Manual Transmision

2006 Acura TSX Review

Compared the TSX to 250IS, TL, and many others. The TSX is a better value - in my opinion. Engine is remarkably smooth with good acceleration, handling is crisp with very little body roll. The Autonanny (VSA) can be easily provoked, but can also be turned off for spirited driving. Interior is very comfortable and nice looking, a great combination of sport and luxury.


Car & Driver rates it a "10-Best" 3 years in a row for good reason - the TSX combination of quality, handling, comfort, and features are unbeatable at this price point.

The car is loaded. You will never get bored driving it. The HID lights light up the road unlike any other car. The acceleration is terrific for a 4 cylinder. Good leg space both front and back. Stereo is excellent. Nice wipers. Solid door thumps. Good trunk space.

News

This Acura should be redesigned for either 2007 or 08. Timing depends on Hondas schedule for a new European-market Accord, which parents the upscale, U.S.-only TSX. A coupe is expected to join the sedan as an upscale replacement for the small RSX, which is being dropped after 06.

New For 2006 Acura TSX

Added convenience features and freshened styling highlight 2006 for the entry-level sedan at Hondas upscale division. TSX has a 205-hp 4-cyl engine with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 5-speed automatic with manual shift capability. ABS, an antiskid system, and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard. So are curtain side airbags and front side airbags. The TSX also comes with leather upholstery with heated front seats, sunroof, and xenon headlamps. For 06, it adds Acuras HandsFreeLink, a wireless connection for using cell phones through the audio system; a memory system for the driver seat; and a digital-media auxiliary jack. The only option is a navigation system, which is priced as a separate model and includes voice recognition for some navigation, audio, and climate functions.

Interior Design and Special Features

Inside, the Acura TSX offers a beautifully furnished interior that looks and feels more upscale than you would expect. The driver-oriented cockpit has large, easy-to-read gauges and controls and performance-engineered front bucket seats that feel great. Rear legroom is more generous than in most competitors and passengers will find plenty of foot room under the front seats. As in other compact luxury sedans, a fifth passenger will suffer in the center seat.

Safety

Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with BrakeAssist, traction control and a stability control system are all standard. Side-impact airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags for both front and rear occupants are also standard. In front-offset crash testing conducted by the IIHS, the Acura TSX received a rating of "Good," the highest possible, and a "Best Pick" designation. In NHTSA tests, the TSX earned a perfect five-star rating on all counts, except for rear side impacts, where it received a four-star rating.

Powertrains and Performance

All TSXs come with a 2.4-liter, DOHC four-cylinder making 205 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque that drives the front wheels. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with a Sportshift feature. When it comes to fuel economy, the Acura TSX rates 22 city, 31 highway with the automatic and 21/30 with the manual.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The Acura TSX entry-level luxury sedan has seating for five passengers. Its available in only one trim but with such an extensive standard features list youre not likely to want anything more. Included on every model are items like 17-inch alloy wheels; HID headlights; heated, power-adjustable driver and passenger seats with drivers memory; leather upholstery; an eight-speaker, 360-watt audio system with XM Satellite Radio and an in-dash CD changer; dual-zone automatic climate control; and a sunroof. An impressive DVD-based navigation system with voice-activated software is the only option.

New Maintenance Reminder

The TSX has a new Maintenance Minder system to ensure proper maintenance intervals and reduce service visits. The system automatically monitors the cars operation and alerts a driver via a multi-information display.

The TSX is aimed at the young and young-at-heart. It combines value, practicality and—very importantly—driving fun.

Driving Impressions

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine boasts several improvements for 2006. Larger intake valves, increased valve timing and lift, increased intake and exhaust flow and reduced pumping losses combine for a healthy horsepower increase to 205 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 164 pound-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. This is actually a larger horsepower increase than it looks like on paper, thanks to the Society of Automotive Engineers new horsepower rating system. And despite the smaller number its an increase in torque as well. Although this sounds like another high-strung four cylinder, the torque curve is broad and flat, so you dont need to constantly shift gears to get good acceleration performance. Third gear in the TSX is always there for you, which is saying something for a four-cylinder. Third gear feels good from 3600 rpm at 40 mph all the way up to about 75 mph. Even in sixth gear, cruising at 70 mph and 3000 rpm: put your foot down and the TSX will go, right away.

Thats not to say that you wont want to use the gearbox. Its a sweet, slick-shifting six speed that makes shifting a pleasure, not a chore. And the engine sounds so sweet at higher revs that you wont mind winding it out to its 7400 rpm rev limiter whenever you get the chance.
The drive-by-wire throttle helps the torque curve out, by being so responsive. The acceleration is linear from the drop of the gas pedal, without strain or surge. But smooth power delivery comes mostly from the i-VTEC engine, using Hondas latest variable valve timing and lift system.

Its a wonderfully tuned engine. It doesnt feel as if 205 horsepower has been squeezed out of the four cylinders, more like its been pumped out. Thats what 2.4 liters and twin cams can do for a four. And its fast. Downshift to third to accelerate to pass another car on a remote two-lane, open it up, and before you know it youre doing 90.

Automotive journalists used to complain that the U.S. never got the good cars. European drivers appreciated good handing more than we did, so they got the cars with the tightest suspensions, at the least. They got more powerful engines too, often because of lower environmental standards. But nowadays thats much less true. The TSX is a superb sports sedan. Double A-arms support the front, with a multi-link system in the rear. Tender loving care has been bestowed upon the shock tuning.

The TSX makes a dancer out of you, and the suspension is your partner. Its heavy for its size, but its delicate to handle. Its sweet, but not touchy. It makes you a better driver, not because it requires you to be one, but because it enables you to be. If you can coordinate your hands and feet, and maintain a delicate touch, the TSX will pirouette on a dime for you. Its the same with the gearbox; it doesnt like to be speed shifted or otherwise abused, but it will perform beautifully if you let it.

The TSX stops as smoothly as it goes and shifts. Its brakes will bring you down from triple digits so smoothly and quickly you would never have believed you were up there.

Despite the attitude of the tailpipes, the exhaust note is decidedly civilized. We would have liked some aural attitude commensurate with the engines capability and the tailpipes promise.

The suspension says no sweat to patchy roads. It swallows the worst of it with no bouncing or tipping or jolting. It usually takes a softer suspension to deliver a comfortable ride on roads like this. The suspensions combination of firm for the curves and comfortable on the street is exceptional. It can get a little twitchy on uneven surfaces at very high speeds, though. We pushed the TSX through some curves, and it came out the other end flying its colors.

Understeer is minimal. The broad range of third gear again was useful, tremendous, even. Braking and downshifting was idiot-proof, thanks again partly to the drive-by-wire throttle.
We loved the VSA electronic stability control, which we couldnt feel working during those the moments when it bit for traction. It doesnt activate too early and it doesnt activate too much. When we turned VSA off the TSX still didnt understeer.

By comparison, the Honda Accord six-speed coupe has a fantastic 240-horsepower V6 that makes great sounds and costs $1000 less than the TSX, but its a softer car and doesnt have the sports appeal of the TSX.

Favorite Features

Build quality is top-notch, fun to drive, comfortable ride, lots of standard features, very good fuel economy, and the rear seats can fold down when needed.

MSRP Price Range $27,890 - $29,890
Invoice Price Range $26,051 - $27,872

Overall Review

A smooth, quiet, WELL BALANCED car. Sporty, luxurious and not "old" feeling. A perfect young professionals car.

This is the best value in the above 25k sedan market. I test drove the Lexus IS 250 and looked seriously at the 3series and A4. There really was no touching the price and options of the Acura. The car is at least as fun to drive as the others, and affordably comes with the voice activated navigation system and every option I could ever want.