[MUSIC]
This may look like a car, but it's actually a lot more than that.
[MUSIC]
It's a big gambit for Acura which as a brand.
Could use a little more definition to really help answer what is an Acura?
Let's drive this 2015, in this case, with a V6, and check the tech.
All PLXs come standard with all-wheel steering, but optional is the all-wheel drive.
A V6 like we have starts at $36,100, then we load it up CNET style.
The tech package is around four grand for navigation, ELS audio, forward collision warning, lane departure, blind spot, lane keep assist.
But if you want to get adaptive cruise with collision mitigation braking and technology to keep you from leaving the road, that's another $3,250.
Now inside, we've got this Acura oddity of dual screens.
The one above responds to the controller.
The one below responds to your finger.
Little silly when you've got entertainment on both of them.
But it gets more interesting when you hit the Nav button.
And now you've got full screen nav above and a full touch entertainment rig below, for example.
And it gets silly again if you want to type in an address and you get two.
Different keyboards but in general I think most drivers are going to appreciate the additional breathing room.
Beyond that apps are limited to media apps, Pandora, and Aha which are well integrated with all the other audio.
That's smart.
But if you are looking for other apps that are not about basically streaming you're not going to find them here on an Acura yet.
You'll never lack for choice when it comes to media in recent Acuras.
And then back it up with the LS audio, which is one of the better performing sets of [UNKNOWN] speakers I've listened to.
Siri Eyes-Free is supported in your TLX if you've got a modern i Phone.
The rear camera has three angles.
All of which are sort of mushy in the day and sort of insensitive to light at night
[MUSIC]
Now up here in the snout we've got the three-and-a-half litre V6 as we mentioned earlier.
Leave that on.
Two hundred ninety horsepower, two hundred sixty seven pounds being the torque.
Those numbers, and we're coming out of an engine that of course has direct injection variable valve timing front wheel drive the basic setup, you can get all-wheel drive, and it's that super-handling all-wheel drive that actually [UNKNOWN] which is a pretty amazing system.
And if you get super-handling all-wheel drive you also get auto-start.
Stop on the engine to save fuel.
Interestingly, without all wheel drive, you don't.
Therefore in our car, we're looking at 21 city, 30 for highway, 0 to 60 up pretty sprightly at 5.8 seconds.
Let's go for a ride and see how it feels.
[MUSIC]
So does this pause stuff work?
I think it really does.
Maybe it's the power of suggestion.
Just reading about it's got me thinking it, but as you come into a corner, the rear end gets real tighty.
It kind of tucks itself in.
That to me feels like some rear-wheel steering.
It's not any kind of torque vectoring, because we don't have that.
This car doesn't have the all-wheel drive.
Now we do have the [INAUDIBLE] of two engines of course.
The power is ample, but it's not overwhelming.
This isn't the kind of car that has an edge to its power.
Even if you get into four plus which really sharpens things up, it's a nice car, it's a sophisticated delivery of power, not brutal.
[MUSIC]
Fun to corner with.
[LAUGH]
Yeah that rear end is doing something special, that's neat.
I'll tell ya I'm torn between this gear box
[MUSIC]
And the DCT that you'd get with a four, which I imagine is sharper.
This one's just a little too behind the engine.
You've got great response from this motor, and then the gear changes take about a heartbeat too long, going either direction.
Last impression I'll leave you with on this car is that it feels quite light.
Part of that is how the throttle's mapped, how the transmission shifts, but also how the suspension is keeping things from plowing.
[NOISE]
It's overall a very tidy experience.
[MUSIC]
More cars [INAUDIBLE] CNET style.
Standing by now at CNETOnCars.com.
Click on the road.
[NOISE]
