2023 Acura TLX vs 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2023 Acura TLX faced several challenges, including a consumer shift to SUVs, pandemic-related supply chain constraints, and rising interest rates, which made it difficult for Acura to offer attractive lease deals. Unlike some competitors, Acura did not flood rental fleets with its vehicles, making the TLX a rare sight on the road. The TLX Type S, tested in Southern California, featured eye-catching Tiger Eye Pearl paint and a performance wheel and tire package, bringing its MSRP to $59,100, including the destination charge.

Acura's latest TLX design, based on a concept vehicle, introduced a new design language with a long, low, and lean profile that mimicked a rear-wheel-drive look. However, this dramatic styling compromised rear-seat room and cargo space. Inside, the TLX's layered dashboard emphasized width but sacrificed practicality, with a control layout that required relearning. The Type S model, equipped with a turbocharged V6 engine and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), was the most expensive version, while the base TLX with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive (FWD) started at $41,045.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid was available in Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $32,895 to $38,890, excluding a $1,095 destination charge. The Sport trim offered popular value, the EX-L excelled in gas mileage, the Sport-L added leather and black wheels, and the Touring featured luxury touches and exclusive technology. The 2023 redesign replaced the sporty styling with a clean, technical look, best complemented by the machined-finish 19-inch wheels on the Sport and Touring trims.

The Accord Hybrid Touring test car, painted in Canyon River Blue metallic, featured a black leather interior, though gray leather would have been a better match. The MSRP was $39,985, including the destination charge. The black interior was lightened with a gray headliner, contrast stitching, metallic finishes, and an artful mesh trim strip hiding the dashboard air vents. While some plastic parts looked too shiny for a $40,000 car, the Accord Touring's interior impressed overall.

The 2023 Acura TLX offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the trim and drivetrain, this engine achieved between 24 and 25 mpg in combined driving. The TLX featured multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding a Sport+ mode. The SH-AWD system, available with the A-Spec Package and standard on the TLX Advance and Type S models, provided mechanical torque vectoring, enhancing power, grip, and control.

The TLX Type S, equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivered 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. It featured performance enhancements such as a sport automatic transmission with rev-matching downshifts, adaptive dampers, thicker stabilizer bars, and Brembo front calipers. The Type S could accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the brake-by-wire system, based on the discontinued NSX sports car, proved less satisfying on twisty roads, causing a mismatch between driver inputs and braking response.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors. This setup produced 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, with the latter available from zero to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain operated smoothly, with simulated gear changes for a traditional driving experience. The car weighed around 3,500 pounds, depending on the trim level, and offered zippy acceleration in city driving and during stop-and-go commutes.

The Accord Hybrid EX-L returned 48 mpg in combined driving, while the Sport, Sport-L, and Touring trims, equipped with larger 19-inch wheels, achieved 44 mpg. During testing, the Touring trim returned 43.1 mpg. The Accord Hybrid impressed with its blend of ride and handling characteristics, making it easy to trust and enjoyable to drive. The car's responsiveness and natural feel made it an excellent daily driver.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S offered interior color options of Ebony, Red, and Orchid, with premium Milano leather and artificial suede inserts. The Orchid interior, paired with optional carbon fiber trim, looked impressive. The flat-bottom sport steering wheel featured analog gauges with low-contrast red markings, making them difficult to read. The TLX Type S included 16-way power-adjustable front sport seats with heating and ventilation, but rear seat comfort was lacking due to narrow rear doors and limited legroom. The trunk offered 13.5 cubic feet of cargo space, more in line with a compact car.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid prioritized comfort, though taller drivers might find the driver's seat lacking in rearward adjustment. All Accord Hybrid models featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with leather-trimmed versions offering heated front seats. The Touring trim added ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom and headroom, supportive seating, and a perfect backrest angle. The Touring trim included air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear passengers. The trunk offered 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing rivals in its class.

The 2023 Acura TLX's True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system was a source of frustration, with a 10.2-inch display controlled by a touchpad and buttons on the center console. The system's one-to-one relationship between the touchpad and display proved distracting. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a three-year subscription to AcuraLink connected services. Higher trims added wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and premium audio systems. The TLX lacked Alexa Built-In, relying on AcuraLink Remote for Alexa compatibility.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa Built-in, and HondaLink subscription services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Touring trim added a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, wireless smartphone charger, and a 6-inch head-up display. Google Built-in with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play Store was exclusive to the Touring trim, though voice recognition issues were encountered during testing.

The 2023 Acura TLX came standard with AcuraWatch, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The TLX received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and came standard with Honda Sensing, which included automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist. The EX-L trim added parking sensors, while the Touring trim included low-speed automatic braking. The Accord's safety features performed well, though some issues were encountered with lane assist and adaptive cruise control in bright sunlight.