2018 Acura TLX Review

Name: 2018 Acura TLX
Brand: Acura

Price Range: $14,950 - $25,998

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$20,875 avg. price

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Appraise My 2018 Acura TLX

Acura TLX model years

Acura TLX for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Jason Kavanagh

Pros

Cabin stays quiet at highway speeds
Full suite of driver assistance aids is standard
Back seat comfortably seats adult-size passengers

Cons

Competent but bland driving experience
Four-cylinder engine lacks oomph

What’s new

The most obvious change to the 2018 Acura TLX is the sedan's face-lifted front end. More advanced driver safety aids are now standard across the board, the infotainment interface has been revised for quicker responses, and both transmissions have been retuned. There's also a new sporty A-Spec trim level this year.

Vehicle overview

Acura introduced the TLX in 2015 to replace its TSX and TL sedans, aiming to combine the appeal of both of those cars with a single model. Since then, we've found the TLX exhibits an agreeable demeanor. It's not particularly exciting, but it doesn't have any huge drawbacks either.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Irving, TX

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2018 Acura TLX
Technology Package Sedan
$21,990
fair price
- 62,311 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 20 City / 32 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Dallas (10 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Dallas, TX
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (20 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 19UUB2F56JA003461
Stock: 2003939459
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-31-2025
2018 Acura TLX
Base Sedan
$17,998
fair price
- 96,494 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 23 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- CarMax Texas Stadium (Irving) (4 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Irving, TX
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: Yes
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (23 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 19UUB1F33JA011655
Stock: 27760757
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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This year's 2018 TLX is a little more dynamic. Though it's the same sedan under the skin (it continues to be based on the Honda Accord), Acura has freshened the TLX's styling to bring the sedan up to date with the company's current design themes. Changes elsewhere are relatively modest. Beyond the additional feature content, the TLX's updated two-screen infotainment system has quicker responses and more logical operation, and the retuned transmissions are said to improve shift refinement. There's also a new A-Spec trim level that gets a sport-tuned suspension and its own special styling elements.

Overall, though, the TLX is much like it has been. It's a smart choice if you want a lot of value from your luxury sedan but probably not the best if performance is a priority.

What it's like to live with?

Edmunds' editorial team acquired and lived with a 2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD for a full year, logging 20,000 miles. We found the TLX to be a well-appointed luxury sedan with a refined ride and ample motivation from the optional V6 engine. We weren't a fan of its nine-speed transmission, however, especially in the earlier generation models. Check out our long-term TLX test to learn more.

Note that the 2018 Acura TLX differs from our long-term TLX in that it has received a cosmetic face-lift inside and out and has a revised infotainment interface. It's the same generation, though, so most of our observations still apply.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.5 / 10

With a face-lift and more standard equipment, the 2018 Acura TLX reinforces its value appeal in the entry-level luxury sedan segment. It trades flash for substance and flies under the radar of a lot of shoppers. It's a smart pick but won't quicken your pulse.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2015 Acura TLX 2.4L with Technology (2.4L inline-4 | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current TLX has received some revisions, including a cosmetic face-lift inside and out, retuned transmissions, standard driver assistance features and a revised infotainment interface. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's TLX.

Scorecard

Overall	7.5 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.0

Driving

7.5

Overall performance is modest from the small-engine TLX. Handling is enhanced by four-wheel steering, but the front-drive TLX lacks the composure and speed of its V6-powered, AWD big brother.

Acceleration

7.0

With only 206 hp on tap, the four-cylinder TLX lacks the power to spin its tires off the line. Sixty mph arrives in 7.4 seconds, which is on the slow side for the segment. None of the drive modes will hold gears at redline.

Braking

7.0

Around town, these brakes are perfectly average. Easy to modulate and never grabby.

Steering

8.5

The steering response is good in most situations. Weight is appropriately tuned, but feel is lacking. Rear-wheel steering enhances performance in most normal situations, though it can be awkward in long, steady corners.

Handling

8.0

The TLX's chassis tuning and four-wheel steering generally enhance handling. However, the TLX's low-grip all-season tires hurt overall performance.

Drivability

6.5

It's easy to drive and easy to live with both around town and on the freeway. Multiple drive modes allow tuning to suit your needs between Economy and Sport+. No obvious drivability problems.

Comfort

8.0

The TLX has an appealing balance of ride and handling despite the lack of adjustable suspension dampers, which are available on many rivals. It's a comfortable sedan for both commuting and long road trips.

Seat comfort

8.0

The well-padded driver seat gives enough support for moderate driving but also provides ample comfort for multi-hour trips. The rear seat provides generous legroom, but taller passengers will lack headroom.

Ride comfort

8.5

The TLX manages to absorb road irregularities without being too floaty or bouncy on the highway. We could be comfortable here for hours.

Noise & vibration

8.5

Active noise cancellation, an acoustic glass windshield and triple door seals are effective in keeping road and wind noise outside the TLX's plush cabin. The four-cylinder sounds good racing to redline, and it's never coarse.

Interior

8.0

Though the TLX's interior isn't groundbreaking, it is well built from quality materials. Infotainment controls aren't as practical or easy as some competitors, but they offer similar functionality. Space and visibility are TLX strengths.

Ease of use

7.0

The dual-screen layout allows ample information display (e.g., maps and audio simultaneously), but single-knob control lacks functionality and intuitiveness of many rivals.

Getting in/getting out

8.5

Nothing outstanding in this area. Easy entry and exit front and rear with large enough door apertures. The seat height is reasonable up front and doesn't stand out as either too high or too low. Average for the class in this regard.

Roominess

8.0

Ample leg- and headroom in the front seats. Rear-seat legroom is impressive. Rear headroom, however, might be a problem for passengers taller than 6 feet. Overall, the TLX will be plenty comfortable for four average-size adults.

Visibility

7.0

The TLX's front roof pillars aren't massive or at such an acute angle that they cause forward visibility problems. The rear pillars are bigger and can hide a vehicle if it's in the wrong place, but the optional blind-spot warning system helps.

Quality

6.0

Though it lacks the high-end luxury feel of some competitors, the TLX still offers a package that's well assembled and appealing inside and out. All knobs and buttons feel high-quality.

Utility

7.0

Small-item storage, as in most Acura products, is excellent.There are many cubbies of various sizes in the dash, console and door panels. Trunk size exceeds that of most competitors. It also has a 60/40-split folding rear seat that folds nearly flat.

Compare 2018 Acura TLX trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Acura TLX models

Picking a 2018 Acura TLX is straightforward. Acura offers the TLX with one of two engines, a four-cylinder or a V6, and a couple of option packages. Four-cylinder models are front-wheel drive only and are available as either TLX 2.4L or TLX 2.4L with Technology package. The base V6 model is the TLX 3.5L. You can also get the TLX 3.5L with Technology package, TLX 3.5L A-Spec and TLX 3.5L with Advance package. All-wheel drive is available for all TLXs with the V6.

The base TLX 2.4L comes with a 2.4-liter engine (206 hp, 182 lb-ft) and an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Standard feature highlights include LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery and power-adjustable front seats.

For 2018, all TLXs are equipped as standard with a suite of driver assistance features collectively labeled AcuraWatch. This includes lane departure warning and intervention, forward collision warning and mitigation with automatic braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam control.

You'll probably like getting the extra convenience features of the TLX 2.4L with Technology package. It adds keyless entry for the rear doors, leather upholstery, automatic wipers, a climate control system that compensates for sun direction, navigation, a 10-speaker premium audio system, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

TLX 3.5L models are, appropriately enough, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 (290 hp, 267 lb-ft) that's connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Beyond what comes with the base four-cylinder variant, the 3.5L gets 18-inch wheels and more power adjustments for the front passenger seat.

The TLX 3.5L with Technology package offers the same features as the Technology package on the four-cylinder version plus revised leather upholstery and a power-extending thigh support for the driver seat.

For people who want all the creature comforts, the TLX 3.5L with Advance package awaits. It has all of the Technology package items plus parking sensors, remote engine start, ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, a surround-view camera system and a heated windshield.

New for 2018 is the TLX 3.5L A-Spec, which has the features of the Technology package and some of the features of the Advance package, plus a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, quicker steering, sport front seats and some cosmetic tweaks.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$162/mo

$143/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability

The 2018 Acura TLX has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 3 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #1 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#1 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$353/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

0.4x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

5.7%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Recalls

3 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 23V858000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: KGC, KGD
Number of vehicles affected:: 2490460
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Defect Consequence:: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Recall Number:: 23V751000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: XG1, GG0
Manufactured from:: 2018-04-09 to 2018-08-28
Number of vehicles affected:: 248999
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Defect Consequence:: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

Recall Number:: 19V060000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: N3X, P3W
Manufactured from:: 2016-07-15 to 2017-03-27
Number of vehicles affected:: 437032
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Defect Consequence:: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Corrective Action:: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 6 years / 70,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Acura TLX Owner Reviews

4.2

47 reviews

5(68%)

4(6%)

3(13%)

2(6%)

1(7%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

This car is seriously underrated

Jimbo, 11/09/2017

2018 Acura TLX Technology Package 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)

Just leased the 2018 TLX 2.4 with tech package. No money down sign and drive $420.00 per mos. The base engine provides great acceleration in the lower gears and not so great in the higher gears but still plenty of oomph for me. Seats are better than my previous car which was a Volvo. Handling is good but the best part about how this car rides is the tight chassis. Cabin is very quiet …

Back with Acura again

joey, 08/27/2017

2018 Acura TLX SH-AWD A-Spec 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

my 04 TL has 208,000 original miles still kicking. traded in 13 accord sport with 88,000 that was a great car for the money. I wanted to go back to acura even though the accord was a newer car the fit and finish of the acura was way better. the honda felt lighter and not really solid. I loved all the standard features of the A-Spec, V6 power its not a 4 cylinder turbo which is the new …

TLX Outstanding Value

MJLx2, 11/27/2017

2018 Acura TLX SH-AWD 4dr Sedan AWD w/Advance Package (3.5L 6cyl 9A)

We’ve all heard / seen commercials urging comparison to competitive products “costing thousands of dollars more” .... well the TLX AWD V-6 w the Advance package truly offers a fully loaded car for thousands less than other mid-size premium cars. (In some cases for many, many thousands less.). Coupled w advanced safety and tech features, the car provides a smooth, comfortable and very …

I love this TLX!

Ralph Lawrence, 05/27/2018

2018 Acura TLX Technology Package 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM)

It's been said before: The TLX has been greatly under-rated by a lot of the reviewers. I suspect a certain bias by them in the direction of "snob appeal" as though that was a ultimate criteria for car ownership, as opposed to high quality, dependability, and general satisfaction. I would put the Acura TLX alongside any of the cars in its type and class. This is my second Acura, after …

See all 47 reviews of the Acura TLX

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2018 TLX Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$33,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$162/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the TLX models:

Lane Keeping Assist System: Helps keep the car centered in the lane by providing alerts and steering assistance when the car approaches the edge of the lane.
Collision Mitigation Braking System: Applies brakes automatically to help reduce the severity of a crash if drivers don't take corrective action on their own.
Forward Collision Warning: Provides audible and visual alerts when it detects what it perceives as an impending collision.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.8%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Acceptable
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2018 Acura TLX Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale near Irving, TX

2018 Acura TLXTechnology Package Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2018 Acura TLXBase Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

What it's like to live with?

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Which TLX does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Acura TLX models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Acura TLX Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

This car is seriously underrated

Back with Acura again

TLX Outstanding Value

I love this TLX!

2018 TLX Highlights

Safety

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2018 Acura TLX
Technology Package Sedan

2018 Acura TLX
Base Sedan