It's not that this car is glaringly ugly—not really. It's just that it's not particularly attractive either. Some may like the futuristic, almost spaceship-inspired front grille, but those some would be few and far between. Since Acura first introduced the modernized front end in 2009, it was met with distaste from most, but the look stuck and hasn't changed since.
Perhaps that's what irks me most about the Acura's exterior look. Honda and Acura pride themselves on being a forward-thinking company that's always on the leading edge of technology and development, and yet their latest models look as if they rolled off the assembly line 3-4 years ago. That's not very forward-thinking in my book. From the bulky, alien-bred front grille to the round-insert taillights, the Acura TSX is not the most attractive car on the road.
However, if you can look past all that and get behind the wheel (preferably with your eyes closed to avoid any adverse reactions to the exterior design), you'll change your tune about this car—at least I did.
Inside, the Acura TSX takes on a whole new level of design and one that I wish translated to the outside. While some may think the gauge and centre stack are a bit cluttered with too many buttons and options, I think it has an extremely modern, streamlined look that's easy to navigate (after the first few days of use). My tester boasted an upgraded interior with the Premium Package and Technology Package that ensured my seats were extra fancy (perforated leather) and that my onboard entertainment and nav system were boosted to the nines with an Acura ELS Premium Audio System and 15-Gb hard disk drive.
I was quite taken with the gauge cluster and found it to be both manly and modern all at once, but more than once, occupants in the car with me commented on how truck-like and bulky they were; how they didn't suit the car at all. To each their own, I suppose.
Buttons aside, interior space and comfort is pretty fantastic. Visibility from the driver's side is great and the front seats are comfy enough to stay that way on long hauls. The backseat is a wee bit tight, but as long as you like your travel buddies, you'll be OK. Cargo volume is relatively small at 396 litres, but then that's to be expected in a sedan.
Where the Acura really shines is in the drive. And I have to admit, I wasn't expecting it at all. I've driven Hondas and Acuras in the past, and they all kind of felt the same; very Honda. But there was something different about the TSX that caught my attention. Perhaps it was the sportiness I liked, or the smooth ride, or maybe it was both. But the Acura TSX drove very much like a BMW all week, and that surprised me.
There was something very luxurious about the way the Acura handled itself; at least it was luxurious for the $38,000 price tag the TSX Tech sported. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the smoothness of it all, and actually enjoying the automatic transmission (something I usually get pretty bored with by the end of the week). This is one of those rare testers I could actually see myself owning, something I would consider if I was in the market for a car in that class.
The TSX really isn't the best-looking sedan on the road, but if you can squint hard enough to get into it I guarantee you'll enjoy the ride and revel in the interior fixings. It is, after all, an Acura and like Honda, they have a reputation for build quality and driveability, and this reincarnation of the TSX is no exception.
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com
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