Featured here is a premium-badged saloon, a 3 Series and C Class rival, that few outside of America will probably even have heard of, let alone seen or driven. This is the Acura TLX, a car that is loosely based on Honda’s more familiar Accord, but with more powerful engines and much plusher trim and equipment levels as well as completely different styling. The TLX was introduced in 2015 replacing two previous Acura models, the rather gawky TL and the TSX that looked to Europeans awfully like our version of the Honda Accord (which is what it was). The TL dates back to 1995 and for twelve years was Acura’s best-selling model, but then the combination of particularly controversial styling features front and back on the 2008 fourth generation car and the increasing popularity of crossover models dethroned it. Perhaps more surprisingly, it was the second best-selling car in the sports/luxury saloon class in the US for many years, finding more buyers than all its market rivals except the BMW 3 Series. Unlike that car, though, this one has always been a front driver, with the option of all-wheel drive. I never got to sample one, but did note that it always got good reviews in the early years, though the awkward looking fourth generation car of 2008 did seem to find less favour from behind the wheel as well as visually. The TLX was intended to try to put Acura back on the front foot with a neatly styled luxury car that would prove enjoyable to drive. After three years on the market, Acura came up with a mid-cycle update which was premiered in April 2017. Changes included revisions to the front end with a revised grille, lights and reprofiled wings, restyled wheels, and new infotainment features including Apple Car Play and Android Auto support. Additionally, a new ‘A-Spec’ performance trim was added. Newly introduced features included an optional 360° surround camera and power driver’s seat thigh extension. US sales began during June 2017. Such is the rate of change that an all-new second generation TLX, based on the Type S concept that had appeared in late 2019, was launched in the summer of 2020 with sales starting almost immediately.

As part of the challenge of sourcing cars to repopulate rental fleets once the lockdowns ended, Hertz had to resort to buying a significant number of pre-owned cars, and this has meant all sorts of models that were never previously on fleet suddenly appeared. I’ve already managed to try some of the Lexus models that appeared on this basis and had spotted that there were also a few Acura models, including the TLX. Measure of how popular they are though, has meant that whilst I’ve seen the odd one parked up, they’ve always been allocated to someone else, until now. But my luck was in when I spotted this TLX parked up among a sea of SUVs in the Presidents Circle area of Hertz’ LAX facility. The car turned out to be a 2019 model, so from the first generation TLX, and was badged as a Group G car, a category that is almost extinct but which used to include the Nissan Maxima and the Buick Regal. I did not hesitate in grabbing the keys, before anyone else did so and had a full day to see what I thought of the car.

Acura sell the TLX with a choice of 2.4 litre 4 cylinder and 3.5 litre V6 engines. My car had the latter. This is quite a potent unit, developing 290 bhp, and it is connected to a nine speed automatic transmission. The engine is very smooth and refined and it offers strong acceleration both from a standing start and also whilst underway. Gear selection is by push button. The transmission was generally very smooth and operated unobtrusively, but I did find that it could get a little confused around 30 mph when on a light throttle being unsure which gear was appropriate. I covered 320 miles in my time with the TLX and it consumed 9.4 gallons, which works out at 34.04 mpg US or 40.67 mpg Imperial, a very good result indeed and proof that sometimes a large and powerful engine can be more economical than a smaller one.

If you are expecting the TLX to feel sporty to drive, you may be a little disappointed. Chief culprit here is the steering which is very light and lacking much in the way of feel. The Acura handles tidily, ultimately understeering a bit if pushed hard and there is some body roll. The ride, on the 245/45 R19 wheels is good, suggesting that the car was perhaps conceived more for comfort than athletic prowess. The brakes needed a fairly firm push but always did their job. There were no issues with visibility and there is a Blind Spot Monitoring system which proved useful. Among the other ADAS features included is a Collision Avoid Warning.

The interior is nicely done, as befits the status of a premium-badged model. The lower half of the dash of the test car was finished in a beige leather and there was only a small amount of plastic wood inlays. There is a chunky leather wrapped steering wheel. The instrument cluster contains two large and clearly marked dials for speedometer and rev counter with smaller fuel level and water temperature gauges set outboard. Column stalks operate indicators, wipers and lights, these last two having an auto setting. There are two screens in the centre of the dash. The upper one is used for the navigation display, car settings and rear-view camera whilst the lower is for the audio system, climate settings and connectivity. That includes the now rarely seen CD slot. The upper screen displays Apple CarPlay or Android Auto information, but it’s controlled using the knob below the lower screen. Bluetooth pairing is quick and easy, with an accessible USB port in the cubby below the infotainment system. There is just one button by the screen, for audio volume control, but there is a control wheel and some buttons in the centre console for operation of the touch screen functions. Lower in the centre of the dash are the buttons for the dual zone climate control.

Seats are trimmed in simulated leather and they are adjusted electrically. There is a two position memory and the seat pulls back when the ignition is off to aid entry and exit. There is an extensible under-thigh bolster and there is lumbar adjustment. The seats are well shaped and they proved very comfortable. The feeling of space is heightened by the presence of a glass sunroof which adds light to the cabin.

The rear cabin is quite spacious, with ample legroom even when the front seats are set well back. Headroom is tighter with just enough clearance for me. Occupants here get the benefit of a central armrest with cup holders in the upper surface and there are front seat map pockets but no stowage bins on the doors.

The boot is a good size. It is long and quite deep and there is plenty of space for extra bits and pieces under the floor. The rear seat backrests are asymmetrically split and simply drop down to create a much longer load area. Inside the passenger compartment, there is a good-sized glovebox, a deep central armrest cubby and there is a dual level stowage area in front of the gearlever. The door pockets are relatively small, but you can still put large 1-litre bottles in them.

Acura offers the TLX with one of two engines, a four-cylinder or a V6, and a couple of option packages. Four-cylinder models are front-wheel-drive only and available in three trims: the TLX 2.4L, the TLX 2.4L with Technology package and, new for 2019, the TLX 2.4L A-Spec. The base V6 model is the TLX 3.5L. You can also get the TLX 3.5L with Technology package, the TLX 3.5L A-Spec and the TLX 3.5L with Advance package. All-wheel drive is available for the V6-equipped TLX. The base TLX 2.4L comes with a 2.4-litre engine (206 bhp, 182 lb/ft), an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and front-wheel drive. Standard features include LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated leather upholstery and heated, power-adjustable front seats. TLX tech conveniences include Bluetooth, two display screens (upper 8-inch and lower 7-inch touchscreens), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a seven-speaker audio system with satellite radio and a USB media interface. Apple iPhone users also get Siri Eye Free voice control when operating outside of CarPlay. All TLXs come with a standard set of driver assistance features called AcuraWatch. This suite includes lane departure warning and intervention, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam control. You’ll probably like the extra convenience features of the TLX 2.4L with Technology package. It adds keyless entry for the rear doors, leather upholstery, automatic wipers, a climate control system that adjusts for sun direction, navigation, a 10-speaker premium audio system, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The TLX 2.4L A-Spec offers the same features as the Technology package, but it adds 19-inch wheels, simulated suede seat inserts, and unique exterior trim elements such as a matte-black grille, decklid spoiler, lower diffuser, dual exhaust and LED foglights. TLX 3.5L models are, appropriately enough, powered by a 3.5-litre V6 (290 bhp, 267 lb/ft) connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Beyond what comes with the base four-cylinder model, the 3.5L gets 18-inch wheels and more power adjustments for the front passenger seat. The TLX 3.5L with Technology package mirrors the features available on the four-cylinder, but with contrast leather trim and stitching as well as power-extending thigh support for the driver’s seat. Maximum creature comforts await with the TLX 3.5L with Advance package. It builds on the Technology package features with front and rear parking sensors, remote engine start, touchless locking and unlocking and trunk opening, ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a heated steering wheel, LED ambient cabin lighting, wireless device charging, auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, a surround-view camera system and a heated windshield. The TLX 3.5L A-Spec combines the Technology package features with some Advance package features, along with a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch wheels, quicker steering and unique exterior trim pieces.

I really rather liked this car. It drove well, made the right sort of noises from its V6 engine, and appeared to have found a nice balance between comfort, luxury and a touch of sportiness. There’s decent room inside for people and luggage, and the car is nicely finished. Acura has a good reputation for reliability, and this car, although three years old certainly seemed like it was well built. If you want a truly sporting saloon of this size and price, then the Alfa Romeo Giulia would remain my pick, and I note that Hertz US have acquired a few of them as well, but if you want to focus a but more on luxury, then the TLX has much to commend it. I rather hope that Hertz will source more of these over time and perhaps I will get the chance to drive the second generation car here, before too long.