Compare the2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2022 Acura TLX

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

Safety

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The Jetta GLI has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The TLX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Jetta GLI has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Jetta GLI has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta GLI has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the TLX.

Both the Jetta GLI and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and rearview cameras.

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

	Jetta GLI	TLX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	315	358
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	186 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	308/63 lbs.	416/473 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 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is safer than the Acura TLX:

	Jetta GLI	TLX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	128
Abdominal Force	188 lbs.	188 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	464

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

Warranty

The Jetta GLI’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the TLX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the TLX.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Jetta GLI’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the TLX’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Jetta GLI’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volkswagen 4 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Jetta GLI	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	5.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	15.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.1 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	14.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	97 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the TLX:

			MPG
Jetta GLI
FWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/37 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
TLX
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

The Jetta GLI offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The TLX doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Jetta GLI offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The TLX doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Jetta GLI’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TLX:

	Jetta GLI	TLX
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	13 inches

The Jetta GLI’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the TLX are solid, not vented.

The Jetta GLI stops much shorter than the TLX:

	Jetta GLI	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Jetta GLI’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TLX’s standard 50 series tires.

The Jetta GLI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta GLI handles at .95 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Jetta GLI’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the TLX’s (36.7 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The Jetta GLI’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the TLX Technology/A-Spec/Advance/Type S’ (36.7 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 850 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

The Jetta GLI is 7.7 inches shorter than the TLX, making the Jetta GLI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Jetta GLI Autobahn is quieter than the TLX Type S (70 vs. 71 dB).

Passenger Space

The Jetta GLI has .7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear legroom than the TLX.

Cargo Capacity

The Jetta GLI has a larger trunk than the TLX (14.1 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Jetta GLI and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Jetta GLI is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Jetta GLI’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The TLX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta GLI has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the TLX A-Spec/Advance/Type S offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

The Jetta GLI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 3 years. The TLX has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Acura TLX by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.