**Based on current year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid models only) and other factors.
2024 Acura TLX vs. Competitors
While Acura may be known best for its popular RDX and MDX crossovers, its passenger car lineup is attracting plenty of attention thanks to a refreshed 2024 TLX. This sleek sedan combines style, performance, and value to take on Europe's best offerings at a lower price point. Let’s explore what this comparison means in real-world terms as we look at the Acura TLX against the BMW 330i, Mercedes-Benz C300, and Volvo S60. Note that we’re examining the least-expensive trim for the 2024 edition of each model.
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Price
With a $45,000 MSRP, the 2024 TLX ranks as one of the most affordable, whereas the Mercedes C300’s starting price is $46,950, and the BMW 330i begins at $45,500. The Volvo S60’s $42,000 price tag looks good on the surface, but we’ll cover below how less its shorter list of equipment explains the difference.
Powertrain
All of these premium compact sedans rely on a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for motivation. It’s a common powerplant in premium vehicles these days, but Acura maximizes what’s under the hood by engineering the TLX to make 272 horsepower. This exceeds the 255 horsepower of the BMW and the Mercedes and far surpasses the Volvo’s output of 247 horses. The TLX also leads with a ten-speed automatic transmission for smoother shifting and improved efficiency. Its competitors use either an eight- or nine-speed gearbox.
While all four models are available with all-wheel drive, buyers looking to stretch their budget or simplify maintenance requirements may want to stick with two-wheel drive. In the case of the 330i and C300, this means rear-wheel drive. The TLX and S60 have front-wheel drive, which offers better handling in the snow and on slick roads.
Standard Equipment
We’ll skip the long list of standard features for each model. These are premium sedans with the requisite roster of comforts and conveniences, but they’re not all equipped the same way. Only the TLX comes with leather upholstery in its base version, while the others have leatherette. Another separator is adaptive cruise control, which is included in the lowest-priced TLX, while buyers will have to spend for a higher trim to get this highway helper on the others.
Heated front seats are a must-have feature for many drivers, especially in New England. This luxury is standard with the TLX and C300, but BMW and Volvo charge extra for it. Standard 19-inch wheels are an additional differentiator for the TLX, giving the car a more complete look. Its rivals, though, have to settle for 18-inch rims.
Ownership Costs
Although the TLX is cheaper to buy than the 330i or C300, there are also other costs to consider. Edmunds estimates that owners of the 2024 TLX will spend about $0.79 per mile to keep their Acura on the road over five years. The numbers reach $0.86 per mile for the BMW and $0.90 for the Mercedes.
While the differences in per-mile costs may appear modest, they add up over time. Based on driving 15,000 miles per year, a typical 2024 330i owner can expect to incur expenses totaling $64,363 over five years; that will rise to $67,486 for someone with a 2024 C300 in their garage. In contrast, the 2024 TLX’s expenses come to $59,540. In that way, the savings start in the showroom and continue mile after mile.
The details show that the TLX’s estimated repair costs of $1,158 are substantially less than the $2,887 predicted for the 330i and C300. Depreciation also plays a significant role in ownership costs. After five years, the TLX’s value drops by $23,579, compared to $26,192 for the 330i and $29,273 for the C300. While Edmunds didn’t assess the 2024 S60, CarEdge estimated that this Volvo has a 51% depreciation rate over five years, against the better 48% depreciation rate of the 2024 TLX.