. SH-AWD is rear biased. Neutral handling is definitely worse than 50/50 weight distribution from BMW etc
@Sergey M, that “only so much you can do” apparently turned out to be more than what the other more svelte offerings are capable of. It’s the same story with the quasi hefty NSX. In the end, it’s the results that matter, and Acura delivered!
And after a month or two, the delay would absolutely be driving me crazy. Lower, smaller, fatter and thirstier than the model it replaced - nice job Acura LOL.
@@mrsj1417 then don't buy one
It's truly remarkable engineering and art piece... It's not a car for comparison, it's a car to enjoy for what it is... Mr Honda philosophy of complete, reliable and fun to drive.
I love how you showed the road on the lower ~20% of the screen during the handling segment. Nice touch!
I'm going with a type s in April 2022 I don't care about the power as much as I do handling and in my opinion the best looking sedan in its class hands down
What color?
I daily drive a TL Type S that I bought new back in 2003. It's been a fantastic, trouble-free car, and I still love it. I can't wait to try the TLX Type S. I live in the mountains, so a turbocharged V6 and Super-handling All Wheel Drive make the TLX-S an ideal replacement for my old reliable TL-S.
Why get rid of a perfect car?
So here's my take on the driving experience on this car comfort is way too soft. Normal is very good for daily driving. Sports Plus is very aggressive and sport mode is a lot of fun. The handling on this car is phenomenal and the acceleration is plenty
Great review. Really appreciate that you point out all the worts on a car that you ultimately call one of the best in the segment. It’s hard to do.
Yes I've been waiting on your review. Let's go!!!!!
I have a 2020 A-Spec and the handling is truly something to really appreciate, I’ll swoop down a hill into a corner doing 140kmh and it just absolutely eats the road and it surprises me every time with how much confidence it has. I can only imagine how this is.
Also to note, mine also has a weird setting where it won’t allow me to go into 1st gear unless I’m in sport+ and even then I have to do it twice until it lets me. Only bullshit thing
Yea I have a 2023 type s…the handling on the type s honestly is insane…I’ve had so much fun pushing the curves and corners. Literally bites down everytime, super confident…when other cars that are “faster” slow down on curves we speed up lol BYE 💨
I'll give Acura a lot of credit with this one. It doesn't have the best 0-60 but it seems to be a top contender in the other categories
Wow the Type S has a massively improved aesthetic. Gorgeous. Love the rims. Remind me of my old STI rims (actually the front-end is mildly reminiscent of the STI's).
Thanks man, I think it looks great too!
This car looks so good in blue. That Tiger Eye colour is very striking, just not sure how it'll age. Combined with either the red or white interior, it's an absolute stunner.
Ya..no black/white/grey!!!
@@robdc4829 In person, the pearl white looks amazing with all the black accents.
People tend to really underrate the SH-AWD mostly because they don't understand how to use it. Acura thankfully has made it easier to engage it during normal driving for this as well as the new MDX. Was looking to purchase the MDX Type-S but due to the uncertainty with supply and markups for an already near 70k vehicle, I went with the excellent 2021 Ridgeline which also has the SH-AWD, making it the best handling and one of the most comfortable trucks in America.
Does the Ridgeline have the 3.5 V6?
I just want it now but can't afford it. Awesome Review
nice work. can't get enough of the the rolling shots of the car!
Thanks!
There is a separate button for Lane minding. Adaptive cruise does not turn on automatically.
I just got my type S and I love it.
To get It into first on manual mode
You have to give it very slight throttle and then shift down to it and then it’ll go into first gear on manual mode
That was my experience as well. Stupid on Acura’s part
@@mattlittlej yea it is
Good to see Acura back to form with Type S! This is indeed a gamechanger!
Um, no.
Yess!! Been waiting on your review. Waiting on mine! 8/23 delivery date. As always, I enjoy your videos
Congrats on your order and thanks for watching the channel!
Youremphasize what Acura's mission has always been: to be an all-around competent car. Not to be the fastest. They have never tried to out-accelerate the competition. Honda takes the same approach with the Civic Type-R. It wasn't the fastest 0-60 compared to the Golf R or other fast hatches, but it handles exquisitely and its overall driving experience stands above most, if not all, competitors. My favorite car of all time was my 1989 Acura Integra LS. It wasn't as fast as the Colt Turbos or GTIs or Escort GTs of its time, but it was such an incredible car to drive.
I had that 1989 Integra and you are 100% correct. So much fun.
Picked up a 23 model last week. Drove the comp and I definitely made the right choice. 1/4 mile and 0-60 times were far down on the punchlist but it definitely has some power.
This car is for people like you and me
I'll just park my '23 next to ya'lls and we can chill. These cars are wonderful.
800 miles on the car so far and digging the hell out of it. Get the feeling all the experts here read an article somewhere and based their opinions on it.
What color did u get? @@kenster007
The CT5V is GM vs the TLX being Honda. Reliability is a big point of emphasis for me. Great Review Matt.
I love this car, it looks amazing, I will buy one in the future. Need to work hard to afford it. Great review by the way.
I'm trying to decide between this and the Stinger GT2. I like the TLX for the handling and Honda reliability. I like the Stinger for the extra hatchback practicality, looks, performance, and warranty.
This handles much better but the Stinger GT pulls a little bit harder, doesn't have the throttle lag, has a smoother transmission, and it has a more usable hatchback so I personally like the Stinger a little better overall.
You should test drive both. I’ve had my 2019 Stinger GT2 Awd for 2.5 years and I still love it. I’ve done quite a few mods and with a beefier rear sway bar and lowering springs it handles a lot better than stock without sacrificing the ride comfort. The type s will sound better stock but they’re quite a few exhaust options out for the stinger. I have secondary downpipes and the kunstwerk valve controlled catback. Loud when open and sounds almost stock when closed. Also went 2 years before I finally ecu tuned it and it’s plenty of power stock, now I’m running 11s in the 1/4.
@@connorm3373 They're already working on aftermarket parts for this car. That won't be a problem at all.
@@MattMaranMotoring Thanks for the reply and insight! I'm definitely leaning towards the Stinger. 😁
I own a Kia Stinger GT2 and I love it. The car in Comfort or Sport mode is amazing. The power and styling are amazing. I do like the styling of the Acura but other videos show how little of space you have in the back seat. I have two kids and dog (small) they all fit fine in my car. And if you are into modifications you can get major power out of the Stinger at no cost. I haven't done it but thinking about it. Let me know if you have any questions.
I recently brought one and I find the acceleration to be more than adequate off the line for daily driving. With the poor gas mileage, I'm not stomping on he accelerator at every light. However, if I floor it, the acceleration is too much for street driving in most cases in Normal mode. Comfort mode is sluggish. In sport or sport plus, it goes. For 0-60, brake torque to boost the turbo gives good performance. First curvy road I went on and my mind was blown. As far as the exhaust sound, in sport plus the sound is great and not piped into the car through the radio. From the outside, it sound great. I had an RSX Type-S with a catback and the sound eventually became annoying, so I'm happy with the sound in the interior. If you floor it, it will pop, at least mine does, just not as much as the BMW.
Is this a good daily??
Would rather have an m340i… they’re about the same price and m340i is much much faster.
@@rahsoles4151 Yes
@@Viktor9502 You should buy the M340i and never give the Type-S a second thought.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 I really like the looks of the type s and it sounds good too, just doesn’t seem like it’s a true performance vehicle. The drivetrain seems to be lacking.
It's a good thing they don't offer this with a manual or else it could possibly be one of the greatest cars ever made.
The wheels look stunning. I imagine many CTR owners will try and retrofit them onto their cars.
V6 accord owners probably will try to as well
Nope
No, CTR owners tend to downsize.
Got some on my 4th gen TL they look dope 👌 perfect fit
The NSX wheels already fit the CTR.
You would think car companies at this point would just hire you, Matt, to test drive their vehicles before being released to the public. Then they take your input and make adjustments to the cars to make them more appealing and make sure they are hitting majority selling points for buyers.
I’d love that job, but I think there’s others much more qualified than me, car companies usually hire race car drivers or other experts to give feedback if they’re interested in an outsider perspective. I agree though, having some more regular people give their opinion might help them to get an idea of what a regular driver is looking for. It’s tough though because everyone drives a little differently too, so tuning for a wide range of driving styles is tough.
man, that lag before the getty up is so noticeable
A cat delete or 2 will help that alot👌
That was crazy but I haven’t seen that delay in any other reviews.
The delay is true. I test drove one the other day and that really had me thinking if I should ultimately get the car. The handling was insane though. I loved it. But that lag and the not so smooth transmission have me thinking things over carefully. Maybe I'll wait until (they better) fix the lag
@@brysonshires9742 no reason to make an emission nightmare. Just tune the throttle control module and the ECM.
@@falxonPSN all that will do nothing bud. Whoever told you to tune your throttle module knows jack shit about cars
A fun review with the right amount of details . I appreciate that you focus on the driving experience, thought you remark about a cars on center feel and feedback from the steering
I am not interested in 20 inch wheels. Too hard a ride. BMW offers 18 inch tires . I do not want to feel every crack in the road.
If they could get this thing to about 400HP while keeping the thrill in the engine and the noise, it would sell a ton I feel
I took one on a test drive last week. I was on the all seasons and it felt great on some twisties.
I was loaned a TLX non-type s. I had a similar experience in that I could tell the car was a lot faster than my TSX but it didn't "feel" like a 270HP car. When I step on the gas in my mother's 2013 v6 touring the car is slower but it "feels" a lot faster and more fun. Driving and handling wise the TLX is good but my 2006 TSX is more fun to drive for some reason.
I have a 2012 TL and I used to have the 1st gen TSX. The TSX handles very well for a fwd car. I could take corners pretty quickly in that car. The TL feels too heavy and wide sometimes. I miss the high revving 4 cylinder in the TSX.
I know what you mean. Older models were more viseral, while the newer Acuras with the electronics, numbs driver experience.
Staying on subject, I drove one and it feels almost like flying an airplane, floatie, quiet, butterly smooth. I, perdonally, love the Acura interior infotainment, and sound system is excellent (once again, imo).
I already thought the 4 cylinder handle well. Beautiful looking car.
me too
Matt needs to understand it does have a launch mode. Step on the brake and the gas, wait until the turbo lights up (the circle on the left over the steering column) and let the brake off. Good review though. It was fun seeing his reaction to the curves. Oh, and I test drove one AND have one on order :)
This is not the video highlighting this vehicle‘s performance capabilities. He probably didn’t use the launch mode and maybe unintentionally would let up on the gas at the same time he hears the open exhaust pop. I’ve caught myself doing that multiple times over the past five days. When you’re not used to it your immediate reflects is to think did I break something back there when you hear it pop and snap initially. This car on every level is over the top my friend.
I really enjoyed your review. This is my choice of color too. Maybe in two years I might get this.
red interior as well ?
With a mild tune this thing will be a beast
I leased the 2018 TLX SH-AWD and traded in for the 2021 RDX A Spec for my lady and test drove the Type S and was disappointed. Looks great yes no doubt on the handling but I just feel like Acura should have made the engine 385-400 hp to compensate for the weight.
Car’s got a lot of tuning potential. Wait for the mods. 👍
10/10 should have a heads up display and a good 360 cam to protect the wheels and lip. That lag when taking off and it limiting torque in first would drive me nuts. I hope tunes can remove that. Also it’s got cylinder deactivation and that is a scary thing because in some engines it causes issues. I also guess it’s on there to make this engine get that mpg it gets. Not very good but still imagine without
You can disable the engine shut off
Most underrated car reviewer out there!
Thanks Matt!
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
@@MattMaranMotoring Matt is not underrated by you or me. Matt is tops.
Yea your reaction on the backroad was my deal breaker I guess I'm not getting the tlx anymore. Thanks for the review
Why?
Good report... I'm looking forward to test-driving this vs the G70 3.3 next year. Bonus: glimpse of a clean looking 63 or 64 Mercury Monterey 2-door with "breezeway" rear window at 14:52!
I'm sorry. That delay would be a deal-breaker for me in a performance car. That turned me off from the S5 that I drove. It's supposed to be fixed in the latest refresh. Here, not so much. Also, this car is missing too many features IMO and it's far too heavy. A nice improvement for Acura, to be sure. However, there is still a lot of work to do.
TLX is a nice improvement for this Type S it's just a disappointment for myself
HONDATA REFLASH HAS ENTERED THE CHAT.
lol
@@ryanb7110 ya it has
@@ryanb7110 I guess that's the magic cure all. I for one wouldn't be willing to risk my warranty to flash this car.
@@darrell9616 yeah I wouldn't either not for now lol. I'm sure there is a way.. honestly driving mine not sure why he had a delay but then again car is meant to be in manual shifting mode during sport + mode.
I just left Acura and they marked this thing up massively 🤯🤯🤯. I have 2 1/2 years left until my '21 TLX lease is up and I hope I can get one new for the original sticker price or a pre-owned Type S.
That's the right move, just wait. Most people complaining about the price right now don't seem to understand that.
Fantastic holistic review Matt. Thanks for this presentation!!
I was so impressed with the Acura TLX A-SPEC SH-AWD that was all I needed. Going to trade in my Mustang Ecoboost premium fully loaded for the NEW one.
The tail lights on the new Integra look so much better than the ones on the TLX, and with the option of a 6-speed manual, I would say the Integra is superior.
For the purist, absolutely. Also, the Integra is lighter. The main thing I don't like about the Integra is the FWD. AWD is so much better in the winter where there's tons of snow and ice.
All the people talking shit on the car, never drove it.
And there is a good chance they can’t afford one either. 😂
Agreed 100%, I’ve driven it and it is amazing, it’s obviously not the quickest in a straight line but it does so many other things very well and it’s not like 4.7 to 60 is slow, this is actually a quick car, people just love to hate on Acura
I drove it extensively (demo car). I'm taking a massive steaming pile of shit on it. Acura hyped it to oblivion, overpromised and severely undelivered. It's marginally faster than the $30K cheaper Honda Accord 2.0T with the same transmission. Car is already subject of ridicule inside car enthusiast circles. The comical part is dealers who behave like this is some supercar and want $10-15K over MSRP when the car is overpriced to begin with even at MSRP.
@@YasssStitch You Guys just love to hate on it cause it’s a Honda. Also the transmission is basically 60 Percent New with Everything they had to change with it for this setup. Also what did they over promise.. You’re looking at it the wrong way too, it meant to be quick not fast, It’s the best value in the segment besides the g70 which is matched in performance with this.
@@flippypippy1851 well said.
Nice review of an interesting car. Fwiw I really like the exhaust sound. My problem with the pops these days is that it used to be a byproduct of a high performance tune, now it’s more of an effect like (but not really) engine notes through the speakers.
Pops and crackles sound way too pretentious on many cars, even if it's coming from the exhaust system. I don't like it except on high performance cars with race-tuned engines that produce it naturally. Otherwise, the sound is over the top, like a wild aftermarket body kit.
This is better than the Stinger
Hi Matt, another great video edition from your channel, I appreciate your in-depth analysis and insightful comments. Can you please let me know why kia Stinger was not included in your comparative analysis. thanks and keep up your great work.
Thanks Dany! I didn't include the Stinger because it's not made by a luxury brand like the other competitors are. If it were my 50k though, I'd take a Stinger GT over this.
Great review Matt. Thank you.
There is a dedicated manual mode. Hit the D/S button to change to S, then shift with the paddles.
It still auto-upshifts.
One of the best looking sedans
The transmission should start from first gear if you are in the "S" (sequential) mode and you manually shift it down with the paddles. While it's a completely different transmission, the ZF 9-speed in my Ridgeline starts from 2nd unless you manually downshift it. It might not be that way in the Acura, but it's worth a shot.
Put it in sand mode and use the paddles to shift. It will bounce off the limiter if you’re not quick enough with the first couple of gears. Pulls a lot harder too.
Thanks for the review. I really love the Type S, but I love my 2.0 turbo 2021 TLX with SH-AWD. It's fast, handles fantastic, and is very comfortable. I don't know if I will try to get the type S, I am very happy with the 2.0 turbo AWD in my 2021 TLX......
If you think that is fast then you are not used to fast cars. Even a Hyundai Veloster N is much faster than that 2.0T tlx. DCT Veloster N might outrun this type S 0-60 😂
@@frf1670 Hyundai is a not a nice car
@@chs665 it’s a hot hatch not trying to be a luxury car. Just pointing out how it will run laps on track around the tlx. You really should sit in one lol the new Elantra N low key has a better interior than your Tlx. Look up 2022 Elantra N and take a look at the interior
Maybe you should talk to RUclips channel throttlehouse in Toronto to see if you guys tested same car, because their reviews are less than good...I like your review
matt, nice to see you loving the Acura's
Hi Matt. Nice vid. Liked b4 watching because i knew it was going to b good
Throw a blond wig on Matt and I swear its You Kate McKinnon Love you on Saturday night Live ..lol ..Keep up the great reviews .
I love that you always end up longer term testing cars I buy or am cross shopping. I have had mine for 3k miles and you are spot on. The gas mileage surprised me with how poor it is vs the Acura #’s but I get almost exactly wha you got (about 17mpg average) which was disappointing, so it had to grow on me, but it is a TON of fun to daily drive to work. Awesome review, Matt!! 🔥🫡
I like your reviews bc you touch on points that others miss and also point out some of the quarks and problems that one would really know only from driving it for a while. It sounds like a typical Acura. My RDX has that heavy clunky torque converter feeling and only uses 1rst gear from a complete stop and hits 2nd at like 2mph, so you have to floor it to use 1rst gear. I also can't stand the slow throttle response. Waiting a full second for a response is stupid slow.
nothing a quick tune cant fix.
@@quells2119but also warranty is gone
@@reyfuentes4572 warranty ends at some point anyways, and an aftermarket tune always gives better throttle response than a factory tune anyways, id rather have 400hp with an aftermarket tune than them charging me more for 400hp from factory
Thats strange about rhe popping and cracking that you mentioned because I've seen seveal other videos that had it. I need to see if they are the same year. Great reviews as always bro.
Love the Acura TLX!! 👍🏼
Nice Interieur. Really cool red inside. - Great Review!
Honda is back with a vengeance.
Nissan, Toyota and Subaru show us your counter attack. Bring back the sport sedans wars.
I wanna see Mazda's in line 6 rwd sedans . Or a Subaru 2.4 na or turbo rwd sedans .. and of course... in manual transmissions
@@toetz4491 There is the IS500, GR86, MK5 Supra, GR Yaris and the TRD Camry
@@alwaysiyi272 talking 4 to 5 seater sedan with RWD and manual transmission for the masses , not a 50k dollar luxury and 2 seater
@@alwaysiyi272 TRD Camry shouldn’t even be mentioned in this lineup
Toyota can’t build a sports car, so they just pay BMW and Subaru to build them for them. 🤦♂️
I drove it extensively (demo car). Acura hyped it to oblivion, overpromised and severely undelivered. It's marginally faster than the $30K cheaper Honda Accord 2.0T with the same transmission. Car is already subject of ridicule inside car enthusiast circles. The comical part is dealers who behave like this is some supercar and want $10-15K over MSRP when the car is overpriced to begin with even at MSRP.
Speak facts!!!! Lol 😂 a bunch of Acura bullshit lol 😂 I’m tired of Acura’s antics….. the interior is ugly AF and super busy and the rear leg room and trunk space is a joke!
@@KuyaArbee Car is longer than Accord yet less interior space than Civic. You read that right. Unacceptable.
Man that no dedicated manual mode is so disappointing. Love the looks and the performance it provides. But that lack of dedication for a manual mode is truly disappointing for someone who enjoys driving and controlling their gears. Great video as always.
You can put it in manual mode. The center dial has a D/S button that will put it into manual mode on both the Type-S and the regular TLX.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 that doesn't put it in manual mode where it doesn't shift for you. That's just a sport mode where the control of gearing is more aggressive. After a minute if you stop shifting it'll go back to drive and it'll start shifting for you.
@@FULLTHROTTLEAUTO you had to click the paddles to enable manual shifting
@@tristancefail it still takes you out of it if you don't push it for long enough where you want to stay in a gear and the car says no. Also in that mode it will up shift when you hit redline. Also it'll down shift for you in that mode if you're in a high gear and hit the gas hard.
@@FULLTHROTTLEAUTO the redline part I understand but the rest seems strange, my 19 Accord never did that
That chime during startup..wow just out of this world.
I honestly miss the old one like in my TSX.
The TLX Type S has to be one of the best values for performance as well as the best handling and one of the best sounds of any turbocharged car!
Not better than the RS3
It really isn't. You don't get the same performance as the smaller cars it's priced against, and you don't get the space and luxury like other cars of similar size. It's good looking except for the elongated front end that tries too hard to make you think this is a RWD car. It's missing a lot of features and the tech isn't even up to the new MDX. I see a nice, but clearly compromised vehicle.
@@MercOne I feel that you're missing the point did you not see how well this car handled? All because of SH-AWD that has 4-wheel steering and torque vectoring I don't think the S4, C43, or even the M340i has that and also that engine sounds really good sure it has a more smoother sound but it's more exciting and has more character than the S4 and C43
And like what Matt said this has the best value in its segment and is definitely better than the CT5-V and G70 as well as the S4 and C43 it's a beast on the track too
@@jordynhixson655 Ah yes a lovely sound that has more character than the turbo V6 in the S4 and S5 despite having one less cylinder the V8 does sound awesome tho
@@basithph8958 I would go by how it drives, now what I see in a video. More character? You've driven all of them already? This FWD based car is not a "beast" on the track. You're just hyping up the car with words like exciting and character with no real substance behind it. You seem to think, like a lot people, that value is just because something is cheaper, it isn't. Value means you're getting close to or the same products for less. You aren't here. You're getting a car that is bigger but doesn't offer more room, it's cheaper and doesn't offer better performance and in some cases less performance. Yeah it handles, but it's missing features you can get on a Camry now. Matt isn't the end all authority here. The TLX Type S hasn't been a single comparison test yet and there are no performance figures or anything, just a bunch of videos saying how nice it drives. I'll wait until it's actually compared by the professional publications, not youtubers driving around the city.
Based on what all I’ve test driven, FOR ME it goes CT5-V > Volvo S60 T8 > G70 > my Accord V6 > Type S. After dealer markup on the Acura and I&I and negotiations with the others, the Type S is just as expensive.
For me the engine note, handling, styling, and daily drivability of the CT5-V puts it on top. Different strokes.
I paid $52.8k plus $500 for Tiger Eye paint and $1,054 for destination and handling. If you're seeing high dealer markups, shop around.
@@nathanielcashjr.732 damn, tryin help a brother out and get me one to lmao
@@nathanielcashjr.732 I've been looking for one in pearl white with a black interior. The only ones that have been at the local dealerships have been tiger eye or black.
About Apple Wireless Carplay, Acura should provided free upgrade for all currently generation of Both TLX & RDX vehicles, with apology they didn't made it build in.
Wow, what a great looking car. Very impressive.
Matt, I don't know what you're doing or how you're editing, but the cars always look better in your videos.
I can't wait to see the comparison between this and an IS500
No Comparison at all! IS500 is in a different league than this!
@@aritruths1452 well power wise yes, but Lexus is still targeting the same consumers
@@alwaysiyi272 yeah, Lexus will get a lot of credit for bringing a V8 to the party. Everyone else seems to be V6TT. I have a Stinger but the IS500 will probably be my next move.
@@timw2083 oh wow thats so cool, and you are right, everyone one of its competitors have turbo 6 cylinder engines, and the next c43 might even have a 4 banger
Nice to see you outside in that parking lot again💥👊
Matt, you knocked another review outta the park! Eat your heart out Sofyan Bey! 🤪
Thanks! Sofyan's reviews are great too though haha :)
@@MattMaranMotoring oh!! Absolutely! Just teasing. You guys are my favorites! Thank you for the awesome content!!
@@yourlocalninja19 Thanks for watching!!
Thanks for the great review. Covered all the important bases.
The front end is a thing of beauty
Current 5th Gen Prelude owner here.
Hearing "Honda" going back to having superb handling with 'meh' acceleration truly gives meaning to the name Prelude.
Also had a 5th gen type SH. Loved it and it handled incredibly. I did beat some cars I shouldn’t have but yes, it was not fast haha.
Former BB6 owner as well; agreed!
Fantastic review Matt!
Thanks Pete!
Good review Matt. I'm looking forward to your review of the 22' G70.
The Caddy CT5-V should NOT cost more than this Type-S!! Silly. 😆
I am loving the S. Seems to be priced below most competitors too.
This car is not typically being sold for msrp so factor that in .. There is a good chance there will be a mark up on this car
@@Bornindafire Most vehicles are sold over sticker when they first hit the dealership, especially a vehicle like this. You just have to wait until the hype dies down and you'll typically get a good deal.
@@Bornindafire Acura only made 2000 of them in 2021, and there are lots of early buyers with deep pockets who don't mind paying insane prices to be the first on the block to get one. I'll wait to see if there are any major defects or reliability issues.
I want this engine in my Ridgeline
Great review, on Acuras you have to be at a dead stop to manually shift into 1st!
Nice review. Love your presentation 👊🏼
J series is so underrated wish it was respected more
@Matt. What impressed you more in your first week behind the wheel, this TLX Type S, or the CT5-V?
This is a nice car, but it doesn't even come close to a (much pricier) BMW M340i from a performance standpoint. The really frustrating part is that you can lease that $70K BMW M340i for less money than a $53K Type S. BMW's leases are hard to beat and Acura's are terrible compared to what they used to be 15-20 years ago.
I was also messing around with the configurator on Acura's website and it appears you can't get the HUD with the Type S, only on the Advanced Package with the TLX 2.0T, which is a massive failure on Acura's part. Even the Accord, at $20K less expensive, has featured a HUD in the Touring trim since 2017.
Yeah, I can understand wanting to keep the price low, but they should at least offer the Advance package as a premium package for the Type S for those willing to pay for it.
@3:30 about the key fob, my first reaction was “is that a remote control for my tv? Good lord it looks huge🤣”
Lol!
Lol
Lol
😂 I have a similar version on my A-Spec but, the one on my 22 MDX is the newer compact remote. Curious that the TLX doesn’t come with this.
Hey Matt 👋🏾 for your money would you go kia stinger GT2, Genesis G70, or this s type 🤔 I would personally get that G70🤤
Stinger for the practicality and performance. g70 for the looks, luxury and performance. Type S.... I like the looks but the performance was a bit underwhelming.
I haven't test driven these cars yet but I feel if the type s had at least 50 more HP it could be a riot but I can say the same for every car in the segment 😅
These were my top 3 as well. I dropped the Genesis because of the smaller space in the rear seats.
Vw golf R
G70 hands down
It has a twin scroll turbo right? There should be zero lag....
I'm pretty sure a tune will fix the issues
"I was very impressed with the TLX, it was very impressive, it definitely impressed, it gave me a good impression, that I was impressively impressed by it's impression.."
Speaking of type-s did you ever review a 3rd gen type s? Excellent review as always btw.
wow, that was some serious "Lag" Btw great review!
I’m not sure about this but does the type s come with forged internals? Makes me wonder what it’s capable of with some tuning.
Serious question...what can connecting to the Acura via Bluetooth differ from Android Connect?
Out of all the reviews I've seen, none seemed to have a struggle to accelerate. I'm starting to think this car you test drove has a problem.
Acura claimed to beat the audi s5 bunch of lies when actual reviews came out and even the inline 4 is slower than cars with less hp in its segment. This car just has a nicer interior besides that it's behind its competition