2023 Toyota Prius vs 2024 Acura TLX

Toyota had given the 2023 Toyota Prius a complete overhaul, aiming for both efficiency and an appealing look. The car now boasted a sleek exterior that combined curves and edges for a futuristic aesthetic without alienating traditional buyers. Toyota extended the wheels further into the corners, improving both handling and the car’s athletic stance. The Prius grew longer, lower, and wider than before, presenting a solid, robust feel over rough terrains. The doors closed with a satisfying “thunk,” and the interior exuded high-quality materials and excellent fit and finish, far from the feel of a cut-rate economy car.

Inside, drivers found a dual-screen setup: an instrument panel in front and a dashboard-mounted infotainment screen, a move away from the previous center-mounted display. While the cabin leaned more towards functionality over form, it remained a comfortable space.

By comparison, Acura made minor updates to the 2024 TLX, but these changes significantly refined its look. The front grille lost its surrounding frame, and the large, rectangular radar emitter was removed, resulting in a more elegant and open appearance. Acura's signature Jewel Eye LED headlights and gaping air intakes completed the fascia’s bold look. The TLX’s body showcased restrained character lines, contributing to its sleek profile. The top-tier Type S model even sported 20-inch Berlina black split-spoke rims that emphasized its sporty nature.

Inside the TLX, leather upholstery and heated front seats were standard, enhancing its luxury sedan feel. The tech package included a 12.3-inch center infotainment screen but retained a busy center stack that could confuse some users. The red leather upholstery in the Type S underlined its performance-driven nature.

Under the hood, the 2023 Toyota Prius stepped up with a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a significant increase from the previous 1.8-liter engine. Paired with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, the new Prius harnessed 194 horsepower in FWD models and 196 horsepower in AWD models, a substantial leap from the older model’s 121 horsepower. This powertrain improved 0-60 mph acceleration times to 7.1 seconds from the previous 10.5 seconds. Moreover, the improved suspension and longer wheelbase contributed to a more agile and comfortable ride, although the brake had a slight squishy feel typical of hybrids.

The 2024 Acura TLX came with various powertrains. For most TLX models, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Technology trim drove power to the front wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the A-Spec came standard with Acura’s SH-AWD system, capable of transferring up to 100% of power to either rear wheel. For those craving more performance, the TLX Type S packed a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, rocketing from 0-60 mph in about five seconds. Its adaptive dampers, beefy stabilizers, and Brembo brake calipers ensured a true performance feel, although the steering lacked some direct connection.

The 2023 Prius, despite its external growth, saw a bit of shrinkage inside. Headroom decreased in both the front and rear seats, but legroom increased, providing ample space for taller passengers. Opting for the fixed glass roof on mid-grade and above trims brightened the somewhat enclosed cabin, though it did not open for airflow. However, cargo space took a hit, dropping to 20 cubic feet on XLE and Limited trims and 24 cubic feet on the base LE. Forward visibility was good, though rear visibility worsened due to the loss of the split rear window.

The 2024 Acura TLX, at 194.6 inches long, fit more with midsize sedans but had a wheelbase closer to compact sedans. Front seats offered ample space, but rear legroom was less impressive at 34.9 inches, compared to compact sedans like the BMW 3 Series. Trunk space stood at 13.5 cubic feet, less than a midsize but comparable to compact sedans. Its long hood gave it a midsize sedan feel in maneuverability, making it potentially less suitable for tight urban spaces. However, the driver found utmost comfort with supportive front seats, easily reachable cupholders, and a well-designed steering wheel.

The 2023 Prius featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on base LE and XLE trims, upgradeable to a 12.3-inch screen for $735. The larger screen was standard on the Limited trim, offering responsive and intuitive navigation menus. Connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the navigation system required a $160 annual subscription to Toyota’s Drive Connect. Six USB-C charge ports were spread throughout the cabin, with wireless smartphone charging available on XLE and Limited trims.

The Acura TLX offered Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad as standard. It also featured dual 12.3-inch displays: one for the digital gauge cluster and another for the infotainment system. However, the True Touchpad Interface, a trackpad mapped to the center display, required acclimation and proved troublesome with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, potentially creating a frustrating and unsafe user experience.

The 2023 Prius came with Toyota's latest suite of active safety features, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. This package included radar-based adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alerts with steering assist, lane tracing assist, and Proactive Driving Assist. All models also included stability and traction control, eight airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Advanced Park, a hands-free parallel parking feature, was optional on the Limited trim. Neither IIHS nor NHTSA had crash-tested the 2023 Prius at the time.

The 2024 Acura TLX flanked impressive safety credentials. AcuraWatch included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, rear cross-traffic monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors as standard. New upgrades for 2024 included lane-change alert and wider camera and radar views. The TLX earned five out of five stars from the NHTSA and scored “Good” in all IIHS tests, adding to its safety credibility.