2026 Acura TLX is expected to arrive as a completely redesigned model, making a splash with its third generation, which may not be an ICE vehicle.
So far we don’t have any indication of what the full redesign will entail, but we expect the sports car to feature a new front end, grille, headlights, taillights, and perhaps some sleeker, less curvy body lines.
According to Automotive News , Acura has secured a spot in the lineup of small electric vehicles coming in 2026, and it will probably wear the TLX badge.
2026 Acura TLX Review
The 2026 Acura TLX model sits somewhere between a compact and midsize luxury sedan. From the front seat, it feels big and wide, like a BMW 5 Series. But in the back, it feels small and narrow, more like a BMW 3 Series.
Acura does price the TLX more like a compact luxury sedan, and the TLX is a step up from the smaller Integra hatchback. For the 2025 model year, the automaker made almost no changes to the TLX, although the free maintenance program was cut in half to one year or 12,000 miles.
Two factors contribute to the Acura TLX’s relatively low Edmunds rating: its unimpressive fuel economy estimates and the True Touchpad Interface (TTI). TTI is how you operate the TLX’s infotainment system.
Located on the center console, the TTI consists of a trackpad, Back button, and Home button, and responds to fingertip movements and pressure. The theory behind TTI is noble in reducing driver distraction but often has the opposite effect because making accurate input on that small pad is challenging in a moving car. Acura has started dropping TTI from some of its models, but the TLX still uses it.
- Many features are available
- Nimble handling with the optional all-wheel drive system
- The available ELS Studio 3D audio system is one of the best available today
- Horsepower: 272 to 355 hp
- Engine: 2.0 L – 4-cylinder & 3.0 L – V6
- MPG: Up to 22 city / 31 highway
- Crub Weight: 3,756 to 4,221 lbs
- Length: 194.6″
2026 Acura TLX Redesign
The only other passenger car in Acura’s lineup, the TLX was introduced in 2014 as a premium counterpart to the comparable Honda Accord midsize sedan. It reached its second generation in 2020, and has been available with subtle upgrades since the 2024 model year from $45,400 with a 272 hp 2.0-liter VTEC turbo engine and ten-speed automatic transmission with FWD or SH-AWD. There’s also the TLX Type S, of course, which upgrades to a 355-hp 3.0-liter turbo V6 from $58K.
This pixel geek probably thinks the 2026 Acura TLX needs to reinvent itself at least in the land of imagination to have a chance of surviving the threat of impending sedan doom. Granted, four-doors don’t sell as well as they once did with a few notable exceptions due to the continued rise of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.
Therefore, the CGI experts decided to make the next-generation 2026 Acura TLX a sportier five-door liftback sedan, and we think the Audi S5 Sportback easily inspired them in that CGI direction.
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2026-acura-tlx-sport-sedan-turns-into-five-door-liftback-to-satisfy-imagination-land-247144.html
2026 Acura TLX Interior
We predict that the 2026 Acura TLX will have a lot to like about the TLX’s interior. It’s easy to find a good driving position thanks to ample seat travel in all directions and an equally wide range of tilt and reach for the steering wheel.
Large door openings and a tapered roof help you enter and exit the vehicle gracefully. On the downside, rear legroom is tight, especially for tall passengers. Even less than you’d get in Acura’s smaller Integra. Interface
The TLX’s core technology, consisting of the display screen and trackpad controller, can be distracting and annoying to use. The trackpad mimics your input like a touchscreen, but it’s not quite as large and lacks the precision needed to successfully navigate multiple virtual buttons on the screen at one time.
Tech
The technology presented in 2026 Acura TLX will be presented with an integrated navigation system that has maps that look sharp and are easy to use. The display screen is responsive and fast, and the ELS audio system provides exceptional accuracy and fidelity.
Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration on smartphones is standard. While wireless charging is standard, there are no USB ports for rear passengers, which is odd for a luxury sedan. We like the fact that most of the advanced driver assistance systems are standard, and they do a good job of approximating natural driving.
Comfort
In addition to enjoyable performance, the TLX provides a comfortable driving experience. The front seats are padded and the rear seats tilt back for a relaxed seating position. That said, the front seats aren’t very adjustable, and the side bolsters offer little support for high-performance driving.
The ride strikes a great balance between supple and composed over a variety of road surfaces, although sharp road bumps can send a noticeable thud throughout the cabin. Noise is reduced well.
Overall, it’s a fairly quiet vehicle, although instrument testing shows the TLX is several decibels louder inside than its rivals. The climate control system is easy to use, and we like that the A-Spec’s heated and ventilated front seats can be set to an automatic mode that adjusts the amount of heating or cooling based on desired outside and interior temperatures.
Storage
The 2026 Acura TLX comes with a capacity of 13.5 cubic feet, the TLX’s trunk is larger than the trunk of most of its competitors. The trunk opening is also wide, so you can load long items horizontally without any problems.
However, the short deck lid somewhat hinders your access to the deep end of the trunk, and it can be difficult to load and retrieve items wedged in the back seat. The cabin offers plenty of space to store items, although most are modest in size.
If your sports sedan will also be a family vehicle, be aware that the lower anchors for the car seats are hidden behind adhesive leather strips that must be removed. Wide doors should make it easier to load car seats, but the TLX’s relatively small size will require some compromises in front-seat space.
2026 Acura TLX Engine
The TLX sports sedan currently comes with two engine options. The base engine is a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine that produces 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. You can also opt for the TLX Type S, which provides a 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine that produces 355 hp and 353 lb-ft of torque.
However, we don’t expect to see this engine in the new 2026 TLX. Instead, we think the redesigned TLX will arrive as an EV, and use a similar platform to the 2024 ZDX , Acura’s first EV coming in the spring of 2024.
Performance
In the test case, the TLX A-Spec has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Our vehicles are also equipped with all-wheel drive. On our test track, the car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, which is slightly better than competing midsize luxury sedans with base four-cylinder engines.
On the plus side, the all-wheel drive system contributes to more agile and controlled body movements when you negotiate tight corners. The steering lacks communication, but turn the drive mode selector to Sport and the wheel gets heavier, which feels better suited to spirited driving.
The 10-speed transmission is a big improvement over the previous model’s nine-speed automatic transmission, although it’s still not completely perfect. The car shifts early on light throttle and feels a little lazy in Normal and Comfort driving modes. However, the car keeps the turbo boost ready when you select Sport mode and need responsive acceleration.
Security
Acura has never skimped on safety, so we don’t expect the all-new 2026 TLX to be any different. We assume this car will have all the latest safety features, including the standard safety features found on current models.
It includes a collision mitigation braking system with advanced pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following and traffic jam assist, lane keeping assist with road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, automatic high-beam headlights, blind spot information, and rear cross-traffic monitoring, plus front and rear parking sensors.
2026 Acura TLX MPG
The 2026 Acura TLX comes with all-wheel drive and gets an EPA estimate of 24 combined mpg. That’s a few mpg worse than most competing sedans can achieve.
This test showed a more competitive 26.2 mpg on our real-world evaluation route, but the TLX’s overall fuel efficiency was a bit disappointing.
Competitor
The TLX competes convincingly with sedans in two different segments. Based on our in-depth Expert Ratings, which you can read below, the TLX doesn’t perform well compared to most models in the midrange, which are typically larger and more sophisticated (though more expensive).
However, this car is not far behind the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and BMW 3 Series in the small sedan category, so it is worth considering to compete with these competitors.
Acura TLX will compete with:
- BMW 5-Series,
- Cadillac CT5,
- Lexus ES,
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and
- Audi A6.
2026 Acura TLX Price
The 2026 Acura TLX Sport Sedan occupies a higher position in Acura’s lineup, and if it comes as an EV, we expect it to be more expensive than the current TLX model which retails at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $46,195.
2026 Acura TLX Release Date
We expect the 2026 Acura TLX to arrive in fall 2025, but we’re not sure exactly how long that will take.
Verdict
In many ways, the latest-generation 2026 Acura TLX is a marked improvement over its predecessor. The four-cylinder engine and 10-speed automatic transmission together are smoother and react more naturally to input than the previous V6 and nine-speed, and the interior is more luxurious.
However, the TLX also takes a step back. The drivetrain is a bit more wasteful and slower than comparable machines in rivals, but the biggest issue is the new touchpad controller for the infotainment system, which is often frustrating to use.
We’ll be getting and updating more information about the 2026 Acura TLX soon. So make sure you bookmark the Autocarsmedia website for other exclusive information about the latest news, reviews, specs, prices, and release dates.
