Finally getting some time to put this post together. First, some disclaimers:
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So to get started, I was recently put into a 2015 TLX V-6 Tech loaner while my RLX is being worked on for it's 30k maintenance, suspension research/TSB, and additional inspections to ensure the car is to spec after my recent accident.
While I have test driven the TLX twice before (one a V-6 Tech, and the other a V-6 Advanced), this is the first time I've had real extended seat time with the car, and as a result, IMO, has allowed me to really get a sense for how the TLX compares to the RLX. I've been in my RLX now since July of 2013 and have a great sense for just about every aspect of the car, having put 28k+ miles on it within the first 16 months between being a daily commuter and a number of short and long-distance road trips. With the TLX, I've already logged closed to 350-400 miles on it since last Thursday and have had the opportunity to drive under much of the same conditions in which I drive my RLX today.
I've grouped my notes/thoughts into three main categories:
This is by no means a complete and thorough comparison of the two vehicles, nor has it been conducted in any way as such to provide hard empirical data, metrics, etc. I consider it as nothing more than just a natural expression of the things that I, as a consumer, noticed were the most evident differences in the cars without having to put too much thought into it. Just making mental notes as I drove the TLX over the last 7-8 days. Whether they were for better or for worse, it's just stuff that stood out the most to me.
Exterior / Interior:
I'll start first with the exterior in saying that there is not really much to compare here. The RLX and TLX both share some similar design elements/language, and if you are a fan of the current design direction Acura has been going, then you'll like the TLX. I am a fan and as such, think the design team did a great job with the TLX. If there was anything I could change, it would be a) Rim options (already beaten to death by others), and B) doing something about the rear end. Something I've noticed is that both cars seem to have this upwards lift as you get towards the rear that makes them look a little bulkier than what would otherwise be a really sleek slender design. I think if they could carry out the same athletic and streamlined look of the front of the vehicles all the way to the back, the cars would start to add just the right amount of "sex appear" to help address the common mind-set of the new designs having a "safe" look-n-feel to it.
As for the interior, the TLX is very well built inside, solid, tight, super quiet. Not a single rattle, buzz, vibration, etc even when hitting pretty bad road conditions (including nasty pot holes). This is an area where they clearly did a better job in the TLX than they did in the RLX. However, there is the trade-off of materials and design language that aren't up to the same quality as you get in the RLX. This is where the RLX is by far the leader, and rightfully so. While the TLX interior is well put together, it lacks some of the "sex" and "sizzle" that I'd expect in a luxury sedan. It carries more of a feeling of practicality and less on the finer details that make the RLX interior really stand out. The elements it shares with the RLX are on par (e.g. dash-board elements, electronic shifter, steering wheel components, Info/Nav System), but the actual dash-board design and side-door elements leave more to be desired, feeling more like an American made Ford or Chevy, and less of a Japanese or European luxury sedan. This is again where the RLX comes through really strong.
All that said, one area that the TLX executed on very well and should be improved on in the RLX are the door handles and door open/close mechanisms. The door handles on the RLX is an area that has always annoyed me. They feel plastic, light and cheap, whereas the TLX handles feel much more solid, sturdy, and carry confidence. I need to double-check, but I believe it has to do with the TLX handle having multiple layers of metal or some other construction material that gives it the added sturdiness that lacks in the RLX handles. Whereas the RLX handle just feels hollow and empty, thus it feeling cheap. The door-closing mechanism and sealing on the TLX is also better, where it has a far more confident and solid feeling when securing the door closed. Something else they should improve on the RLX for it's class.
Other than that, it's a very comfortable car to drive in, seats feel great, and the driving is also great, more to come on that in a minute.
Technology / Features
So I'll keep this one short in stating that:
Driving Experience
Other than the interior, this is by far where the biggest differences come into play. While things like P-AWS are similar and give the car similar handling characteristics, there are three main things that really make the TLX a different (and IMO, better) driving experience than the RLX. Those are 1) IDS, 2) 9-speed DCT, 3) steering and handling and....wait for it....wait or it....4) the suspension.
Yes, the car is smaller and lighter, and as such already makes the car much more responsive and just flat out more fun to drive. Not only is it extremely quick and sporty, it handles everything with 100% confidence. Or at least everything that my humble car driving self can throw at it. Unlike my first taste of IDS in the 2014 MDX, in the TLX it seems to really transform the car from being a nice smooth cruiser, to a high-revving racer ready to take any quick and unexpected turns you throw at it. Sport+ mode takes it further by further increasing the responsiveness of the DCT and throttle characteristics of the engine. The throttle becomes extremely responsive and even P-AWS seems to really shine through stronger with the lighter and smaller chassis. I don't know if there are any active changes being made to P-AWS when you switch into Sport+ mode, but it feels as such, maybe tolerances are raised or other operating parameters are being modified on the fly? The car also recovers with much more grace and confidence whether it's super tight turns or quick shifts/changes in shifting, speed, or steering. And that even goes to say while just being in "Normal" mode.
The 9-speed DCT seems to operate really well and I like having the additional gears. They seem to give you more room to work with in variable RPM's and overall control of the speed of the vehicle. There are some occasions where it's slow to response, but in most cases it's pretty quick to shift and respond as you tell it to. I think it has more to do with the timing. On occasion it seems like it gets confused if I happen to make a manual shift change right at or slightly before it's about to make a change itself. In those occasions a push of the paddle ends in nothing happening. I have to tap it again for it to respond.
And the steering and overall handling is incredible. Again, the lighter and smaller chassis just giving you soo much more control over every nuance and aspect of how the car is moving, it's attitude, and it's stance. It seems to have a tighter turning radius, less "play" in the steering when turning, so you get far more reaction, response, and control when taking a turn, resulting in far more confidence when getting into a turn AND being aggressive on the throttle.
And that leaves us to the good ol suspension....:(
I honestly don't know how to write this last paragraph without going into a huge tirade. But all I can say is Acura really F'd up the suspension in the RLX P-AWS. After being in this loaner TLX now for over a week and driving the EXACT same routes I take too and from work, and knowing EVERY SINGLE bump, pot hole, etc. etc. to avoid when driving my RLX, I wonder how I do it. The TLX takes everything with absolute 100% confidence and recovers with not a single after-shock, rock, rattle, bobbing, bounce, etc. What was once a constant battle to avoid anything sub par on the road and having to pay constant attention to the road conditions has now just turned into a "driving" with no worries.
The TLX suspension has a very solid and confident "thud" with an immediate recover when hitting a bump or even large pot-holds. "thud" and recover. 1, 2, that's it. And that's if I even feel anything at all going right over areas with no disruption at all, whereas in my RLX it's a disaster. And don't think that the TLX is all super spongy, it has a really solid feel to the suspension. It hugs the road when you need it to, but instantly soaks up anything and everything without a single question. On the other hand the RLX hits anything extremely hard, loud, and with a physical shock in the steering wheel like the car is going to break or some serious damage is being done to the vehicle. You feel everything in the chassis of the car and you hear it. You don't get a muted "thud". You get loud "CLANK" "KLUNK"....as if the car was being slammed hard. It really is that bad, and that's why I'm at the point where I really don't like driving the car downtown at all. I'm constantly having to bob and weave and slow down and speed up and bob and weave again just to avoid feeling like the car is going to break, it's pathetic. It just feels like the car doesn't even have shocks at times. I just don't get it. I really don't. And it really upsets me because if the RLX handled the road half as good as the TLX does, it would make the driving experience just that much more enjoyable. As long as you keep the RLX on solid roads or highways, it drives and feels amazing, but seriously, Acura needs to figure this out. A $60k luxury sedan should not drive this like. Period. No excuses. I don't care what anyone has to say. The car has a serious defective design issue with the suspension and it needs to be resolved. And I'm at the point where if this is something that remains the same come 2016 when I turn in my lease and look at the MMC, I will be walking to another brand if they don't address this. I really like the TLX, but it doesn't carry the same level of sophistication and luxury that I want in a car, that the RLX does carry. But I also cannot deal with this suspension issue again.
Alright, time to crash. Hope you guys enjoy the read, here's a few pics of the loaner :)
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
- The sole purpose of this thread is to provide nothing more than a detailed comparison between the RLX and TLX from a consumer point of view.
- I am not a car expert, car magazine writer/editor, car mechanic, etc. etc. nor do I work for any car companies. I am an architect/engineer/product developer with 20-years in the datacenter, infrastructure, and cloud computing industry who happens to like hi-tech luxury cars.
- I have been a loyal Honda/Acura customer since my very first 83 Honda Accord that I bought used back in 1992. The only car I ever owned outside of the brand was a 93 Nissan 240SX, which was a great car, but was totaled in an accident back in 2005, after which I jumped into my old trusty 89 Integra before getting my 06 TL and now my 14 RLX. I have every desire to stay loyal to the brand and hope to continue to seeing the company make significant investments and strategic changes to strengthen the brand further than it has before.
- Please go back and read 1-3 carefully before posting to this thread.
----
So to get started, I was recently put into a 2015 TLX V-6 Tech loaner while my RLX is being worked on for it's 30k maintenance, suspension research/TSB, and additional inspections to ensure the car is to spec after my recent accident.
While I have test driven the TLX twice before (one a V-6 Tech, and the other a V-6 Advanced), this is the first time I've had real extended seat time with the car, and as a result, IMO, has allowed me to really get a sense for how the TLX compares to the RLX. I've been in my RLX now since July of 2013 and have a great sense for just about every aspect of the car, having put 28k+ miles on it within the first 16 months between being a daily commuter and a number of short and long-distance road trips. With the TLX, I've already logged closed to 350-400 miles on it since last Thursday and have had the opportunity to drive under much of the same conditions in which I drive my RLX today.
I've grouped my notes/thoughts into three main categories:
- Interior/Exterior
- Technology / Features
- Driving Experience
This is by no means a complete and thorough comparison of the two vehicles, nor has it been conducted in any way as such to provide hard empirical data, metrics, etc. I consider it as nothing more than just a natural expression of the things that I, as a consumer, noticed were the most evident differences in the cars without having to put too much thought into it. Just making mental notes as I drove the TLX over the last 7-8 days. Whether they were for better or for worse, it's just stuff that stood out the most to me.
Exterior / Interior:
I'll start first with the exterior in saying that there is not really much to compare here. The RLX and TLX both share some similar design elements/language, and if you are a fan of the current design direction Acura has been going, then you'll like the TLX. I am a fan and as such, think the design team did a great job with the TLX. If there was anything I could change, it would be a) Rim options (already beaten to death by others), and B) doing something about the rear end. Something I've noticed is that both cars seem to have this upwards lift as you get towards the rear that makes them look a little bulkier than what would otherwise be a really sleek slender design. I think if they could carry out the same athletic and streamlined look of the front of the vehicles all the way to the back, the cars would start to add just the right amount of "sex appear" to help address the common mind-set of the new designs having a "safe" look-n-feel to it.
As for the interior, the TLX is very well built inside, solid, tight, super quiet. Not a single rattle, buzz, vibration, etc even when hitting pretty bad road conditions (including nasty pot holes). This is an area where they clearly did a better job in the TLX than they did in the RLX. However, there is the trade-off of materials and design language that aren't up to the same quality as you get in the RLX. This is where the RLX is by far the leader, and rightfully so. While the TLX interior is well put together, it lacks some of the "sex" and "sizzle" that I'd expect in a luxury sedan. It carries more of a feeling of practicality and less on the finer details that make the RLX interior really stand out. The elements it shares with the RLX are on par (e.g. dash-board elements, electronic shifter, steering wheel components, Info/Nav System), but the actual dash-board design and side-door elements leave more to be desired, feeling more like an American made Ford or Chevy, and less of a Japanese or European luxury sedan. This is again where the RLX comes through really strong.
All that said, one area that the TLX executed on very well and should be improved on in the RLX are the door handles and door open/close mechanisms. The door handles on the RLX is an area that has always annoyed me. They feel plastic, light and cheap, whereas the TLX handles feel much more solid, sturdy, and carry confidence. I need to double-check, but I believe it has to do with the TLX handle having multiple layers of metal or some other construction material that gives it the added sturdiness that lacks in the RLX handles. Whereas the RLX handle just feels hollow and empty, thus it feeling cheap. The door-closing mechanism and sealing on the TLX is also better, where it has a far more confident and solid feeling when securing the door closed. Something else they should improve on the RLX for it's class.
Other than that, it's a very comfortable car to drive in, seats feel great, and the driving is also great, more to come on that in a minute.
Technology / Features
So I'll keep this one short in stating that:
- All of the current tech features work pretty much the same. LKAS, CMBS, FCW, BSIS, etc. etc. Nothing new here.
- Infotainment/NAV system definitely has some improvements to it that the RLX should have. Most noticeable are the far more responsive and faster capacitive touch-screen, and the overall faster processing and responsiveness of the UI itself. After having some real time using the TLX system, the RLX system is an embarrassment for what you pay. Just like the suspension issue, Acura really needs to address this. I know I'm likely more sensitive to this than most of the current RLX owners as I am a true techy at heart and these types of things are very important for me. But if Acura wants to continue to carry the image of being a technology leader with the features they provide in their vehicles, then this is the type of stuff they simply can't let slide, especially with generation after generation of drivers becoming more and more tech savvy.
Driving Experience
Other than the interior, this is by far where the biggest differences come into play. While things like P-AWS are similar and give the car similar handling characteristics, there are three main things that really make the TLX a different (and IMO, better) driving experience than the RLX. Those are 1) IDS, 2) 9-speed DCT, 3) steering and handling and....wait for it....wait or it....4) the suspension.
Yes, the car is smaller and lighter, and as such already makes the car much more responsive and just flat out more fun to drive. Not only is it extremely quick and sporty, it handles everything with 100% confidence. Or at least everything that my humble car driving self can throw at it. Unlike my first taste of IDS in the 2014 MDX, in the TLX it seems to really transform the car from being a nice smooth cruiser, to a high-revving racer ready to take any quick and unexpected turns you throw at it. Sport+ mode takes it further by further increasing the responsiveness of the DCT and throttle characteristics of the engine. The throttle becomes extremely responsive and even P-AWS seems to really shine through stronger with the lighter and smaller chassis. I don't know if there are any active changes being made to P-AWS when you switch into Sport+ mode, but it feels as such, maybe tolerances are raised or other operating parameters are being modified on the fly? The car also recovers with much more grace and confidence whether it's super tight turns or quick shifts/changes in shifting, speed, or steering. And that even goes to say while just being in "Normal" mode.
The 9-speed DCT seems to operate really well and I like having the additional gears. They seem to give you more room to work with in variable RPM's and overall control of the speed of the vehicle. There are some occasions where it's slow to response, but in most cases it's pretty quick to shift and respond as you tell it to. I think it has more to do with the timing. On occasion it seems like it gets confused if I happen to make a manual shift change right at or slightly before it's about to make a change itself. In those occasions a push of the paddle ends in nothing happening. I have to tap it again for it to respond.
And the steering and overall handling is incredible. Again, the lighter and smaller chassis just giving you soo much more control over every nuance and aspect of how the car is moving, it's attitude, and it's stance. It seems to have a tighter turning radius, less "play" in the steering when turning, so you get far more reaction, response, and control when taking a turn, resulting in far more confidence when getting into a turn AND being aggressive on the throttle.
And that leaves us to the good ol suspension....:(
I honestly don't know how to write this last paragraph without going into a huge tirade. But all I can say is Acura really F'd up the suspension in the RLX P-AWS. After being in this loaner TLX now for over a week and driving the EXACT same routes I take too and from work, and knowing EVERY SINGLE bump, pot hole, etc. etc. to avoid when driving my RLX, I wonder how I do it. The TLX takes everything with absolute 100% confidence and recovers with not a single after-shock, rock, rattle, bobbing, bounce, etc. What was once a constant battle to avoid anything sub par on the road and having to pay constant attention to the road conditions has now just turned into a "driving" with no worries.
The TLX suspension has a very solid and confident "thud" with an immediate recover when hitting a bump or even large pot-holds. "thud" and recover. 1, 2, that's it. And that's if I even feel anything at all going right over areas with no disruption at all, whereas in my RLX it's a disaster. And don't think that the TLX is all super spongy, it has a really solid feel to the suspension. It hugs the road when you need it to, but instantly soaks up anything and everything without a single question. On the other hand the RLX hits anything extremely hard, loud, and with a physical shock in the steering wheel like the car is going to break or some serious damage is being done to the vehicle. You feel everything in the chassis of the car and you hear it. You don't get a muted "thud". You get loud "CLANK" "KLUNK"....as if the car was being slammed hard. It really is that bad, and that's why I'm at the point where I really don't like driving the car downtown at all. I'm constantly having to bob and weave and slow down and speed up and bob and weave again just to avoid feeling like the car is going to break, it's pathetic. It just feels like the car doesn't even have shocks at times. I just don't get it. I really don't. And it really upsets me because if the RLX handled the road half as good as the TLX does, it would make the driving experience just that much more enjoyable. As long as you keep the RLX on solid roads or highways, it drives and feels amazing, but seriously, Acura needs to figure this out. A $60k luxury sedan should not drive this like. Period. No excuses. I don't care what anyone has to say. The car has a serious defective design issue with the suspension and it needs to be resolved. And I'm at the point where if this is something that remains the same come 2016 when I turn in my lease and look at the MMC, I will be walking to another brand if they don't address this. I really like the TLX, but it doesn't carry the same level of sophistication and luxury that I want in a car, that the RLX does carry. But I also cannot deal with this suspension issue again.
Alright, time to crash. Hope you guys enjoy the read, here's a few pics of the loaner :)
