The TLX entered production during July at Honda's Marysville Auto Plant with sales beginning in August.

A 2.4-liter four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine with direct injection was offered with front-wheel drive only, mated to a dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel steering (P-AWS).

A 3.5-liter direct injected SOHC VTEC V-6 with cylinder deactivation (VCM) is mated to Honda's first time use of a 9-speed automatic transmission (sourced from ZF), available with either P-AWS or all-wheel drive (SH-AWD).

As with the ninth-generation Accord, the TLX loses the front double wishbone suspension of the TSX and TL in favor of a MacPherson strut arrangement, and loses the TL's all-aluminum front subframe in favor of a lower cost friction stir welded aluminum and steel piece.

Newly introduced features include an optional 360° surround camera and power driver's seat thigh extension.

It debuted in August 2017 at the Chengdu Motor Show and is called the Acura TLX-L.[16] The TLX-L is only offered with the 2.4-liter four, producing 153 kW (205 hp; 208 PS) and receiving the UB4 model code.

Based on the design of the Type S concept introduced in 2019, the second generation TLX launched digitally on May 28, 2020, production began on August 28, with sales following on September 28.

New options include adaptive dampers, a 10.5-inch head-up display (HUD), a 17-speaker audio system with four ceiling mounted speakers, open-pore wood, and 16-way power full grain leather front seats with four-way lumbar adjustability as introduced on the third generation RDX.Acura introduced a high-performance Type S variant for the second generation TLX, marking the return of the Type S brand after over a decade-long hiatus.

[22] It features an all-new DOHC 3.0-liter V6 engine with a single twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, producing 355 hp (265 kW; 360 PS) and 354 lb⋅ft (480 N⋅m; 49 kg⋅m) of torque.

[22][26] Distinctive features include a fully open diamond pentagon grille for engine cooling, quad exhaust outlets, front splitter, and rear diffuser.

[27] In Car and Driver magazine's Lightning Lap test at the Virginia International Raceway's Grand West Course, the TLX Type S set a lap time of 3:06.7, which, for reference, was six tenths of a second faster than the Genesis G70 3.3T and five tenths off the time of the Cadillac CT4-V.[28][29] The magazine commented that getting on the throttle as early as possible during cornering resulted in the best performance, as the SH-AWD system helps rotate the car; they felt that on-throttle "the car pivots productively but doesn't aggressively oversteer".

The new airbag marketed as a "catcher's mitt" is designed to "catch" the occupant's head in the event of an oblique collision.

During an impact, uninflated side panels help guide the occupant's head in the direction of inflated chambers acting as a "catcher's mitt.

[32] The 2021 TLX comes standard with safety features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assist.

[36][37] RealTime Racing entered a factory-backed car in the GT class at the Mid-Ohio and Sonoma rounds of the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge, with Peter Cunningham claiming a best result of 13th place.