2004 Acura TSX
by Cordell Koland

Acura is adding a new sedan with a sporting edge to its product line. The
new TSX will be the least expensive sedan in the Acura line. The newest
Acura targets the low end of the luxury sports sedan market now ruled by the
BMW 3-Series. The TXS arrives armed with front-wheel-drive, a six-speed
manual transmission and a robust four-cylinder engine.

But before you dismiss the car as just a Honda Accord clone, look further.
The new TSX features a sophisticated front and rear suspension. The TXS is
outfitted with 17-inch wheels and tires that extracts a respectable level of
handling from the chassis. And as for the engine, few manufacturers can make
a modestly sized engine perform with more punch. Consequently, the 2.4-liter
four-cylinder unit develops a hefty 200 horsepower.

The design of the new TSX draws on the current Honda/Acura styling
vocabulary and is one of the most expressive renditions of the theme
introduced in the US market. The basic body profile suggests a mild wedge
from front to back. The lines are clean and functional. The front end is
strongly sloped, which gives the car a sporty, dynamic quality.

For a car with a list price below $29,000, the TSX delivers a high degree of
content. I particularly like the perforated leather seats that keep the body
cool on hot days. The car came equipped with all of the expected equipment,
plus moonroof and a high-end sound system with six-disc CD changer. On the
safety side of the ledger, standard equipment includes side-impact air bags
for front-seat occupants as well as side-curtain air bags that stretch the
length of the roofline. An advanced vehicle stability control system with
traction assist is installed.

Luxury content consists of dual-zone climate control and an automatic
self-dimming rearview mirror. The only real option is the satellite
navigation with voice command. The system can respond to about 150 spoken
instructions. It¹s really hard to think of more than one or two luxury
features not included in this package.

Acura gets lots of credit for mastering front-wheel-drive technology and for
developing well-behaved high-performance four-cylinder engines.

There was a lot of industry discussion a few years ago about how much power
could be delivered practically through a front-wheel-drive car. But many
manufacturers are throwing caution aside and offering front-wheel-drive
automobiles with more and more power. Many of these high-powered
front-drivers with manual transmissions have problems with so-called torque
steer, or the tendency of a car to transmit power back to the driver through
the steering mechanism during acceleration. Although torque steer may not be
dangerous, it is unnerving to feel the steering wheel pull in one direction
when you wish to go in another. The message here is that there is not even a
hint of torque steer in the TSX. You are the boss and it precisely follows
your directions. 

The engine in the TSX is probably both its major strength and weakness.
Acura uses variable valve timing, instead of turbocharging, to wring
substantial power from its modest 2.4-liter displacement. The engine makes
lots of horsepower, but only moderate torque, which dictates one¹s driving
style to exploit the engine¹s potential.

To get good performance from the TSX, you have to push the car and keep the
four-cylinder engine in it upper operating range, where it begins to develop
substantial quantities of both horsepower and torque. The TSX is definitely
for the driver who likes to drive in a heavy-footed fashion. On the other
hand, unlike some other highly tuned four-cylinder engines, the Acura engine
is tractable and smooth‹at low and high revolutions. An added benefit of the
Acura approach is respectable gas mileage for a performance-oriented car.

The TXS is also a driver¹s car in terms of its handling which is quick and
precise. The ride quality is on the firm side, but not too unforgiving. My
only real complaint is with the center console. Acura interiors were once
noted for their excellent ergonomics‹controls were well laid out and easy to
access. But now, a proliferation of systems, such as electronic navigation,
contends for space on the crowded center console. Even with redundant
controls mounted on the steering wheel and voice-activated commands, I often
found it frustrating and time consuming to perform a simple task. But,
overall, the TXS balances safety, performance and luxury in an affordable
and well-equipped package.

Vehicle: Acura TSX

Price as tested: $28,990

Engine:

         Type: 2.4-liter inline 4

         Horsepower: 200 @ 6,800 rpm

         Torque: 166-ft. lbs. @ 4,500 rpm

Fuel economy, manual transmission

         City - 23 mpg

         Highway - 32 mpg

Curb Weight: lbs. 3,241