Compare the2025 Volkswagen GTIVS 2025 Acura TLX

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

Safety

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The GTI’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 GTI 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 GTI 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.

Both the GTI and TLX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GTI has Rear Traffic Alert (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 GTI and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the GTI for 1 year and 8000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the TLX (2/20,000 vs. 1/12000).

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 GTI’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen GTI’s engine uses 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 GTI’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.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen GTI is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

	GTI	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.9 MPH	91.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
GTI
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 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

Transmission

The GTI offers a standard 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 or a conventional manual transmission.

The GTI 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 GTI’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TLX:

	GTI	TLX
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	13 inches

The GTI’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 GTI stops much shorter than the TLX:

	GTI	TLX
100 to 0 MPH	304 feet	362 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	150 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The GTI 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 GTI handles at .96 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GTI executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (25 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GTI’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the TLX’s (38.1 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen GTI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 1050 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

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

Passenger Space

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

Ergonomics

The GTI’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 GTI and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GTI 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 GTI’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 GTI 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 GTI has a standard rear wiper. The TLX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GTI has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GTI also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Volkswagen GTI has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the TLX Type S.

Both the GTI and the TLX have standard heated front seats. The GTI Autobahn also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the TLX.

The GTI 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.

The GTI Autobahn’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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the GTI owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GTI will cost $440 less than the TLX over a five-year period.

The GTI will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GTI will retain 52.82% to 55.47% of its original price after five years, while the TLX only retains 45.75% to 49.71%.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen GTI outsold the Acura TLX by 33% during 2024.

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