This guy should review all cars. Fair, balanced, unbiased, honest.

LA Times Review

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Bells & Whistles but No Charisma
By Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 30, 2008
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If we accept that there is something interesting about every car, then the 2009 Acura TSX tests this proposition to the breaking point. Is it well made? Are Oprah's diamond earrings real? Of course, it's well made. It's a lux'ed-up, Euro-spec Honda Accord, re-badged as an Acura and aimed at America's young and upwardly mobile petit-bourgeoisie, assuming we have any left.

Is it well equipped? Like a Chippendales show. Acura has always employed the irresistible logic of more is better. The TSX (starting at $28,960) comes standard with a big, beautiful navigation system, heated leather seats, a moonroof and plenty of other upmarket swirlies. Acura simply refuses to yield the value equation. If one of its competitors offered a device to allow telepathic communication with small rodents, you can be sure that the TSX would offer Acura's HamsterLink technology, and it would come standard with the nav system.

Is it attractive? I think the word is clinical. Rarely do you see a design that is so obviously driven by the marketers' metaphorical imperatives -- high-tech but not alienating, sleek but safe, and precisely 23.88% richer and more upmarket than the Accord. Thus the curious polished metal orthodontia in the grille. This thing has a front toof like Ollie.

Does it drive well? Absolutely. If you are benchmarking front-wheel-drive, 3,419-pound sedans with 201-hp four-cylinder engines, it drives beautifully. A deep serenity presides over the ride quality, abetted by barbiturate-like quiet and cabin isolation. Push the car a little harder into turns and, yes, you'll wish you had more steering feel -- or some -- and you'll eventually invoke the disapproval of the stability control system. But the TSX has its shoes laced up tight. Lots of traction, plenty of agility and a willingness to do as it's told that borders on slavishness.

But is the TSX interesting, compelling or unforgettable in some emotional way? Will it wake you out of a dead sleep with asphalt-gnawing desire? Will you lie and embezzle or pimp out your dog to get one? Probably not.

It's an excellent car and well worth the money. But when it comes to charisma, compared to the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C300, the Audi A4, the BMW 328i, the Acura surrenders like Lee at Appomattox.

We're left to puzzle the exact nature of charisma. One issue is the precision-caliper badge. Acura has gotten thoroughly shuffled out of the prestige ranks lately. A recent brand perception survey by Consumer Reports ranks Acura at the bottom of the list. Here's the strange part. Honda ranked at the top, even though they're the same company.

Usually, I dismiss big M Marketing as the lowest form of automotive expertise, the department of any company where people put their half-wit brothers-in-law and work-release types. But Acura must do better in getting the message out. The RDX -- the compact luxury crossover -- is the best product in its segment. The RL is an astonishing automobile. Who's being paid to promote these products? These people should be shamed like Japanese companies used to shame their employees: They should be made to stand in front of their building in their underwear shouting abject apologies and self-recrimination while being berated by their superiors. The good old days.

Have you seen Honda's new brand image commercial, the one with all the company's products: jets, snowmobiles, outboard motors, ATVs, fuel-cell vehicles, even a knock-kneed robot named Asimo? Where is Acura? Surely if you promote your private-jet business, you can promote your luxury car division.

Well, I started out saying there was nothing that interesting about the TSX. Not true. Honda-Acura did something very bold with this car and that was not to gratuitously add displacement and horsepower in the redesign. Acura is, I think, the first luxury brand to step off the horsepower spiral and say "enough." What's under the hood is a stupendously fine 2.4-liter, high-compression four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower (what the previous model achieved with slightly more midrange torque). That's a specific output of 83.75 hp per liter, getting very close to the magic 100/liter mark, while still achieving up to 30 miles per gallon on the highway (with an automatic transmission).

But, regarding charisma: From the first spin around the block, the TSX feels a bit like a luxury car wrapped around an economy car powertrain. The car is certainly quick -- around 6.5 seconds to 60 mph -- but you really have to wring the tachometer to get it moving, which produces some rather inelegant, blender-like sounds from the four-cylinder engine (peak horsepower at 7,000 rpm). Fine for a Civic, OK for an Accord, but lacking in that gratifying quality of effortlessness that luxury cars have, even entry-luxury cars.

This is a common rap against Acura, which does not have a V8-powered car in the lineup, nor does it have a proper rear-drive powertrain. But soon -- and not a bit too soon -- the company will have other options, including high-output diesels. I predict the TSX will be transformed by a torque-y, super-clean diesel.

Now that will be interesting.

dan.neil@latimes.com

2009 Acura TSX
Base price: $28,960

Price, as tested: $35,494

Powertrain: 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder with variable-valve timing; six-speed manual transmission; front-wheel drive

Horsepower: 201 at 7,000 rpm

Torque: 170 pound-feet at 4,300 rpm

Curb weight: 3,419 pounds

0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds

Wheelbase: 106.5 inches

Overall length: 185.6 inches

EPA fuel economy: 20 miles per gallon city, 28 mpg highway

Final thoughts: TSX, pronounced "tsk, tsk"

 

Much of what he says is correct, and he brings up some good points, but he overlooks the significant downgrade of interior quality over the 2008. I just reviewed this car myself yesterday. You can market it any way you want, but cheapness is cheapness. Of course, the poorly-done interior trim is balanced out by a nice engine, drivetrain, handling, ride comfort, noise isolation, and a little more room inside than the 2008 model....I'll concede all of that. The 2009, all-around is a better car mechanically than the 2008, but IMO not as pleasant to sit in and look around.

One also cannot compare this car with a certain, preconceived image, be it specifically for the TSX, or for Acura in general. One has to look at the TSX for what it is, as a specific car, not some pedestal of what one thinks it should be.
Like I said in my own review, it would be nice to have a turbo-4, V6, or AWD option, but the reality is that, for whatever reason, the car doesn't have it.....and that's what you're buying. No matter how it is marketed, when you buy a car, you buy a specific piece of metal, rubber, glass, and plastic...not an idea or an image. You have to live with that CAR every day, not an image.

 

Good review, really no different to what we have said. Great car if you have low expectations, not a bad car at all and you won't even look at it if you have high expectations.

He did state NAV is stock at 28k, is this true? I thought it was part of the 4k option package?

Dan Neil though, some of his reviews make me cringe. I don't see how he writes any better than Mike.

 

I agree, as a subscriber to LA Times, I've read a lot of his reviews just...because...it's...there... and I'm pretty sure he doesn't spend a lot of time with his cars, or he might not even be a car guy..

 

I've read a lot more reviews from CL's own "Mike & Mike", so don't know anything about this guy's reputation. I just thought this TSX review was well-written. It hits the highs and lows, and as 1SickLex pointed out is consistent with what we've discussed here (only without the unnecessary hyperbole).

In fact, I'm going to take his "great car if you have low expectations" comment and run with it. Not everyone has the money for a fully decked-out luxury car or sports car or whatever. Lots of people get through life buying used mass-market sedans or at best a new Camry or Accord every ten years. To them, stretching the budget a bit to get a TSX instead is an amazing proposition, and I would say a darn good proposition. They don't need every single luxury bell and whistle or the biggest engine or even (dare I say it) the highest quality interior materials. To them, stepping up to an entry-luxury car offers significant improvements over what they're used to. And I mean not just the car itself but the dealership experience, the longer warranty, the customer service, etc.

Perhaps Acura isn't using the TSX to steal away 3-series or even IS250 buyers, but instead to get Camry and Accord buyers to step up just a bit.

 

I agree that The TSX, in general, will more likely appeal to FWD Camry/Accord people than RWD IS250/3-series people, but two things. First, the IS250 and 3-series have the marketing advantage of an AWD option that the TSX doesn't ( the TSX's FWD will do OK in moderately bad weather), and of course, have snappier RWD handling. Second, the TSX, IMO, is not necessarily an upgrade from the higher-trim levels of the V6 Accord, which seem to have a more pleasant feel in the power steering, just as good fit/finish, and, of course, more power under the hood. The TSX also has a cheap prop-rod and cheap, painted-plastic interior trim in the latest version. In some ways, it WOULD be a step up, however, from the current Camry....the Camry does not compete with the TSX except in quality of the paint job, V6 power and powertrain smoothness, and noise isolation.

 

No its not standard at $28K......With the tech package that includes navi, reverse camera, els system, and real time traffic and weather updates, then you will be sitting a mere $32-$33k. I test drove it yesterday (6-speed and tech package) and compared to my sisters 2005 TSX its a minor step upwards but like was mentioned they could have done something better with the interior and also the selection of wheel options.

 

wow, that was a good review. i have always been a honda fan, and have always wondered about the acura brand. i like the way he compares the two.

 

Think what you want of the new TSX, but

1) The previous TSX could be had for 28K fully optioned (except A-spec package of course).
2) The current TL can be had for 32K, perhaps without Navi, but never the less, its a much superior car.

With that being said, if Honda continues the trend, expect the next gen TL to carry a heavier pricetag, and drop in quality.