2006 Acura TSX Test Drive

Some companies sell cars from an a la carte menu. Acura's lineup is a prix fixe meal – you choose the car, and it comes equipped as the chefs determine. The 2006 Acura TSX is the blue plate special of the Acura lineup, an entry-level sports-luxury sedan that arrives fully equipped for $29,890 ($30,505 as tested including a $515 destination charge). With a 4 year/50,000 mile basic and 6 year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty, the 2006 Acura TSX is a complete meal, from soup to nuts. Let's eat!

From the outside, the TSX isn't extraordinary. Based on the European edition of the Accord, the TSX is the most Honda-looking of the Acura lineup -- not a bad thing as the design is tasteful and understated, if a little generic. The TSX has a gently sloping hood that curves down to an open mouth grille with a chrome Acura "A." The overhang (the distance from the wheels to the tip of the car) is a bit long, especially taken in balance with the short overhang at the rear, giving the TSX a little bit of sense of leaning forward. The gently rising creased beltline accentuates the feel of lean. It's a subtle effect that makes the TSX look a little sportier than your average mid-size sedan. Nine-spoke 17" alloy wheels look great under the fenders.

It's the Acura fit and finish that give the TSX a luxury feel. Even on close examination, the paint is flawless, the gaps and seams are uniform and tight, and every piece of trim is solid and gleaming. My test car was painted Alabaster Silver Metallic, which looked great. All of the available TSX colors are rather subdued – this is not the car to get noticed in. There's no red hot smoking fajita dish on the TSX menu – Acura's delivering trout almondine on china this time.

Slipping into the TSX's comfortable driver's seat leaves no doubt about the car's intentions. Firm side bolsters hug your torso like a racing seat. The fine leather covering the seat softens the feel, but this is no cushy bench. It's a very comfortable perch from which to control the action, and it just got better on long rides. If you're a bit of a wide body (like me), check the fit carefully and make sure you get a good long test drive – a few more holiday meals would have ruined it for me.

Interior materials are all top notch and luxurious – soft plastics that feel good to the touch, nice leather and real metal accents. Acura's fine navigation system sits at the top of the center stack, awaiting your commands.

The gauge package caused a problem for me at night. When I got into the car, the dash was so brightly lit that I didn't realize that my headlights were not on. Until I made a point of double-checking, I accidentally drove without headlights a few evenings. Scary.

There's an ergonomic problem with the driver's position. If the door is locked when you go to exit, pulling the handle has no effect. You have to either search for the electronic lock button on the armrest or reach back and manually pull up the lock. Annoying.

Can a meal be delicious and nutritious? Can sport and luxury co-exist? In the case of the TSX, the scales are tipped a little more toward sport than luxury once you get out on the road, which is just fine with me. The six-speed manual transmission is slick, shifting from gear to gear with a satisfying snick. The light clutch eases the torture of bumper-to-bumper traffic. You'd better love shifting if you buy a TSX – the free revving 2.4 liter inline four cylinder engine delivers its peak 205 hp and 164 lb ft of torque high in the rev range, and you have to be ready to downshift at a moment's notice to get into the sweet spot. Freeway onramps are fun if you don't lug the engine with low RPMs.

Purists may argue about whether or not a front-wheel drive car can ever be considered "sporting." The TSX makes a pretty convincing argument for the setup, exhibiting few of the quirks that make FWD an outcast. Suspension and steering are on the firm side, but still soft enough to deliver a smooth ride on the highway.

Sport and luxury collide when it comes to road noise – the TSX transmits too much of it to the cabin. A freeway rides is a cacophony of wind noise and tire roar. Summer tires might help – my test car had all-season radials.

Now for the dessert – included in this prix fixe review. How does the TSX stack up with the competition? Well, if you're looking for a $30,000 sedan that gets 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway and you want a navigation system, leather seating and an air of luxury to go with a sporting ride, it's tough to beat the TSX.

BMW builds the benchmark mid-size sports-luxury sedan, the 3-series. BMW comes to the table with rear-wheel drive, an inline six-cylinder engine, and more snob appeal – but it also has pricier when comparably equipped. Before you buy the Acura, be sure to drive the BMW – it's the only way to know if you're missing anything.

Mercedes' C-class is solid on the luxury end, but not as much fun to drive – and it's a little pricier. Audi's A4 is definitely worth a look, and a pretty good comparison – front-wheel drive, an inline four and quality construction. Audi tosses a turbocharger into the mix, which makes a big difference in performance feel. Lexus' IS250 is a solid performer, packing a V6 and rear-wheel drive with its luxury. I wouldn't overlook the VW Jetta GLI, either – it's a heck of a fun ride.

It's too bad car buying isn't an all-you-can-eat buffet instead of table service. I could stuff myself with sport-luxury.