2007 Acura TSX Navi Road Test

Several months ago we had the TSX in a near-premium sporty sedan throwdown that included several otherFWD contenders (see archives, January 19, 2007), and I liked it so much that I decided I wanted it again.
While I, personally, didn’t think it ‘won’ in every category, or in any category outright (okay, except the gearbox), I couldn’t argue that it was probably a close second in almost every category (except power), reason enough to crown it as our overall pick. Between brand status, sporty performance, luxury features and technological sophistication, it gradually inches ahead of anything in that group (Mazda6, Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T, Volvo S40 T5), and after having it as my personal transportation for a week, I would have to rate it as one of the best luxury compacts on the market.

While Audi’s turbocharged A4 2.0T has an edge in power, it also prices itself out of reach of so many working families once you get a sniff at the feature list. Pretty much the same goes for anything from Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti and even Lexus to some degree. In the luxury compact class, the TSX is the clear value leader, the entry price of $28,090 providing such an amazing array of equipment that I have to list it (I swear I don’t get paid by theword). The list includes perforated leather seats, a power glass moonroof with sliding shade, HID headlights, a dual-zone climate control system, HandsFreeLink wireless phone interface, an auxiliary jack for digital music players, steering-wheel mounted switches to control the standard 360-watt sound system, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, cruise control and functions of the nav System. I won’t pretend that I configured each of the competitors and priced them for comparative analysis, but with a fully loaded price of $30,090, which adds an easily mastered navigation system with voice recognition to the mix, most of the others are just starting to upgrade to leather seats.

So it’s the cheapest, so what? It sure didn’t feel like the cheapest when sat in the contoured leather driving seat and gripped the wheel for all it was worth as I pushed way past the level I would normally have expected understeer to kick in at, and push the car off line. It also didn’t feel like thecheapest when I was talking to the ceiling over the Bluetooth connection or using the voice-command to set the nav system—okay I didn’t do that last one, but I could have if I had needed directions anywhere. Sadly, I knew where I was going all week long. Shame on me.
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bmwdrvr - 6/11/2007 9:55:10 AM

-2 Boost

a rebadged honda accord with a 4 cylinder shouldnt even be that high, for less money you could get the accord with a v6, the only people that would buy into this car would be someone that cant afford a tl, but want a luxury "badge."

ExigeOwner - 6/11/2007 11:17:12 AM

+1 Boost

I have almost bought one of these on several occasions and still may pick one up. I could easily afford a TL and have driven both cars several times but I would take the TSX hands down. The car has the perfect amount of power for FWD and it is extremely attractive vs the (IMHO) less than appealing looks of the Accord.

bmwdrvr - 6/11/2007 11:31:49 AM

+1 Boost

but that makes no sense why would you pay more for a smaller, equally equipped, less power, smaller engine, variant of a car....i would never buy any of these cars but if i were logic would set in and say go for the midsize accord v6, and not a compact 4cyl tsx,its less car for the same money, they were using the same wheels until recently for gods sake just with acura emblems as the honda accord acura must have a strong marketing department because there are few companies that convince people to pay more for less of the same thing

LexSucks - 6/11/2007 11:32:50 AM

-1 Boost

The Acura TSX is a gutless wonder. That car is nothing more than glorified basic transportation. Acura is so good at fooling folks that is isn't. Oh, did I mention that the car is FWD? next!

bmwdrvr - 6/11/2007 12:53:49 PM

+1 Boost

yeah go back and see what it made, here a hint it wasnt on the "luxury car" list

bmwdrvr - 6/11/2007 1:15:24 PM

-1 Boost

no one can make a better bmw than bmw especially honda (lmao)

dsch_iter - 6/11/2007 2:24:07 PM

+1 Boost

Yes it is a good car:

PRO:
Low maintainence (it will tell you when to change oil), high resale value, everything is standard. Nice interior. Firm Suspension.

CON:
No torque, fake plastic aluminum/wood trim (this really bothers me), cheap plastics, forgettable exterior styling. It feels cheap. Not sporty enough. Low tech on driving related technology. CD-MP3 player is not a standard.

So I bought VW GLI instead.

If it has the RDX turbo engine and SH-AWD all wheel drive for next generation TSX, then I will trade in my car for it.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/12/2007 12:44:57 AM

-2 Boost

But you're comparing a $20K VW with a $27K Acura, which is a supposed luxury car. The GLI isn't supposed to look expensive, but the TSX is. I don't dislike the TSX and don't know what all this hating is from, but I'd take a GTI or A3 over it any day- not for the badge, but just because I see Acuras as some of the most boring cars on the road. That's after leasing a '90 Vigor and a '95 TL.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/12/2007 11:57:47 AM

+1 Boost

True, and I wouldn't say it's not worth it. But with ALL the options, it's better-equipped than the loaded TSX.

EnnNorak - 6/11/2007 2:31:09 PM

+3 Boost

I have to agree with 43LE. I find that less people today will pay for a badge. I personally look for technical superiority and the best value in comfort, reliability and durability.

bmwdrvr - 6/11/2007 2:52:55 PM

-1 Boost

honda sure thinks so, the acura csx, tsx, and rsx were all pointless cars because they offer no reason to buy them over their cheaper honda counterparts other than the BADGE.

LexSucks - 6/11/2007 2:31:53 PM

+1 Boost

The TSX is a chick car! You will never see a Manly-Man Driving one.

Will_ - 6/11/2007 3:50:46 PM

+1 Boost

I always get the TSX and TL confused. If I were in the market for an 'extra' compact sports sedan, the TSX would be at the top of my shopping list. And why do people keep getting hung up on platform sharing? Do we have to go over this every single time? Just as with the Lexus ES/Toyota Camry, the Audi A3, TT/VW Golf and this Acura and the Honda Accord, the luxury models of these groups come with a higher price tag because of a higher level of engineering, higher-quality materials, attention to detail, and also stricter manufacturing and production standards (at least for the ES, I know.) So stop bitching about platform sharing. I bet you wont when BMW sticks a Rolls Royce body on the 7-Series and calls it the "baby Rolls."

Htay7500 - 6/11/2007 4:46:17 PM

+2 Boost

hows it overpriced if its only 28k?

mikeydred20 - 6/11/2007 10:16:12 PM

+4 Boost

Hater in the house again. I can call the old IS300 a overpriced POS too. TSX is a fine vechicle I would not take it over the TL as I own one and the TL defenitely drives better. The TSX could use a turbo or a six as the valves seem to screem like all 4cy vechicles, remember this is Honda and their biggest concern is fuel, want performance wait until the new NSX. I gurantee it will be the best supercar once again out of Japan. As far as the Acura interiors yes at times they have a bad choice of materials, but for sure the RL is real wood, and the TL and MDX use real Aluminum trim which to me is much more appealing than wood. For that matter a 55k Escalade has fake wood, look it up if you don't believe me.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/12/2007 12:46:03 AM

+4 Boost

There's a lot I could say about Lexus here, but I'll restrain myself...

golfer38 - 6/12/2007 10:37:10 AM

+3 Boost

Acura's TSX is leading the points and has more pole positions by far in speed channels touring car championship. This series has 3 series BMW's and Mazda's. I certainly would choose a BMW over the TSX for feel and balance but this race series does seem to show that the TSX can handle pretty well dispite having FWD.

cktoo - 6/12/2007 5:57:33 PM

+2 Boost

Please, and Lexus = rebadged Toyota = overpriced Japanese Buick.

The TSX will hang quite nicely with the IS250 (real competitor) and the Mazda6. Throw on some better tires than the crappy Michelin's and it will certainly take the 6 and probably the 250 in a road course.

As for TCC, it's about time Mazda is leading. I'm sure they'd love to have Acura's record, however.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/12/2007 11:58:38 AM

+3 Boost

Wow. I didn't know there was so much TSX-hating on this site. Strange.

mikeydred20 - 6/12/2007 7:06:26 PM

+1 Boost

But it's not Luxury what happen to that. The Maxda 6 I had as a rental that is the only time I would be caught in the junk. Mazda needs to get there lineup straight before you compare it to Acura I don't care what anyone says. You also continue to call Acura poor mans luxury if Acura didn't pave the way there might be no Lexus and whta is the point of driving a car you can't afford, bottom line is every Acura starts either higher or around the price of Lexus its just the options that 80 percent of the time people don't buy that makes Lexus look classier. So drive your Lexus if that is what you drive and I will stick to my poor mans luxury.

cktoo - 6/12/2007 6:03:04 PM

+1 Boost

"Hate to break it to you but Acura is like 3rd tier.

1st Tier = BMW, Lexus, MB
2nd Tier = Audi, Infiniti
3rd Tier = Acura, Saab, Volvo"

Probably a typing error LA, but you have Audi and Lexus mixed up.

mikeydred20 - 6/12/2007 10:33:41 PM

+2 Boost

Lexusadmirer your the only person I see bold enough to put Lexus in 1st tier like I said before Lexus is tight and I would drive a LS 460 if I had to chose between flagship vechicles, but now BMW or Mercedes fan would agree with you because they look at Lexus as a overpriced Toyota. And tell me how can the LS and GS both look like the Camry? The GS has same body style LS has same tailights.

mikeydred20 - 6/12/2007 10:40:30 PM

+2 Boost

One mor taught for you to put Infiniti ahead of Acura is BS. Infiniti can't even get flagship vechicle right, I know Acura RL is slow selling too but come one the Q is a Japanese Buick. Plus Acura sells more vechicles than Infiniti. I believe you are obsessed with RWD vechicles. Further more I think the RL has a nicer interior than any Infiniti. The TL had a better interior than the previous G and the list goes on.

kpaxx - 6/13/2007 1:57:44 PM

+2 Boost

FWD = POOR HANDLING (read below)



Car magazines often prefer the handling of rear-wheel-drive cars. They say FWD cars usually understeer while RWD is easier to provide power oversteer. Now, we use the concept of Slip Angle to explain this.

Consider a driving wheel, which is under cornering and has created slip angle. If tractive force (that is, the pulling force from the engine) is applied, the slip angle will increase. This is because the tractive force applied between the tyre and ground will distort the tread on the contact patch further.

Now the scene is clear.

FWD cars has the front wheel's slip angle > rear wheel's. This result in Understeer.

RWD cars has the front wheel's slip angle < rear wheel's. This result in Oversteer.

4WD cars, if the front / rear torque split is equal, has equal F/R slip angles, thus result in Neutral steer.

I.E. Understeer = POOR HANDLING

kpaxx - 6/13/2007 2:00:48 PM

+2 Boost

CONTN'D

The more tractive force we apply, the larger slip angle is created in the driving wheel. Therefore, for the RWD cars, we can use the throttle to control the degree of oversteer. When the car is entering a corner too fast and seems likely to run wide, we can correct its direction by increasing the throttle (not to do this before reaching the mid corner !), then the car oversteers. If we find the correction is too much, we can ease the throttle and let the car returns to neutral steer or even mild understeer, depends on the suspension design and weight distribution.

Only RWD cars or rear-biased 4WD cars can do this ! In the same situation, the driver in a FWD car has nothing to do other than easing the throttle, slow down the car thus reduce the centrifugal force, and hope the car can overcome the corner. There are many disadvantages :


1. You lose time during slow down.
2. You lose engine rev during slow down, thus the engine takes longer to rise back to the useful power band once you exit the corner.
3. Very often, if you miscalculate, you are unlikely to have sufficient road ahead for you to slow down, especially in tight corner.

.
Therefore we always say RWD car is superior than FWD car in handling.

mikeydred20 - 6/13/2007 5:33:38 PM

+1 Boost

All that is fine and dandy from the physics point of view. But when have you seen a Acura get dissed in any magazine for handling? I subscribe to both c&d and mt and don't see it.

Htay7500 - 6/13/2007 2:17:04 PM

+1 Boost

yes thts tru but some RWD tend to understeer too.

kpaxx - 6/13/2007 3:03:17 PM

+3 Boost

Agreed...but by basic physics FWD will understeer and which results in poor handling.

Poorly designed cars whether they are FWD or RWD will not handle well.

Htay7500 - 6/13/2007 3:24:34 PM

+3 Boost

well the Honda prelude (last gen) was a magnificent built car and had sort of an advanced differential called the atts (active torque transfer system) and here was deemed a Super handling trim (SH) where it increase handling and less oversteer and stress for a FWD. from wat i heard it became the best handling sports car under 30k from c&D. im not saying that this is better, but to show how they can be close to rwd cars.

ur explaination is also the main reason why many ppl take miatas and s2ks to compete in auto-x.

HeavyChevy - 6/13/2007 5:47:31 PM

+1 Boost

Damn, I really enjoy this website.

Htay7500 - 6/13/2007 9:22:59 PM

0 Boost

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Prelude
please read the last generation model. the m3 is the best handling car but it wasnt under 30k.

Htay7500 - 6/14/2007 9:25:06 AM

0 Boost

yes rwd walks fwd. im not saying tht fwd is better than rwd, but just to show u how well some could catch up.

izfuney - 6/14/2007 6:04:39 AM

+1 Boost

A lot of you are really hard on Acura .
1) Honda's american ( yes AMERICAN) only luxury div. Acura is precursor to what they want to do.
2) Honda (cars) typically has only 3 worldwide platforms (this doesnt count speciality cars like S2k / NSX)
that are FWD and generally use 4 bangers.
3) They have grown a lot recently to include new SUV's in the mix and refine their 4wd options.
4) With their midsize platform getting a refresh for 2008 .. they will design the basic chasis for 4WD drive and better wieght distribution.
5) So with the new Accord look for the raft of downstream products that will be improved ( TL, etc)

Plus if you follow Global moves by Auto companies, you will realize that Honda has defocussed its intent in the US for growth in Asia.