The Acura TLX is Dead: A Look Back at the Honda That Almost Beat BMW

The Acura TLX is Dead: A Look Back at the Honda That Almost Beat BMW originally appeared on Autoblog.

Acura axed the TLX, but its predecessor made history for the brand

The Acura TLX has just become the latest casualty in an SUV-forward market. Production has probably ended by the time you’re reading this, as the nameplate’s final days of production are set for July 2025. Since Acura cites poor sales as the reason for the car’s departure, you’re not alone if it has been a while since you thought about the TLX, or its forerunner, the Acura TL. According to sales figures, even the brand’s fledgling electric SUV is outselling the TLX these days. But believe it or not, there was a time not too long ago when it would be hard to talk about the luxury sedan segment without mentioning Acura.

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The Acura TL — which stood for “Touring Luxury” — debuted as a 1996 model year car in the US. The car offered a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine from the oddball Honda G Series of engines and a 3.2-liter V6, distantly related to the 3.0-liter powering the legendary NSX. The goal of the TL was simple: it replaced the aging Acura Vigor, ditching the manual transmission but offering quicker acceleration and better-bolstered seats in an effort to find younger buyers. Remember, Honda had launched Acura just 10 years prior, and the automaker was eager to capitalize on the so-far successful ventures into the luxury segment. More of a grand tourer than a true sport sedan, the first-gen TL set the stage for where the nameplate would eventually go.

The second-generation Acura TL made waves for the brand

The next generation of the Acura TL refined the nameplate further, losing the five-cylinder engine and stuffing the 3.2-liter V6 under the hood of every US-bound model. It debuted as a concept car — interestingly, dubbed the TL-X — in 1998 before entering production later that same year. The model sold well, receiving warm critical and customer reception. Unfortunately, an unreliable five-speed automatic transmission later cast the model in a more unfavorable light. On a higher note, Acura introduced the desirable Type-S model. The second-gen Acura TL Type-S added power and torque, larger 17-inch wheels, grippier seats, and a more sporting suspension. On a larger scale, the Acura TL demonstrated the brand’s commitment to staying competitive. The car boasted built-in navigation, a touchscreen, and a double-wishbone front suspension, all features that gave it an edge over competitors.

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But the third-generation Acura TL is where the car really came into its own and where it nearly usurped BMW, the one and future king of the luxury sport sedan. Now designed and still built in America, the third-gen TL was technically a North America-only affair, as opposed to a rebadged global offering. Extremely attractive styling, continued reliance on a time-tested and spunky V6 engine now making an excellent 258 horsepower, and standard Bluetooth connectivity made the third-generation Acura TL a considerable value. Especially when you consider the car started at $32,650 in 2004, substantially less than the comparable BMW 330i, which started at nearly $40,000. It was also the first car in the US to offer a 6-disc DVD changer on board.

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The car’s incredible value did not go unnoticed. The third generation of the Acura TL outsold every other generation before or after in the US handily. Sales nearly hit 80,000 in 2004 and 2005, with the latter year’s performance placing it as the second-best-selling luxury sedan. It trailed only the BMW 3 Series, which was still the absolute benchmark at the time. Even better, the third-gen TL also got an outstanding Type-S variant that offered 286 horsepower, special wheels and body cladding, quad exhaust tips, Brembo brakes, and more. Models equipped with the available manual transmission even got a limited-slip differential.

The fourth-generation TL was a shift; later, the TLX rebrand failed to recapture the third-gen’s magic

On paper, the fourth-generation Acura TL faithfully carried on the nameplate’s legacy. Its V6 mill now made 280 horsepower, and though there wasn’t a Type-S version, the SH-AWD version made 305 horsepower with the added benefit of all-wheel drive — a first for the TL. A fairly low MSRP kept the TL affordable, especially relative to Teutonic rivals. Unfortunately, the fourth-generation Acura TL’s polarizing design didn’t make it immediately successful. Compared to the 46,766 units sold in the last year of the third-gen’s availability (2008), the redesigned fourth-gen sold a disastrous 33,620 in 2009, its debut year. Unfortunately, sales dwindled from there, and production concluded in 2014.

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Acura brought the TLX to market in 2014 as a replacement for the ill-fated TL. The first-gen TLX enjoyed quite a sales boom relative to the contemporary TL, outselling the old model nearly two to one in its debut year. The TLX’s value proposition remained intact, but a lot changed from the TL. A new four-cylinder engine was introduced, the manual transmission disappeared, and, unfortunately, most of the TL’s audience seemed to evaporate. Neither generation of the TLX made real headway for the brand, despite being reasonably competent cars in their own right.

Final thoughts

With sedan sales slumping at large and the TLX seemingly unable to inspire, Acura’s decision to cut arguably its second-most iconic nameplate is hardly a surprise. The brand’s MDX SUV has taken up the mantle of best-seller, and the Integra has arguably taken the lead from a “heritage” perspective. The third-gen Acura TL broke the mold and arguably completely repositioned the brand. We’re sad to see its descendant leaving the game, even if it is a decade and a half removed.

The Acura TLX is Dead: A Look Back at the Honda That Almost Beat BMW first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 30, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.