2021 Acura TLX vs 2022 Lexus ES

The 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan in a competitive class. It featured an assertive stance with a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. The front grille, designed to look like it exploded from the Acura logo, and the jewel eye LED headlights added to its bold appearance. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes and top-notch paint quality further enhanced its premium look. Inside, the TLX boasted a "sport sedan cockpit" with authentic materials like metal, leather, and wood. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was neatly mounted, giving a floating effect above the dash.

The 2022 Lexus ES, a mainstay in the Lexus lineup, had evolved over seven generations. It featured elegant proportions and a sleek roofline, though its spindle grille and assertive headlamp shapes were polarizing. Standard 17-inch wheels could be upgraded to 18 or 19 inches, with the latter appearing almost cartoonish. Inside, the ES had a layered, asymmetrical dashboard that felt jumbled despite its precise assembly. The F Sport model added bold two-tone leather seating, which seemed sportier than the rest of the car. An analog chronometer on the dash added to the clutter, dating the design.

The 2021 Acura TLX featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available. The EPA rated the FWD models at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 21/29/24 mpg. The TLX offered distinct driving personalities through its Integrated Dynamics System, with modes like Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Advance package added adaptive dampers for a customizable ride. The TLX felt nimble and balanced, with 50% greater global torsional stiffness and up to 100% greater rigidity at the suspension mounts.

The 2022 Lexus ES came in three models: ES 250 AWD, ES 350, and ES 300h. The ES 250 AWD had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The ES 350 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, rated at 22/32/26 mpg. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a net 215 hp, achieving 43/44/44 mpg. The ES 250 AWD felt slow and unrefined, while the ES 350's V6 offered more engaging performance. The ES 300h excelled in fuel economy but had modest performance.

The 2021 Acura TLX's shift-by-wire transmission allowed for a reimagined center console, featuring a control panel modeled after the NSX. The center console housed the infotainment interface, a mini touchpad, and two big cupholders. The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The front seats offered 12-way power adjustability and were available with perforated Milano leather. The second row folded down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the 13.5 cubic feet trunk with a 47.6-inch-wide opening and 42.4 inches of depth.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, with a pass-through behind the center armrest for long items. The second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat, accommodating larger items. The ES had a lower center of gravity and ground clearance than the Lexus RX, contributing to better handling and fuel economy. Inside, the ES featured ample storage, including big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a center console storage bin. The dash layout was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2021 Acura TLX was loaded with technology, including drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. The TLX offered multiple ambient interior lighting themes and the impressive ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display, G-Meter, and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility. The base model had a 10-speaker Pioneer sound system, while upper trims got a 12.3-inch touchscreen and Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio. The ES also offered a 10-inch head-up display and a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist. Lexus Enform connected services included Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote, and WiFi trials, along with Dynamic Navigation and Destination Assist for cars with the navigation package.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with the AcuraWatch suite, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, airbags, adjustable head restraints, three-point seatbelts, LATCH connectors, ABS, vehicle stability assist, auto-high beam headlights, and a multi-angle rear-view camera. The TLX also had a next-generation front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available features included rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Lexus ES received the highest safety ratings from IIHS (Top Safety Pick+) and NHTSA (five-star rating). Standard safety features included the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, with a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, Enhanced Lane-Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. The ES also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 10 airbags, and three years of Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.