Compare the2023 Lexus ISVS 2023 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The TLX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The IS has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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 IS offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the TLX and the TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the IS and the TLX 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, 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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

	IS	TLX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	282	358
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	186 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	399/459 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 Lexus IS is safer than the Acura TLX:

	IS	TLX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	181
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	539 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	293	464

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

Warranty

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the TLX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 IS’ reliability 25 points higher than the TLX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The TLX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Acura is ranked 8th.

Engine

The IS has more powerful engines than the TLX:

	Horsepower	Torque
IS 350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8	472 HP	395 lbs.-ft.
TLX 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	272 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
TLX Type S 3.0 turbo V6	355 HP	354 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

	IS	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.6 MPH	91.5 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the Acura TLX 2.0:

	IS	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112.7 MPH	91.5 MPH

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Lexus IS 500 Performance was clocked 1.8 seconds faster than the Acura TLX Type S (184.9 sec. vs. 186.7 sec.).

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the IS gets better mileage than the TLX:

			MPG
IS
	AWD	350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
TLX
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

The IS has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The IS’ 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 IS stops much shorter than the TLX:

	IS	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	159 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The IS 300’s standard 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 IS 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 IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 5.9 feet tighter than the TLX’s (34.2 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 4.8 feet tighter than the TLX with 19/20-inch wheels’ (35.4 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The IS is 9.2 inches shorter than the TLX, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The IS has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the TLX.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the TLX, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The TLX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the TLX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The TLX doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The IS’ optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus IS, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The TLX isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus IS outsold the Acura TLX by 86% during 2022.

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