 2007 Acura TSX. Click image to enlarge |
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Review and photos by Chris Chase
Remember the video that circulated around the Internet a few years ago that used car parts in a cause-and-effect sequence to finally close a station wagon’s tailgate? The car featured in that memorable vignette was a European Honda Accord.
As Accords go, it was quite different than the one sold here at the same time. Ours was bigger and, sadly, wasn’t offered as a station wagon. But the four-door sedan version of that car did make it to our shores, as the Acura TSX.
The TSX was introduced in 2004 as a way for Acura to hang onto customers looking to move up from their RSXs, ELs and Integras, and into something a little more grown-up. Despite its more upscale position, the TSX echoed the RSX Type-S, with a high-revving four-cylinder engine (though it was a larger, 2.4-litre unit) and a six-speed manual transmission as base equipment – a five-speed automatic was an option. A starting price of about $3,400 more than the uplevel coupe model helped cement the TSXs position as a cut above the boy-racer RSX.
 2007 Acura TSX. Click image to enlarge |
While the TSX’s 2.4-litre engine initially made the same 200 horsepower offered in the RSX Type-S, the TSX’s larger displacement made for more usable torque: 166 lb.-ft., compared to 142. In 2006, power increased slightly to 205, and the exterior received minor styling tweaks. This first-generation TSX was offered through 2008, with a second-gen version arriving for the 2009 model year.
The TSX’s fuel consumption ratings were attractive, at 10.9 (city) and 7.4 L/100 km (highway); opting for the automatic actually improved those numbers by five or six per cent. Do remember though, that the TSX requires pricey premium fuel.
The TSX has been very solid reliability-wise, but there are a few relatively minor things to be aware of.
Watch for failed door lock actuators that will prevent an affected door from locking/unlocking with the key fob remote or central locking controls. You’ll still be able to operate the lock manually, however.
Moisture inside the TSX’s headlight assemblies is a common issue, caused by the lens separating from the housing. This was deemed a safety matter in the U.S. as the fault could cause the lights to fail; American Honda Motor Co. Inc. offered to fix 2004 and 2005 models for free, but it’s not clear if the same was done in Canada.
