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| 2006 Acura Tsx Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Inside & Out | |||
Among all the TSX's reported 2006 restylings of the bumpers, grille, side markers and side sills, the only real eye-catchers are the bumper-integrated fog lights and the reforming of the wheels to include a million more spokes. Oh, and the wipers are now more aerodynamically correct. The facelift didn't change the TSX's dimensions, which measure 183.4 inches in length and 69.4 in width while sitting on a wheelbase 105.1 long. By the Acura ruler, that's 5.9, 2.8, and 2.8 inches trimmer than the TL, and by the Honda ruler, a 7.7, 2.2, and 2.8 abbreviation from the Accord.Aside from the noticeable narrowness, that hardly affects the experience from the first row, a reasonably roomy place with a nice view out the wide, low windows and nicely bolstered seats, with the seat on the left gaining two-position memory for this year. These buttocks found it comfortable on drives of any duration. You'd think back seat room would take a big penalty over the TL, but the legroom difference is nil, with the only standout, again, being a 2.2-inch cut in shoulder room. That's not to say the TSX's back seat is a comfortable place. Truth be told, I don't know how even two people could stand such unsupportively low cushions and tight toeroom for long, nor I do I know what substance Consumer Reports was abusing the day they rated it "above average." Strange but true, the TSX's trunk actually holds more than the TL's: a decent 13.2 cubic feet (0.4 less with the nav system), up on 12.5. The 17.1-gallon gas tank is identical to both. The TSX seems content with its "entry-level luxury" positioning - i.e. only one auto-down window, manual lumbar support, seat heaters but not coolers - and the cheap-feeling lids covering the cupholders and glovebox fall short of luxury altogether. But the leather, dash paddings, and other materials are of upper-middle-class quality and the presentation differs from the TL's just enough to count as its own. The two share steering wheels and shifters, but the TSX ditched the TL's dominating speedometer for a more traditional twin-gauges setup. The wheel is also a 3-spoker and most of the wannabe aluminum runs horizontally instead of vertically. Finally, the TSX's new trip computer, unfortunately, thought it better to make the driver cycle through four screens instead of simply displaying all pertinent information at once. It would also have been wiser to copy the TL's main control interface, but the TSX's navigation screen insisted on usurping buttons that should be independent, such as the six radio presets and the meat of the climate control system (fan speed, airflow mode, A/C button). The TL subjects the driver to much less screen switching and even managed to stuff in a tape deck on top of it all. Otherwise, the TSX would make the family proud. It sure inherited all of the TL's first-rate control logic, meaning adjustments come quickly and meaning it's got the best navigation system on the market. Menus are arranged neatly, the mouse works well, it allows usage while driving (rare), and 2006's faster processor has sped things up noticeably (there's also Zagat restaurant survey access now). And Acura's QWERTY keyboard option makes life so much easier. The TSX also just got a HandsFreeLink Bluetooth phone interface, and like other Acuras, lets you bark verbal commands at the navigation system. Speaking of toys, the stereo now lets you plug your iPod into an Aux input jack inside the center console (right next to the second 12V power outlet). The stereo may not emblazon a big-name label on the faceplate like other Acuras, but it does boast big-time sound courtesy of 360 watts and eight Pioneer speakers: one in each door, two front tweeters, two back deck 6x9s. If Acura had only bothered to let the CD changer read MP3s, the TSX would trump all others for tech. |
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