Up Close: 2009 Acura TSX
This is actually the second time I've been able to inspect Acura's new entry-level sport sedan, because the automaker invited journalists to drive the 2009 TSX last month. A full review of the sedan hits Cars.com tomorrow morning, but here's a brief rundown on the new model.
Acura has taken a few more chances with the TSX's styling, giving it larger fender flares and a small shield grille. I find it stylish, but some sport sedan shoppers might wish Acura had made things even a little more radical.
The cabin features Acura's typically good materials and attention to fit and finish. For 2009, Acura has replaced the TSX's touch-screen navigation system with a more-in-vogue knob-based system that uses a large dial in the middle of the dash to control navigation functions. Standard leather front seats are comfortable though the passenger side seat, which doesn't have adjustable lumbar support, is less so.
Despite its positive qualities, the new TSX has a problem, and it has more to do with other sport sedans that are competing for the same buyers, like the similarly priced 306-hp Infiniti G35. With a 105-hp advantage and rear-wheel drive, it's hard to see how an enthusiast buyer says no to the G in favor of the TSX. There are many more photos of the TSX below, with live shots to be added later this morning.
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"Despite its positive qualities, the new TSX has a problem, and it has more to do with other sport sedans that are competing for the same buyers, like the similarly priced 306-hp Infiniti G35. With a 105-hp advantage and rear-wheel drive, it's hard to see how an enthusiast buyer says no to the G in favor of the TSX".
This is very true. HOWEVER, people who shop for the Infiniti G will never shop the Acura TSX, THEY will shop for the Acura TL, a new version of which arrives this fall. The reporter's comments in the previous paragraph,defy credability. It is hard to believe that s/he is a reporter on things automotive and cannot tell the difference between an Infiniti G35 and an Acura TSX
He knows the difference. The problem is Acura pricing the TSX in G35 territory. I think the TSX has a market though. It's just not the sport sedan market.
I would've loved to see Acura take this to the next level in sportiness and make it a fun to drive little sedan. It would've been the natural choice since they decided to stick with the 4 cylinders.
As it stands right now, I only see it as a poor-man's version of the TL. Not good!
Anoyne else think Honda/Acura have an affinity for TONS of center-stack buttons?
Agreed Mr. T.
I dont like the styling too much, and the power goes down from the 2008. I am glad i have the 2008 TSX.
I agree with the blogger to an extent...but even so, a top of the line TSX and a similarly equiped G35 sedan has a price differential of over 5K...and judging from the numbers, there a significant differential in the mileage too although that is offset by the performance superiority of the G sedan...
With fuel prices rocketing up...an entry level luxury sedan for 32K, delivering 28mpg on the hwy is a good bargain...
Mr. Dave.
If I am not mistaken, the G35 starts at $31,850. And the 6MT version starts at $32,650.
The current TSX starts at $28,190 for both 5AT and 6MT.
That's more than 3000 dollars difference. Which is approximately 10% of the price of the vehicle.
On equipment's side, the TSX has Bluetooth standard, front power seat memory standard, front heated seat standard, fold down rear seat back standard, heated mirrors standard, moonroof standard.
By the time the G35 gets those equipments, it should be at a much higher price than it already is when comparing to the TSX.
And best of all, I just can't even believe you guys are comparing 2 vehicles that has such a big difference in their engine displacement and configuration.
The TSX has a 2.4L inline 4. The G35 is a 3.5L V6.
A 1.1L advantage yields about 100hp.
I guess I'm in the minority that finds this styling derivative and heavy handed.
Acura used to have very subtle forms. This is brash to the point of vulgar.
The flanks look cheap, punctuated by fenders flares that are abrupt and flat. The grill plate looks like a piece of scrap metal that some janator left lying on the styling model and nobody caught untill it when into production. The lights look like a 3 year old Mazda.
That being said at least someone in INTERIOR design has their head on straight. Too bad it can't be transplanted into a better looking car.
I think that the new tsx is just what some people are looking for. I live far away from where I work and drive for about 2 hours a day so fuel economy is important. What I wanted was an exelent interior which the new tsx has, but also i wanted to have sublte good looks. I honeslty dont think that the pictures do the car justice. I didnt want the stlying of the car to be overly dramatic like the new c class. I wanted the car to look good and unique. In my opinion this car has nearly everything i want. One of my only gripes is the ugly tachometer
J,
Granted, the TSX does indeed start at a lower price than the G but its price range easily overlaps the G, too. That's not to say you'll get an equally equipped G for the price of a TSX, but for someone looking for a sport sedan handling and performance likely trump available features to some degree. The horsepower advantage of the G is even more impressive precisely because the price ranges of the two do overlap. I'm not the only one making this comparison, though; Acura also says the TSX competes with the G as well as the BMW 328i and Mercedes-Benz C300.
Has anyone seen the new floating gauges that they use.....very mercedes
I love almost everything about the car,except that i thought it would have slightly more horsepower instead of slightly less.also,im not crazy about the rims and wonder if they are going to have 18inch sportier rims as an option.
Man, I'm in the market for a new 4-door sports sedan and want to like this car. why, o why, couldn't they have made this faster/sportier with the redesign? they'd have a winner for sure, if say, they used the same powerplant as the Civic Si and made a sensible car that could sprint to 60 in 6ish seconds. Oh well. The G definitely seems like a better bet for those of us who want more bang in our buck.
The design is definitely a hit with the MDX clues, however I would like to see more uniqueness to the TSX, rather than an upscale Accord! Acura would probably have a niche market for TSX if they had made it rear wheel drive with a 4-cylinder turbo (from RDX).
The design is definitely a hit with the MDX clues, however I would like to see more uniqueness to the TSX, rather than an upscale Accord! Acura would probably have a niche market for TSX if they had made it rear wheel drive with a 4-cylinder turbo (from RDX).
I have just bought the new tsx (premium package, canadian specs). I agree that pictures do not do this car justice. A similarly equipted G is almost 7 grand more. The two cars don't really compare in any significant way. The real competition that I cross shopped were A4 2.0, S40, BMW 323(Canadian only) and Merc C230. The Acura wins hands down in that group.
I just bought the car with the Technology Package. I love it!
Sure, if I had been willing to pay $~$45k for a G series or BMW 3(Taxes in Maryland are a b@#*$!), and take out a balloon mortgage to pay for the gas, I would have a faster ride, but really, when am I likely to really let go at full throttle around here? It's a city for heaven's sake, not a Track!
With the flat torque curve on this sweet engine, and the paddle shifters (which did NOT require $8000 of 'packages' as it would have for the Bimmer) the TSX delivers fun just fine. It really is chuckable into suburban and rural corners, almost as nicely as the BMW.
The only weak spot is that power steering, which is a tad numb, but not isolated like the Lexus IS I tested.
And a Mercedes? Puh-Lease! I was never so happy as I was to trade IN my Mercedes for this car! Sure, Mercs are nice, but their pathetic reliability and terrible interior parts quality make actual ownership a long, irritating disappointment. I've wathced my Mercedes Service advisor's kids grow up and enter college, and I know so much about his life that I can tell you their High School GPA's! No-one should be so familiar with the population of the Service Department. I'm looking forward to not recognizing anyone at the Acura Dealership now that I've bought my TSX!
If you like gadgets, this is the undisputed king of the class. $3200 gives you full voice-commanded Navigation, Bluetooth phone, Sound System and Climate Control! Try getting THAT kind of deal from BMW or Mercedes :-) Oh, and no iDrive - amazing!
Give this car a try, for the money, there's nothing even close to it!
Great purchase Wilson. I know if I was in the market for a premium car the TSX would be at the top of my list. But it was apparently at the top of a lot of people's list, sales were up nearly 54% in it's first full month on sale.
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/793
I leased a 2009 Acura TSX on may 28 2009. The car drives extremely well but does have a major design flaw. In the middle of the car above the radio controls there is a screen that shows the time, radio station, temperature setting, compass direction and other settings. When the sun is shining this display becomes completely invisible and thus, unreadable. It's real crappy stuff.
I hate that too Alan, but now most cars have displays that get invisible with sunlight.
For those of you who have bought the automatic 2009 TSX what kind of real world gas mileage? My 330xi lease ends soon...i'm tempted to get a Toyota Camry Hybrid due to the fuel/hybrid concept..but its just not as "comfortable" as I'd like..I'll admit it..I'm spoiled by interior creature comforts. Thanks
As to gas mileage for the 2009 TSX, my automatic gets around 17mpg in the city. I can't comment on highway mileage since I don't normally drive anywhere but in the city.
money wasnt spent on styling!!!
I traded my 2004 TSX for the new and improved 2009. I to shopped around and compared to the G35, however if I wanted all the gadgets that the TSX brings.....It would cost alot more. Not worth it for the extra 100 horsepower that you can't even use. Also with the price of gas the way it is; I'm glad I stuck with the 4 cylinder. This car is much better on gas then my 2004. The ride is a more comfortable ride and more enjoyable. I took the navigation package as with the other package you couldn't see the screen with the sunlight (bad design). People have stopped me many times to comment about how amazing they think it looks. I don't think the pictures say it all...isn't that always true...think of those trips you have been on and when you show them to guests, it's never the same.
Take one for a ride and you will see what I mean.....enjoy for those that have bought and for those that are shopping...what are you waiting for.
I have had a 2004 TSX, 2005 TL, and now I just leased the 2009 TSX. This is by far my favorite Acura. I am getting combined 28 MPG and I do not notice that big of a difference in power from the TL. It does have much less HP than my TL, but the gears are higher or something and so it is not bad at all. I love this car, love everything about it. It is extremely smooth and fun to drive. Excellent value as I am saving over $100 a month on my payment and I expect to save about $75 a month from the TL on gas.
My wife and I own three Mercedes'. We couldn't wait to get rid of our C class which was so unreliable that we knew the Mercedes's service manager's personal cell phone number! It was normal for us to spend over $1000.00 every 6 months just to service this one car...we have the other two to contend with!
When we bought our 09 TSX, we were amazed at the fit and finish of the interior and exterior. The gas milegae beat anything the Mercedes could put out. We looked at the Audi's and BMW's ...but to get these cars equipped the same way as our TSX would have cost us easily $10,000 more than the base price of these cars.
We are not teenagers...we don't need the car to go at break neck speeds around tight corners...I bought the car to get me from home to my practice and back again in a safe and very comfortable manner...with good fuel economy.
Hi,
I just recently bought a 2009 TSX base model. I easily get around 31mpg on highway, and 23 combined. I have a question for the rest of the 2009 tsx owners though:
It has to do with the steering wheel mounted controls' backlighting (for driving at night): Are the lights of the steering wheel buttons significantly dimmer (and greener looking) than the other buttons on your console, say?
Thanks!
To be perfectly honest why buy an over priced Acura TSX When you can buy the Honda Accord 6 speed with the ex-l package get the leather seats navi and the 3.5L sohc v-tech motor with 271 hp a decked out honda is basically the same as an Acura minus HID headlights and maybe some suspension for around 34 g's
I small update.
I've had my TSX for almost 4 months now. Still in love!
I took the family (2 adults, 2 kids) to the Carolinas this summer. Everyone was comfy and happy for an all-day trip with the car fully stuffed with luggage, beach stuff and food for the kiddies.
Gas mileage was amazing! With my heavy foot (I spent most of the time between 75-85mpg) I averaged 35mpg! And the car was Fully Loaded!
So far the only issues I've had are minor. The interior finish seems a tad delicate, easily scratched. That goes for everything in the interior. The exterior paint is a bit soft too, prone to chipping. Not obnoxiously, but more than I'm used to with my Merc. The seat belt latches are on a VERY short piece of belt. I know this is a Honda trademark, but seriously, getting a Car Seat buckled in is a nightmare. They must not use car seats in Japan - note to Honda: Child Car Seats Need Longer Seat Belts on the Latches!!!
After 4 months the only thing needing any service is the parking brake - which has gotten a bit loose as the cable seems to have stretched. Not worth the trip to the Dealer yet.
And that's a key point. I don't know anybody in the dealer's Service Dept. By this point with my Mercedes, I had already had it TOWED to the Dealer twice, AND had to change my Service Manager as the first one I had couldn't seem to be bothered to follow up on getting it fixed! I had also driven it there twice and had 2 or three new throttle cables replaced (the numbers blur after a while).
My new Acura? No problems and no visits to the Dealer. Good mileage, Loads of fun to drive in the real world, and all my friends are jealous!
What more could I want for $10,000 LESS than a 'comparable' BMW!
I love my '09 Acura TSX. I got it the first week they went on sale. I went for the tech pkg, automatic. My previous car was an Acura Cl. So far this car is great. No complaints. I do bumper to bumper traffic 5 X's a week and still get an avg of 29 mpg.
To jinan, yes I have noticed the steering wheel illuminations do not match the other dash illuminations, but this is a good thing, as I already feel like I am driving a UFO at night time. Imagine the steering wheel details being brighter... yikes!
chreese - to answer your question I bought the TSX over the Accord b/c:
1. The TSX looks better in my opinion.
2. The TSX offers the ELS sound system, and I am a huge music lover - this alone sold me on the car.
3. There a few other luxuries you just can't get on the Accord that you get on the TSX, which meant enough to me to spend the extra dough.
I guess your question is like asking people why they buy designer jeans instead of plain brand jeans, nothing wrong with either kind, just a matter of personal preference.
I think the Euro Accord's face is better looking, IMHO....
I bought the 2009 TSX over the G35 because:
- It is better than the 2008. It feels a little more powerful.
- I found 2 Acura dealers who really wanted the deal. Bottom line: $30k before tax, WITH the tech add-on. That's basically their invoice cost (plus destination fee). The Infiniti dealer didn't want the deal so much; he led me to believe the equivalent G35 would be $38K. I'm sure I could have bargained him down to $35K, but felt no inclination to try.
- Better mileage. I believe that gas, current below $2, will shoot up over $4-$5 within 2 years. So yes, I had mileage in the back of my mind.
- It's a nice car. Nothing to be ashamed of, even if the G35 is much more powerful.
Bottom line - Different strokes for different folks. If I felt richer, I would have gone with the G35. But I don't, and the TSX is no slouch.
Could we share the pricing on TSX. I am currently in the market to lease one and want to know if I'm getting a good deal. Thanks!
Could we share the pricing on TSX. I am currently in the market to lease one and want to know if I'm getting a good deal. Thanks!
In relation to Vadim:, i got my Acura TSX for 29000 before taxes. This is the Tech package.
I'm new to leasing. Is $339 a month with $1,450 down for 39 months, 10,000 miles a fair price for the basic TSX? The $339 includes 7% tax.
Few other questions:
How is the TSX in the snow?
Will I need to replace the tires within the 39 month lease period?
Is the maintenace expensive?
I just purchased the Acura TSX '09, and chose it over the Infinity for two reasons, I didn't like the feel of driving the Infinity G AWD, as much as the Acura, and the price of the Infinity was much higher so I would have had to buy it preowned. The front wheel drive of the TSX will get me through PA winters, as I was not able to drive my MB C320 RWD when it snowed. The Infinity RWD G37 was not an option for me for this reason. The costs of Infinity G and TSX are ridiculous to compare, Infinity G is much higher and you have to pay for every upgrade. With Acura it's all included. Honda has always made a reliable car, and I am back. I love the feel of this vehicle and did not find it necessary to get the Navi package as I find all of the GPS and Back Up camera too distracting, but I still have the convenience of Hands Free Bluetooth, which I love, a very good stereo, and IPod connection. Coming off a '01 MB C320, I am very happy, cost to own is less cents per mile than any comparable vehicle, and I got a great lease deal to boot that continues at least until the end of the month.