NEW YORK (Money Magazine) - Auto writers learn to be careful with superlatives, but a too-short week in the Acura TSX dispelled all caution: As MONEY first suggested in September, the TSX is simply the best sedan in America for under $30,000.
Based on a smaller Honda Accord that until recently had been available only on foreign shores, the Acura TSX takes the Honda's proven virtues -- its sterling quality, a diamond-solid chassis and peerless four-cylinder engines -- and adds a big dose of sport and luxury.
The rich interior suggests a Lexus, Audi or other more expensive sedan. As with many Honda and Acura models, you could climb into the TSX for the first time, close your eyes and still find every control and switch, right where they should be. Those controls feel terrific, from the five-speed shifter to the smooth brakes and clutch.
Punching holes in the near-perfect Acura isn't easy, but here goes: Unlike pricier rivals, this is a front-wheel-drive car with a four-cylinder engine, not a rear driver with six-cylinder power. (Competitors such as BMW, Mercedes and Infiniti rely on rear-wheel drive to optimize handling in high-performance driving.)
Yet the Acura is notably balanced and athletic for a front-drive car. On the torture track of Manhattan's FDR highway, the Acura's double-wishbone suspension soaked up every dip and bump and begged for more. It also delivered big-time driving fun -- more than the Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 or Jaguar X-Type, and nearly as much as the BMW 3- Series. Those models may offer more brand cachet, but each delivers less horsepower than the TSX in its base version and costs you $5,000 to $15,000 more when comparably equipped.
If you simply must have more room or power, the impressive new Acura TL delivers a larger back seat, a sweet 270-horsepower V-6 engine and a vast array of luxury -- including a ground-breaking DVD surround-sound audio system that blows away conventional CD-based units. All for $33,200, loaded. Consider the TL the second half of a well-turned double play for Acura in 2004.
The TSX's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is a 200-horsepower overachiever, thanks to Honda's variable-valve-timing technology. Its smoothness and flexibility mean you'll rarely miss the extra cylinders, especially when you're enjoying excellent fuel economy of 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway.
The back seat isn't up for dinner parties, but it is reasonably accommodating for two adults. You may not swoon over the car's low-key styling, but look again: The Acura's lines are clean and handsomely restrained. Mark your calendar to this date in 2008 because the Acura's design will be aging well while trendier cars look as dated as tattoos and navel rings.
Unlike so many bait-and-switch luxury models, the TSX includes everything that you could possibly want in an upscale sedan for the $26,990 base price. The sole option is Acura's first- rate navigation system with voice-activated controls ($2,000). So let's do the math: Even with the navigation system, $28,990 puts a loaded TSX in your garage, where it's likely to stay for a very long time.
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