Compare the2022 Acura TLXVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The TLX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The TLX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the TLX and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura TLX is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	TLX	Avalon
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	143	162
Neck Injury Risk	20%	35%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	258/267 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	416/473 lbs.	447/453 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura TLX is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	TLX	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	128	163
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	279 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	181	266
Hip Force	539 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	484 lbs.	719 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the TLX, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.5% less likely to roll over than the Avalon, which received a four-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the TLX its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

The TLX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the TLX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Avalon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Avalon ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

The battery on the TLX is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the TLX’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Avalon’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the TLX’s reliability 20 points higher than the Avalon.

Engine

The TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 54 more horsepower (355 vs. 301) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura TLX is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

	TLX turbo 4 cyl.	TLX Type S	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	4.9 sec	6.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.5 sec	5.5 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	13.6 sec	14.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the TLX Type S’ fuel efficiency. The Avalon doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the TLX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The TLX has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The TLX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Avalon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Acura TLX higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Toyota Avalon (5). This means the TLX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Avalon every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura TLX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Avalon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the TLX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

	TLX	TLX Type S	Avalon
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.3 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	11 inches

The TLX stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	TLX	Avalon
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the TLX has larger standard tires than the Avalon (235/50R18 vs. 215/55R17). The TLX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon (255/35R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The TLX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The TLX Type S’ tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon XLE. The TLX Type S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Avalon Touring.

The TLX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Avalon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TLX is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Avalon.

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Avalon Touring (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the TLX offers cargo security. The Avalon’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the TLX. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 21% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The TLX offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The TLX’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The TLX Advance/Type S’ standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura TLX and the Toyota Avalon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Acura TLX outsold the Toyota Avalon by 38% during the 2021 model year.