Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 Acura TLX VS 2016 Honda Accord Near Scottsdale, AZ

The TLX V6’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The TLX offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

To help make backing safer, the TLX’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The TLX offers optional 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 Accord Sedan 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 Accord Sedan 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The TLX comes with a full 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The Accord Sedan’s 3-year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the TLX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Honda covers the Accord Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord Sedan ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the TLX has a standard 650-amp battery. The Accord Sedan’s 550-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The TLX has more powerful engines than the Accord Sedan:

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura TLX is faster than the Honda Accord Sedan (automatics tested):

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the TLX V6 SH-AWD’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The TLX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the TLX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Accord Sedan:

The TLX stops shorter than the Accord Sedan:

For better traction, the TLX has larger tires than the Accord Sedan (225/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The TLX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord Sedan LX’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Accord Sedan LX.

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 Accord Sedan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The TLX handles at .84 G’s, while the Accord Sedan EX-L pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX V-6 SH-AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Accord Sedan EX-L (26.7 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

The TLX has .1 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Accord Sedan.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the TLX’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord Sedan’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The TLX’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord Sedan’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The TLX’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The TLX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Accord Sedan’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Accord Sedan EX/EX-L/Touring’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The TLX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Sedan EX/EX-L/Touring.

When the TLX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Accord Sedan’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The TLX V6 offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Accord Sedan offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air conditioned seats in the TLX V6 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Accord Sedan doesn’t offer air conditioned seats.

Both the Acura TLX and Honda Accord Sedan won five awards in Kiplinger’s 2015 car issue.