Time Is Running Out To Buy Two Of America’s Most Underrated Sports Sedans

The news recently broke that the Acura TLX is officially canceled after the 2025 model year. Meanwhile, rumors persist that the Genesis G70’s days are numbered, with some sources reporting that 2027 could be the final model year for the small luxury four-door. We’ve been hearing these rumors for years, with every model year said to be the last, but, as the G70 nears the end of its first-generation life cycle, with no facelifts since the 2022 model year, and no announcement of a relaunch, the writing on the wall is becoming clearer and clearer.

According to Acura, the TLX is being dropped because the brand wants to align with “the evolving needs of our customers and the changing landscape of the automotive market.” We’re not exactly sure what they mean by that, but the TLX plant in Ohio is being converted for the battery-powered RSX EV, so that might explain it. The car’s dwindling sales numbers no doubt played a major part in the decision, with Acura selling fewer than 8,000 units in 2024. As for the G70, we don’t even have an official cancellation just yet, so we don’t have an official statement to scrutinize and pick apart, either. In any event, time is definitely running out to grab the Acura, and probably running out for the Genesis.

A Look At The “Changing Automotive Landscape”

The Acura TLX plant being converted to build the new RSX feels like a pretty clear sign of the times. The original RSX was a gas-powered sport compact, while the new one is a two-door electric crossover. Acura has made it clear that this is “not a successor to the old car,” with senior product planner Jon Rivers announcing that it’s “not meant to tie into the old car. It’s simply a name that we had trademarked and had brand value.”

Meanwhile, over at Genesis, the brand recently killed off the G80 after selling just 3,758 units in the US in 2024, while giving the GV70, available in ICE or EV, a substantial facelift, suggesting that the automaker is going in a similar direction to that of Acura. That is, shedding the coupes and sedans, leaning into SUVs, and putting a stronger emphasis on electric vehicles.

At the end of the day, mainstream automakers have to think about the average driver. According to data from S&P Global Mobility, SUVs and pickups drive more than half of all vehicle sales in the US. To the vast majority of drivers on American roads, practicality, functionality, accessibility, and price are key.

We might love them, but sports sedans are a competitive niche market. Genesis and Acura are luxury automakers, but they occupy that upper-middle tier of the market. That means their bread and butter is going to be working parents and carpoolers. Not necessarily gearheads, but regular folks looking for a solid daily-driver. That means crossovers, and, year-after-year, it increasingly means electrification.

Here’s Why These Cars Are Worth Grabbing While You Can Grab’em

Let’s start with a quick look under the hoods of the top-spec versions of these cars…

Both cars are also available with more modest specs, with the TLX starting at 272 hp with a 2.0-liter turbo-four, and the G70 with a 300-horse 2.5-liter turbo-four. The mid and top-range versions of both cars really scratch that sports sedan itch, but we wouldn’t overlook any version of either car.

How Does It Feel To Drive These Luxury Sports Sedans?

Reviewing the 2024 Genesis G70, we remarked that both of the car’s powertrain options were “extremely capable,” with effortless power delivery rivaling similar cars from Mercedes and BMW, and the Brembo brakes are the cherry on top, and the adaptive suspension soaks up bumps in the road without flinching. It doesn’t just feel like a fast four-door, it feels like a sports sedan. We absolutely recommend the V6, if for no other reason than the superior engine notes, but you can’t go wrong with either version of the car.

Reviewing the 2024 TLX, we noted that it “loses out to the class leaders in performance terms” in part due to its slightly bulky size and weight. But, the handling feels great, the stiff suspension gives it a sporty vibe, and the transmission feels especially responsive when driving a V6 in sport-mode. If you’re buying a TLX, we strongly recommend the six-cylinder version of the car.

What Will These Sports Sedans Cost You?

Acura lists the current MSRPs for the 2025 model TLX…

Meanwhile, Genesis has the following prices listed for the 2026 G70…

Are The TLX And G70 Worth The Price?

All of these prices sit comfortably in the upper-mid-market range, running in roughly the same range as a typical mid-size SUV, like the $43,200 Honda Pilot, or the $54,400 Mazda CX-70 PHEV. The difference between these sports sedans and those SUVs is that you’re getting the total package in the G70 and TLX. These are not merely functional, practical family vehicles that’ll get you from point A to point B, they’re cars that deliver a lot more than you expect for the price.

In our reviews for both of these cars, we’ve always had strong praise for the upscale materials, leathers, and quality plastics used in the interior, all with intuitive, uncluttered layouts. The cars are roomy enough for small families, or a few friends on a long road trip, and, most importantly, they’re fun to drive, delivering the same thrills that you might expect to start in the low six-figure range. And if that’s not enough, they’re a pair of stylish, attractive cars, too.

In our latest roundup of sports sedans under $50k, we ranked the Acura TLX in eighth place, and the Genesis G70 in seventh. If you have the money for a $140,000 BMW M8 Gran Coupe or a $99,400 Porsche Taycan, by all means, take the plunge. But, if you want something that punches above its division, the TLX and G70 are hard to beat for the price, and it’ll be a shame to see them ride off into the sunset in the coming years.

Sources: S&P Global, Acura, Genesis.