We drove a $54,000 Audi A4 and a $46,000 Acura TLX A-Spec to see which luxury sedan we liked better - here's the verdict

Overall, the A4's cabin is as quiet, refined, and plush as one has come to expect from a top-line Audi product.

The black leather seats in our test car felt soft to the touch and offered more than adequate bolstering for both leisurely jaunts down the highway and dynamic drives on twisty country roads.

Our test car was also equipped with 4G-LTE connectivity, an optional head-up display, and premium 19-speaker, 755-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system.

In addition, there's a top-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, active lane-keep assist, and traffic-sign recognition.

The 2.0-liter turbo four is a staple across VW Group's family of brands. The 252 horsepower engine is also found on the Audi A6 sedan as well as the Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan crossover SUVs. In our test car, the turbo four was hooked up to Audi's terrific S tronic twin-clutch gear box that delivered near seamless shifts in all driving conditions.

On the road, our A4 felt powerful and confident. The 2.0-liter motor delivers its 273 foot-pounds of twisting power at an easily accessible 1,600 rpm. As a result, the Audi accelerates off the line with great urgency, taking advantage of the little engine's broad power band. According to Audi, the Quattro-equipped A4 is capable of sprinting to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph.

The base Acura TLX starts at $33,000 while the V6 all-wheel-drive A-Spec variant starts at a pricier $44,800. Since all of the car's optional goodies came standard as part of the A-Spec trim level, our TLX had an as-tested price of $45,750 once you factor in a $950 destination fee.

The TLX comes standard with autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and road departure mitigation technology.

Our test car also came equipped with optional goodies like a rear cross traffic monitoring system, blind spot indicators, and a 10-speaker ELS premium audio system.

Lower-tier TLX models come equipped with a 2.4-liter, 206 horsepower, naturally aspirated inline-four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed twin-clutch transmission.

The Acura TLX A-Spec was the sleeper hit of 2017 for us, and it's the driving experience that won us over.

But before we go any further, I would like to clear up any misconception that the A-Spec is a track-focused road rocket like the BMW M3 or a muscle-bound four-door beast like the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. It just isn't.

The 290 horsepower under the hood is solid, but not spectacular. While it's 0-60 mph time of around 6.0 seconds is quick, it's nothing to write home about.

So why do we like it so much?

The TLX A-Spec is just plain fun to drive.

The steering is well weighted, providing good feedback, while the suspension tuning feels sporty without being so stiff that it'll shake filling loose on rough roads. Its torque vectoring technology sends power the wheel that can make the best use of it. As a result, the TLX feels confident and unperturbed in corners.

And then there's the engine. It's not overly powerful, but it has enough juice to make things interest.

"I thought I had more than 300 horses the entire time, testament to how that V6 in combination with a 9-speed automatic does a passable imitation of a small V8," my colleague Matt DeBord wrote in his review of the car.

To top it all off, the exhaust system delivers a wonderfully delightful rumble when you floor the gas pedal.

Put it all together and you get a car that's greater than the sum of its parts. A sports sedan punches above its weight.

And the winner is...the Audi A4!

Even though the TLX A-Spec is more fun and engaging to drive than the A4, the Audi is just a bit better all around.

While we admit the Audi is less powerful and a lot more expensive the Acura, the A4 is actually quicker to 60 mph and, in our opinion, handled a little better than the TLX.

The A4's cabin also delivered a more premium and refined experience. And there's the infotainment system. Even with all of the improvements, Acura's twin-screen infotainment system still can't run with with Audi's industry-leading MMI. The functionality, ease of use, and beautiful presentation are joyful each and every time we have come across an Audi test car. (The system is a two-time winner for our Infotainment System of the Year award, and we've only handed out the trophy twice.)

Overall, both cars were terrific. But to us, the Audi was virtually flawless. It really doesn't have any real weakness when you look at its styling, comfort, performance, driving dynamics, technology, and ease of use. It just feels like a cohesive unit firing on all cylinders, all time.

The Acura performed well, but apart from delivering a really fun and enthusiastic driving experience, it couldn't overcome the A4 in any of the other categories.

With that said, the TLX is still one favorite of ours. The Acura TLX A-Spec really snuck up on us last year. It's a terrific car. It's fun to drive, comfortable, and exudes that rock-solid Honda/Acura build quality we have come to love. It's also a great deal at $45,000.

After years of trying looking for direction, we believe Honda's premium brand has really found its niche as the purveyor of high-tech performance oriented premium automobiles. In fact, we were so impressed with the company's NSX hybrid supercar that we give it our 2016 Car of the Year prize over the Audi A4.