I took a TSX out for a 25 minute drive yesterday with a salesperson. Going in, I knew 3 things : this car had received a lot of hype from journalists in the automative sector, it was priced almost the same as a fully-loaded Honda Accord EX V6 and that it was available in Europe as their Honda Accord.
From the moment I entered the cockpit of this 6-speed, 2.4 Liter, $36,000 (Canadian) monster, I saw the Accord resemblance immediately. From the storage compartments beneath the audio/hvac dials to the layout of the dials, it's impossible not to see that quite a few of these things are exactly the same. Indeed, I was to find that the TSX is simply an improved Accord - with a better engine, thrifty fuel economy, and all the features you could hope and dream for.
Speaking of features. I had been expecting to find a state-of-the-art, DVD-based, surround-sound audio system in the TSX. Well I overestimated the car in that respect. Apparently I got the TL and the TSX confused. You'll find the above in the TL, and in Acura's flagship sedan, the RL. Not to say that the TSX doesn't have a good audio system - it does - but even if you're not a music-lover, you will notice the difference.
If you ask me, the TSX has got the look. It's not the flashiest car in its class - for that consumers will look to Germany. It's got a somewhat understated elegance to it. I must admit I like the front and back views of the car much more than I do its' side profile. The turn-indicators integrated into the rearview mirrors on either side of the vehicle are a very nice touch. To my mind, this vehicle looks best with a nice spoiler and side-skirts.
My sales consultant briefly demonstrated the TSX' bluetooth capabilities before we left the lot. As he pointed out, the car we drove was the base model - there were no optional features on it at all. Having Bluetooth as standard is impressive. If you're not familiar with the system, basically it lets you make and receive calls without handling your cell phone, using the car's audio system. When you ask Bluetooth to make a call, it'll repeat the number back to you, and display the phone number in the dash. I didn't like the small screen within the dash dedicated to Bluetooth and keeping track of your average gas mileage, fuel remaining,etc.
The rest of the dash is tastefully done, with a nice mixture of blue and white, with red indicators. I had no trouble reading my speed at a quick glance during our evening test run, and I doubt I'd have any trouble during the day. The steering wheel has cruise controls, and controls for adjusting the volume and channel/cd selection. The wheel also tilts and telescopes. Below the acura emblem, and a bit inside the steering wheel, you'll find buttons for the Bluetooth system. The steering wheel felt comfortable in my left hand, but not overly so. It was thick enough, but didn't provide the same comfort that I get out of my faux-leather steering wheel cover. Luckily it's something that can easily be changed - covers aren't all that expensive!
I had no trouble getting comfortable in the front leather seats of the TSX. Given the chilly temperature outside (it is hockey season after all), I immediately set the heated seats to 'high'. There are only two settings to be had - the other one of course being low. The seat was warm in no time. I believe the Accord EX V6 also has 2-setting heated seats. I did not get a chance to test out the room in the back seats, but I would imagine that there's only marginally more than what you'd find in the Mazda 3. Keep in mind that the TSX is still considered a compact, and you won't be disappointed. The trunk has enough room for a couple large suitcases, and there's always the option of folding down the rear seats 60/40 to get more room. The TSX has a power driver and front passenger seat. You can program two memory settings for the driver's seat as well.
Now I'd like to get to the best part of my test : the drive. The TSX has, from my fairly limited driving experience, the sweetest engine I have ever had the pleasure of driving. In a world of six and eight cylinder juggernauts, this car competes with some of the better V6s in an almost effortless manner. My salesguy told me that he thought the car might not win a straight-line race with an Accord V6, but that on a track, with some good tires, it could outhandle almost anything. If the TSX is slower than the A V6, it's hard to tell. The former jumps off the line with gusto, and really doesn't stop the energy until the rev limiter jumps in past the redline. I enjoyed the driving experience so much that I really didn't devote too much attention to the exhaust note. What I do remember is that it was buzzy more than anything else. You can't please everyone with the engine music. The only time it got a bit obtrusive was when I neared the redline, and you can omit the exhaust's music with the audio system on at a reasonable level. Although I didn't take it easy on the car at all during the test drive, I'm quite sure that if you did, you'd still find more than enough power on tap. I would also imagine that the same would apply for the 5-speed Automatic.
The six-speed stick-shift gets the most out of this engine, and shifts can be messy if you don't keep your right elbow on the armrest at all times. This manual is generally smooth, and clutch takeup doesn't require much strain. Again, I find it interesting that this tranny has cruise control, and the salesguy actually said that you can change gears and still keep it on the cruise setting. I wasn't crazy about the gear-shift knob - I preferred the one in the RSX, although the TSX's knob is a bit bigger.
I'd like to compare the Mazda 3's 5-speed manual to the TSX's 6-speed, but it's been so long since I've driven the former(with a manual). From what I remember, the 3's stick-shift was silky smooth, and was just the right size.
Safety features about in the TSX. The sales consultant was nice enough to show me the following website :
http://www.informedforlife.org
Here you'll find an excellent comparison of a variety of different cars, trucks and minivans in terms of safety engineering. How well do each fair in terms of frontal or side impact tests? They assign each an overall score, and they recommend those with scores less than 70, and advise you to avoid any with ratings of greater than 100. For example, the TSX got a rating of 68, whereas some of its direct competitors didn't do so well. The Ford Fusion got 94, the Mazda 6 a 106 and the Maxima got an 87. Warning : anyone who is a staunch supporter of hybrids might want to cover their eyes : the Prius got 106 and the Insight a whopping 169!
Back to the TSX. It's well equipped with ABS and brake-assist standard. I tried a few emergency jabs at the brakes and was pleased with the car's response. I have no doubt that these brakes will stop on a dime every time. Just remember to check the brake fluid once in awhile! and six airbags(including side-impacts). It's a good thing you get so many airbags, because they way this thing handles, if you're an enthusiast you will be taking corners at twice, or even three times the suggested speed. The salesman drove for the first 5 minutes, and he took an exit rather quickly, and the car didn't flinch at all. The TSX's doors close with a pleasing thud, and they have a weight to them that enhanced my feelings of safety. The TSX is also equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control. You can turn off the VSA if you choose. Lastly, an immobilizer and built-in security system will keep your investment safe.
The High-intensity discharge Xenon lights are fantastic. They light the road extremely well, and according to the guy, they don't blind oncoming traffic like some HID manufacturers' systems. Are these lights really necessary? Probably not. I make do with my halogens on the 3 without much ado. Although, when I'm on the highway on dark nights, I do tend to turn on my high beams when there's no traffic near me. You wouldn't need to do that with the HIDs. For the 2006 year, Acura has made foglights standard on all TSX models. Prior to this year they were about $700 Canadian installed.
Fuel economy is rated at 10.8L city/7.2L highway for 100 KMs for the manual and 10.5/7.0 for the automatic, respectively. Acura recommends that you use at least 91 octane or better. The TSX has a capacity of 65 Liters. So theoretically, if you were very light on the pedal, and you drove smoothly and below the speed limit, you could hypothetically get 900KMs on the highway in a single tank. I think generally you should expect fuel economy numbers to be off by about 10% - so if you only drive in the city, you should be able to get about 550 KMs in a single tank if you're not constantly redlining.
The TSX is very, very impressive. Although it's quite expensive for a 2.4, I believe it provides excellent value for money. 2006 TSX's now have bluetooth, power seats for both front passengers, 2 memory settings for the driver's seat and foglights. For these added features they have bumped up the price $1,000, so MSRP is now CDN$35,900 here in Canada. But consider what you're getting for the money : a spectacular, exciting engine, excellent fuel economy, an interior that's way ahead of most of its competitors(except perhaps Lexus), great Xenon headlights, Bluetooth technology, heated leather seats and a sunroof. No wonder the TSX is winning all the awards - beating out Audi A4s, Volvo S40s and Accords. It has one of the sweetest, rev-happy engines that, simply put, puts many V6s to shame. The 6-speed stick-shift must be one of the top 2 in its class. If there's anything you can hold against the TSX, it's that you can't get AWD, and some people might have an issue with the exterior styling. If you can get over these issues - and I know it would take me all of 0.55 seconds - this is a car that must be driven to be truly appreciated. If you are buying a car around $35,000, you must test this one out. It'll change your mind in a hurry.
By the way, ato suteki kuruma is Japanese for 'a fantastic automobile'.
