A compact luxury car is an excellent choice if you’re looking for premium features but don’t want to upsize. Competitors in the compact luxury car segment include the 2024 Volvo S60 and the 2024 Acura TLX. Both cars offer impressive value propositions and are worthy contenders for buyers who want to avoid going the mainstream route of German compact luxury cars.
This year, the 2024 Volvo S60 has minor color and trim changes, while the 2024 Acura TLX marks the model’s mid-cycle refresh. So, which one is the better compact luxury car? We’ll evaluate their respective interior, safety, and performance attributes to find out.
Dimensionally, there’s very little between the 2024 Volvo S60 and the 2024 Acura TLX. They have around 94 cubic feet of passenger space and 14 cubic foot trunks. Meanwhile, the 2024 S60 Recharge variant has less space due to the rear-mounted battery and motor.
However, these two compact luxury cars differ in terms of interior ambiance. Volvo’s simple Swedish design language aims to make the 2024 S60 feel like an extension of your living room. Hence, the design is uncluttered, and the seats offer unparalleled comfort. Meanwhile, the 2024 TLX’s dashboard looks cluttered, with various shapes and buttons plus rotary dials.
As compact luxury cars, you can expect features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable and heated front seats, plus Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ on the 2024 S60 and the 2024 TLX. These cars also have digital instrument clusters. Venturing up the trim ladder grants you massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and a heads-up display for the 2024 Volvo S60.
The 2024 S60 also offers a fantastic B&O premium sound system that will thrill music lovers with its balanced sound. Meanwhile, you can choose an ELS sound system for the 2024 TLX.
Volvo offers two powertrain choices for the 2024 S60 line-up. Firstly, there’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Then, a Recharge variant with a potent 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque is available. This variant uses the same turbocharged 2.0-liter engine but is tuned for more power. Then, an electric motor is added to drive the rear axle, making the Recharge all-wheel drive. Finally, it has a 14.9-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that can be charged via regenerative braking or an onboard 3.7-kilowatt plug-in charger. The Recharge can run for up to 34 miles on electric power when fully charged.
The 2024 TLX range comes with two engine choices. There’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower at the lower end of the range. Then, the Type S variant comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 that makes 355 horsepower. A 10-speed automatic gearbox is standard. The smaller engine comes with front-wheel drive but can be optioned with Acura’s SH-AWD all-wheel drive system.
The 2024 TLX has been lauded for its sporty handling characteristics, but testers noted that ride comfort suffers as a result. Conversely, the 2024 S60 provides all-day driving comfort and relaxation, offering lively acceleration when required.
The 2024 Volvo S60 comes with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning as standard. It also includes lane-keeping assist and forward collision warning. The 2024 TLX includes many of these features, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are optional. Meanwhile, the 2024 S60 gets adaptive cruise control on higher trims.
Both compact luxury cars have airbags, child safety locks, child seat tethers, and daytime running lamps on all trims. They also have stability control and tire pressure monitoring systems.
The 2024 Volvo S60 is the best choice for a hassle-free daily commuter. It has a pleasant interior, supremely comfortable seats, and a relaxing ride. However, it can still deliver astonishing performance and has comprehensive safety features. If you’d like to take a 2024 S60 for a drive, come to Volvo Cars Fredericksburg in Fredericksburg, VA. We’ll also help you pick the best choice, evaluate it, and secure financing.
