2021 Acura TLX vs. 2021 Lexus IS

As consumers flock to tall, spacious SUVs, many sedans’ sales are drying up. Some automakers have eliminated once-essential sedan models from their lineups, and others are dialing back the investments they make in their passenger cars. But when it comes to style and performance, sedans still have a lot to offer — and that’s why Acura and Lexus have just rolled out new editions of their entry-luxury sports sedans.

The redesigned 2021 Acura TLX and 2021 Lexus IS aren’t designed as the default vehicle for someone who just wants a premium badge and leather seats. These days, that’s the Acura RDX and Lexus NX crossovers. No, these sedans are for people who love the look and feel of a low-slung car without losing the practicality of four doors. And they’re thousands less than equivalently equipped German luxury sedans. On paper, these cars aren’t quite identical; the IS is smaller and uses a rear-wheel-drive platform, while the larger TLX is front-wheel-drive-based. But their similar pricing and performance focus makes them natural rivals. Let’s discuss how Japan’s newest sports sedans compare, and which is the better vehicle overall.

Even though the TLX is bigger than the IS, it’s less expensive. Prices start at $37,500, which is a steep $4,500 premium over the 2020 model but still less than the IS’s $39,000 starting point. That’s despite the Acura’s longer list of standard features, including a 10.2-inch infotainment screen (to the Lexus’s 8-inch unit), a moonroof, heated front seats, and a more powerful engine. 

The IS has a broader model range, with three engines to choose from: a 248-horsepower four-cylinder on the rear-drive IS 300 ($39,000), a 260-hp V6 on the all-wheel-drive IS 300 ($41,000), or a 311-hp V6 on the IS 350, which starts at $42,900 with rear-wheel drive and $44,900 with all-wheel drive. Every TLX uses a 272-hp four-cylinder with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. What's more, you can get ventilated front seats and blind-spot monitoring for less money on the IS than the TLX. Still, it’s hard to argue with the Acura’s overall value for the money.

Winner: Acura TLX

In redesigning the TLX, Acura made the sedan look both sportier and classier than before, an impressive achievement. The old TLX was a rather ordinary-looking sedan retrofitted with an aggressive face, and the new model is lower and wider for a more assertive stance. It’s a more cohesive design, and its well-chosen proportions give it presence without needing over-the-top design details.

The IS, meanwhile, is essentially the second heavy refresh of a generation that debuted way back in 2006. Still, Lexus did an excellent job at making the car look fresh. Slimmer headlights and taillights are modern without looking like a tacked-on update, and the rear lightbar and creased trunklid keep the back of the car sharp. A new bulge around the rear fender highlights this vehicle’s performance intentions. And while Lexus’s big “spindle” grille remains controversial, it’s no longer surprising. We won’t name a winner here between the extroverted Lexus and the more restrained Acura; your eyes will tell you which design is more to your tastes.

Winner: Tie

Inside, the all-new TLX is a standout for cabin quality, with lots of rich leather and available open-pore wood on the dashboard and door panels. The lavish materials soften the aggressively high-tech instrument panel — which is dominated by a large driving-mode selector above a push-button shifter — to create more upscale ambiance than many Acuras. However, while the touchpad infotainment system works well in theory, it requires more attention than a simple touchscreen would.

The redesigned IS also has a touchpad, but the new model introduces a touchscreen as well, so you don’t have to use the touchpad unless you want to. Interior materials have also improved over last year’s model. Still, we don’t find the IS’s cabin as rich-feeling, cohesive, or contemporary as the TLX’s. There are still some chintzier buttons, more gaps between different trim pieces, and lots of cheap-looking bright indicator lights on the gauge cluster. There is some new open-pore wood trim this year, but it’s almost invisible with our test car’s black interior. Plus, although an available 10.3-inch infotainment screen is slightly larger than the TLX’s 10.2-inch unit, the base IS comes up short with 8 inches.

Winner: Acura TLX

This category should have been an easy win for the TLX. It’s a whopping 9 inches taller and 3 inches wider than the IS, and front-wheel drive typically provides more interior space than rear-wheel drive. Instead, the Acura’s edge proves quite narrow.

Both sedans have comfortable front seats. We always love the thickly bolstered seats in Lexus’s F Sport trim levels, including our IS 350 test vehicle. The TLX’s are also comfortable, and Acura uses the extra width to provide an especially expansive cabin feel. The IS will make some folks feel cozy and others feel confined, while the TLX gives the feel of a full-size sedan with plenty of distance between the driver and passenger. Still, it’s the smaller IS that actually feels more adult-friendly in the backseat, though neither car has a surplus of rear legroom. Breaking the stalemate is the IS’s extra-small trunk; measuring just 10.8 cubic feet, it lags the TLX’s class-competitive 13.5 cubic feet.

Winner: Acura TLX

If the bigger Acura TLX should have been much roomier than the smaller Lexus IS, the compact rear-drive-based IS should be much better to drive. But neither apparent advantage materialized in the real world.

Both the TLX and the IS provide pleasant ride qualities and handling. The TLX’s selectable driving modes include three levels of steering weight that, impressively, all feel natural and nicely connected to the wheels. On the top Advance trim level like our test vehicle, they also let you adjust the adaptive suspension settings for a tauter or gentler ride. However, despite its available Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), it has lower handling limits than the IS. The Lexus has a muddy, artificial feel to its steering when you drive gently, but there’s more potential to be found once you push the vehicle. Between the Acura that’s nicer to drive in everyday conditions and the Lexus that’s more rewarding when you start to explore its limits, we’ll call this category a tie.

Winner: Tie

As we mentioned, every TLX comes with the same engine: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. (A TLX Type S with a 355-hp V6 is due in spring 2021.) This engine is enough to keep the TLX roughly as quick as the quickest IS 350, while also as fuel-efficient as the slowest IS 300. The EPA estimates the TLX gets 25 mpg in mixed driving with front-wheel drive and 24 mpg with all-wheel drive, while the IS models range from 22 to 25 mpg in mixed driving depending on the engine and drivetrain.

Lexus didn’t change the IS powertrain lineup in the 2021 redesign. Some folks will appreciate the old-school naturally aspirated V6 engines and the gentle tune of the throttle — it’s especially easy to accelerate gently without leaping forward — but off-the-line responses are less instantaneous than you get from a good turbo. And the base four-cylinder engine is less responsive than most competitors, too. No IS is slow, but its powertrains have fallen behind unless you’ve got to have a V6.

Winner: Acura TLX

The 2021 Acura TLX earned the highest possible designation of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reflecting its crash-test performance and collision-avoidance features. The IIHS hasn’t yet crash-tested the 2021 Lexus IS, but the fairly similar 2020 model performed well. However, the 2021 IS earns an unimpressive four out of five stars for frontal-impact protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; NHTSA hasn’t yet tested the TLX.

Both sedans come loaded with advanced safety technology, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The IS also includes blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert as standard equipment; the TLX limits them to the $41,500 Technology model. And only the IS comes with bicyclist-detection capabilities. We’re missing some data points, but between the TLX’s standout crash performance and the IS’s additional safety features, we’ll call this category a tie.

Winner: Tie

Lexus dealers have cultivated a top-notch reputation and routinely score among the top brands in America for dealer service. Acura dealers also rate highly, but they haven’t managed to dazzle like Lexus’s.

Although both Lexus and Acura are the premium divisions of mainstream Japanese brands (Toyota and Honda, respectively), it’s Lexus that manages to provide a more thoroughly high-end ownership experience through its dealers.

Winner: Lexus IS

The 2021 Lexus IS is a solid luxury sports sedan. It’s sharp-looking, it provides more than 300 horsepower even at relatively affordable prices, it’s packed with advanced safety features, and its interior is nicely upgraded. If you fall in love with it because of its style, its smooth V6, or an affinity toward the Lexus brand, it should serve you well.

But the 2021 Acura TLX is the clear winner. It matches or beats the IS in nearly every broad category. It’s more up-to-date, it’s more luxurious, it’s roomier, and it’s more fuel-efficient. While the IS has some advantages, the TLX is the more well-rounded luxury sports sedan. It’s more car for less money.

Winner: Acura TLX