Acuras are more fun to drive than Lexuses, less fun than BMWs, different from Audis (I tend to find Acura's to be better for daily driving duty), more youthful than Mercedes, and less juicy than Cadillacs. Lincolns are much mushier, in a good way.
The A-Spec package adds some oomph to the regulation TLX. A 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is under the hood, and it's fantastic. We're being compelled to deal with more and more turbocharging on luxury vehicles, but the TLX's mill is all motor, and it punches above spec, at least in the feel department.
I thought I had more than 300 horses the entire time, testament to how that V6 in combination with a 9-speed automatic does a passable imitation of a small V8. The 0-60 mph run can be achieved in about six seconds, which isn't bonkers fast, but the TLX A-Spec comes into its own when you call on it to pass or want to cleanly access the power while modulating speed.
This is a no-compromise drivetrain, and when you throw in the torque-vectoring AWD system, you get a ride that's crisp when commanded and mellow when it isn't — the polar opposite of a twitchy performance car. Steering is responsive without being heavy, and the brakes feel solid. If you get bold with the throttle, the A-Spec even shows a glimmer of a wild side. But just a glimmer. This is no BMW M-Sport machine.
A litany of driver-assist features are standard for the TLX A-Spec, ranging from adaptive cruise control to lane-keep assist and forward collision braking, but I didn't much use them. Firstly, because I didn't have the car for long enough to engage in a long freeway cruise. But secondly, and more importantly, because I just liked driving the car myself too doggone much!
Ben Zhang and I agreed that the TLX A-Spec offers a convincing alternative to a BMW 3-Series with comparable options, given that everything I've outlined in this review can be had standard for the just a scooch more than $45,000, with the only uptick from the $44,800 ticker being the $950 destination charge. And it's not for nothing that you'll be buying Acura reliability and quality; if you want to drive the TLX until the wheels fall off, you can.
This is how Acura greatness sneaks up on you. And it's why the brand should always be in the top-tier luxury conversation, even if it's rarely included in that club. I should have known that this would be one of the best cars we'd drive all year.