2010 Acura TSX

Acura offers no visual redesign for the 2010 model year following a complete update in 2009. The aggressive front end, crisp-edged flanks, and generally modern, high-tech look of the TSX will likely please younger professionals, though more mature buyers may find themselves wondering what the fuss is about. Overall, however, the TSX presents a clean, conservative look that many reviewers like. Inside, much of the same can be said, with a bevy of electronic features accenting the high-tech style. The basic styling elements are attractive and contemporary, with flowing, swoopy curves executed in pleasing materials and colors.

The 2010 TSX is an entry-level sedan, and according offers only one exterior styling package and one trim level per engine package. Many reviews of the four-cylinder model read by TheCarConnection.com like the TSX's design, with reviewers at Car and Driver feeling that the 2010 TSX delivers "far more road presence" than before, though the "new guillotine grille" is a more controversial feature. Cars.com likes the overall demeanor, calling it "sporty without going overboard." Exterior styling complaints from Automobile focus on the standard 17-inch alloy wheels, which they feel are "pretty dull." Edmunds' beef with the TSX concerns the dramatic exterior elements, including the grille, which, in their opinion, is trying to "mask an otherwise mundane sedan."

Acura's goal for the TSX is to offer a sporty alternative to cars like the Audi A4 and entry-level BMW 3-Series vehicles, and for good reason, handling performance has long been one of the big selling points among its younger target audience. While there are few improvements for the new 2010 Acura TSX, the performance positives from last year's model remain. Standard power for the 2010 TSX comes from a 201-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder; the standard six-speed manual transmission definitely makes the car feel livelier, even though midrange torque has been boosted to increase responsiveness with the paddle-shifted Sequential SportShift five-speed automatic transmission. All new for 2010 is a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine option that delivers one of the few things the TSX previously lacked: power. Handling is still nimble and sporting, with a firm yet absorbent ride.

Reviews of the 2010 Acura TSX's four-cylinder engine range from "sufficient if not overabundant" amounts of power from the reviewers at Car and Driver to "surprisingly good low- and mid-range punch" from the normally conservative reviewers at ConsumerGuide. While some reviews read by TheCarConnection.com dislike the need to "let the engine rev high" to get the most out of it, Cars.com reviewers find that most don't mind pushing the car hard. The V-6, on the other hand, gets praise for being "surprisingly quiet" from Automobile. PopularMechanics simply says, "It's quick." Edmunds asserts "the V6 seems to make a huge difference" to the TSX's performance.

Comfort and quality of the TSX aren't quite top-notch, but are right on par for the mid-size luxury sedan segment. Materials quality is high, and fit and finish can hardly be quibbled with, though rear legroom and seat comfort are frequent points of complaint. Even the front seats can prove too firm for some people. Cargo space, on the other hand, is good, with an ample trunk and plenty of in-cabin pockets and compartments. On this score, the four-cylinder and V-6 vehicles are identical.

The 2010 Acura TSX has the typical five seating positions, but front-seat passengers will find their conditions decidedly more comfortable than rear occupants. ConsumerGuide decrees that front-seat "legroom is good" but laments the fact that headroom is at a premium "beneath the sunroof housing." They like the "nicely bolstered" seats, despite the fact that they are a "bit too firm for ideal comfort." Nonetheless, those firm seats are helpful when tossing the Acura TSX through a curvy back road. Cars.com reviewers say "it's easy to find a good driving position" in the TSX's standard leather seats. They state that "the backseat isn't as comfortable," thanks in part to the "limited legroom." ConsumerGuide agrees, calling the lack of rear room "somewhat disappointing."

The 2010 Acura TSX comes with all the safety equipment of its peers, including front side airbags, side curtain airbags, vehicle stability assist, active head restraints, and three-point seat belts for all five seating positions. The TSX earns a Top Safety Pick, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings in every category from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

For 2010, Acura earns NHTSA's highest rating of five stars for the TSX in front and side impact tests for both passengers and driver. IIHS results also give the 2009 Acura TSX top marks, scoring "good" for both frontal offset and side impact tests. In fact, the IIHS finds the Acura TSX's survivability good enough to award the 2009 model a Top Safety Pick; the 2010 model is not yet rated by the IIHS, but it's essentially identical to the 2009 model. The high crash ratings are in part due to Acura's "Advanced Compatibility Engineering body technology," which Cars.com says ensures the "car's crumple zones are fully utilized."

Acura has built its brand around the incredible number of cool high-tech features offered inside its vehicles. For the 2010 Acura TSX, Acura spares nothing and even comes with virtually all the features as standard equipment. Standard features include dual-zone climate control, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, plus a premium 7-speaker sound system with subwoofer and XM Satellite Radio capability. The optional navigation system offers real-time traffic and dynamic rerouting capability to direct you around hazards and congestion when possible. A 10-speaker, 415-watt sound system is also available, along with a six-disc CD changer in the Technology Package.

Cars.com concisely describes the Acura TSX's standard feature list as "long." It includes, in addition to the features listed above, "heated front seats, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, [and] a power moonroof." Jalopnik likes the TSX's "really easy-to-use standard USB port" that makes it easy to hook up an MP3 player to the standard 7-speaker stereo. ConsumerGuide adds that standard "satellite radio" and "leather upholstery" are also included in the base price.