2021 Acura TLX Type S First Drive: A long-awaited return to form Vincent Nguyen - May 20, 2021, 8:00am CDT The 2021 Acura TLX Type S is a return to form for Honda’s premium brand. Long renowned for offering spirited performance alongside the Integra Type R, the Type S arguably couldn’t have returned at a better time. In a market where sedans comprise less than 38-percent of new premium vehicle sales, the TLX Type S is a compelling attempt to lure enthusiast drivers back from the domestic crutches of sport-utility vehicles and homogenous crossovers. Acura knew from day one that they had to live up to Type S enthusiasts’ expectations and had to challenge the leaders, referring to the likes of Audi S4, Mercedes-AMG C43, Genesis G70, and the BMW M340i xDrive. In my opinion, I highly respect the team for not only setting high benchmarks but also delivering the goods, making the Type S a true sports sedan that performs and handles like a sports car.