2021 Acura TLX Type S vs. Cadillac CT5-V, 2022 Genesis G70 3.3T: The Euro Crisis Comparison Test
From Asia to America, these sport sedans put up a good fight against Europe’s best
MotorTrend
Miguel Cortina
October 1, 2021
![Image]()
Mick Jagger said you can't always get what you want, but when looking at sport sedans, there's pretty much one for every buyer preference. Looking for a European? You have five options. All-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Plenty to choose from. Electric? You betcha.
The BMW 3 Series first defined this segment over three decades ago, and today the competition has grown in size and ferocity. As the sport sedan segment grew, so did these cars' power and variants; some fresher-to-the-scene automakers have even tried offering their fast four-doors for less than BMW to coax buyers into their folds. That's how we got here—Acura and Cadillac have established mid-performance sub-brands to distinguish their sport sedans from the base models (Type S and V, respectively), and although Genesis hasn't gone down that path yet, it has an adequate model to compete in the segment at a hot price. Although Cadillac and other Europeans have sedans with even more power, this midgrade trio focuses on delivering a sporty and engaging driving experience while offering the luxury and versatility sedans are known for.
This comparison would be even more interesting if the Audi S4 and BMW M340i were present, but issues with production and limited press fleets kept us from getting the two Germans. The Mercedes-AMG C43's replacement will make its debut soon, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia doesn't offer a six-cylinder mid-performance trim to compete against these players. Turns out Jagger was right—at least some of the time.
The Players
After years of waiting, the 2021 acura tlx Type S marks the return of the Type S performance treatment to Honda's luxury brand. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 sends 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels thanks to the standard Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. (That's Acura's signature AWD setup, which includes torque vectoring on the rear axle.) Besides being one of the best-looking sedans out there, the TLX Type S is also longer and wider than its competition. Its wheelbase may be 3.0 inches shorter than the Cadillac CT5-V's, but the Acura's proportions are closer to a Porsche Panamera. At $54,645, the Type S takes value to the next level, too.
The 2021 Cadillac CT5-V effectively replaces the old CTS V-Sport, while the V-8-powered CT5-V Blackwing stands in for the CTS-V of yore. Once you get your head around that naming shuffle, look at the numbers: 360 hp and an eye-popping 405 lb-ft for the V, not bad for a midgrade performance trim. That's all thanks to its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine, which comes mated to a 10-speed automatic. Unlike the Acura, the Cadillac sends all its power to the rear wheels, though all-wheel drive is available as an option. The CT5-V can be considered a tweener for the segment. The CT5 is larger than the German competition, but its smaller sibling—the CT4-V—is smaller than the Europeans. Our test car came with a $64,640 price tag—the most expensive vehicle in this group thanks to nearly $15,000 worth of options.
When it launched, the Genesis G70 surprised everyone in the industry with its performance, handling, looks, and value—part of the reason we crowned it our 2019 Car of the Year. Three years after its reveal, the G70 is getting a deep midcycle refresh that could easily be confused for a new generation. Behind its elegant fresh face, the 2022 Genesis G70 Sport Prestige hides this roundup's highest horsepower rating: 368. Its twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 engine sends those ponies (and up to 376 lb-ft of torque) to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic. If that's not impressive enough, look at its price—$51,945 as tested, the cheapest in this test.
Read more at link above…
From Asia to America, these sport sedans put up a good fight against Europe’s best
MotorTrend
Miguel Cortina
October 1, 2021
Mick Jagger said you can't always get what you want, but when looking at sport sedans, there's pretty much one for every buyer preference. Looking for a European? You have five options. All-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Plenty to choose from. Electric? You betcha.
The BMW 3 Series first defined this segment over three decades ago, and today the competition has grown in size and ferocity. As the sport sedan segment grew, so did these cars' power and variants; some fresher-to-the-scene automakers have even tried offering their fast four-doors for less than BMW to coax buyers into their folds. That's how we got here—Acura and Cadillac have established mid-performance sub-brands to distinguish their sport sedans from the base models (Type S and V, respectively), and although Genesis hasn't gone down that path yet, it has an adequate model to compete in the segment at a hot price. Although Cadillac and other Europeans have sedans with even more power, this midgrade trio focuses on delivering a sporty and engaging driving experience while offering the luxury and versatility sedans are known for.
This comparison would be even more interesting if the Audi S4 and BMW M340i were present, but issues with production and limited press fleets kept us from getting the two Germans. The Mercedes-AMG C43's replacement will make its debut soon, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia doesn't offer a six-cylinder mid-performance trim to compete against these players. Turns out Jagger was right—at least some of the time.
The Players
After years of waiting, the 2021 acura tlx Type S marks the return of the Type S performance treatment to Honda's luxury brand. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 sends 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels thanks to the standard Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. (That's Acura's signature AWD setup, which includes torque vectoring on the rear axle.) Besides being one of the best-looking sedans out there, the TLX Type S is also longer and wider than its competition. Its wheelbase may be 3.0 inches shorter than the Cadillac CT5-V's, but the Acura's proportions are closer to a Porsche Panamera. At $54,645, the Type S takes value to the next level, too.
The 2021 Cadillac CT5-V effectively replaces the old CTS V-Sport, while the V-8-powered CT5-V Blackwing stands in for the CTS-V of yore. Once you get your head around that naming shuffle, look at the numbers: 360 hp and an eye-popping 405 lb-ft for the V, not bad for a midgrade performance trim. That's all thanks to its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine, which comes mated to a 10-speed automatic. Unlike the Acura, the Cadillac sends all its power to the rear wheels, though all-wheel drive is available as an option. The CT5-V can be considered a tweener for the segment. The CT5 is larger than the German competition, but its smaller sibling—the CT4-V—is smaller than the Europeans. Our test car came with a $64,640 price tag—the most expensive vehicle in this group thanks to nearly $15,000 worth of options.
When it launched, the Genesis G70 surprised everyone in the industry with its performance, handling, looks, and value—part of the reason we crowned it our 2019 Car of the Year. Three years after its reveal, the G70 is getting a deep midcycle refresh that could easily be confused for a new generation. Behind its elegant fresh face, the 2022 Genesis G70 Sport Prestige hides this roundup's highest horsepower rating: 368. Its twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 engine sends those ponies (and up to 376 lb-ft of torque) to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic. If that's not impressive enough, look at its price—$51,945 as tested, the cheapest in this test.
Read more at link above…
