Compare the2024 BMW 5 SeriesVS 2023 Acura TLX

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 5 Series 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 5 Series has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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 5 Series has a standard Active Park Distance Control 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.

The 5 Series has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 5 Series has standard Cross Traffic Warning and Brake Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the TLX and the TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the 5 Series 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 seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The 5 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the TLX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the TLX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

There are over 30 percent more BMW dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 5 Series’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Acura is ranked 8th.

The 530i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The 540i xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (375 vs. 355) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 354) than the TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series gets better mileage than the TLX:

Regenerative brakes improve the 5 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The TLX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The 5 Series’ 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.

The 5 Series’ 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.

For better traction, the 5 Series has larger standard tires than the TLX (245/45R19 vs. 235/50R18).

The 5 Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TLX’s standard 50 series tires. The 5 Series’ optional 275/30R21 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the TLX Type S’ 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the TLX. The 5 Series’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the TLX Type S.

The 5 Series 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.

The 5 Series offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The TLX doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 5 Series offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Acura doesn’t offer an active suspension on the TLX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 5 Series’ wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the TLX (117.9 inches vs. 113 inches).

The 5 Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.5% to 47.5%) than the TLX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the 5 Series more stable handling and braking.

The front grille of the 5 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The TLX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 5 Series has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The 5 Series has a much larger trunk than the TLX (18.4 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 5 Series’ 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.

The engine in the 5 Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the TLX, the 5 Series has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The power windows standard on both the 5 Series and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 5 Series 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 5 Series’ 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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 5 Series offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 5 Series also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the 5 Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The TLX doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The 5 Series’ 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.

The 5 Series offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TLX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 5 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the TLX.

The 5 Series’ Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The TLX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Acura TLX by 81% during 2022.