Acura TSX 2009

Does the sequel live up to the cult classic?

BY MICHAEL AUSTIN
May 2008

The first Acura TSX became the automotive equivalent of a cult movie. In 2004, Acura basically took the European Honda Accord, refreshed the interior, and slapped a shiny “A” onto its grille. Sales expectations were modest: 15,000 units a year. Word of mouth on the lively-handling TSX helped push them past 30,000. We were sure fans, awarding the TSX a comparo victory and naming it a 10Best Car in ’04, ’05, and ’06.

Alas, the TSX is now officially elderly, and although it will be fondly remembered, an all-new TSX has shoved it off-stage. Like most sequels, the 2009 TSX sticks to the formula that worked the first time around. So it’s still basically a Euro-market Accord underneath slightly revised exterior styling and a unique interior. Overall length grows 2.2 inches to 185.6, 1.4 inches of which have been added to the wheelbase; another three inches have been added to the width. Acura describes the TSX as having a “wide stance,” leading you to revive your feeble joke stash with at least a dozen variations on Senator Craig’s preferring the home-market Accord because it’s 0.3 inch wider and 8.5 inches longer! A double takedown! But seriously, interior space in the TSX is up two cubic feet front and rear, although the trunk is slightly smaller.

Like any sequel worth a big opening-weekend box office, the ’09 TSX comes with more special effects—essentially an infotainment-system and multifunction knob that is now familiar to the entire Acura lineup. The center stack is placed higher than it used to be, for better visibility, but simplicity was clearly not in the design brief. For the entertainment and climate controls alone there are 34 buttons performing 40 different operations, plus two switches and a pair of knobs. These, and more buttons on the steering wheel, control the dual-zone HVAC system, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and iPod-ready USB input for the stereo. The Technology package adds navigation with live traffic and weather information, plus a 10-speaker ELS Surround stereo that sounds better than what you get in most movie theaters.

The front seats in the TSX, as in the RDX and MDX, are deep and comfortable and have lots of lateral support. The gauges in the instrument cluster glow a cool blue, and the speedo and tach needles float at the edge of the dial rings, leaving room for the trip-computer display inside the speedometer. Overall fit and finish is good except for the unconvincing leather-esque texture on the dashboard.

The performers that made the first TSX a hit, the engine and the transmission, are back and are as good as ever. The six-speed manual, enclosed in a magnesium case, is a benchmark for its short-shift, precision feel. A five-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional. Both transmissions are paired with a revised version of the previous 2.4-liter inline-four. A higher compression ratio has improved torque by eight pound-feet, to 172, but power has dropped four horses, to 201. Fuel economy is up a couple of mpg across the board.

The TSX is still relatively low on torque, but that doesn’t prevent sporadic outbreaks of torque steer. The steering, if you’re hanging in there with the movie analogy, is an unwelcome facet on the order of Dom DeLuise in Smokey and the Bandit II or Jar Jar Binks. The mount for the steering rack is stiffer, the ratio has been quickened, and the motor for the electronic power assist is larger. Compared with the previous TSX, though, the steering feel is worse, with the dread on-center dead zone and numb feedback through corners.

At least the control-arm-front and multilink-rear suspension is improved, as far as we can tell. Our driving perceptions were cut short by a freak blizzard in the hills outside San Diego. We can report two things: The stability control performs admirably in the slop, and opening the sunroof when there’s an inch of snow on the roof will blanket occupants with the white stuff.

The TSX looks slicker than its predecessor, and the refinement and the sophistication have definitely improved. But it also seems to have lost some of the lively, chuckable nature that made the previous car so fun to drive. It now feels more like an RDX sedan and less like a European Accord. Like a lot of sequels, the ’09 TSX is both more and less.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $29,500

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 144 cu in, 2354cc
Power (SAE net): 201 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 170–172 lb-ft @ 4300–4400 rpm

TRANSMISSIONS: 5-speed automatic with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 106.5 in Length: 185.6 in Width: 72.4 in Height: 56.7 in
Curb weight: 3450–3500 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST, 6-SP):
Zero to 60 mph: 7.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 19.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.8 sec

PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (MFR’S EST):
EPA city driving: 20–21 mpg
EPA highway driving: 28–30 mpg