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New car reviews » 2008 Acura TSX

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Better than: Hyundai Sonata
But not as good as: Honda Accord V6
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 65.46  

Acura’s entry-level model used to be the sportiest front-wheel-drive car on the road, but the times and demographic data have changed. The 2008 TSX features a lot of flash, but no fury. It’s a shame, too, since the 205-horsepower i-VTEC engine and smooth double-wishbone suspension could have made a 2008 Integra a lot of fun.

What the Acura gives up in thrills it makes up for in handy technology. The dashboard looks like a grand operating panel with buttons, knobs and dials to communicate with global positioning satellites, your iPod, cellular phone or BlackBerry.

The Acura has a more polarizing look than something like Audi’s A5, but it’s not without its own appeal. Interior amenities feel as familiar as they do in every other Honda product.

Other staff views:

Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director:

I disagree… I think the Acura TSX is one of the best small-mid sized sedans on the market. It handles better than the Accord and is nearly as fast with the smooth four than the Accord’s V6—and the mileage is good. I’d spend my money on it if I need a sedan.

Joe Gearin Associate Publisher:

Throw me into the uninspired camp as far as the TSX goes. It isn’t a bad car, but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well either. The styling, both inside and out, seems to be trying too hard to be hip, or edgy, or trendy. Instead it just looks silly and overwrought. I suspect this car’s styling will age very quickly.

Also, in this age of super-intelligent transmissions, this car’s auto seemed clunky and indecisive. I expected this Acura to pour itself down the road with that seamless Honda smoothness. Instead it lurched, and shifted abruptly at normal driving speeds. Once the driver gets a bit more aggressive the TSX finds its stride, and is almost fun. The transmission’s paddle shifters are set nicely for battle mode, but in reality how often will these cars be driven above 7/10ths?

I liked the old TSX’s size and nimbleness. This new car is much larger, less intimate, and way more gimmicky. Sure, it may be smaller than a new Accord, but the new Accord is Buick Park Avenue sized! For me, there are many better choices for a reasonably priced nice sedan.

Tom Heath Marketing / Club Coordinator:

I’m a little split, but I think I’m with Joe on this one. The TSX is nice, but doesn’t strike me as an enthusiast’s car at all. Maybe I just didn’t drive it hard enough, but it never inspired racy feelings in me. However, if you want an uninspiring, but comfy and stylized sedan—this fits that description.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director:

The TSX seems to be a bit of a victim of its own competence. In my time with it, which included a couple-hour highway drive, I found not one feature that stood out in any sort of negative way.

And, to some extent, that’s Acura’s problem. Every facet of the car is so uniformly decent that nothing really stands out above anything else. It’s a horrible way to compliment a car, I know, but the TSX suffers from being too good across the board.

Dynamically the TSX is responsive and feels like a tidy package. The gearing seems a bit off for the engine’s power curve, though. Perhaps a more aggressive torque converter (or a manual? That would be neat) could send the power to the wheels in a bit more assertive fashion.

With no glaring highs or lows, the TSX is all about the delicious, creamy middles. It may be a lousy girlfriend, but it will make a great wife.

Reader comments:

1. Duke: — Apr 28, 2009 10:02 a.m.
   

   You guys do realize that you’re showing pictures of the 1st-gen TSX, while it seems as if at least Joe is talking about the 2nd gen?

   I’ve never driven a 2nd gen TSX, but the automatic trans in my wife’s ‘04 model is probably the best ATX I have ever driven. Shifts are smooth, on time, and in fact, if you drive it with spirit, it figures that out and will downshift on corner entry for you and be ready to go at the exit. It also downshifts when you trail brake while the car is pointed downhill.

   The only real downside is that it does seem to keep that creamy K24 out of Vtec most of the time, but most of the time, I don’t need it. If I hadn’t been dead set on RWD, without hesitation I would have bought another TSX with the 6-speed MTX when I was shopping for myself.

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