Over Spring Break we had the opportunity to test drive two vehicles. Today we’re going to share about both as it gives a unique perspective into a vehicle with a sharp look and great performance versus a sleek-looking hybrid that challenges the cost of gas today.
ACURA TLX A-SPEC
My husband is the one who really misses having a smaller, more sporty-looking vehicle. He was thrilled to get to put the Acura TLX A-SPEC to the test. The styling captured his attention right away with its beautiful design and aggressive lines. Under that long hood seems like a small 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. However, that four-cylinder makes 272 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque and lacks nothing in get-up-and-go.
All four trim levels are well-equipped and come with Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. This feature determines which wheel requires power under certain driving conditions, splitting it not only front to rear, but also side to side which exudes confidence in high-speed cornering. On the inside, we were impressed with the quality of materials and faux suede and leather seating surfaces, and the welcomed tactile feel of buttons and controls throughout the cockpit. This car feels like a true grand tourer with a 12-way adjustable driver seat to fine-tune your driving position for those long-distance drives.
Our only gripe is with the 10-speed automatic transmission that seemed to shift quickly in the lower gears and to hunt all the time in city driving. The only way to not get frustrated with the transmission was to switch to sport mode and manually change gears through the paddle shifters.
BRING ON THE TECH IN VEHICLES
Acura does tech inside its vehicles very well and the TLX is no exception. Wireless charging pad to give your phone some juice, the 3D premium audio system was fantastic with its 17 speakers, and a 10.2-inch infotainment system that’s primarily controlled through a touchpad on the center console (All cars should implement this as it is simple and intuitive and keeps those screens finger-print free!) Carrying capacity offered plenty of room for a day out with the family, and the trunk space is surprisingly large and easily would carry several suitcases for longer journeys.
All around, the TLX inspires confidence that rivals the likes of a BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS 300, Audi A4, and Cadillac CT5, and others in its midsize sedan segment. This should be your next car if you appreciate a technology-loaded car, and love luxury wrapped up in a grand tourer without the price tag.
The TLX price ranges from $47,000 to just over $54,000 depending on the different packages.
HONDA ACCORD HYBRID
The second vehicle that I ever owned was a Honda Accord. One of the models from the 90s. So, this was fun for me to get to see how much the Accord has changed and has it ever!
As soon as we got into the Honda Accord Hybrid it felt like the right amount of luxury and tech. There is something Honda does well about giving you a car that has luxury to it but at a great price point. The Honda Accord Hybrid starts at $38,000.
The Hybrid aspect alone is what really got our attention. The fact that our gas range was at 4/100kms for one tank won us over instantly. *Dear Honda, We need a CRV or Pilot Hybrid* My husband described the car as being like you are in a video game. He wanted to always have the vehicle within the electric range and be using the battery. You can see on the dash when the vehicle switches over.
There was never a worry about lack of power, this vehicle can get moving when needed. Never feeling sluggish when going up a hill or driving through the city. One thing we did notice that could be improved upon is the sound system. Something just wasn’t right. We tried resetting everything, and it just didn’t produce a sound quality we liked.
IS IT FAMILY FRIENDLY?
It depends on the size of your family and what car seats you have. You might be able to get 3 across. With the age gap of our kids, we were unfortunately not able to. We have one in a highback booster, one in a forward-facing five-point, and one in a rear-facing five-point. If your kids are older and don’t need car seats, it may still work if you’re looking for a smaller vehicle. Or, if you have a smaller family it would definitely be family-friendly.
While there may have not been room for all the kids, we are impressed that there is more than enough legroom sitting in the rear seat behind the driver. There is more room than what our CRV has! My husband is almost 6 feet tall and I’m 5’10” so this says a lot about the amount of legroom. The trunk also had an impressive amount of space. We fit our UPPAbaby Vista stroller in there with no problem and had plenty more room. I could definitely see it working for a road trip.
Is it worth the $3000 base increase to go from a gas model Accord to the Hybrid? You’ll notice a difference in the cost of gas alone. With the Hybrid averaging 5/100kms and the sedan averaging up to 10/100kms. That’s a noticeable difference and with today’s gas prices it’s something to take into consideration.
The Hybrid price point ranges from $37, 920 and the Touring Hybrid from $44,630.
