The Acura TSX compact luxury sedan, now in its second generation, has always had a four-cylinder engine. Now it's getting the 3.5-liter V-6 from the larger TL sedan in a new trim level, called the TSX V-6, which hits dealerships this summer. Along with the larger engine comes a sportier suspension and 18-inch wheels. The four-cylinder will remain unchanged as the base TSX model.
A previous owner of Honda and Acura vehicles, BlueMoonDesign of Chicago decided she was fed up with the lousy mileage of her current ride, a Nissan Pathfinder, and returned to her roots with an Acura TSX. Maybe it's not the slickest car in the world, but as she points out, it gets the job done. Read her full review, then submit your thoughts on your own car here.
You can officially add the redesigned 2009 Acura TSX to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s list of Top Safety Picks for 2008.
To earn the award, a vehicle has to score the highest rating, Good, in front, side- and rear-impact crash tests and offer electronic stability control as a standard feature or as an option. IIHS says stability control brings a vehicle back to its intended line of travel once it senses slipping or sliding, and in doing so reduces the chance of a fatality by 50% and the chance of a rollover by 80%. The TSX features stability control standard at its starting price of $28,960.
IIHS president Adrian Lund said that with the TSX’s recent redesign, it went from Acceptable to Good in side impacts. Thanks to new head restraints, it also went from Poor to Good in rear impacts.
The TSX's award is in the midsize sedan segment. The Audi A3 and A4, Honda Accord sedan, Saab 9-3 and Subaru Legacy have already earned Top Safety Pick honors among midsize sedans, while the Volvo C70 and Saab 9-3 were awarded the honor for midsize convertibles. The Audi A6, Cadillac CTS, Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable and Volvo S80 earned Top Safety Pick recognition for large cars, and the Subaru Impreza got the nod among small cars. See a complete list of Top Safety Picks here.
You’re reading the first in a new series of regular posts we’ll bring you ranking new cars according to the time they spend on dealers’ lots. The faster a car moves off the lot, the harder it typically is to find one for yourself. Hot models are also often harder to negotiate on because the dealer knows another buyer will be along shortly willing to fork over full price. Below are the top 10 hottest sellers, followed by a list of what isn’t selling so quickly. The industry average is around 65 days on a lot before selling.
In Top 10 Movers, we only list vehicles that pass a certain threshold of sales in order to weed out models that are being phased out, limited editions or other factors that might skew the numbers or otherwise inaccurately portray popularity. For the Top 10 Losers, we lower that threshold because low sales bolster the Loser claim, though they could also indicate other factors, like a model being phased out.
Top 10 Movers
In today's fleet notes, we take a look at the 2008 BMW M3, the 2009 Acura TSX and the 2009 Honda Pilot. Our staff offers a number of different takes on the vehicles, from their styling to the way they stack up to competition in their respective segments. After you get done reading our thoughts, check out a longer impression in an expert review for each car.
2008 BMW M3
The redesigned 2009 Acura TSX gets an average 4.3% price increase and starts at $28,960, up from the 2008 model’s $28,190. That price is for the base model, which comes with leather, sunroof and pretty much everything else standard. There’s only one upgrade: the optional technology package, which features Acura’s 10-speaker premium sound system and a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather. That bumps the price to $32,060. Destination is an additional $715.
While the car retains the same engine as before, the rest has been overhauled. The 2009 is bigger inside and out and has an updated exterior featuring the brand’s new peaked grille. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley recently reviewed the TSX and came away impressed, though he was concerned with how much more power and handling is available in some of the TSX’s competitors.
That said, the TSX stays under $30,000, making it more affordable than most of the competition. It goes on sale April 24.
Acura has eloquently refreshed the TSX small sports sedan inside and out for 2009. But are looks all that matter? Cars.com’s Mike Hanley has already reviewed the new TSX, and he shares his thoughts on video at the New York auto show.
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More on the 2009 Acura TSX
The world just got its first up-close look at the redesigned Acura TSX at the New York auto show yesterday, but Cars.com’s Mike Hanley has already been in the driver’s seat. The sport sedan gets a new design inside and out and Mike pushes the engine — which has stayed pretty much as-is — to the limits for his full review.
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.
Acura's entry-level TSX sport sedan has been redesigned for the 2009 model year. The new model is larger than its predecessor, features all-new styling and is powered by an updated four-cylinder engine that's cleaner and more fuel-efficient.
The exterior of the new TSX is much more muscular than the prior version. The wheels are accented by large fender flares, and the front of the car is defined by a new grille that features a silver-colored upper bar. The new TSX is 2.4 inches longer than before and has a longer wheelbase. It's also 3 inches wider. A new cross-braced roof improves rigidity, and the TSX has dual-mode dampers that can vary their response based on driving conditions.
The front-wheel-drive TSX is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that features direct injection and a higher compression ratio. The engine makes 201 hp, which is 4 hp less than the four-cylinder in the prior TSX, but more torque than the old version; the new TSX produces 172 pounds-feet of torque with the six-speed manual transmission.
Gas mileage with the manual is 20/28 mpg city/highway and the five-speed automatic achieves an estimated 21/30 mpg. The automatic includes shift paddles on the steering wheel that give the driver control of gear changes if desired.
The TSX has side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags and active head restraints for the front seats. Additional standard features include a seven-speaker CD stereo with a USB port that allows the audio system to control an iPod, plus Bluetooth-based cell phone connectivity and automatic headlights. The available Technology Package includes a navigation system with traffic-based rerouting and weather updates, as well as a 10-speaker, ELS surround sound system that can play DVD-Audio discs.
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