The TLX Advance has a standard Surround View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the TLX’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.
The TLX has standard AcuraLink, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.
Both the TLX and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 blind spot warning systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura TLX is safer than the Tesla Model 3:
|
TLX |
Model 3 |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Neck Injury Risk |
20% |
22% |
Neck Stress |
175 lbs. |
230 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
27 lbs. |
42 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
258/267 lbs. |
333/455 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura TLX is safer than the Tesla Model 3:
|
TLX |
Model 3 |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
181 |
206 |
Hip Force |
539 lbs. |
556 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
33 G’s |
41 G’s |
Hip Force |
484 lbs. |
557 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.