2021 Acura TLX vs 2021 Lexus ES

The 2021 Acura TLX was a strikingly handsome, sporty sedan within a segment filled with similar competitors. It boasted a confident stance, highlighted by a steeply raked windshield, a fastback-style roofline, and an integrated tail spoiler. Its bold front end featured a grille pattern that seemed to explode outward from a prominent Acura logo, flanked by thin, horizontal LED “jewel eye” headlights. The rear was completed with twin trapezoidal tailpipes beneath the bumper. High-quality paint and subtle chrome accents enriched the look of this premium sedan.

Inside, the TLX's interior displayed a similar level of refinement and attention to detail. Acura aptly described the driver’s position as a “sport sedan cockpit.” The dashboard was meticulously sectioned with clusters of organized functions, using authentic materials with an excellent tactile feel. Whether it was metal, leather, or wood, each material was genuine, creating a seamless and cohesive appearance. The 10.2-inch landscape-oriented infotainment screen was strategically placed at the top of the center stack, presenting a sleek, floating design that seemed intentional and well-integrated.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus ES lineup expanded to include the new ES 250 series, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and standard AWD, priced similarly to the ES 350 with a 3.5-liter V6 and FWD. Available in Standard, F Sport, Luxury, and Ultra Luxury trims, the Lexus ES also offered the ES 300h hybrid variant, adding a $1,910 premium but significantly enhancing fuel economy.

A noteworthy addition for 2021 was a limited-production Black Line Special Edition of the ES 350. This $54,070 MSRP version came with features including extra-cost paint, triple-beam LED headlights, a host of luxury packages, and a unique appearance with blackout elements. The F Sport trim added a sporty flair with 19-inch wheels, specific front and rear styling details, and aluminum interior trim.

Despite Lexus models' often controversial grille design, the ES was otherwise a beautifully designed sedan, exuding elegance and sophistication with a long, lean, and detailed look. The interior of the test car contrasted vividly with its black and white theme, aligning with the dramatic cabin aesthetics, reaffirming it as a true Lexus despite sharing a platform with the Toyota Avalon.

In the 2021 Acura TLX, Acura had created a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine operated with a drive-by-wire throttle system and a shift-by-wire connection to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission. The base models were FWD, with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available across all models. The fuel efficiency varied slightly between FWD and AWD models, with the former achieving 22/31/25 mpg (city/highway/combined) and the latter 21/29/24 mpg.

The TLX's driving experience was enhanced by its Integrated Dynamics System, offering Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual modes that adjusted parameters like throttle response, gearing, and steering. The Advance package further included adaptive dampers, fine-tuning the ride quality. The car's handling was lively and precise, offering an enjoyable driving experience on various road surfaces. At its launch, the TLX proved its mettle on suburban, rural, and highway routes, displaying excellent handling and an engaging driving character, particularly in Sport mode, which reduced turbo lag and enriched the exhaust note.

Lexus, on the other hand, equipped every ES 350 with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission drove the front wheels, with selectable Normal, Eco, and Sport driving modes. Opting for the adaptive damping suspension provided additional Sport+ and Custom driving modes.

During testing, the ES 350 F Sport felt quicker than Lexus’s 6.6-second 0-60 mph claim. The car averaged 22.9 mpg on the test loop, slightly underperforming the EPA's combined rating of 25 mpg. The drive modes offered noticeable differences, enhancing driving enjoyment, particularly in Sport and Sport+ modes, transforming the ES into a surprisingly agile and athletic car. Despite its sporty demeanor, it remained more of a sporty sedan than an outright sports sedan, appropriately leaving the latter role to the Lexus IS lineup.

Acura’s innovative design choices in the 2021 TLX significantly influenced its functionality. The shift-by-wire transmission allowed a more flexible center console design, housing a control panel inspired by the NSX, with low-profile, easy-to-access controls. This freed up space for a mini touchpad interface for infotainment, conveniently placed with a hand rest for user compliance. Additional storage features included two large cupholders positioned away from the driver's elbow and bottle holders in the door panels, along with a spacious storage cubby under the armrest.

The rear seats were comfortable for two average-sized adults with ample head- and legroom, while the middle seat suited short trips only. Both front seats featured comfortable sport buckets with available Milano leather, 12-way power adjustability, and heated and ventilated options in higher trims. The second-row seats could fold down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the spacious 13.5 cubic feet trunk with a generous opening.

The 2021 Lexus ES, though featuring a daring interior layout, did not compromise on functionality. The ES 350 F Sport's interior had sport-bolstered front seats with 10-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, covered in NuLuxe synthetic leather resembling real leather. The rear seats offered excellent legroom, ideal seating angles, and additional comforts like rear air conditioning vents and an available power rear window sunshade. However, a panoramic sunroof was missing, which could have been a nice addition.

Visibility was excellent due to thin windshield pillars and well-placed side mirrors. Storage, though ample, was peculiarly configured with numerous small compartments rather than larger bins. The 13.9 cubic feet trunk, just slightly larger than the TLX's, opened with a hands-free power feature, enhancing the loading and unloading process.

The 2021 Acura TLX was loaded with sophisticated tech features. The performance tech included drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, SH-AWD, and a 10-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. These systems operated seamlessly in the background, optimizing performance without driver intervention.

For passenger comfort, the TLX offered ambient interior lighting with customizable themes, which could sync with drive modes. The ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker audio system, available in A-Spec and Advance Packages, used 710 watts and 16 discrete channels to deliver an extraordinary auditory experience.

Standard above the base trim was the Acura navigation system with voice recognition, Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added a head-up display, working even with polarized sunglasses, and a G-Meter and Turbo Boost Indicator.

Conversely, the 2021 Lexus ES faced criticism for its touchpad, which required too much driver attention. The pad necessitated visual focus to track and select functions, often resulting in overshooting the target.

However, the ES had positive aspects. Separate climate and stereo controls were easily accessible, with an intuitive combination volume and tuning knob. The voice command technology was commendable, allowing infrequent pad usage. The optional 12.3-inch widescreen display provided an expansive and visually appealing interface, even though it would have benefited from touchscreen functionality.

All Lexus ES trims came standard with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and connected services with varying trial periods. The larger screen brought a dynamic navigation system, and the ES featured a good standard 10-speaker audio system, with an available 17-speaker Mark Levinson system for audiophiles.

The 2021 Acura TLX came equipped with the AcuraWatch suite of driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, low-speed follow, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel door rings, airbags, adjustable head restraints, three-point seatbelts for all seats, LATCH connectors, ABS, vehicle stability assist, traction control, auto-high beams, and a multi-angle rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines. New for 2021 were a next-gen front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor.

Optional safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a head-up display. While the 2021 TLX had not been tested by IIHS or NHTSA, the previous generation had earned an “Acceptable” rating from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. Acura aimed for five-star and Top Safety Pick + ratings for the 2021 model.

For the 2021 Lexus ES, every variant included the Lexus Safety System 2.0 (LSS 2.0), incorporating forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, road-sign recognition, and automatic high-beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were added as standard for all trims except the base.

ADAS settings were adjustable via steering wheel controls, although occasional issues were noted with the lane-centering technology during specific traffic conditions. Nevertheless, LSS 2.0 proved effective overall.

The 2021 Lexus ES earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, confirming its robust safety credentials.