The Most Expensive 2023 Honda Accord Is a Better Buy Than the Cheapest Acura TLX
As the luxury branch of Honda, it seems logical that Acura cars deliver more than their pedestrian cousins. But with recent updates to the Honda Accord, it’s the plebian four-door sedan that comes out on top. Compared to even the cheapest Acura TLX, the most expensive 2023 Honda Accord packs a big punch.
How much is the most expensive Honda Accord vs. the cheapest Acura TLX?
Pricing is similar between the most expensive new Honda Accord and the cheapest Acura TLX, though the Accord still slots in below its luxury-focused cousin. At $37,950 for the Honda and just shy of $40,000 for the Acura, the Honda already has a value advantage before we even discuss features and luxury.
For that price gap, it would be easy to believe that the Acura has some inherent advantages over the Accord. But as we’ll detail below, the top-spec Accord handily bests the TLX across the board.
Luxury comparison between the Honda Accord and Acura TLX
When it comes to comfort, the most expensive 2023 Honda Accord easily outshines the cheapest Acura TLX. In the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring, leather seats are standard fare, while the Acura offers faux leather instead. In addition, the Acura TLX offers just heated seats, while the top Honda Accord comes with heated and cooled front seating.
The two cars share features like dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and a power-sliding panoramic moonroof.
Even when accounting only for physical space, the Honda Accord has an advantage over the Acura. With 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space versus just 13.5 cubes in the TLX, the Honda Accord takes the cake. And while front legroom is nearly identical, those in the back have a whopping six extra inches of legroom in the Honda when compared to the Acura. In addition, there is an inch of extra rear headroom and equal front headroom in the cheaper model when compared to its luxury sibling.
Premium technology tips toward the Honda Accord
Modern luxury cars are about more than just comfort, but the Honda Accord Touring beats the Acura TLX on tech as well. In the Honda comes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless phone charger. The Acura TLX uses a wired version of both, complicating connectivity.
Even display size favors the newest Accord, which features a 12.3-inch central infotainment display compared to a 10.2-inch unit in the Acura. And finally, the Accord offers Bose Premium Audio, while the Acura features an in-house audio setup.
Regarding driver assistance tech, both Acura LaneWatch and Honda Sensing utilize the same features, so the experiences are virtually identical. That said, the Accord Touring comes with a heads-up display, while you’ll have to look further up the TLX trim levels to get the same tech.
Performance and efficiency comparison
Performance is where you’ll find the biggest separation between these two Japanese four-door sedans. The Honda Accord uses a hybrid powertrain offering 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. It even comes with an EV-only mode, despite not being a plug-in hybrid model. And at 46 mpg city and 41 mpg highway, it offers excellent efficiency.
The Acura TLX is designed with more sporting intentions, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Naturally, that means a less-efficient drive, checking in at an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
Even the priciest Honda Accord bests the entry-level Acura TLX
The most-expensive 2023 Honda Accord is cheaper, more luxurious, and more feature-packed than the cheapest Acura TLX. In fact, only performance marks the Acura ahead of its less-prestigious counterpart, despite a higher starting price. That turbocharged engine is a blast to drive, but that doesn’t overcome the myriad other areas where the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring punches above its weight class.
