The little sports sedan
How big is little? Well, in the case of this white-colored, dressed-up Civic, also known as the Acura CSX, we're almost talking about a midsize car. With an aggressive body kit and rear wing spoiler, this little Japanese athlete appears to be on steroids. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- especially with the 197-hp i-VTEC engine under the hood.
Hospitable interior The front doors open wide and allow easy access to the interior. However, in order to close them, you need to stretch your body and grab the storage bin instead of the armrest -- which doesn't make sense. Acura designers should have inverted said armrest and the power window controls to make this action easier and more intuitive. In the back, you have to pay attention to the low, swooping roofline so as not to hit your head. On the plus side, the flat floor allows you to sit three people on the rear seat, namely two teens and a kid. In fact, both of my teenagers found ample room and comfort. The front seatbacks include storage pockets, while the doors offer convenient bins. Also, the center armrest incorporates two cupholders. The audio unit delivers exceptional sound quality. However, I was unable to fully enjoy it because of the complex settings and markings. Soundproofing is usually good... provided that you're driving in sixth gear. As for the climate control system, I found it up to the task and easy to program. Spacious trunk I liked the generous trunk capacity and the split-folding rear seatback. You can slide in many different objects, including fairly long items. The low cargo threshold also comes in quite handy, especially when you're holding several grocery bags. My only complaint about the trunk is the absence of an interior handle: you must close the lid from the outside at the risk of getting your hands dirty. About the cockpit The driving position is good, although I was disappointed to find out that the cushion is not adjustable. Both front seats are comfortable, but the slippery leather upholstery forces you to reposition yourself from time to time. Forward visibility surprised me: on one hand, the dashboard configuration offers a clean view straight ahead; on the other hand, as soon as you turn your head, the A-pillars will ruin it. You have to use the small glass portion between the pillars and the mirrors to enjoy safe, optimum lateral visibility. Speaking of mirrors, they are appropriately sized, but they tend to become dirty in a hurry. Sludge and water drops are splashed against the surface when you drive. Obviously, Acura will have to revise their aerodynamics.
Reader Comments (2)
Friday, January 25, 2008 3:14 pm
Untitled User Comment
The acura.ca website does mention a close-ratio 6 speed manual transmission when you look under Type-S trim level... along with many other cool features!
- MelanieC
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Now about the "facts"...What's the comment about lack of steering feel? Really? What else have you been driving? A Lotus Elise? Ariel Atom? The CSX sure beats the heck out of many other things on the road.
And the comment about traction control kicking in too much on snowy roads? Errr...that's what it's for! And unlike many manufacturers, if you want, it's a single button to _completely_ disable it (at your own risk).
I was surprised at the average fuel economy. 11.7L/100km? Racing all week? I toodle around in a TL Type-S and I get 11L/100km, and I'm hardly a light weight on the throttle...