It may not have the sizzle of the comparable Lexus or Infiniti models, but the 2009 Acura TSX is definitely a smart buy for those looking for an affordable entry point in the premium sports sedan market niche.
Now in its second generation, the TSX is “more Acura” than before.
For those unfamiliar with Honda’s premium nameplate, that means the TSX now offers more comfort, convenience, driving performance, safety features and luxury electronic gadgetry to impress your friends and neighbors.
Designed to appeal to young professionals and image-seekers, the TSX also sports a wider stance to deliver more agile handling, upping the ante as a driver’s car. The model seeks the sweet spot between being an appealing choice for transporting colleagues to lunch or being functional for a weekend trip to Cannon Beach or Whistler with the family.
Either way, TSX accommodates up to five adults in comfort while delivering a respectable EPA rating of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
All of this is made possible by an efficient, all-aluminum, 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that generates 201 horsepower. The engine can be paired with a six-speed manual transmission that has a short-throw shifter with precise, light action — or a five-speed automatic with Sequential SportShift via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The new engine makes the ’09 TSX quicker from a standing start and out of corners, and stronger in the middle of the rpm range, which is where the engine operates most of the time.
Fit and finish have always been Acura stalwarts, and the TSX continues the tradition. From the precision-crafted metal door sills to the satin-metal finish accents, from new leather-covered seats to the steering wheel-mounted controls, and from the premium seven-speaker sound system to the dual-zone automatic climate control, TSX represents a merge of intelligent design and innovation.
Typical of Acura, the TSX offers an exceptional level of standard equipment. Included are a standard power passenger seat, a new folding key with remote entry, new automatic headlight activation, six-disc CD changer, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a USB port music interface.
Adding to the already impressive list of TSX standard equipment was my tester’s Technology Package, which bristles with leading-edge electronics that make driving much more efficient and enjoyable. These include an Acura navigation system with voice recognition, and AcuraLink real-time traffic/weather. For 2009, the TSX receives a dash-mounted electronic compass.
That’s overkill for me, but then I thought the aftermarket eight-track cassette player in my ’68 Ford Mustang Fastback that screamed Steve Miller’s “Fly Like an Eagle” could never be improved upon.
Like some of us baby boomers, the Acura TSX has gotten a little bigger. In addition to its 3-inch greater width and 2.6-inch wider track, the 2009 TSX has a 1.3-inch longer wheelbase and 2.4 inches more overall length. These dimensions combine to provide greater interior roominess, more agile handling and improved ride quality.
And the trunk, well, it’s un-sports-car-like in its roominess.
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