These Acura Type S Models Are Reliable Bargains Today

Car enthusiasts are forever searching for the perfect combination of performance, reliability, and affordability. Whether it’s hot hatches or entry-level sports cars, there have been plenty of cars over the decades that have offered cash-strapped gearheads an entry point into high-performance motoring.

Japanese brands have distinguished themselves in this regard, with notable examples including Honda and Nissan. Today, we’re focusing on Honda’s high-end Acura division, which is also responsible for selling many rebadged Honda vehicles in the United States. While high-performance Hondas typically wear the famous Type R badge, the Acura grades have the Type S badge. Here are a few of the brand’s sporty models that are now within reach of enthusiasts on a budget.

1

CL Type S

The second-generation Acura CL launched for the 2001 model year. The Type S version of the model arrived a little later, going on sale for the 2003 model year. Power came from a 3.2-liter V6, which produced 260 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The engine initially attached to a five-speed automatic transmission only. However, for 2003 (what would be the car’s last model year), a six-speed manual transmission was available as well. The manual version of the CL Type S was one of the rarest variants of the model because out of only 3,514 units of the manual CL for 2003, approximately 2,700 of them were Type S models.

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In 2002, just a year before the model went away, an optional performance package became available for the Type S. Built in collaboration with California-based Honda-focused tuning company Comptech, the package included a supercharger, in addition to upgrades to the exhaust, suspension, and braking system. This package brought the engine’s output up to 369 hp and 302 lb-ft of torque.

The CL Type S only lasted on the market for three model years. After that, Acura put a greater emphasis on the TL. Learn more about it below.

2

TL Type S

Next up is the Type S version of the TL, a sedan first launched in 1996. The TL Type S, however, did not appear in the lineup until a few years into the model’s second generation. The revised TL debuted in 1999, and the Type S arrived in 2002. The introduction of the Type S model was part of a minor facelift. It included a revised front fascia and redesigned taillights, among other changes.

The Type S added 35 hp to the car’s power output, bringing it up to 360 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. Power came from a 3.2-liter V6, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Type S also had with a few other upgrades, such as a firmer suspension, new seats, and 17-inch wheels.

Although the original TL Type S only lasted two model years, in 2007 the badge returned to the model, as part of the TL’s third generation. This time, the powertrain came from another Acura model: the RL. A 3.5-liter V6, producing 286 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The manual gearbox came with a limited-slip differential, while the automatic version had paddle shifters for additional driver engagement.

The Type S also added several performance and design features, including Brembo brakes, quad exhaust pipes, an upgraded suspension, and the exclusive paint color Kinetic Blue Pearl. Like its predecessor, the TL Type S only lasted two years before its discontinuation in 2008 when the model’s third generation ended.

3

RSX Type S

The Acura RSX (sold as the fourth-generation Honda Integra in some markets) was a fairly short-lived model, being sold for one generation between the 2002 and 2006 model years. However, Acura plans to reintroduce the nameplate in 2026, with a second-generation RSX, but this time it’s an electric SUV.

The Type S version brought a power boost of 40 hp, raising the car’s power output from 160 to 200 hp. Power came from the K20A2 inline-four engine. However, for the model’s last two years in 2005 and 2006 the automaker replaced the powerplant with the K20Z1, which produced 210 hp. The Type S was only available with a six-speed manual.

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The Type S also came with a host of additional performance and design features, including a reworked suspension, upgraded brakes, larger sway bars, and premium wheels. Inside the car, sport seats upholstered in perforated leather, a seven-speaker Bose sound system, and a CD changer were exclusive to the Type S. The model was available with several exclusive color options over the years, such as Premium White Pearl, Arctic Blue Pearl, and Blaze Orange Metallic.

The 2005 engine upgrade was part of a wider facelift for both the standard and Type S versions of the RSX. This included updated headlights and taillights for both models, as well as a new rear hatch spoiler and 17-inch wheels for the Type S.

4

TLX Type S

Jumping forward nearly two decades, we have a far more recent model in the Type S family: the TLX Type S, first introduced in 2021. The TLX had been around since 2015, but the first generation of the model did not include a Type S version in the lineup.

The Type S TLX uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, producing 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes with several performance upgrades, such as a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods. The V6 is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which also has upgrades over the standard TLX’s transmission to enable quicker shifting.

Like several other models in the Type S family, the TLX Type S also has distinct design characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the model’s lineup. These include a revised grille for improved airflow, aerodynamic upgrades such as a front splitter and rear diffuser, and quad exhaust outlets. Black and gloss black accents are dotted throughout the bodywork, giving the car a more aggressive edge.

The 2023 model year saw the release of a special edition of the Type S, called the Type S PMC edition. This version, equipped with carbon fiber trim and new wheels, was curated by the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center, which also gave it its name.

5

MDX Type S

The most recent model on our list is the Type S version of the fourth-generation Acura MDX, which was introduced in 2022. After the RLX luxury sedan went out of production in 2020, the MDX became Acura’s flagship model. The model had been around since 2001, but had never received a Type S trim.

In the MDX Type S, power comes from a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, which produces 355 hp. The lower trim levels, meanwhile, have a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6, which produces 290 hp. A 10-speed automatic is the only transmission option available. While front-wheel drive is available on the regular version of the MDX, all-wheel drive is standard on the Type S version, as are upgraded Brembo brakes. The Type S also gets an exclusive paint color option, Tiger Eye (a yellow shade).

The MDX received a facelift for the 2025 model year, which involved some exterior design changes, a new infotainment system with additional tech features, such as wireless charging and new alloy wheels. As part of the facelift, the model has an upgraded sound system with an impressive 31 speakers.

Sources: Acura, Autotempest