Used 2016 Acura TLX Sedan Consumer Reviews
Used TLX for sale
No more tranny issues.... now just a great car!
Scott, 02/06/2016
2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Technology Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
53 of 100 people found this review helpful
I bought a '16 TLX tech package SH-AWD five weeks ago and since then have put 900 miles on it. At the time I was looking around, there was still plenty of 2015's available that were nicely marked down in price. Hoping to save a few grand, I looked around for the very specific trim package and color combo I wanted an also did all kinds of research. I found that half the reviews were good, and half were bad because of the ZF 9 speed transmission. I was initially disappointed to read so many reviews slamming the car because of it. Understanding that the first model year of any car usually has issues, I considered a 2016 in hopes whatever tranny problems may exist are ironed out. As far as appearance and features go, there is no difference in the 2 model years. I went out and test drove SIX different TLX's (four 2015 and two 2016). The problems many people reported were clunky shifting from gear 2 to 3, downshift hesitation, slow roll take off hesitation, car jerking forward as it downshifts especially when descending down a hill giving the driver the impression the car is speeding up when it should be slowing down. I took special note to almost all the bad reviews saying that the car was fine for the first few hundred miles before it started so one of the 15's I drove was a program car that had 300 miles already on it. What I found was that there is a small learning curve involved with 9 speed transmission but I found no problems with any of the cars I test drove and I was really looking for them. All the upshifts were smooth. Some downshifts required an extra half second to find a gear since it is a 9 speed but nothing crazy like I read some people complaining that they were being put into accident prone situations. While stopped, the start/stop feature which kills the engine does take half a second as well to accelerate because the engine has to turn back on but it is quick doing it all things considered. I'm not sure how much gas it saves in real world but there's nothing gained from sitting still idling either. That feature can be turned off for those who don't like but I find I leave it on unless I'm in a lot of stop and go traffic. Going down a hill is no problem. You can feel the car push forward slightly to downshift wen it engages the clutch and stops engine braking for a split second however it is easy to identify and adds no danger. I don't feel the least bit nervous about it. I felt no difference between the 2015's and '16s. I bought a '16 because I found the black/greystone combination I wanted with the Tech AWD (advance was too expensive and I got the dealer to throw in the remote start anyway). I had the rear lip spoiler and full aero kit put on and the car looks and feels amazing! No tranny issues here. As for everything else, the 4 different driving modes are indeed different. The engine has plenty of power in any of them but eco mode really mutes acceleration response and lightens the steering and suspension a lot. Sport and sport plus mode tightens the steering and suspension (the steering still has a bit of artificial tightening feel when compared to my previous car which handled like a champ, but not a problem at all, just the slightest notice), but the acceleration becomes lighting quick in response and the car is a blast to drive on the highway on the upper end of the RPM range. Forget the paddle shifters with a 9 speed...too much work. If you use one while in sport plus mode, you are stuck continuing to have to use them unless you drop the drive mode to eco or normal. In all other modes, it goes back to full automatic after a few seconds unless you continue to use it. I ignore it but if you like paddle shifters, they do shift well and responsively. MPG's are not as good as listed, I got 247 miles on my first tank in Normal mode and 290 or so on my second tank in ECO mode, driving very easy - it's a 17.5 gallon tank but hey gas is below $2.00. The sound system is absolutely the best stock system I've ever heard - just amazing sound. Haven't figured out yet how to have texts read and replied through the blue tooth but I will be calling the service desk to inquire. Other than that the blue tooth and infotainment is great. Little learning curve with the dual screens but I like them a lot. Acura nailed it with this car!!! Love the looks (subjective I know) and the performance. If you're in the market, do not be put off by the transmission concern, drive a couple and see for yourself, maybe avoid pre-owned or left-over '15s or at least see the build date on the driver side door jam sticker. Anything built after August 2015 should be fine. Go get one, it IS that kind of Thrill !!!!
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I will never buy Acura again
Eric, 09/07/2016
2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Technology Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
12 of 22 people found this review helpful
I will never buy Acura again. This is my second Acura and fifth car manufactured by Honda. I have been a loyal Honda customer, had two Accords and a Civic. Loved each one. Then, when my spouses Mercedes C300 4matic got totaled, we decided to try 2013 Acura TSX 4cyl (Tech package), and we were very impressed with it. Car had certain finesse about it, the interior was made of quality materials, it was crafty and had a decent feel about it. Engine and transmission were flawless. So, needless to say that when we received an invitation from Acura to trade in our older TSX for a brand new TLX (for the same monthly leasing price, with zero out of pocket costs, tax, tags, registration included) we were excited and jumped on it. Dealership was great, their customer service and finance department catered to all of our whims. They took off over $5000 off MSRP and we ended up leasing 2016 SH AWD TLX V6 Tech package with literally no cost except the first months leasing payment ($33/mo over TSX tech, but this is AWD, V6, nearly $10K more expensive car). But weren't we disappointed when we got behind the wheel! Yes, there is no way you can buy so many options in a car for $37,000 if you got with BMW, Mercedes or Audi. But at what cost! First of all, let me say it was completely convoluted idea to build a car with "fuel economy at any cost!" idea and put a V6 engine on it. If you want to cater to fuel economy crazy consumer why bother to attach 6 cyl engine to it? The end result is completely convoluted, lame, jerky and I should say overall TERRIBLE performance on the road! First of all, this car drives like under-powered 4 cyl and NOT anything like V6. Transmission hesitates and "thinks" for good few seconds before it decides what gear it will shift, so God forbid you are on a highway passing a car and a 18 wheeler is quickly approaching you. It will ride all over you and glue you from trunk through your hood before your transmission would even begin to decide what gear it should shift into. I have never had a car with such a horrible transmission. Car just never moves! As if this was not enough of inconvenience, this car will remind you what a foolish choice you have made when you eventually slow down in a traffic without pushing the break pedal. It will jerk and pull forward each time it shifts from one of its' higher gears towards the lower, and oh boys, doesn't that car have plenty of gears! 9 in total! Stay away from this car! Let Acura know that they must live up to the image they have established in earlier years and deliver quality cars as they used, or else we won't buy it from them again! I personally have no intention to touch another Acura once our lease comes to an end. I could live with extremely ugly design of the grill some genius designer came up with once upon a time (just who came up with the idea of putting a beak on it!), but I will not tolerate a car that handles like a dirt truck while claiming to be a luxury vehicle. And please, just because you are targeting certain socioeconomic demographics don't assume we are blind and can't notice how cheap and LOW QUALITY the interior design and quality are. This car has nothing of 2013 TSX , as far as interior design and quality are concerned. And I have said enough of it's drive-train already. In one word: just stay away from TLX.
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2016 Acura TLX for sale near you
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- Technology Package SedanMSRP: $15,28027 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $9,2941 mi away
- Base SedanMSRP: $12,066In-stock online
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AWD V6 + Aero kit: Very nice car
Allen Wellhoff, 03/24/2016
2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Technology Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
1st week of ownership: very happy with the car so far. Very comfortable, plenty of power. 9 spd trans takes a little getting used to. Surprised Back up sensor as an add on to the Tech package does not mute radio when placing car into reverse but warning beep is loud enough to not be an issue. This is our 7th Honda/Acura vehicle. I expect nothing less then a smooth and reliable experience.
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Great car except for LED headlights
John Z., 08/02/2016
2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Technology Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Everything about this car is pretty nice. Cabin layout, trunk space, ride comfort, acceleration, etc all done to excellent standards. However, the LED headlights make this car dangerous for night driving. Projection down the road in ideal night conditions is at best mediocre. Rain or snow conditions are downright scary. The lights have NO sidesplash. Going around a dark corner is like driving into a sheet of darkness, nothing can be seen until the turn is fully made! The IIHS has found the same in their ratings and gave the TLX LEDs a poor rating. Hopefully Honda will be shamed into correcting for the next model year? If all you do is daytime driving - this is the car for you. Otherwise stay away!
BAD Vibrations at highway speeds...
GTorres, 10/27/2016
2016 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Advance Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
This car should not be sold as is! Acura does not know what the cause of the problem is, and after many trip back to the dealer, and talking to Acura Client Relations, I am not sure that they are even interested in addressing it. They made it be known to me that they do not consider the issue a defect, but more of an anomaly that unfortunately is very uncomfortable while driving the car over 60 MPH. If you do not have to go over 50 MPH, then this is the car for you...
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