2022 Acura TLX

The volume configuration is the 2.0L turbo inline-4 shared by the base, Technology and A-Spec trims; the 3.0T V6 Type S tops the range at 355 hp but is a low-volume halo trim. Mid-pack for a mid-size luxury sedan.

280 lb-ft from a broad 1,600–4,500 rpm plateau on the volume 2.0T — a flat, usable torque curve typical of a modern boosted four, well short of the Type S's 354 lb-ft.

Manufacturer-cited 0-60 for the base 2.0T is about 5.9 s; independent instrumented tests of the heavier SH-AWD variant have run 5.7–6.5 s across outlets (Car and Driver 5.7 s, MotorWeek 5.8 s, Edmunds 6.5 s), with the lighter FWD volume trim at the quick end of that spread.

The 2.0T delivers strong, linear low-end response in everyday driving with minimal perceptible turbo lag, but reviewers consistently note it turns coarse and thrashy under hard throttle and lacks the refinement of six-cylinder segment rivals.

The 10-speed automatic shifts smoothly in normal driving and holds gears well on the highway, with reasonably responsive paddle-shift manual mode; some reviewers note occasional hesitation and busyness hunting for the right ratio at part throttle around town.

Acura's Super Handling AWD (SH-AWD) — a sophisticated torque-vectoring system that can send up to 70% of torque rearward and redistribute it side-to-side for real cornering benefit — is optional across Base, Technology and A-Spec trims (standard on Advance and Type S) for 2022, not standard fleet-wide, so it falls short of the top band despite the system's technical sophistication.

Two gas-turbo engines — the 2.0L I4 across Base/Technology/A-Spec/Advance and the 3.0L V6 in Type S — cover mainstream and performance shoppers, but there is no hybrid, PHEV, or EV variant, unlike several mid-size luxury sedan rivals that offer electrified options.

The volume FWD 2.0T is EPA-rated 25 mpg combined; adding SH-AWD costs 1 mpg combined, and the Type S V6 drops further to 21 mpg combined.

EPA city rating of 22 mpg for the volume FWD 2.0T — no stop-start hybrid assist, with SH-AWD costing an additional 1 mpg in city driving.

EPA highway rating of 31 mpg for the volume FWD 2.0T; the tall 10-speed automatic gearing helps at cruise, and FWD avoids the small parasitic loss SH-AWD costs on the highway.

The 15.9-gallon tank combined with the 25 mpg EPA combined rating gives the volume FWD 2.0T roughly 398 miles of range between fill-ups, per fueleconomy.gov.

At 25 mpg combined on 15,000 mi/yr using EPA's premium-fuel price assumption, the FWD 2.0T's annual fuel bill runs about $3,300 — on the higher end for the segment because the TLX is both premium-fuel-only and gas-only with no electrified escape hatch.

Acura specifies premium 91-octane fuel for the 2.0T (recommended) and requires it for the Type S 3.0T, with no regular-fuel, hybrid, or plug-in option anywhere in the lineup to offset running costs.

NHTSA awarded the 2022 Acura TLX a 5-star overall rating, with 5 stars in every individual test except a 4-star Passenger Front frontal result.

The 2022 TLX earned IIHS's top award, Top Safety Pick+, with Good ratings across every crashworthiness test — small overlap front (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats.

AcuraWatch (forward collision warning with AEB/pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist/lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow) is standard on every 2022 TLX trim, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are gated to the Technology package and above, leaving the base trim without them.

IIHS rated the standard Collision Mitigation Braking System Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention (avoided collisions at both 12 and 25 mph) and Superior for daytime pedestrian detection, including a meaningful speed reduction in the child-crossing scenario.

Blind Spot Information with rear cross-traffic alert uses A-pillar-mounted LED indicators plus an audible warning, but it is an alert-only system (no active steering/braking intervention) and is bundled into the Technology package rather than standard on the base trim.

The camera-based Lane Keeping Assist System provides a corrective steering tug when the car drifts from a detected lane and will center the car between 45-90 mph, which is functional but not class-leading centering refinement.

ACC with Low-Speed Follow plus Traffic Jam Assist is standard across the lineup and works down to a complete stop and back up to speed, combining distance-keeping with lane centering in heavy traffic.

Traffic Jam Assist adds lane centering to the adaptive cruise control under 45 mph, but it is a hands-on Level 2 system with no hands-free certification or geofenced highway mode, unlike BlueCruise or Super Cruise.

IIHS rated the standard LED projector headlights Good across the lineup, with high-beam assist, though visibility on tight left curves was only fair to inadequate.

No dedicated instrumented visibility test was found for the 2022 TLX; the sedan's sloping roofline and raked A-pillars are typical of the sport-sedan segment, and Acura compensates with a standard rearview camera rather than unusually open sightlines, putting it near the segment average.

IIHS rated the TLX's LATCH hardware Good+, its top tier, for easy-to-find lower anchors at both rear outboard positions plus a center tether; however, owner/reviewer reports note a shallower, contoured rear seat cushion that can make wrestling a bulky car seat into place more work than in rivals like the Accord or Camry.

Standard 5-passenger configuration across all 2022 TLX trims, no third row or 4-seat configuration offered.

Front headroom sits at the low end of the mid-size luxury sedan band, consistent with the TLX's sleek, low-slung roofline.

Front legroom is mid-pack for the segment, adequate for taller drivers.

Rear headroom is modest, a consequence of the swoopy fastback-style roofline carried over from the 2021 redesign.

Rear legroom is tight relative to mid-size luxury sedan rivals; reviewers consistently flag the TLX's back seat as the tightest in its class.

Trunk volume is on the small side for the mid-size luxury sedan segment.

Conventional console bin, door pockets and a usable center console; nothing distinctive versus German rivals' storage solutions.

Front seats are well-bolstered and supportive especially with A-Spec/Advance upgrades, but the cramped rear bench limits long-haul comfort for rear passengers.

Mostly supple and well-controlled ride with occasional stiff reactions to sharp bumps; composed on the highway.

Road and wind noise intrusion is a recurring complaint among reviewers, noted as a weak point versus German and Japanese luxury rivals.

Heated/ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are available but gated to the A-Spec and Advance trims rather than standard across the lineup.

Entry trim MSRP for the 2022 model year, shown for reference only.

Technology is the best-selling 2022 TLX trim, splitting FWD and SH-AWD take rates roughly evenly; value is the midpoint of the two.

Honda-derived running gear and Acura's reliability record keep projected upkeep well under the class norm.

Multiple residual-value trackers converge on mid-40s-percent depreciation for the TLX over 5 years, middling for the luxury-sedan class.

Standard Acura new-vehicle limited warranty for 2022.

Standard Acura powertrain warranty for 2022, plus 5 years/unlimited-mile corrosion coverage.

Acura's Total Luxury Care bundles 24/7 roadside assistance, trip-routing and concierge services for the warranty period, but only the first scheduled service is complimentary — short of the multi-year included maintenance some luxury rivals offer.

$43,745 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (56% retained, or about $24,497) leaves about $19,248 in depreciation. Add the projected $2,546 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,794 in total.

Signals conflict across sources for this exact model-year cohort: Consumer Reports placed Acura 8th of 28 brands for 2022, but J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study of 2022-model-year vehicles (published 2025) ranked Acura 24th of 30 brands — a worse outcome specifically for this generation's build.

Acura's standing is genuinely mixed between the two major studies rather than consistently mid-pack or consistently poor — CR has it in the top third, JD Power's VDS has it in the bottom third for this same model-year span.

Four NHTSA recalls touch the 2021-2023 TLX generation: a brake pedal pivot pin that can loosen and shift the pedal, a fuel tank assembly that may be improperly welded and leak fuel, a fuel-injection ECU software error on Type S causing engine stall, and tire bead issues on 2022 models specifically — more than a handful of minor campaigns, and the fuel leak and stall conditions are safety-relevant rather than cosmetic.

The second-generation TLX's 2.0L turbo/3.5L V6 drivetrains pair with a new-to-the-model 10-speed automatic that owner forums and failure-pattern trackers report a real, recurring complaint cluster against: torque-converter shudder around 45-55 mph, harsh Sport+ downshifts, cold-start engagement lag, and documented transfer-case spline wear on AWD cars — a mixed-history newer powertrain rather than a clean one, though NHTSA has not opened a transmission safety recall.

Reviewers consistently cite a real step up from the first-generation TLX: open-pore wood trim, real aluminum accents, and soft-touch surfaces across most contact points for the segment's price point.

Launch-generation instrumented reviews report tight, consistent assembly with no squeaks or rattles found, consistent with Honda-plant (Marysville/Performance Manufacturing Center) build quality norms.

Acura's roughly 270-dealer US network is adequate and well-established but noticeably thinner than the German or mainstream-Japanese luxury networks it competes against, and dealer service-satisfaction studies for the brand sit mid-pack rather than top-tier.

Shared Honda-group parts sourcing keeps routine service affordable relative to the luxury segment, and RepairPal's annual-repair-cost figure for the TLX sits below the industry average.

The 10.2-inch display is standard across the lineup but is not touch-enabled on the move — it is operated exclusively through Acura's True Touchpad Interface on the center console.

Reviewers repeatedly single out the touchpad-only interface as confusing and distracting, especially compared to touchscreen-based rivals, despite reasonably logical underlying menu structure.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all 2022 TLX trims, though the touchpad loses its absolute-position mapping once CarPlay/Android Auto is active, requiring a swipe-based workaround.

Native navigation and voice assistant are functional but unremarkable, and the touchpad's quirks push many owners toward phone-projection navigation instead.

The optional 17-speaker, 710-watt ELS Studio 3D premium audio system (A-Spec/Advance) is well regarded; base audio is adequate but unremarkable.

The 2022 TLX does not offer a fully configurable digital gauge cluster — it pairs analog gauges with a small multi-information display, trailing rivals that offer full digital clusters even on base trims.

AcuraLink supports over-the-air updates primarily for connectivity/embedded-cellular and infotainment purposes rather than broad whole-vehicle feature updates.

The AcuraLink app offers remote start/stop, lock/unlock, vehicle locator, and maintenance alerts, but core remote-start convenience is subscription-dependent after the trial period and standard remote start hardware is Advance-trim-only.

Two USB ports are standard with wireless phone charging reserved for A-Spec and Advance trims — adequate but not class-leading port coverage.

Proximity keyless entry and push-button start are standard; dedicated hardware remote start is limited to the Advance trim, with app-based remote start available more broadly.

A multi-angle rearview camera is standard, with a surround-view camera system added on the Advance trim; no automated parking assist offered.

A 10.5-inch head-up display is available, but only as standard equipment on the top Advance trim rather than across the volume trims.

Standard LATCH anchors and four conventional doors make car-seat installation workable, but the tight rear legroom (34.9 in) and narrower rear door openings make loading kids and gear more cumbersome than in roomier mid-size sedan rivals.

AcuraWatch (forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, lane centering) is standard on every 2022 TLX trim, and the car earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a 5-star NHTSA overall rating.

Front-seat comfort is good for multi-hour drives, but cramped rear headroom/legroom and a modest 13.5 cu ft trunk limit comfort and gear capacity for a family of four-plus on longer trips.

The turbocharged 2.0L is responsive and smooth in traffic with a comfortable driving position, though the touchpad infotainment interface adds a layer of daily friction compared to simpler touchscreen rivals.

EPA-rated 24-25 MPG combined is middling for the segment, and the turbo engine requires premium fuel, pushing per-mile running costs above average.

A 40.2 ft turning diameter is wider than many compact/mid-size sedan rivals, and the standard rear camera helps but a surround-view camera is Advance-trim-only, making tight urban parking a bit more effortful.

As a luxury sedan, the TLX has only a modest accessory-rated towing capacity and a small 13.5 cu ft trunk, offering negligible real work capability.

Honda/Acura mechanicals have a reasonably solid reliability reputation generally, but the TLX's low-slung sedan body, premium-fuel turbo engine and 5.3 in ground clearance are not suited to work-duty abuse.

No tie-downs, bed, roof-rail/upfit ecosystem or washable work-oriented surfaces are offered; the TLX is a conventional luxury-sedan cabin with no jobsite provisions.

Standard adaptive cruise and lane centering ease highway fatigue and front-seat comfort holds up well, but cabin noise intrusion at highway speed and a roughly 400-mile tank range (25 MPG combined x ~17.2 gal tank) are middling for a mile-eating tourer.

Optional SH-AWD adds useful foul-weather traction, but 5.3 in of ground clearance and sedan geometry leave little genuine off-pavement or gravel-road capability.

A 60/40 split-folding rear seat helps with longer items, but the 13.5 cu ft trunk is small and there are no roof rails or factory rack provisions for bulkier adventure gear.

The second-generation platform with available SH-AWD gives the TLX composed, secure cornering that multiple outlets rate favorably for the segment, even if it's not the sharpest-feeling car here.

Steering is quick but criticized for being overly light on-center with limited direct feedback, trailing more feelsome rivals like the BMW 3 Series or Genesis G70.

No major complaints surfaced about pedal feel or stopping distances for the standard 2.0T; brakes are described as adequate and confidence-inspiring for everyday and spirited driving.

The turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder with 10-speed automatic is described as perky and well-matched, delivering smooth, responsive power delivery without notable hesitation.

The engine itself is reasonably refined, but the TLX's broader cabin-noise criticism (road and wind noise) pulls down the overall acoustic refinement picture at highway speed.

A curb-to-curb turning diameter of roughly 40.2 ft is wider than typical for the mid-size luxury sedan segment, making the TLX less nimble in tight maneuvers.

Front seats offer good adjustability (up to 16-way power on Advance) and sightlines are good for a sedan; the console-mounted touchpad is a control-layout compromise some drivers find awkward at first.

The standard turbo TLX is pleasant and reasonably engaging for a mainstream luxury sedan, though it sits well below the more focused, enthusiast-oriented Type S variant in outright driving enjoyment.

Base 2022 TLX includes AcuraWatch active-safety suite, a 10.2-inch display, 10-speaker audio and synthetic leather standard — competitive for the price but not class-leading against rivals like the Genesis G70, which undercuts it on loaded base content.

The Type S delivers a 355-hp turbo V6 and adaptive dampers for under $54,000, undercutting comparably powerful German rivals, while lower trims trade some refinement for price — overall fair-to-good bang for buck.

Six trims (base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, Type S, Type S PWT) span FWD and SH-AWD four-cylinder models up to the V6 Type S, giving a reasonable spread though with some gaps between A-Spec and Advance content.

2022 US sales of roughly 11,500 units trail segment leaders like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class by a wide margin, placing the TLX as a slow seller within the mid-size luxury sedan class.

Acura carries a reputation for reliability and value but lacks the prestige halo of German or even Genesis rivals — a neutral rather than aspirational brand perception in this segment.

Slower sales volume has historically made the TLX a car dealers are willing to discount, with loyalty cash and finance incentives commonly stacked on top of already-competitive MSRPs.

2022 is the second model year of the second-generation TLX (redesigned for MY2021), so the platform, styling and tech are current without being brand-new.

Reviewers praised the chassis and available Type S performance but consistently flagged a loud cabin, a frustrating touchpad infotainment interface and unimpressive four-cylinder fuel economy, keeping the TLX out of the top of comparison tests against the 3 Series and Giulia.