WHAT'S IN A NAME? Noticed a name trend with Acura cars? It all started around 1996, when Acura started dropping car names in favor of "upscale-sounding" alphanumeric labels. Examples? The Legend became the “3.5RL”. Then Acura added the “TL” and “CL” to the lineup. Then, came their new SUV, the “MDX”. Despite this alphabet soup of cars, one Acura stubbornly withstood that trend: the Integra. That is, until now... the Integra has become... (drumroll)... the Acura RSX.

I hasten to add that this trend is mainly seen only in the United States. In fact, the Acura name exists in very few places outside the Uncle Sam's borders. In most parts of the world, these cars bear the label of their real manufacturer: Honda (for beginners who didn't know).

Because the Integra was such a popular car with a sizeable cult following, I decided to see what Acura had up its sleeve with the RSX. I only got the opportunity to drive the Type-S model, with the 6-speed manual. However, those looking for a plain RSX will find a good deal of info on features that both models share.

GUNN ACURA DEALERSHIP IN SAN ANTONIO, TX
As I did with my 3.2 CL Type-S review, I will begin this review with more praise for the Gunn Acura dealership in San Antonio. The folks at this place are first rate. Prices are fixed, that is, non-negotiable, so there is no haggling. My research has found that you could haggle your prices just a little lower elsewhere, but the savings wouldn't be worth it, in my opinion. The salespeople are on salary, not commission, so they are friendly and don't apply any pressure whatsoever. And no, I’m not getting any kickback from them. Ha. I wish.


EXTERIOR: 7
You've gotta hand it to Honda: this company is pretty good at completely changing a car's image without taking away all the elements that made things work. Indeed, the RSX retains much of the playful outward character that the Integra possessed, but it's more mature this time: the curves are smoother, the lines simple. The overall look is more subdued, yet the promise of excitement and sport still remains. If I had to sum up the new look of the RSX, it would be a mix between the Integra of old, Toyota Celica, and a dash of the Acura 3.2 CL. Come to think of it, the RSX bears a striking resemblance to the 2002 Honda Civic Si at a glance. I find the look nice, though I can easily see how former Integra lovers would find the styling a little sedate.

Compared to the older Integra, the RSX is over 100 pounds heavier and 0.2" shorter, though wheelbase is the same. Its width is over an inch more than the Integra's, and it's almost 3" taller, too. As for the body itself, Acura boasts considerable improvements to bending (+35%) and torsional (+116%) rigidity compared to the Integra. Translation? Better ride and handling potential. While we're comparing new and old, I do have some bad news: unlike the Integra, the RSX will not have a 4-door model available.

Oh… and did you notice the ugly antenna on this car? Oops! That’s right. It doesn’t have one. That’s right, the RSX possesses an in-glass antenna. A nice feature, no?


INTERIOR: 8

Room: One of the true surprises was what Honda was able to accomplish with the interior of this vehicle. I'm 6'3", and having driven my share of Integras, I was expecting suffer the same cramped, closed-in feeling in the RSX. Not so. The extra headroom was a very welcome addition, and the open dash layout (more on that later) gave the cockpit an open feel to it. Sure, as the sports car it is, it's still snug in the RSX (and the rear seat is a joke for someone as tall as me). However, I applaud Honda for making this RSX more livable than the Integra. Yet another improvement is a larger trunk compared to the old Integra, with standard 50/50 folding rear seats.

Console: The dash is a major departure for Honda: gone is the simplistic, black, maybe even soul-lacking setup. In its place, you'll find the "aluminum-brushed" knobs, silver lined white-faced gauges, and a small, sporty steering wheel. One could accuse Acura of merely following the trend: this kind of look is seen on cars ranging from the Lexus IS300 to the Hyundai Tiburon. Fortunately however, the folks at Honda are among the elite designers of functional consoles. The RSX is no exception. Everything is still cleanly laid out, the gauges are easy to read, and the materials possess quality of a car costing more than the RSX.
Another notable change is the open design of the dash. Before, the dash went all the way down from the windshield to the transmission tunnel, in effect separating the driver and passenger sides into two compartments. In the RSX, the gap between the tunnel and dash is left open. On the plus side, it gives the interior a cleaner, more open atmosphere. It also placed controls more within reach and in the driver’s line of vision. On the other hand, some may argue (myself included) that this design doesn't lend as "sporty" a look as some would want.

Sound insulation: One of the major criticisms of the older Integra was the ride noise factor (and here I thought the folks at Acura just wanted to build character). Numerous sound insulation features were incorporated in the RSX, such as new door-trim seals, a new Styrofoam-molded cover over the spare tire, asphalt-based melt sheets in the floor/trunk areas, gap-sealing urethane foam in the cabin pillars, and dash insulating material.

Comfort: A while ago, I did a review on the Acura 3.2 CL Type S. I showered the car with praise for its comfortable seats, and luckily it seems Acura has applied what they've learned about comfort to the RSX. Pronounced side bolsters provide excellent lateral support for harder cornering, and the adjustable lumbar support was a welcome feature. I would have appreciated a bit more thigh support, but I won't be too demanding. As I alluded to before, the rear seat, while roomier than before, is still extremely cramped if even a moderately tall driver is in the front seat.

Sound System (Type-S): I can't say much about the regular RSX stereo, but the Type-S has got a remarkable six-speaker, Bose cassette/in-dash six CD system. Sound is very clean, and the "Richbass" woofer (make that seven speakers, then) is a welcome component. However, just as Car & Driver noticed in their RSX review, the volume can't be turned up enough. Sometimes you just want to blare your music, you know?

Automatic Climate Control: This is a tough one, since the day was beautiful at around 75 degrees. However, the fact that it's automatic (standard on even the base RSX) is a wonderful feature. Just set your desired temp and forget.


ENGINE: 8
The RSX Type-S comes with a 2.0L 4 cylinder 200 hp that produces 142 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 time has been clocked to about 6.1 seconds. That’s pretty quick, and after driving the RSX I can tell you it feels that way. In fact, the RSX was faster in the quarter mile than the previous Integra Type-R by a full second in a review done by Car & Driver. While it is impressive that Honda was able to squeeze 200 hp out of a 2.0L four, you’ll have to rev the engine up to 7400 rpm in order to tap into that. Fortunately, the engine is very willing to do that, with a throaty growl to boot. The six-speed manual transmission works well, too. Although the throws are short and the responsiveness is quick, there was less feedback than I had anticipated, based on my experience driving older Integras. The result was less of a “connected” feeling with the car’s machinery.

Then, there’s the torque issue. Let’s face it: while Honda has gone through great lengths to cram lots of horsepower into tiny engines, you’ll have to hit around 6000 rpm to reach the maximum torque the Type-S offers. Needless to say, I had to rev the engine a little more than I cared for in order to get the acceleration I wanted. Other cars, such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse GT offer larger engines with more torque, thus less of a need to punch the throttle all the time. Does this mean the Type-S has trouble pulling around its own weight? Quite the contrary, and I’d in fact choose the much-more-fun-to-drive Type-S over the mentioned Eclipse GT any day. It’s just that you might find yourself shifting more often than you’d like.

Another couple of minor problems with this engine. First off, there is no automatic transmission available for the Type-S (whine all you want, you sissies!). Second, the Type-S requires premium unleaded fuel, which could put a larger dent in the wallet.


HANDLING: 8
The suspension for the RSX is brand-new front and rear. Compared to the base RSX, the Type-S is fitted with firmer spring rates and beefier stabilizer bars for better agility. On moderate cornering, the wheels complain a little sooner than you’d expect. Plus, there is mildly noticeable understeer if you look hard enough. However, the car is virtually “yaw-free”, and brakes stop the wheels ON COMMAND. I was unable to make the car skip through sharp curves as some reviewers have lamented, and that was with some pretty aggressive maneuvering. The three-spoke speed-sensitive steering wheel is communicative and precise, with very little corrections needed at practically all speeds and driving conditions.

That said, important features like traction control and Vehicle Stability Assist aren’t even available as options. Perhaps this would solve the problem of skipping that some critics are talking about. Plus, if I were getting this car for my son or daughter (assuming I had one), they are safety features I’d want on such a small car.


RIDE: 8
No question about it: the Integra, as we have come to know it, is extinct. The RSX is without a doubt a much more refined car on the highway and in the city. Noise dampening materials do an excellent job keeping wind and engine noise to a minimum. In case I alarmed you, the engine makes itself well known if you stomp on the gas and rev the engine. The oversized muffler sees to it that you hear a rumble that would belong on a small V6. On the highway, however, such noise is sufficiently reduced. The only sound that made its way into the cabin frequently was road and tire noise.

As for the car’s road manners, it rides very firmly, yet not enough to fatigue the driver over, say, a two hour trip. I’d have to once again give the supportive seats some credit for that.

Still, I have to say I had a nostalgic feeling driving the RSX Type-S. It’s certainly a fun car to drive, but it doesn’t have the propinquity (look that word up) that the Integra provided. In other words, the car is more refined, but at the expense of connecting the boy with the toy. I guess it was only a matter of time before this happened, and again, the car is pretty fun to drive compared to most cars in its class. The Toyota Celica GT-S, for instance, is more fun to drive, in my humble opinion. However, the RSX Type-S would be much easier for me to live with, and that counts for a lot.


RELIABILITY: ???
Normally, I’d dissuade buyers from purchasing a car that has just been introduced. However, Honda has been the benchmark for quality-made automobiles, and I’d expect the RSX would give owners fewer headaches than other manufacturers’ introductory models. That said, I still hesitate to give this car a rating, as it has yet to be earned. I made that mistake with my mother’s Honda Odyssey, and it turned out to have a couple of recalls its first year. In short, Honda is a quality car manufacturer, but even quality manufacturers make mistakes.


SAFETY: 7
It’s hard for me to make this rating with any degree of certainty, since crash tests are not available yet. However, based on the car’s safety equipment, I’d say it scores satisfactorily. Excellent handling, responsive steering, standard ABS, seatbelt pretensioners, and next generation dual stage airbags (front and side) are some important ingredients for a safe mix. The way the airbags work deserve special mention: they can sense the height and position of the front passenger, and adjust deployment accordingly. If, for example, the passenger is a child and is leaning up against the window (in the way of the side air bag), the sensor will prevent the air bag from deploying. Other safety features? Standard keyless entry, standard anti-theft system with engine immobilizer, and a standard Acura Roadside Assistance package that has you covered for 4 years or 50,000 miles. I’ll update my rating as soon as official crash tests are available.


VALUE: 6
Most of the time, this part of the review is easy to write about. However, in many cases, good value is in the eye of the beholder, and this is one such case. Right now, the RSX is usually being sold at or over sticker. Hence, my value rating is a bit low. Rest assured that I update my reviews, and as demand falls, so will prices, and I’ll make adjustments.
Having said that, let’s look at the bang you get with the RSX, shall we? Automatic climate control, power windows/locks, cruise control, keyless entry, anti-theft system, power moonroof, a leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel, and the in-glass radio antenna are all standard. With the Type-S, you get the more powerful engine, leather seats, the seven speaker Bose system, larger brakes, a tighter suspension, and other higher performance equipment.

Overall, this feature content is on par or better compared most competitors, such as the Volkswagen GTI, Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Subaru Impreza WRX, and Toyota Celica GT-S (even though the WRX is a 4-door, I decided to include it anyway). The RSX Type-S is on the higher end of the price spectrum, which is something to consider. However, it is my opinion that the Type-S stacks up well against these options irregardless. If I had my pick, I’d probably be wringing my hands over choosing the RSX Type-S and the WRX. The latter is just too tempting to throw out immediately… review coming soon, by the way. Still, shop around and decide for yourself.


VERDICT: A WORTHY SUCCESSOR
The old Integra was indeed a great car and held its own for a good nine years without any drastic changes. But when other manufacturers started to catch up, Acura had to make a change. Whether or not they should have changed the name is debatable, but fortunately I think they have a good car on their hands. Some Integra faithful may feel disenchanted with Acura right now for heading mainstream a little bit, but that was inevitable... this is a business after all. And let's not forget about that RSX Type-R that is due to arrive on our shores 2003... do I have your attention now?

AVERAGE SCORE FOR THE TYPE-S: 7.43 out of 10
VARA’S PERSONAL SCORE: 8 out of 10


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Edmunds.com review of the RSX:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/acura/rsx/types2drhatchback20l4cyl6m/prices.html?id=lin0008
Town Hall discussion of RSX vs. Subaru WRX:
http://townhall-talk2.edmunds.com/WebX?14@162.TpFaal5nEPd^0@.ef0225a!Z=
Car and Driver Road Test:
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/roadtests/2001/August/200108_
roadtest_acurarsx.xml?keywords=rsx


Amount Paid (US$): 24000+
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: Type-S