I love a good sports sedan. It’s one of my favorite vehicle variants behind the wagon. Honda has been making good sporty sedans for decades, and their latest Integra Type S is one of my favorites. I’ve also spent some time behind the wheel of a 2021 TLX SH-AWD A-SPEC, which kicked off the 2nd generation. Then, I got some seat time in the up-rated Type S the same year, on this very website. So, I was excited to see that the latest 2024 version of the Type S was inbound in my review queue. Let’s see where things stand with the beefy Acura.

2024 Acura TLX Type S Overview

Acura’s build-your-own TLX site is very much powertrain-focused. The bare-bones chassis lays bare in front of you as you ponder your choice of FWD, AWD, and which engine you fancy. Obviously, we are going to tick the 335 horsepower 3.0L turbo V6 which parks you squarely in Type S land.

Pricing starts at $57,000 and all colors, save the basic Lunar Silver will cost you 600 bucks. The only correct choices are Apex Blue Pearl or Tiger Eye Pearl (orange’ish), though Acura’s look good in white as well. As you can see below, the gray paint is the only upgrade for our tester. Someone at Acura chose the red interior over ebony, a bold choice to be sure. After that, there are only a handful of accessories to choose from. The Type S already comes with pretty much all the features you can get on a TLX.

Feature highlights include a set of 20-inch alloy wheels with upgraded performance tires. Chassis upgrades get you adaptive suspension, Brembo performance brakes, and extra chassis bracing. You’ll also find exterior stuff like a trim-specific grille design, a fun aerodynamic body trim, and some power-folding side mirrors. Inside, aside from the bright red interior, you’ll find sporty 16-way power-adjustable front seats. Out the door, you’re looking at just under $58,800. I’ll look at how that compares to some of the competition in a bit, but let’s talk about how it all feels.

2024 Acura TLX Type S Inside & Out

The Type S looks fantastic, pure and simple. It has strong lines and a subtle lower chin spoiler across the front end. Plus, Acura has really dialed in the design of the five-sided grille. I think black wheels are on the way out from an automotive fashion perspective, but the 20-inch wheels look the part of a sports sedan. Along the side profile, there are just enough design elements to be interesting without being overdone, and out back, the slim taillights are joined by a subtle spoiler and some beefy exhaust outlets.

It’s a good-looking thing.

On the inside, the design that started in the NSX is still around and still looks fairly modern. I’m not sure if the red seats and trim would age all that well as far as style goes, but it’s certainly not boring. Speaking of the seats, they are thoroughly comfortable and supportive with nice bolsters that keep you snugly in place during spicy handling maneuvers.

Unfortunately, the infotainment interface is still pretty bad. The trackpad is in a good spot, and I like the wristrest, but it’s just so clunky. At one point, I tried to change the song on Spotify, but because Waze was also operating and actively popping up directions at the bottom, it kept making me jump back to Waze instead of changing the playlist. Just let me touch the damn screen please.

However, the ELS audio system remains one of the best in the business.

Rear leg room is around 35 inches, which is pretty solid for most day-to-day jobs but taller people will feel a bit cramped. You’ll find 13.5 cubic feet of space in the trunk, not groundbreaking but plenty for a fun road trip.

Speaking of the road, acceleration is fantastic, and it sounds quite good as well. The quad exhaust provides a nice baritone note, and during wide-open throttle, it is quite sonorous. The ride can be a little stiff if you hit a significant bump, but that’s to be expected with a sports sedan. The trade-off means you get crisp and responsive handling in most situations. The transmission works well in most situations, but it would not let me drop down to first gear when coming to a stop, even in Sport Plus.

Summary

The real question is how the TLX Type S stacks up to the competition. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, if I’m honest. The European competition, specifically from Germany, gives you more power…for more money. The C43 AMG starts at $60,700 and has 402 hp, while the BMW M340i xDrive starts at $59,600 and has 382 hp. Both have more torques with 369 lb-ft each compared to the Acura’s 354 lb-ft. Then, if you consider the Genesis G70 you’ll find a price undercut at $52,050 starting MSRP with a slightly higher rating of 368 hp.

That’s all well and good, but of the lot I’d seriously consider the TLX Type S. Assuming they give it an actual touchscreen.