Our car did, however, come with XM Satellite Radio (owners get free activation and three months of free service). Along with the dual-zone climate control, it's voice controllable, and both XM channel and current cabin temperatures are displayed in an information pod on top of the dash.
For its 2006 model year, the Acura TSX has had a face-lift, with its 2005 open grille replaced by a more upturned, smiley front end incorporating xenon HID headlights and fog lights. Acura has tuned the 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC engine to squeeze out an extra 5 horsepower, bringing the cavalry to 205 ponies. For a car with such a small engine, the TSX delivers a formidable amount of acceleration and pickup, especially when pushed north of 3,000rpm. The four-cylinder TSX is able to punch above its weight due to Honda's variable valve-timing technology, which uses an advanced valve-control system to adjust valve overlap and to maximize torque according the engine's load demand.
Gear ratios are tight, and the shifter slots into its gates with a satisfying snick. Around town, second gear is particularly fun for maneuvering the compact TSX into gaps in the traffic, while third gear is what freeway on-ramps were made for. The Acura TSX is a front-wheel-drive vehicle, and we experienced some torque steer when steaming off the line, although the car's drive-by-wire throttle system regulated our attempts to spin the wheels on launch.
One of the most satisfying elements of the Acura TSX is its sporty agility. Variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering provides crisp turn-in, while firm four-wheel double-wishbone suspension and P215/50 R17 high-performance all-season tires gave us the confidence to throw the TSX into corners.
On the highway, the Acura TSX behaved like a larger sedan, especially when left in sixth gear, which lets the car cruise at 70mph and exactly 3,000rpm. One reminder that we were not in a larger car was the amount of engine and road noise seeping into the cabin; at 60mph, we recorded a reading of 78dB, which is relatively high for a car of this caliber.
The other disappointment with the Acura TSX was its gas mileage. Despite the EPA readings of 22mpg in the city and 30mpg on the highway, we recorded an average of 19mpg over 165 miles of mixed metro driving, with at least half of that on the highway.
Nevertheless, thanks to its i-VTEC technology, the 2006 Acura TSX is classified as a LEV2 low-emission vehicle.
The 2006 Acura TSX comes with a good bundle of active and passive safety features as standard, including ABS, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, and seat-belt pretensioners. Acura's four-channel vehicle stability assist (VSA) also helps to keep drivers on track by adjusting brake pressure and engine power to help correct understeer and oversteer. Driver and front passenger get dual-stage front, side, and side-curtain air bags in the TSX, while the LATCH system can be used to secure smaller passengers in the rear seats. Crash ratings for the TSX are impressive for a car of its size; the NHTSA awards it a maximum five stars for frontal and driver side impact and four stars for passenger side and rollover.The 2006 TSX comes with Acura's six-year/70,000-mile drivetrain warranty and a four-year/50,000-mile limited vehicle warranty. The car also comes with Acura's total luxury car (TLC) roadside assistance and concierge service, as well as a lifetime seat belt guarantee.
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