The Acura TLX A-Spec is one of the most impressive cars we've driven all year

PROS: Splendid V6 engine and smooth-shifting transmission; dual infotainment screens make sense with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; comfortable and spacious interior; value versus the competition; legendary Honda reliability.

CONS: Not a luxury status symbol; still lacks rear-wheel-drive (although AWD is excellent); sub-300hp motor; styling still a bit controversial for Acura loyalists.

Sometimes, a really great car just kind of sneaks up on you. Several years ago, Acura (Honda's luxury division) rolled out a new version of its TLX sedan, a mid-size BMW 3-Series fighter.

That's no easy task; everyone selling a mid-size luxury sedan has been unsuccessfully fighting the 3-Series for decades. But the TLX was absolutely necessary to keep Acura competitive in the segment. That said, everyone also knew that the almighty BMW wasn't going to be dethroned anytime soon, if ever.

Enter the TLX A-Spec, which I recently borrowed to test out. I drove a well-optioned 2018 that came with all-wheel-drive and stickered at $45,750. (Interestingly, I sampled the Acura in and around Fremont and San Jose, CA, when I was also checking out the launch of the Tesla Model 3, the all-electric mass-market car of the future).

It would be a sad understatement to say that I liked this car. I've always been an Acura fan - even though Honda doesn't do rear-wheel-drive and therefore has a tough time against BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus, who do. The brand's cars and SUVs are exceptionally well-done, with reasonable performance, great reliability, and fantastic Honda engineering. My TLX had a brilliant 3.5-liter V6 under the hood (Honda makes superb V6's) and all the go-fast upgrades that earned it the A-Spec designation.