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Acura TSX reviews by car owners that get to the point: car buyers' reasons for buying (or not buying) the TSX
Powertrain performance: Very responsive engine and transmission. Transmission downshifts quickly when requested.
Materials & workmanship: Feels very upscale, no gaps in trim, quality appears to be better thanthe Fusion.
Handling: Very responsive, brakes are great!
Driving position & visibility: Seats very comfortable, good visibility, seats keep driver in place.
Dealership practices: Played games regarding value of trade-in, then wouldn't give keys back when I tried to leave dealership. Very arrogant sales personnel.
Powertrain performance: Transmission reluctant to downshift, then downshifted too many gears, engine redlined but didn't feel very strong. Upshift then very abrupt and harsh.
Materials & workmanship: Didn't feel very finished, some gaps in trim, plastic felt a little down scale.
Past personal experience: Had a Ford in 2001. Car spent 53 days in shop, dealer finally replaced so many parts that they ultimately did get the correct part. Replacement part, alternator, failed after 3 months. Transmission also had to be replaced under warranty.
Materials & workmanship: Everything is just so nicely put together.
Exterior styling: It's just a gorgeous car, and it's not too big. Right between the Civic and Accord, which is about perfect. The angles and craftsmanship is just lovely. Nice OEM rims too.
Fuel economy: It's good. Especially considering the performance abilities, it's incredible compared to any comparable vehicles.
Dealership practices: They were awesome and low-pressure. The sales guy knew all of my answers and for those he didn't, he found out. That experience was a million times better than what I experienced at one of the Mazda dealers.
Reliability & durability: It's a Honda-- what could be better?!? They're built to last, and are known for their ability to run forever with few problems.
Handling: It was ok, nothing spectacular. Didn't quite live up to the "zoom-zoom" reputation.
Ride smoothness: It was ok, nothing spectacular.
Price or payments: It certainly cost less than the TSX, but for the $3-5k difference, I got a LOT more than that value in performance, handling, features, craftsmanship... This was one of my biggest deciding factors.
Available features: They were ok... nothing special.
Control design: It was ok. It was kind of chincy in it's design, and just not as intuitive as the placement of the TSX's controls.
Powertrain performance: AT is very smooth and smart. You feel the shift points, but they don't make your head wobble like some other harder shifting cars
Fuel economy: While easy driving, the car runs at very low REVs.
Materials & workmanship: Every line and gap is even and tight. Interior finishes are nice and not cheap and tacky.
Reliability & durability: Rated among the top for reliability. Nice warranty on Certified used.
Dealership practices: Not pushy to make a sale. Willing to discuss the faults of each type of car honestly. Wanted us to find the right car for us and not just trying to seel us what they had.
Exterior styling: Fat rear, too fat. Tuner looking tail lights.
Dealership practices: Pushy and a little tacky
Reliability & durability: Past issues with engines concern me going forward
Interior styling: Large, well-labeled controls are easy to access from the driver's seat. Built-in Bluetooth, accessed from steering wheel controls and voice commands, is nice to have.
Price or payments: The TSX is a lot of car for the price. The only extra cost option is navigation, which I did not get. Everything else is standard.
Fuel economy: Fuel economy is generally between 26-30 mpg, and even higher on long highway trips.
Audio & nav systems: Very modern, all the necessary types supported, CD, mp3, iPod, sat radio. Good sound. Controls on the wheel are very convenient.
Interior styling: it's serene, hi tech looking, practical.
Reliability & durability: what's not to like?!
Control design: I really like the design of the dashboard - far and high, so that looking at it does not take much effort. The controls on the steering wheel are very convenient. Touch screen is great.
Fuel economy: What is not to like?!
Exterior styling: The grille is awful, which is a pity. The rest of the package is very nice looking.
Handling: Steering is way too sensitive, my wife totally hated it, it was a deal breaker for her.
Reliability & durability: subaru has been using the same basic engine design for years. the design is tested and proven to be very durable.
Interior styling: its clean lines and very sleek
Driving position & visibility: car has lower belt line, and drivers seat can be adjusted and all sorts of directions
Powertrain performance: Very quick and durable engine- very similar to the drivetrain in the WRX STi. the AWD is amazing. for the price, no one else really offers a 6 speed manual and awd. other options are the a4, or 335. but those cost alot more.
Ride smoothness: the engine is not high strung. it is smooth and effortless performance
Powertrain performance: 2.4L is nice, but is very high strung. you need to hammer it down to get the power. great for the civic, but for sports sedan, its dissapointing
Exterior styling: im not to keen on the new front grill. makes acura's look like a decepticon
Powertrain performance: it's an SVT. So very peppy and nice sounding
Exterior styling: Lines and shape
Available features: it's loaded
Price or payments: Under $300.00 a month
Fuel economy: In the 30's highway if driven nicely
Price or payments: too high
Handling: Sporty and very fun to drive.
Rear seat room & comfort: Lots of rear legroom and space for car seats.
Quietness: Quiet ride, little noise even with the turbo.
Materials & workmanship: Interior feels like a much more expensive car. Lots of storage, everything easy to reach.
Handling: Not as stiff/sporty as some others.
Rear seat room & comfort: Smaller than comparably priced sedans.
Cargo capacity & towing: Smallish trunk.
Ride smoothness: Louder than Passat.
Powertrain performance: Extremely strong performance from the 3.5l VQ motor. Excellent combination of low end pull (low speed cornders can be taken in 3rd gear) and top end rush. 30 mp cruising in 6th gear on the highway.
Materials & workmanship: The interior is put together pretty well. The seats are more plush and comfortable than the 1st gen. Most of the materials are nice, but there are some areas where Acura skimped.
Audio & nav systems: The stereo is better than the 1st gen. There might be a couple small areas of the frequency spectrum that are rolled off, but for the most part, the speakers are very clear, with good separation and detail.
Fuel economy: With 100% highway miles, expect about 30 mpg. I have averaged about 24-25 mpg over 5 tanks in about 50/50 city/highway.
Powertrain performance: When mated to the 6-speed manual transmission, the engine is torquier than the 1st gen. I would not buy the automatic, however, as the gearing is terrible.
Reliability & durability: There seemed to be problems with the 2009 (first year of the 2nd gen TSX), but the 2010 supposedly fixed many of them (engine pinging, etc). Also, it's a Honda, so you can probably bet that the engine isn't going to blow up.
Rear seat room & comfort: The rear seats are fairly comfortable, but they only provide about 34" of legroom, and there is very little clearance below the seats.
Cargo capacity & towing: The 2nd gen trunk is smaller than the 1st gen's trunk. The 4-cylinder TSX probably shouldn't be used to tow anything.
Fuel economy: Honda Accord equivalent and a lot more fun to drive.
Brand reputation & image: Solid Honda reputation.
Handling: Tight handling, feel very secure and stuck to the road.
Powertrain performance: The 6 speed is a sweet ride - best gear change experience I have ever had.
Interior styling: Very functional dash and intutive. Great if you are used to Handas.
Exterior styling: The front grill is wierd - haven't gotten used to it as yet.
Quietness: Road nice is an issue with all Hondas I think.
Dealership practices: The dealer - Erin Mills Acura was terrible. They lie about product availability (not easy to get a manual). I am also fighting to get an incentive that was offered by Acura between when I paid for the car and took possession of it.
Reliability & durability: The build quality of the Acura is impressive. Materials and interior styling are not necessary luxurious, but solid and feel pleasant to the touch. The historical quality of a 4 cyl/ 6 speed manual Honda should be top notch.
Handling: A lot of people have complained about the steering on this car. I agree it's slightly artificial, but the car is nimble and handles as well as a heavy, front driver has any right to. The TSX is fully a pleasure to drive on curvy roads.
Quietness: This is not a loud car, but for the $ it could stand a little less road noise, but I know this is a constant Honda complaint. The engine noise, while audible, is typically not objectionable... it's just tire noise I'd like to see reduced.
Reliability & durability: A total of more than 20000 miles with this car and the only things of note is a minor rattle that came up that I isolated to the overhead sunglasses holder. Nothing a little silicon or foam won't fix. Engine is a thing of beauty; just needs oil chan
Fuel economy: Surprisingly good fuel economy. Averaging better than 26 mpg even with mixed driving conditions and a lead foot more often than not.
Powertrain performance: Don't let the low numbers fool you. Plenty of grunt for everyday duty (but do go hauling around a bunch of passengers). Things really liven up when the tach gets past 5000 RPM. Sounds great up there too.
Front seat comfort: Drove 4 straight hours in these seats. They hug in corners and don't leave you butt feeling numb even after long drives. Not many seats out there that are more comfortable.
Handling: This is a front wheel driver, so don't get any ideas of matching a BMW or anything like that. That said, handling is very sharp for a front wheeler with 60/40 front/rear weight bias. Could do with better tires. I actually take joy rides with her.
Safety & braking: One of the demerits of the TSX. Braking is easily modulated, but generally weaker than average for a near lux car though they are fine for daily road use. Upgrading to better brake lines, pads and rotors goes a long way to remedy this.
Cargo capacity & towing: Don't think of towing anything in this, but the trunk has surprising capacity. with the fold down seats, you can get a lot of stuff in there. Once hauled a 6 foot ladder along with other odds and ends.
Fuel economy: Wonderful...............better than manufacturer quoted.
