2012 Acura TSX Review and Prices
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Price: $31,200 - $39,900
MPG: 21 / 29 /
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2012 Acura TSX Buying Advice
The 2012 Acura TSX is the best car for you if you want a premium compact sedan or station wagon and you prefer the traction characteristics of front-wheel drive.
The 2012 Acura TSX might -- if Acura’s on the ball -- dump its five-speed automatic transmission for a more competitive six-speed automatic. Otherwise, don’t expect big changes to the 2012 edition of this sporty compact from Honda’s premium Acura division. Priced from the low-$30,000s, the 2012 TSX will again be the least-expensive way to sample the upscale Acura experience and should remain the brand’s best-selling model. Consider the 2012 TSX a strategic choice, the car still standing after you’ve screened the field for outstanding value and high customer-satisfaction ratings, if not pure power and ultimate prestige.
Should you buy a 2011 Acura TSX or wait for the 2012 Acura TSX? Buy a 2011 TSX if you want the styling and amenities that’ll see this car through to it next full redesign, likely for model-year 2014. Wait for the 2012 TSX if you want to roll the dice that Acura will give it the performance and fuel-economy advantages of a six-speed automatic transmission or you think the carmaker will conclude TSX wagon buyers deserve a crack at a V-6 engine.
2012 Acura TSX Changes back to top
Styling: The 2012 Acura TSX styling won’t change beyond perhaps a new color choice or two. It’ll carry over the appearance tweaks that came on line with the 2011 model. These were limited to a subtly modified front end and revised taillamps. The nose job more gracefully integrated the car’s chromed-fang grille, but the feature remains an Acura-family trait not universally admired for its beauty.
The 2011 changes didn’t alter the shape or size of the TSX sedan, which kicked off this second-generation TSX in model-year 2009. The alterations also helped mark the model-year 2011 debut of the four-door station wagon TSX. Both essentially are Americanized versions of the downsized Accord that Honda sells in Europe. They’re gussied up to entry-luxury status and slot below the midsize 2012 TL in Acura’s U.S. lineup. Exterior dimensions will again put the 2012 TSX in the premium-compact-car category. So will an interior with good front-seat space and slightly tight rear-seat accommodations.
Officially named the TSX Sport Wagon, Acura will again take pains to present the 2012 TSX wagon as the same rewarding-to-drive car as the TSX sedan, but of course with more cargo versatility. Both body styles will continue on the same 106.4-inch wheelbase, which is a couple inches shy of the norm in the competitive set. Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles and helps determine a vehicle’s interior volume, particularly legroom. The front-wheel-drive layout, which concentrates the bulk of the drivetrain in the nose of the car, will again help Acura maximize the TSX’s passenger space while minimizing the penalty of the slightly shorter wheelbase.
The 2012 TSX wagon’s body will again be about 3.5 inches longer than the sedan’s. The difference will remain devoted to a rear cargo compartment that’s among the largest of any wagon in the class, with 25.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 60.5 with the seatbacks folded. The TSX sedan’s trunk will also remain roomy relative to its rivals, at 14 cubic feet.
Mechanical: The 2012 TSX will return with two engine choices, but whether they’ll be divided between the body styles in the same way might change. The base engine will remain a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and probably retain 207 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. That would keep it slightly down on muscle versus entry-level versions of top competitors, which tend to use small six-cylinder engines or turbocharged four-cylinders.
As an alternative, Acura will again make the 2012 TSX available with a V-6 engine. It’ll be the same 3.5-liter used in the larger TL sedan, and should retain 280 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, which are competitive numbers for this class. In the TSX line, the V-6 has been available only in the sedan, where it sufficiently elevates performance to qualify the TSX as a cut-rate alternative to the TL. The extra weight of the V-6, however, compromises the agility you get with the better-balanced four-cylinder TSX. Extending availability of the V-6 to the 2012 TSX Sport Wagon would expand the appeal of a body style already ahead of the sedan for utility and, by some eyes, for design purity, too.
Expect the four-cylinder 2012 TSX sedan to again be available with a six-speed manual transmission, which will again provide a welcome added dimension of driver involvement. A five-speed automatic transmission has been available at extra cost on the four-cylinder 2011 TSX sedan and mandatory on the TSX wagon and V-6 sedan. Enthusiasts would clamor for Acura to make the manual available with both engines on all models, but they’re in the minority and it won’t happen. Every driver, however, should hope Acura upgrades the 2012 TSX’s automatic transmission to a six-speed. Presence of the extra ratio would more efficiently harness either engine’s power and improve fuel economy, too. Every key rival uses an automatic with at least six speeds, and Acura finally did install one in the 2012 TL.
Most 2012 premium compacts will also run with something other than front-wheel drive. The 2012 TSX sedan and wagon will remain fine-handling cars with sharp responses and good grip through corners. But they’ll not challenge the class benchmarks, the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti G lines. Like other top sports sedans, they count on rear-wheel to help mitigate noseplow in fast turns, to enable the car to power through corners, and to free the front tires from having to both steer and propel the car.
Thanks to the engine and transmission pressing down on the front tires, front-wheel drive does indeed furnish better traction in snow and in sloppy conditions -- and that’s no small consideration in some parts of the country. But to compensate for rear-wheel drive’s slippery-surface shortfalls, the top cars in the TSX’s class also offer all-wheel drive. Acura fields an all-wheel-drive TL model, but there’s little indication it’s contemplating an AWD TSX in the near future.
Features: Expect the 2012 TSX lineup to hew to the Honda/Acura policy that eschews ala carte options for suites of equipment that create de facto models. Sure to return are base 2012 TSX sedans and wagons and those equipped with the Technology Package, which centers on a navigation system. Acura could extend to the 2012 TSX line the Advance Package it already offers on the TL, which would bring the TSX abreast of top rivals by equipping it with such features as blind-spot detection.
Acura policy calls for generous standard equipment, and every 2012 TSX will again come with some features for which rivals charge extra. These will include perforated leather upholstery with contrast-color stitching, heated power front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A power moonroof also will return as standard and, like the side windows, will open remotely via the keyfob.
Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connectivity with steering-wheel controls also will be standard along with a USB iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack. Expect a 360-watt 7-speaker-plus-subwoofer audio system to return as standard; it’ll include XM satellite radio. On both body styles, the rear seatbacks will again fold in a 60/40 split and the wagon will return with a cargo blind and several convenient storage bins beneath the rear load floor.
The Technology Package should again add to the 2012 TSX a navigation system controlled by voice commands or by Acura’s notably sharp dashboard touchscreen. The package should again upgrade the audio system with 15 gigabytes of hard-disk music storage and boost the sedan’s system to 415 watts and the wagon’s to 460. TSX wagons with the Technology Package also will continue to feature a power tailgate.
Expect 2012 TSX sedans and wagons with the four-cylinder engine to retain their 17-inch alloy wheels and tires. Acura has been fitting the TSX V-6 sedan with 18-inch alloys and would likely copy that for a 2012 TSX V-6 Sport Wagon. Another enhancement would be another features package, perhaps modeled after the Advance Package new to 2012 TLs. It could include even sportier wheel-and-tire combinations, perhaps cooled front seats, and, most usefully, blind-spot detection to warn of unseen traffic in adjacent lanes.
2012 Acura TSX Prices back to top
Prices for the 2012 Acura TSX hadn’t been announced in time for this review, but part of the TSX marketing plan is its value proposition, so expect 2012 prices to remain close to 2011 levels -- even if Acura replaces the five-speed automatic with a six-speed.
Estimated base-price range for the 2012 Acura TSX is $31,200-$39,900, though introduction of a V-6 Sport Wagon could push the upper end to around $41,300. (Estimated base prices in this review include the manufacturer’s mandated destination fee; Acura’s destination fee for the 2011 TSX was $860.)
Acura has been pricing TSX four-cylinder sedans the same whether you choose the manual or automatic transmission. Introduction of a six-speed automatic could disrupt the practice, however. Expect the 2012 TSX sedan with the four-cylinder engine to start around $31,200 with manual transmission; it’ll likely be priced the same with a five-speed automatic transmission, but would likely cost a few hundred more with a six-speed automatic.
Similarly, Acura’s been pricing the TSX four-cylinder sedan with the Technology Package the same whether you ordered it with the manual or automatic transmission. Expect a 2012 price of around $34,300 with manual transmission, and the same with the five-speed automatic. Figure a few hundred more in the event of a six-speed automatic.
Estimated base price for the 2012 TSX V-6 sedan is $36,700, or $39,000 with the Technology Package. Those estimates are predicated on a five-speed automatic; add several hundred if there’s a six-speed.
Finally, expect the 2012 TSX wagon with the four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic to be priced $32,500, or around $36,200 with the Technology Package. Substitution of a six-speed automatic would likely add several hundred dollars. And based on the step from four cylinders to six in the sedan, introduction of a V-6 to the 2012 TSX Sport Wagon could add $6,000 to these estimated prices.
2012 Acura TSX Fuel Economy back to top
EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2012 Acura TSX were not announced in time for this review, but barring powertrain changes they should remain line with those for the 2011 TSX.
That means 2012 Acura TSX fuel-economy ratings for four-cylinder sedans of 21/29 mpg city/highway with manual transmission and 22/31 with the five-speed automatic. The 2012 TSX wagon with the four-cylinder and five-speed automatic should remain at 22/30 mpg.
Figure the 2012 Acura TSX sedan with the V-6 and five-speed automatic at 19/28 mpg. Note that Acura is likely to continue to require the more expensive premium-octane fuel for both engines.
Assuming a repeat of these EPA ratings, the 2012 TSX would continue roughly on par with class leaders of similar size and power. Acura could push its compact to the front of the pack if it moved to a six-speed automatic, adding, say 1-2 mpg to the 2012 TSX’s city fuel-economy rating and 2-3 to its highway rating.
2012 Acura TSX Release Date back to top
Expect the 2012 Acura TSX in showrooms by autumn 2011.
What's next for the 2012 Acura TSX back to top
Near-term possibilities for the TSX run to addition of the six-speed automatic transmission, possible extension of the V-6 to the Sport Wagon body style, and perhaps a broadening of the available features via something like an Advance Package. These sorts of changes would certainly sustain some interest through the end of this second-generation TSX run. Acura, however, is probably already turning the bulk of its TSX resources to the next-generation edition, expected as a 2014 model on sale sometime in early 2013.
The third-generation TSX almost certainly will remain closely related to the Honda Accord, though industry sources say the next-generation Accord due for model-year 2013 could be reduced in size compared with the 2008-2012 generation. That would be part of a fuel-saving, mass-reduction strategy. That might mean a future Accord more similar in size to today’s TSX. And that could mean the 2014 TSX and its Accord counterpart might not maintain the dimensional differences that today put the Honda in the midsize class and position in the Acura as a compact.
A shrinking gap in size would erase one differentiator and could compel Acura to pack the next TSX with more luxury, comfort, and tech features to maintain a distinction between it and the Accord -- and justify its higher price, too. More smartphone-controlled accessories are likely on the technology agenda, while all-wheel drive, turbocharged four-cylinder engines, and perhaps a gas-electric hybrid could be in the powertrain cards. Oh, and expect automatic transmissions with six speeds, minimum.
2012 Acura TSX Competition back to top
Buick Regal: Yes, there’s a domestic-brand alternative to the TSX, though scratch the Regal’s skin and you’ll find it’s actually a front-wheel-drive sedan engineered, designed, and introduced in Europe by GM’s Opel division. That speaks well for its handling, though it still doesn’t feel quite as nimble as the TSX. Dimensions are similar inside and out, but the 2012 Regal will offer a much wider range of engines. It’ll start with naturally aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinders at around 182 and 220 horsepower, respectively. A selection of manual and automatic transmissions – all with six speeds – should again yield a fuel-economy range of 19/30-20/32 mpg. Targeted at 26/37 mpg will be the 2012 Regal eAssist that boosts the naturally aspirated four-cylinder with a lithium-ion battery-powered electric motor. And aimed at enthusiasts will be the 2012 Regal GS, with a 255-horse turbo four and six-speed manual. Expect base prices of around $27,500, with the turbos and eAssist models starting around $30,000.
Audi A4: Chosen here instead of the BMW 3-Series and Inifinit G as a TSX alternative because it’s priced closer to the Acura and because it’s also front-wheel drive based. There will be a 2012 front-drive A4, but it’ll be the entry-level sedan. The majority of A4 sedans and all A4 wagons (Avants in Audi-speak) will continue with Audi’s fine quattro AWD system. Most also will employ a turbocharged four-cylinder as their sole engine and it’s a good one, with 211 horsepower, 254 pound-feet of torque, and ratings of 21/29-22/30 mpg depending on transmissions choices. Those run to a six-speed manual, a continuously variable automatic, or an eight-speed automatic. Expect pricing from about $33,500, or $34,200 with AWD; add around $3,000 for a wagon. Also back will be hot S4 versions with quattro, a 333-horse supercharged V-6, and a starting price near $50,000.
Volkswagen CC: Stay with us on this. You like front-wheel drive for its snow traction and don’t mind its handling compromises if the automaker has managed to make it entertaining and capable. An attractive exterior and exciting interior count, too. That describes both the TSX and this striking VW sedan with its sleek coupe-like roofline. The CC is within a fraction of an inch of the TSX in wheelbase, though it makes its rear seat a special place by dividing it into twin buckets, making this a four-passenger car. Front drive-models use a turbo four-cylinder similar to the A4’s but with slightly less power. Those 2012 CCs should start around $31,000 with a six-speed manual transmission and rate 21/31 mpg. Expect pricing from about $32,000 and a rating of 22/31 with the six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Also on the docket will be a 280-horsepower six-cylinder CC with AWD, a six-speed automatic, and a starting price around $43,000. It’ll rate something like 18/27 mpg.