Top 10 Best Acura Sport Sedans of All-Time

Acura has just pulled the plug on the TLX, marking the first time in nearly 40 years that the manufacturer will not offer a proper sedan for sale in North America (the Integra is a liftback). To commemorate the demise of yet another good sedan, we take a look back at the best performance sedans Acura has sold over the decades.

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By Mike Schlee

top 10 best acura sport sedans of all time

10) 1992 Acura Vigor 2.5

With the Legend and Integra already established, Acura looked to fill the gap between the two with the Vigor. It was powered by a 176 hp 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Yes, remember when Acura used to dabble with inline-5 powerplants? The first iteration of the Vigor leaned to the sporty side, but was ultimately made softer over the years to better compete against the Lexus ES300.

9) 2010 Acura TSX V6

When the second generation TSX launched, it was a bit bigger and demanded more power. For the 2010 model year the 3.5-liter V6 was added to the model range making 280 hp. Although it could only be had with a five-speed automatic transmission, the TSX was still quite a performer for its day. Some will argue the TSX SE with the less powerful four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission is the real sports sedan of this generation.

8) 1987 Acura Legend V6

A larger sedan for its time, the Legend was the car that showed how serious of a contender Acura could be. Under the hood came a 2.5-liter V6 making 151 hp and could be paired to a five-speed manual transmission. It was Honda’s first use of a V6 on our shores and it was a good one.

7) 2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD

The TL and TSX merged for the 2015 model year, creating the TLX. Although the manual transmission was dead, the entry level four-cylinder could be had with a dual-clutch 8-speed automatic. Our choice for entry here though is the 290 hp 3.5-liter V6 that coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Of course, it was Honda’s torque-vectoring super-handling all-wheel drive system that really made this car shine.

6) 2010 Acura TL SH-AWD

Before the TLX SH-AWD was the TL SH-AWD. With the fourth-generation model losing its Type-S trim, a new Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive model arrived with a 3.7-liter V6 making over 300 hp. Heavier and less nimble, the added all-wheel drive traction still made this car quick and fun.

5) 2002 Acura TL Type-S

This is the car that began the modern era of mid-size performance sedans at Acura. The already well-balanced Acura TL received a serious performance upgrade with the addition of the Type-S model. A 3.2-liter V6 making 260 hp was stuffed under the hood, with an extra gear added to the automatic transmission, now totalling five. Large wheels, better brakes, a stiffer suspension and stickier tires added to the car’s capabilities.

4) 2004 Acura TSX

Known by enthusiasts and fans as the Euro-Accord, the 2004 Acura TSX was essentially just that: a rebadged version of the sportier European Honda Accord. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder screamed to 200 hp, which was impressive at the time. It could be had with a six-speed manual transmission. The entire car was so well balanced, making it one of the most fun to drive four-doors of its era.

3) 1994 Acura Integra GS-R Sedan

Back in the day, the first two generations of the Acura Integra could be had as coupe, liftback, or sedan. The latter was even available with the full GS-R treatment for the second generation model. It included the more potent 1.8-liter four-cylinder, making a mighty 170 hp for 1994. Paired to a five-speed manual transmission, there weren’t many compact sedans that could touch the Integra in terms of performance in the mid-1990s.

2) 2007 Acura TL Type-S

This car lands so far up on our list because it combined incredible looks to go with its performance. The subtle styling changes to the already great looking TL, including those angled quad-tip exhaust tips, showed how serious the TL was when it came to performance, Under the hood was a 286 hp 3.5-liter V6 that could even be had with a six-speed manual transmission.

1) 2023 Acura TLX Type-S PMC Edition

We’ve stated it more than once, the final generation Acura TLX Type-S was a serious sleeper in terms of performance. The 355 hp turbocharged V6 was a smooth, rev-happy engine with a great sound. The Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system could direct up to 70% of that power to the rear wheels. It was so quick to react, it completely masked the TLX’s front-wheel drive roots. We will miss this car.

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