Heads up display is honestly so helpful. I've never noticed it as a distraction because I simply glance at it much like a speedometer but it's safe because my peripheral vision doesn't stray far from the car in front of me. HUD saves me from accidentally speeding too and I don't even have to have my nav system up on the main idrive screen because the HUD tells me where to turn!
I really think BLIND SPOT WARNING, CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT and LANE KEEP ASSIST should bd STANDARD on ALL cars! No one wants to pay big bucks for it yet if it was standard it would save lives and accidents!
What should be standard on all cars is drivers who know how to look out the window and see if someone is in the next lane; know how to look when backing up; know how to stay in their own lane. In other words, drivers who put their phone down and do this new thing called DRIVING.
Mr21scott I hear ya ! See the problem is, they are doing to driving what they did to the schools; make it easier so less people fail. For those of us that keep our heads on a swivel when we drive, there is still one HUGE benefit we have over those that depend on gadgets; you are staying alert because you have to look, and so you are constantly forming a mental picture of what is happening around you,,,,,so when the moment comes to act, you already have your "finger on the trigger".
UPDATE: TLX made a recall on V6 models using 9 Speed ZF transmission that is the only major German part on TLX. The 8 Speed Acura built DCT with Torque converter working perfectly fine, though. There is your German engineering for you in comparison to Japanese Engineering. If the situation is reversed the Japanese engineer designed those faulty transmissions would have committed HAR-KIRI, while the German engineer may go and start working for Hyundai or Kia .. IF they admitted/he admitted his mistakes/unethical conduct.
+Fussinated So, you're saying that the Japanese admitted to making a mistake by choosing the wrong gearbox? Surely, the "superior" engineers at Honda should have done more research or produced their own gearbox rather than lazily buying some inferior German product.
Ben Lee [So, you're saying that the Japanese admitted to making a mistake by choosing the wrong gearbox?] No I am saying that Europeans are crooked and since they can NOT compete fairly (see VW fraud), most likely Zf tried to screw Honda/Acura. [Surely, the "superior" engineers at Honda should have done more research or produced their own gearbox rather than lazily buying some inferior German product.] Oh I am sure they are working on it. However unlike scam artist Europeans they will not implement it in a rush. In the mean time they wanted to collaborate with the European assholes but they suffered the consequences. They fixed the shortcomings of the ZF engineers though :).
Ben Lee Agreed. ZF, like VW Group, are sheisty, sheisty folk. Thank you for sharing the truth here!” WOW! Somehow I don’t believe in your sincerity. Sheisty? You like to use obscure slang words yet you complain about making sense. Self-contradictory. You either be clear in your choice of words or you don’t complain about clear cut expressions by claiming that they don’t make sense.
I have a HUD in my 2014 Chevy SS (sedan). It shows speed, rpms, shift points, G forces, navigation and much more. Its great! I cannot imagine my car without it anymore. My next car purchase will be largely dependent on the availability of a HUD in the car.
Yes! Love the TLX, didn't harp on the fact that it's like an Accord... Fact is the Accord is playing a different ball game, just happens to be related.
Acura is coming along pretty good lately. I would have like to see all three variants of the Acura TLX on CNET On Cars. But anyways great show like always, Thank You!
With new Hondas like the 2016 Accord and Pilot, the gap between Honda and Acura is getting smaller and smaller. They even surpass Acura with some features. The only way Acura will stay on top, is if they finally incorporate rear-wheel-drive and possibly the use of turbocharged engines.
Alright, Cooley. Love the show, very good info, very good presentation. That being said, doesn't it seem a bit strange that the episode's title is a topic that is only given a third of the running time? The car review part is the main course in my book. Would be nice if at least half the show was dedicated to the car. Very brief review.
I've always wondered... lane departure tech works with the white lines in the street or what? I say that because in the rest of the continent (Not USA or Canada included) those white lines that are supposed to be in the street to indicate lanes... They're not so clear or non existant in most cases.
I think Honda did a good job with the TLX. it could look prettier under the hood, but otherwise its pretty much perfect. I can't wait to start seeing them become more popular on the streets.
This was to quick of a review of the tlx and acura brand. Almost uncooley like. The basics were there but I thought for sure he would mention the missing rear exhaust tips. Regardless acura as a company has lost its sporty edge and tech. Its sad
Don't be so hateful! The TLX is a nice, competitive car... You don't have to love it, but proven by the sales and huge demand, it is proving a success, and the brand seems to be finding itself again. And it drives itself! I'd say that's some pretty nice tech (along with the other sport-enhancing technologies like SH-AWD, AHA, P-AWS)
gotta be the dumbest thing i've ever heard about making excuses that texting while driving is in any way better or worse than eating or changing your radio station. looking down at a phone and texting is as bad as drunk driving. i have a cellcontol device in my daughters car. it blocks calls and texting while driving. i'd rather have my child "singing" her fav song rather than looking down at a phone for prolonged periods of time.
Brian; is there a car sold today that will simply move your (Android) Google screen directly to "it's" screen? If all these manufactures fail to offer a simple yet excellent gps/ entertainment screen, why can't they just give us an integrated Google screen?
Never drove a car with a HUD that is displayed high enough on the windshield. I'm a great driver I look way ahead not just right in front of my hood like seemingly most everyone else. A HUD is useless to me tucked into the bottom of the windshield.
But it's 10x better than having to look away from the road to get information. My 2000 Bonneville had one with an adjustable readout height and, while it wasn't quite as high as I would've wanted, I realized over time that I wasn't looking anywhere other than the road on most trips. It's the main thing I've wished were in every single other car I've ever driven.
Acura is the one brand that makes no sense to buy. It by far doesnt represent luxury like, bmw, lexus, infiniti, cadillac, etc. Its like a brand thats lost...they look cheap, have poor styling, dont stand out, and are priced too high. People who buy Acura vehicles are just uninformed, naive buyers.
You sound so ignorant by ranting on but providing no facts whatsoever. The things you mentioned are all highly subjective and some of it is just entirely wrong. Priced too high? Actually, it's priced very well given the class, engine, and list of features compared to its competitors. Try getting the same features in a BMW and it'll easily be $7000 more.
I own a loaded TLX with every option and I can personally tell you its literally the biggest piece of shit navigation I have ever touched. You can check the forums, there are a lot us complaining. To be honest the whole car sucks. Make a long story short the sales guy sold me that a similar BMW would cost 10k more than theTLX, but i soon figured out the BMW is probably worth 10K more. You always get what you pay for in life. I can't wait to sell my turd mobile.
Rob H The transmission is terrible, god for bid you need to overtake someone. You floor it and the cars needs 5 seconds to downshift, the touch screen is just dumb, they should have built one really good screen like BMW instead of 2 shitty screens. The best way to describe it is, its a jack of all traits and a maser of none. Spend the extra $$$ and get a Audi or BMW.
Outta the three Japanese lux/sports your better off with the Q50 if price isn't a factor the Lexus models are nice too but Acura lacks the REAL sport that I expect from honda with all this hype of the NSX and the civic type r
The Pros about placing Acura closer to the Honda is 1. They could advance their designs altogether. 2. They could share Type-S and Type-R name and people will love it 3. They could still make it different characters Honda→Fun, Functional, Reliable, All things to All man Acura→All of what I said and you could still go to fancy hotel
This new TLX is a big disappointment in design. Honda only have to look at the '05 TL and RL to see what fantastic design they had. The '05 period TL was certainly the most handsome design during it's time. The entire car looks so balanced from all angles. The new Honda Accord is even better looking than this TLX.
Acura made too much money in the 90's and early 00's. They got lazy and their cars suck now. I never thought I'd ever say: I'd buy a Cadillac 100xs before I'd get an Acura.
Michael Leibowitz Different people have different tastes, you know. Not everybody hates it and it's not like there's anything wrong with it. Looks nice and elegant and nothing compared to what they used to look like before.
thebluexanadu78 It's certainly not as bad as the 2009 TL and TSX (thank God), but it still doesn't make any design sense. Just give me a black mesh grille similar to the one on the new NSX and call it good.
The Shield is doing its job, if you think about it; for it was placed there for you to see and think "ohh, that's an Acura". Keep in mind that pretty much any reasonable grill shape is being used on some car,,,,so how do you stand out without diving into the zanny. The new and softer shield is suppose to blend in with the body lines on Acura's new cars, and it does do that. If the silver color is too distracting for you, do what owners have been doing since 2009 and black it out.
Shitty car IMO. tries to be luxury but ain't even close. If I had the money to buy an acura, I would pay a bit more to get a better brand (lexus bmw audi) whatsoever. If you want classy, aim higher by paying a bit more because this is shit
+TyranitarComedian Had one on loan while another Acura was being checked. You could hear the transmission slipping several times with the 2015 model year the dealer had. The Nav auto fill she he default and is a bit odd to type in addresses. Such as West 60th Street, only allows you to put in 60. The backup camera would go to a black/gray screen if you had to make several maneuvers for a tight parking spot. Good thing when I asked yes these are selling well below MSRP. dealers knock off early advertised lease rates if you show your aware of this. Biggest issue I found is that let's say passenger wants to type in the address while driving. It's locked out! If you need to go somewhere you need to get in the car and then type it in before you leave while everyone else in the car is saying hurry up let's go.