In our 2024 Acura TLX evaluation over at The Automobile Connection, we referred to as the inventory TLX a “sport-sedan cut price.” So it stays for 2024, with a base worth nonetheless beneath $50,000, nonetheless powered by a turbo-4 engine. 

However for the true sleeper within the TLX household, there’s slightly extra throughout, from powertrain to tech upgrades. At $58,195 The TLX Kind S isn’t the discount that we see within the base automobile, but it surely’s a star performer we’d take cruising, with zero expectations of observe stardom. 

For 2024, Acura’s added a raft of options to its security and leisure suite, but it surely hasn’t damped the low-key enjoyable of the Kind S in any approach, apart from modulating throttle response in its Sport+ mode. Thanks for leaving effectively sufficient alone.

I drove the ‘24 version over an extended weekend below near-ideal circumstances—below flat-gray skies so its grey paint may let it sail undetected via velocity traps. The vacation spot: a rural Georgia farmhouse the place I may spend the weekend cooped up close to a hen home whereas the temperature danced across the 32-degree mark and egged me on to remain inside and compose.

The TLX Kind S stays a lot the identical as we first considered it in 2021, when it went via a near-complete renewal. Even the noises have stayed the identical. Open the door and hearken to its chime—it’s the identical as the primary observe in Demi Lovato’s “Cool for the Summer season.” In so some ways, we want we had a redo of 2015 once more. 

Punch it to life and the massive distinction between the bottom TLX echoes clearly: the turbo V-6 below this hood needs to tussle with the tarmac. A 355-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 perks up and ships 354 lb-ft of torque to all 4 wheels via a 10-speed computerized gearbox. I’d say it barked it out, if it leaned in additional to its engine observe—it leaves numerous vocal energy on the studio ground. It’s a pervasive cue to Acura’s considering with the Kind S, which amplifies all its inherent virtues with out turning something to vice.

The Kind S has the manners of a finishing-school graduate, though its transmission snaps off downshifts nearly twice as shortly, and though it drinks fuel at a 19-mpg fee within the metropolis. It comes all the way down to tuning. Acura (and its mothership Honda) have a lock on the pure interaction between entrance struts, rear multi-links, and the adaptive dampers provided with the Kind S. As we’ve famous in our prior first drive, the Kind S takes the TLX’s important competence and vaults in into the really partaking—largely as a result of it trades off a forgettable quantity of trip compliance for flatter cornering. Sweeping via the flexible connectors between dairy farms and hen homes that mark the ultimate perimeter of exurban Atlanta, it by no means foot-faulted regardless of some ill-advised hot-patching on essentially the most rural of routes.

Steering rises to the highest of the TLX Kind S’s hit record. It tracks with resolute ease, a few of its because of the Pirelli P Zero 20-inch tires that appeared an iffy alternative as temperatures dropped. It places simply sufficient weight on to re-center within the lane, not stiff or brutally heavy as a few of its competitors prefers. Granted, the TLX Kind S isn’t as track-settled or as fast as rivals just like the Audi S4 or Mercedes-AMG C43, but it surely’s no much less pleasant on the roads that bend like a backyard hose, however don’t kink.

2024 Acura TLX Kind S: A sport sedan with (gentle) manners

Smart updates to the TLX’s comely physique put on effectively on the Kind S. A brand new frameless grille dukes it out in opposition to the City Grey Pearl paint of my tester—a singular shade for the Kind S. You may spot the Kind S additionally for its decklid spoiler, entrance and rear diffuser, quad exhaust suggestions, and crimson Brembo 4-piston entrance calipers. If it rides on summer season tires, it additionally dons good-looking copper-painted 20-inch wheels.

Its sport seats may be dialed in for simply the right quantity of backside cushion tilt and again angle rake with glorious lumbar adjustment. With the TLX Kind S’s steering wheel flattened off on the backside and positioned on the proper angle to border the gauges, it provides a transparent view of the highway forward. Packaging is, as regular, a energy even within the again seat, the place passengers get firmly padded bench seats with good headroom and legroom even for these 6 ft tall and extra. 

The driving interfaces can vex, although. Acura’s new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster has extra actual property, however the gauges themselves are down-low white in opposition to black, with a myriad of secondary features woven in, tripometers and security settings and such.

Subsequent door on the sprint cap itself, the TLX Kind S has moved as much as a typical 12.3-inch infotainment show with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s prepped for greatness, minus one obtrusive omission: contact sensitivity. Acura needs you to swipe and contact on a console-mounted pad as an alternative. It’s simply not as easy to function a touchpad for fast flicks between podcasts and maps, for instance. For higher generally however often for worse, drivers have nonetheless confirmed touchscreens to be the need path for infotainment; the rest simply smacks of complication.

Each Kind S has adaptive cruise management, lively lane management, and computerized emergency braking—and like each different Honda and Acura, the Kind S will get too delicate to road-surface adjustments. It throws braking warnings prefer it’s throwing arms in frustration at your/my horrible lane hygiene. A brand new surround-view digicam system lastly turns into customary, and so has a ten.5-inch head-up show, however whereas the data’s welcome and discreetly displayed within the windshield, the HUD picture initiatives on the windshield with a tilt up at its left high nook. 

Acura has padded the TLX’s proudly owning safety. All fashions get two years of free scheduled upkeep to go together with a luxury-standard 4-year/50,000-mile guarantee. That’s comforting to keep in mind when the livestock sharing your weekend present inordinate curiosity in what you’re driving. 

It’s not an official endorsement, however the peahens and roosters fought equally arduous to peck on the TLX Kind S’s tires with affection. We couldn’t perceive them, however their agent goes to get again to us with an official quote. We’ll replace this story as soon as I can learn their hen scratch.

2024 Acura TLX Kind S

Base worth: $58,195, together with $1,195 vacation spot

Worth as examined: $59,037

Powertrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6, 355 hp/354 lb-ft of torque, all-wheel drive

EPA gasoline economic system: 19/25/21 mpg

The professionals: Glorious long-distance cruising, revamped options, sleeper standing

The cons: Expensive, touchpad interface, perhaps too mild-mannered?