Compare the2025 Lexus ESVS 2025 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the ES are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The TLX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The ES has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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 ES offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the ES and TLX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the ES offers optional Rear Cross-Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the ES and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the Acura TLX:

	ES	TLX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	120	143
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	319	358
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	186 lbs.
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	66 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus ES is safer than the Acura TLX:

	ES	TLX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	128
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	160 lbs.	188 lbs.
Hip Force	264 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	53 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	326	464

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the TLX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the ES’ 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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Lexus ES Hybrid’s reliability 11 points higher than the TLX and the Lexus ES is rated 20 points higher than the TLX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 81 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fifth.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

	ES	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.2 MPH	91.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES gets better mileage than the TLX:

			MPG
ES
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
TLX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy

The ES can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The TLX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ES Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The TLX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lexus ES uses regular unleaded gasoline. The TLX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The ES 300h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The TLX doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The ES stops shorter than the TLX:

	ES	TLX
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The ES 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 ES 350 F Sport Handling handles at .85 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The ES 350 F Sport Handling executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the ES’ turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the TLX’s (38 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the ES a Mid-size car, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The ES has 6.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (99.9 vs. 93.4).

The ES has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 4.3 inches more rear legroom than the TLX.

Cargo Capacity

The ES has a larger trunk than the TLX (13.9 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ES’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The TLX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the ES and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the ES 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 ES’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Entry standard on the TLX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ES offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the ES and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the ES Ultra Luxury to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The TLX doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The ES’ 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus ES, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.

The Lexus ES outsold the Acura TLX by over five to one during 2024.

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