By Matthew de Paula
- The 2005 Acura TSX is a lithe and willing performer that can be too stiff over the long haul. It's also a superb value and much more reliable than competing German sedans.
- The 2005 Acura TSX is an agile sedan with quick reflexes, a high-quality interior and loads of features for the money, including one of the best stereos around. It sacrifices comfort for control, with a harsh and noisy ride. Though pricier German sedans offer a more refined driving experience, the TSX costs less and?being a Honda at heart?is far more reliable, according to Consumer Reports ratings.
- Acura is a division of Honda Motor. The TSX is Acura's smallest sedan and is based on the European Honda Accord platform, which is smaller than the U.S. Accord.
Like all Acuras and Hondas, the front-wheel-drive TSX is light on its feet and a pleasure to throw through turns. Its high-revving and gutsy four-cylinder engine (the only available power plant), slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission (an automatic is available) and sophisticated suspension are engaging.
The only changes for 2005 are the addition of heated side-view mirrors, a four-way power-adjustable passenger seat and standard XM satellite radio with 90 days of complimentary service.
Acura introduced the TSX in 2004 with the goal of capturing affluent young adults who want sporty performance and handling, but need the practicality of a sedan. At a base price that undercuts comparably equipped competitors, like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, by thousands of dollars, it's a superb value ? especially considering that it comes loaded with premium amenities like heated front seats, a high-output eight-speaker stereo with in-dash CD changer, three kinds of airbags and advanced stability and traction control.
Exterior
A taut, chiseled look intimates performance potential and is unmistakably Acura. The clean, unadorned design is aerodynamically efficient and echoes the TSX's lean, mean athleticism.
The TSX's appearance isn't particularly engaging, and the car lacks the dazzle of a BMW 3 Series and the sculpted quality of an Audi A4. But it does have style and likely exudes enough panache to keep most hipsters happy.
Practically speaking, the rear bumper is the only design snag. It creates a high ledge over which it's difficult to hoist heavy items into and out of the trunk.
Interior
A high-quality interior is important to affluent consumers, and it's clear that Acura worked hard to get the inside of the TSX just right. The interior is beautifully crafted and elegantly styled. The textured dash, chrome-plated door handles and perforated leather on the seats exude high quality.
Engineers labored over such minutiae as the sound that the doors make when they shut and the environmentally friendly dashboard material that precludes any visible seams for the passenger-side-airbag cover. There's even soft-blue mood lighting spilling down the center console.
Controls on the instrument panel and steering wheel are well placed, intuitive and easy to use ? unless you order the optional navigation system. Its large-but-confusing touch screen forced us to consult the manual for such routine tasks as switching the stereo from radio to CD or adjusting the fan speed ? and this despite having separate buttons to control some of these functions.
The annoying touch-screen and its convoluted interface is a glaring wart on an otherwise immaculate interior. At night the screen becomes too bright and distracting and offers no way to adjust the level ? or even turn it off ? without also shutting down the stereo. We pored over the manual several times in hopes of being proven wrong to no avail.
The $2,000 DVD-based navigation system calls out directions and responds to verbal commands. But in the course of our test, it didn't recognize the address of a destination in Pennsylvania and twice misguided us in New Jersey. We eventually stopped using it and wouldn't order it as an option. Nevertheless, you should try it for yourself. Many people find these systems helpful.
The powerful (360-watt) eight-speaker stereo is one of the best in the industry for sound quality. It's a shame that the standard, in-dash six-disk CD changer doesn't play MP3s. A separate MP3 player costs a whopping $551 and eats up storage space in the center console.
The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat is comfortable and supportive and works with the tilting/telescoping steering wheel to tailor the seating position to drivers big and small.
There are useful storage bins and pockets and conveniently placed cup holders. The Acura's interior space is adequate, but it would benefit from a few more inches in each direction.
The trunk is commodious, but marred by the high bumper that makes it difficult to load and unload.
Performance
Acuras are known for their lightness and precision, and the TSX is no exception. The steering is responsive, but can feel too heavy in tight traffic or parking lots.
The shift lever of our test vehicle's six-speed manual transmission was a pleasure to use and great for wringing power out of the car's 200-horsepower, four-cylinder engine.
Acura says it used a four-cylinder instead of a six-cylinder engine in order to keep the vehicle's overall weight down and to preserve the car's nimble character. It musters nearly as much power as the V6-equipped BMW 325i and Mercedes-Benz C230 and matches the turbocharged Audi A4 2.0T. Bear in mind that cars shouldn't be judged on specs alone. Every vehicle has unique performance parameters that can only be felt and understood by driving it. Some cars look great on paper, but are a disappointment on the road, and the reverse can be true, as well.
The TSX's engine is smooth and revs willingly with plenty of power for passing and merging onto highways. If you like out-running other motorists, the TSX might seem underpowered. The Environmental Protection Agency rates the TSX equipped with a six-speed manual at 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway, while the automatic gets 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway.
The sophisticated suspension is great at keeping the car planted during spirited driving on twisty roads but quickly becomes fatiguing and harsh on the highway and rough pavement. The punishing ride was hard to tolerate after only a week of driving. This and the encroaching road, wind and engine noise sucked the enjoyment right of longer trips.
Safety features are abundant, with dual-stage front airbags and side and side-curtain airbags, traction control and anti-lock brakes all standard features.
Bullet-proof reliability is one of the best cases ? besides bang for the buck ? to be made for buying a TSX over its higher-clout German competitors. BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz make beautiful and sophisticated cars that break down more than the average vehicle, according to Consumer Reports data.
The TSX should be worry-free, especially since it comes with 24-hour roadside assistance at no extra charge, and the first scheduled tuneup (other than routine fluid changes and inspections) is at 110,000 miles.
View Standard Features and Specs Here.
See Acura TSX Photos Here.
