Compare the2023 Acura TLXVS 2023 Tesla Model S

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The TLX Advance has a standard Surround View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the TLX’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model S doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The TLX has standard AcuraLink, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the TLX and the Model S 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

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 Tesla Model S:

	TLX	Model S
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	30%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	247 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	258/267 lbs.	467/415 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 Tesla Model S:

	TLX	Model S
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	128	160
Hip Force	279 lbs.	339 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	181	197
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	484 lbs.	785 lbs.

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

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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Model S is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the TLX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model S.

There are over 77 percent more Acura dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the TLX’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Model S.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 34 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 11 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Tires and Wheels

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 Model S doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Model S (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

Chassis

The Acura TLX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 850 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

The TLX is 3.1 inches shorter than the Model S, making the TLX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The TLX has .1 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room and 4.3 inches more rear hip room than the Model S.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the TLX offers cargo security. The Model S’ hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

Servicing Ease

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the TLX to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, tire rotation, radiator flush, brake pad replacement and transmission fluid replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model S.

Ergonomics

The TLX’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The TLX Advance has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The TLX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Model S’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

The TLX’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

Model Availability

The TLX is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Model S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.