2021 Acura TLX

Pros: Good ride and handling balance; fine outward visibility; smooth automatic transmission

Cons: Rear-seat room is only adequate; restricted trunk pass-through

CG Says: Acura’s midsize sedan is redesigned on a new platform for 2021, gaining fresh styling, new turbocharged engines, new tech features, and a double-wishbone front-suspension design in place of the previous MacPherson-strut front suspension. The new standard engine is a 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that is shared with Acura’s RDX crossover SUV. Due later in the model year is a sporty Type S model powered by a 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Both powerplants are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The 4-cylinder is available with front-wheel drive or Acura’s “Super Handling All-Wheel Drive” (SH-AWD), which is capable of sending up to 70 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels. SH-AWD is standard on the Type S. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, traffic-sign recognition, and Acura’s Traffic Jam Assist (a low-speed adaptive cruise control feature that keeps the car in its lane at a set interval behind the car ahead). The new TLX gets more dynamic looks and performance, along with a welcome infusion of high-tech new features. Despite larger exterior dimensions, the TLX’s cabin doesn’t gain space—the rear seat is a bit tight for big-and-tall passengers—but with pricing that tops out at around $50K for loaded 4-cylinder models, the TLX remains one of the best bargains in the premium midsize sedan segment.