What North America gets as the Acura TSX is what other parts of the world get as their Honda Accord. Our Accord is bigger inside and out, room was made for a V6, and both the ride and handling are notably softer. But Honda decided that there would still be a market for its other-market Accord, and brought it here unchanged. And the TSX is a very impressive car, featuring traits expected in a family sedan like a reasonably roomy interior and reasonable pricing, and throwing in what Americans tend to expect only in sports sedans: very nimble handling. The TSX is down on power and high on gas mileage by the standards of this group, a reversal of the priorities of the typical American consumer, but it remains an impressive vehicle overall.

          The TSX has a very firm ride, though it doesn't feel as stiff as several competitors. Small road imperfections are dealt with nicely, larger bumps less so. The ride is free of jitter or float, even on poor pavement. The car is commendably agile, with very little body roll and quick, responsive, and communicative steering. It doesn't feel as precise as a BMW 3-Series, but is very fun to drive. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, the only available engine, returns mediocre acceleration with its automatic, but is commendably smooth and reasonably quiet. There is no noticeable wind noise, though road noise is audible on some surfaces. Fuel economy is impressive by this group's standards.

        Inside, the front seats are firm, comfortable, and supportive, though larger occupants will feel cramped. The rear is comfortable enough, with good leg and headroom, but is too low and short. The interior is a bit bland, but constructed of high-quality materials that fit together very well. The gauges are very clear, and the instruments are notably well-designed. The optional voice-recognizing navigation system, included here, absorbed but did not seriously complicate other functions, and was especially easy to use. Drivers sit comfortably, and can see out very well in all directions. Entry/exit is easy to the front seats, but the size and shape of the rear doors complicate matters there. The trunk is nicely-shaped, but rather small.

          The TSX did very well in crash testing. It earned a Best Pick rating for its performance in the IIHS offset crash test, and five stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test. It was also awarded five stars for the driver and four for the rear passenger in NHTSA's side crash test, but the IIHS has yet to subject the car to its side-impact review.

        The TSX reviewed here came equipped with the car's only factory option, a navigation system. Even with only that option, the car's feature content is impressive for this class. For while the TSX offers no major unique features, it doesn't lack anything that is expected, coming with dual power heated front seats, a sunroof, a 6-disc CD changer, side airbags that protect the head and torso, and traction and stability control. Moreover, this was all delivered for the lowest price in this group.

         Overall, the TSX is disappointingly slow by this class's standards, but impresses in most other ways. Its comfortable, high-quality interior and agile handling make at an impressive car, and its low price makes it an excellent bargain. A worthy choice.

Pros:

-Agility

-Interior Space

-Fuel Economy

-Features for the Money

-Ergonomics

Cons:

-Acceleration

-Trunk Space

Overall:

Light and agile, but short on power: what BMW 325i used to be.

Version Reviewed:

NA

Price of Version Reviewed:

$29,174

Powertrain:

2.4-liter I4