The best unknown.
You are thinking to yourself: "Here is another luxury car that I will not be able to afford..." Think again. The Acura TSX is one of the best kept secrets in the lower lying regions of the luxury car segment. Introduced in 2004, the TSX replaced, in certain respects, the Integra sedan. From the moment it hit the streets, the TSX garnered a number of awards from the Automotive Press and routinely found itself on some sort of "Best Picks" list. To say that Acura (Honda) had and have a smash hit on their hands would be overstating the situation.
Although it has done well, it has not been a runaway in the sales department. This is one of the fastest growing segments in the auto industry and, as always, competition is fierce. The TSX is a wholly proficient vehicle but somehow it does not capture as much of the buying public's imagination as it should. The public's cold-shoulder attitude is undeserved, in my opinion.
A fancy Honda Accord
This caption is not meant to be an insult, quite the contrary. As some may know, the TSX is the European version of the Accord. In other words,
what we call the TSX, most of the planet knows as the Accord. The styling of the car is characterised mostly by its flat surfaces and corners that share many cues with the remainder of the Acura family, namely the [link artid="54730"]MDX[/link] and [link artid="55653"]TL[/link]. You see, the issue with the TSX is that unless you know and appreciate the car, it will never be looked at with the same level of desirability as the BMW 3-Series for example. The TSX is plainly elegant and quiet.
2006 has ushered in some aesthetical upgrades such as standard integrated fog lights, new 17" alloy wheels, an audacious rear look matched by a slightly more prominent front end and standard side skirts.
On the inside
The TSX offers the equivalent and more when it comes to interior features
in comparison to its competitors. To begin with, the design, fit and finish of the cabin are superb, perhaps only a small notch below that of the 3-Series. Remember, an equivalent [link artid="47215"]325i[/link] retails for at least $6,000 more for far less equipment. The layout of the dashboard is the image of sensibility. Not only does it look good but it is functional as well. The large number of buttons below the touch-sensitive navigational screen can be a little confusing at first but require only a few moments to become familiar with. Getting back to navigation, Acura's system remains one of the most user-friendly on the market.
The seating positions are near perfect in every manner: the seats are comfortable, supportive and easily adjusted to find the right driving position. Although the TSX is larger than the Volvo S40 and Audi A3, only four adults will be comfortably served by the available interior volume.
 |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
Although it has done well, it has not been a runaway in the sales department. This is one of the fastest growing segments in the auto industry and, as always, competition is fierce. The TSX is a wholly proficient vehicle but somehow it does not capture as much of the buying public's imagination as it should. The public's cold-shoulder attitude is undeserved, in my opinion.
A fancy Honda Accord
This caption is not meant to be an insult, quite the contrary. As some may know, the TSX is the European version of the Accord. In other words,
 |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
2006 has ushered in some aesthetical upgrades such as standard integrated fog lights, new 17" alloy wheels, an audacious rear look matched by a slightly more prominent front end and standard side skirts.
On the inside
The TSX offers the equivalent and more when it comes to interior features
 |
| (Photo: Philippe Champoux, Auto123.com) |
The seating positions are near perfect in every manner: the seats are comfortable, supportive and easily adjusted to find the right driving position. Although the TSX is larger than the Volvo S40 and Audi A3, only four adults will be comfortably served by the available interior volume.