Bit I don't know how you could equate Acura to Buick, they are just so very different with different buyers, so different it is like comparing BMW to Dodge. Acura being a much higher end brand built on engineering/tuning/performance and is a luxury brand while Buick's have always been just typical GM vehicles composed from GM parts bin, nothing innovative, nothing groundbreaking, no unique technology or models, they have always been that. Acura's are pretty much always compared to luxury brands while Buick is hardly ever compared to them, even the highly improved current Buick's are rarely if ever compared to luxury brands models. A Acura buyer would pretty much never buy or be interested in a Buick and it is doubtful a Buick buyer would be interested in Acura's. Your experience with the MDX owner is likely due to its huge success in the market attracting much more then typical Acura buyers.

Acura like Lexus does share with their mainstream brands too but still Buick has nothing like SH-AWD, new DSG trans, Krell/ELS Audio, PAWS, upcoming 3 motor hybrid, etc.

Buick had mostly a old geezer image in the 80's-2000's building soft riding unimpressive GM clone cars(aside from the fluke Grand National turbo) that were re badges of of Oldmobiles and Chevy's while Acura was building and built its reputation on cars like the Legend, Integra(Type R's), NSX, TL and CL s(Type S's, SH-AWD RL/MDX, Vtec, SH-AWD, great driving, highly engineered cars that in most cases got very good reviews and were put up against BMW's.

The current crop of Acura sedans like the ILX and RLX are not as competitive as previous models especially since they have neglected to give them SH-AWD but that does not mean the brand has just become a Buick competitor or is not considered a luxury/performance maker anymore. It is likely because of lagging sales they will get the message that this current crop of cars is not what the market wants and they should go back to their older ways which could not be further from Buick, they are and have always been solidly well above Buick.

Here is a collection of reviews for the TLX, mostly positive to very positive, nothing like what the ILX and RLX reviews were like.

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ra-tlx-review/

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...f-the-3-series

http://www.torquenews.com/1574/we-te...y-giant-killer

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...x_first_drive/

http://www.torquenews.com/1574/2015-...ry-performance

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kbrauer/...as-sedan-woes/

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...t-drive-review

http://www.edmunds.com/acura/tlx/2015/road-test.html

http://www.leftlanenews.com/first-dr...lx-review.html

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/04/2...-drive-review/

http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/first...t-drive-review



I will have to test drive the TLX but it does seem the 4 cyl with the DSG is a really great car and nobody is really complaining of it lacking power compared to the 6 cyl. Styling is nice, it looks good to me in most pics, a little bland from the rear and side in some, needs visible exhaust outlets. Not a fan of the dual touchscreen layout, would much rather have buttons and switches. It looks like they should have given it a better tire option to get more performance out of it on the V6. Rumors of a Type S are strong though there are some rumors toward the turbo 4 from the Euro Civic Type R then a turbo V6.

 

If one is going to argue Acura isn't like Buick then I assume they should be compared to JEEP considering 70-80% of their vehicles sold are two SUVS.

Acura=Buick... Pretty much the same thing with both having their own advantages. Both do not offer true luxury vehicles or sport vehicles but are a nice way of executing Honda/Chevrolet plus. Both are mostly designed and made in America for mostly America ( though Buick demolishes Acura in China). Both brands are geared mostly to non enthusiasts looking for a nice car and "Value".

There was a time when the comparison was ridiculous (1990s) but my how times have changed. Id take take the beautiful Buick Regal GS over any Acura. Being compared to Buick toduy is no bad thing at all, Buick sells a great lineup and continues to improve.

 

I'll agree with that....IMO, Buick has made great strides in modernizing itself while Acura has severely slid/misstepped.

IMO TLX is a back to basics, safe attempt after the ZDX and current TL flops.

 

The regal GS is pimp, would take it over Acura as well.

I agree with some of the posts, Buick is on the same level as Acura these days. What was 10 years ago I do not care about, things are changing fast, brands rise and fall, Buick went forward, Acura backward and now they share that premium but not luxury market.

 

of course acura and buick are not exactly the same, but they're definitely premium versions of their mainstream brands.

 

Nice car (GS) -- designed in Germany by Opel (known as the Insignia over there).
It's not exactly a huge seller in the US....

 

got a test drive email today....

I like this shot...!

 

Looking at its proportions, its better than anything they've put out in years. But still doesn't look premium, maybe needs better wheels/wheel fitment?

 

really? those are obviously 19s...looks pretty damn good in that 'chop.

sure it's not up to the new Lexus IS, but for Acura this is huge....to have a new car design that doesn't look like garbage is a step up for them.

 

It looks great in that image, but in the real life photos we've been seeing, the fitment isn't great and the wheel design is pretty poor too.

 

Personally, I think the Mazda 6 looks eons better than this car. Add the jewel eye LED lights, and all the other upscale features, and you have a winner.

 

Mazda 6 may look better. But the TLX is probably a better car.

Also the A4, new C-class and 3 series are all very bland looking, yet no one ever criticises them..

 

CR just did a Road Test of the Regal and it did pretty well. A little behind the BMW 328i and tied with the MB C250.

The Predicted Reliability has improved to Average, so they now Recommend it.

 

If you don't want people to be impressed by your car you better get rid of the A5.

 

the reviews posted on Acurazine.com majority of them pretty the 2.4 four cylinder model due to its liveliness, high rev and 300lb less weight than the 3.5 V6 version. this may be my next car to replace my IS only if i can get a 2.4 tech for under $35k OTD.