Technical
The powertrain of choice, actually the only one offered, is a DOHC i-VTEC
2.4L inline 4-cylinder shared with many other Honda products including the CR-V and Accord. In the TSX, it puts out 200 hp at 6 800 rpm and 166 lb/ft of torque at 4 500 rpm. Transmission choices reside between a 6-speed manual and a 5-speed automatic with a manual mode called Sportshift. 4-wheel disc brakes, 17" alloy wheels and a fully independent suspension are standard.
On the road
The TSX is brilliant on the highway. Its directional stability is impressive and it does not hurt that its steering is responsive and razor sharp. It does not have the immediate turn-in of a RWD car however it proposes a great compromise.
At first, I was somewhat disappointed with the performance of the brakes. The pedal was softer than I had expected and required more effort than I would have liked. As I racked up mileage on the car, I began to appreciate the car's balance and braking became effortless and almost secondary.
Perhaps the other most pleasing part of the TSX is shifting through the gears. The close-ratio gearing, short throw shifter is butter smooth and painless to manipulate. On the other hand, the clutch pedal is almost too soft, too easy. A slightly heavier dose of resistance could have been preferable.
The i-VTEC 2.4L motor is as impressive as it can be a little disappointing. There is not much to talk about in the lower end of the rev range, so enough about that. As the revs do climb and hit close to 5 000 rpm, the i-VTEC does its thing and the car comes to life. When shifting in the power band, the TSX becomes a whole other car. The engine pulls hard all the way to the redline. I managed an average of 11L per 100 km during my test.
Safety
The TSX has standard dual front, side and side curtain air bags, ABS
brakes, electronic brake force distribution, traction and stability control and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 5 out of 5 stars (a perfect result) in a frontal impact for both front passengers. Also, it gave the TSX 5 out of 5 stars for the front passengers and 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) for the rear passengers in lateral impacts. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has rated it a "Best Pick" in its category.
The powertrain of choice, actually the only one offered, is a DOHC i-VTEC
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On the road
The TSX is brilliant on the highway. Its directional stability is impressive and it does not hurt that its steering is responsive and razor sharp. It does not have the immediate turn-in of a RWD car however it proposes a great compromise.
 |
Perhaps the other most pleasing part of the TSX is shifting through the gears. The close-ratio gearing, short throw shifter is butter smooth and painless to manipulate. On the other hand, the clutch pedal is almost too soft, too easy. A slightly heavier dose of resistance could have been preferable.
The i-VTEC 2.4L motor is as impressive as it can be a little disappointing. There is not much to talk about in the lower end of the rev range, so enough about that. As the revs do climb and hit close to 5 000 rpm, the i-VTEC does its thing and the car comes to life. When shifting in the power band, the TSX becomes a whole other car. The engine pulls hard all the way to the redline. I managed an average of 11L per 100 km during my test.
Safety
The TSX has standard dual front, side and side curtain air bags, ABS
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