Compare the2023 Volkswagen Golf RVS 2023 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Golf R’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The TLX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Golf R has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The TLX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Golf R has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Golf R. But it costs extra on the TLX.

The Golf R has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Golf R has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the TLX.

Both the Golf R and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

The Golf R’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the TLX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Golf R’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Golf R’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the TLX’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Golf R’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Acura.

Engine

The Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (315 vs. 272) than the TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Golf R DSG is faster than the TLX Type S 3.0 turbo V6 (automatics tested):

	Golf R	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	3.9 sec	4.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10 sec	12.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.2 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	13.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	111 MPH	103 MPH

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Volkswagen Golf R was clocked 2.4 seconds faster than the Acura TLX Type S (184.3 sec. vs. 186.7 sec.).

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Golf R gets better mileage than the TLX:

			MPG
Golf R
AWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
TLX
	Auto	A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
		Perf. Tire 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/24 hwy

Transmission

The Golf R offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The TLX doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Golf R offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The TLX doesn’t offer an SMG.

The Golf R Automatic’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The TLX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Golf R’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TLX:

	Golf R	TLX
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	13 inches

The Golf R’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the TLX are solid, not vented.

The Golf R stops much shorter than the TLX:

	Golf R	TLX
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Golf R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TLX’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Golf R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the TLX.

The Golf R has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Golf R handles at .99 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Golf R executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Golf R’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the TLX’s (39.3 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The Golf R’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the TLX with 19/20-inch wheels’ (39.3 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Golf R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 750 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

The Golf R is 2 feet, 1.7 inches shorter than the TLX, making the Golf R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Golf R is quieter than the TLX Type S:

	Golf R	TLX
70 MPH Cruising	67 dB	71 dB

Passenger Space

The Golf R has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear legroom than the TLX.

Ergonomics

The Golf R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The TLX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Golf R and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Golf R is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Golf R’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The TLX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Golf R to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The TLX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Golf R has a standard rear wiper. The TLX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Golf R has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Golf R’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Golf R has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the TLX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Golf R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the TLX.

The Golf R’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The TLX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the Golf R as their 2015 Car of the Year. The TLX has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Golf as the 2015 North American Car of the Year. The TLX has never been chosen.

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