2023 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2023 Acura TLX

Though the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta was affordable, it raised the question of whether one should invest in a traditional four-door sedan. Alternatives within its price range offered more utility or style, such as VW’s Taos crossover SUV or the Mazda3 Hatchback. The Jetta was available in S, Sport, SE, SEL, and GLI trim levels, with prices ranging from $20,665 to $31,585, excluding the $1,095 destination charge. The GLI model, known for its sport-tuned dynamics, was not part of this review. The test car was a Jetta SEL in Platinum Gray Metallic paint with a Volcano Brown over Titan Black interior, priced at $29,480 with the destination charge.

The Jetta’s appearance was often described as bland, lacking the symmetry and balance of previous generations. However, it was visually inoffensive and featured a no-nonsense interior that channeled the VW Group’s Audi luxury brand. The SEL trim included ambient lighting, genuine leather upholstery, an oversized power sunroof, and larger screens for digital instrumentation and infotainment systems. From the driver’s seat, the Jetta SEL felt upscale, offering emotional value at less than $30,000.

The 2023 Acura TLX faced challenges beyond the consumer shift to SUVs. The latest redesign arrived during the pandemic, and supply chain constraints limited production. Rising interest rates and fluctuating car prices also made it difficult for Acura to offer attractive lease deals. Unlike some rivals, Acura did not dump its vehicles into rental fleets, making the TLX a rarity on the road. The test car was a TLX Type S in Tiger Eye Pearl paint, with a performance wheel and tire package and premium floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $59,100, including the $1,195 destination charge.

The TLX’s design was based on a concept vehicle that introduced a new design language to the brand. Despite using a front-wheel-drive platform, the TLX had a rear-wheel-drive look, tapering into a tidy tail. The dramatic styling compromised rear-seat room and cargo space, but the car looked terrific. Inside, the TLX featured a layered dashboard design emphasizing width, but the control layout required relearning how to shift, use the infotainment system, and adjust driving modes, causing unnecessary distraction.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta drove like a German car, offering turbocharged torque for zippy acceleration and light, responsive steering for a nimble feel in urban and suburban environments. It featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The S and Sport trims came with a six-speed manual transmission, while the SE and SEL had an eight-speed automatic. The automatic transmission had a noticeable delay in acceleration, which could be irritating, but the manual transmission likely provided more control. The Jetta SEL had an EPA rating of 33 mpg in combined driving, but averaged 30 mpg during testing.

The Jetta SEL felt light, soft, and tossable around town, with accurate steering, faithful brakes, and predictable handling. The all-season tires, P205/55R17 Nexen Nfera AU7, impressed with their grip and communication about the road surface. The Jetta’s performance was not sporty, but it was enjoyable and trustworthy, especially on mountain roads.

Most versions of the 2023 Acura TLX had a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a paddle-shifted 10-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the trim and drivetrain, this engine returned between 24 mpg and 25 mpg in combined driving. The TLX featured multiple Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding a Sport+ mode.

The TLX Type S had a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. It featured a sport automatic transmission with rev-matching downshifts, performance-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers, and 14.3-inch front brake rotors with four-piston Brembo front calipers. The Type S could accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds and had a top speed of 155 mph, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving. The TLX Type S was fun to drive, with excellent grip and handling, but the brake-by-wire system could be distracting and less satisfying.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta was no longer a small car, easily accommodating a family of four. It straddled the compact and midsize sedan segments, with generous interior storage space and a cavernous trunk offering 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The Jetta SEL featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, but the Jetta was relatively easy to get into and out of. The back seat had plenty of legroom and heated rear seats, but lacked rear air conditioning vents.

The Jetta had ample storage options, including a large bin under the center armrest, a sizable glove compartment, and storage areas in the door panels. The trunk was spacious and easily accommodated full-size suitcases, with a 60/40-split folding back seat for longer items.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S offered premium Milano leather interiors with artificial suede inserts and contrast stitching. The test car’s Orchid interior looked terrific with optional carbon fiber trim. The Type S had a flat-bottom sport steering wheel and 16-way power-adjustable front sport seats with automatic heating and ventilation. However, the rear seat was small and lacked legroom, with narrow rear doors making access difficult. The TLX’s trunk held 13.5 cubic feet of cargo, more in line with a compact car, but a flat trunk floor and enclosed trunk hinges helped maximize space.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SEL featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrumentation panel and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with proximity-sensing surface, knobs for stereo volume, and shortcut tiles. The infotainment system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but had some usability issues, such as requiring multiple inputs to change radio stations. The Car-Net connected service provided a Wi-Fi hotspot and several remote features for five years, but the Beats Audio premium sound system was not particularly satisfying.

The 2023 Acura TLX’s True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system was a source of frustration. The 10.2-inch display was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a touchpad and buttons on the center console. The TTI proved distracting and occupied valuable center console space. Standard infotainment features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a three-year subscription to AcuraLink connected services. The TLX did not support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system sounded terrific.

The 2023 Volkswagen Jetta SE and SEL came with IQ.Drive, a package of advanced driving assistance systems, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, working well on winding roads. Emergency Assist could identify an unresponsive driver and brake the car to a safe stop. The Jetta received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but earned four stars for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS rated the Jetta’s safety as Poor in a new moderate overlap frontal-impact crash test.

The 2023 Acura TLX came standard with AcuraWatch, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Type S added rain-sensing wipers and a wiper de-icer system. The TLX featured an Advanced Engineering Compatibility (ACE) body structure and eight airbags. The IIHS gave the TLX a Top Safety Pick+ rating, and the NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall crash-test rating, with a four-star rating for the front passenger’s seating position in a frontal-impact collision.