Somewhere between sensible and luxurious, the 2012 Acura TSX has found a home. With a sprinkling of sporty athleticism thrown in for smart live, the TSX is the epitome of the multi-talented entry-level luxury automobile.
Within the Acura TSX lineup, patrons will select varying degrees of performance and utility. The base models run with a a pair of.four-liter four-cylinder engine, which we tend to've found to be just adequate. Fortunately, there's also a higher-output 3.five-liter V6 that we like in this massive sedan. Prospective homeowners might select the standard sedan or choose the a lot of utilitarian TSX Sport Wagon, that boasts cargo capabilities that rival a crossover SUV.
Occupying this middle ground between common and special has its drawbacks. Whereas the Acura TSX models are definitely pleasant to drive, they are not as sporty as some other selections, nor are they as opulent as models that create luxury more of a priority. When compared to the established Audi A4 and therefore the section-leading BMW 3 Series, the TSX's shortcomings become readily apparent, though it's value noting that these German competitors will finish up costing you a lot of. The Volvo S60 might be another risk given its a lot of expressive Swedish flair.
However, if you find yourself searching for a automotive that is both sensible and opulent, we tend to see no reason why the 2012 Acura TSX should not be at the top of your list.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2012 Acura TSX may be a compact entry-level luxury sedan accessible in base, wagon and V6 sedan trim levels. New for 2012 may be a Special Edition package that is offered only on the four-cylinder sedan.
The base TSX and TSX Sport Wagon normal equipment list includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, twin-zone automatic climate management, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an eight-approach power driver seat with memory, a four-method power passenger seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a 60/forty-split-folding rear seatback. Also standard are Bluetooth and a seven-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack and a USB port. In addition to a lot of horsepower and displacement, the V6 adds a firmer suspension, 18-inch wheels and a road-noise-cancelling feature for the sound system.
The TSX Special Edition package (base sedan only) adds a more aggressive front spoiler, a new rear bumper fascia and distinctive side sills and wheel treatments. Within the cabin, upgrades embrace faux-suede seat inserts, red interior stitching, red cabin illumination, aluminum pedals, bright silver trim parts and a black headliner.
The optional Technology package adds a rearview camera, a arduous-drive-primarily based navigation system, voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather forecasting, a ten-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound system with single-CD player, digital music storage and, for the wagon, an influence liftgate.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2012 Acura TSX is obtainable with a alternative of 2 engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes 201 horsepower and one hundred seventy pound-feet of torque (172 lb-ft when equipped with the manual transmission), while the three.five-liter V6 generates 280 hp and 254 lb-ft (sedan solely). A five-speed automatic transmission with sport shift paddles is standard on all models, although a six-speed manual is offered for the four-cylinder sedan solely.
In Edmunds testing, a manual four-cylinder TSX sedan loped to 60 mph from a standstill in an unremarkable 7.7 seconds. The automatic sedan and Sport Wagon both crossed the lights about a second slower. The V6, on the other hand, posted a competitive 0-sixty time of vi.4 seconds.
EPA fuel economy estimates for the four-cylinder automatic TSX sedan are 22 mpg town/31 mpg highway and twenty six combined; the manual version drops to 21/29/24. The wagon achieves twenty two/30/25, whereas the V6 comes in at nineteen/28/23.
Safety
Commonplace safety equipment on the 2012 TSX includes antilock brakes with brake assist, stability management, traction management, active head restraints, front seat aspect airbags and full-length facet curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, both the four- and six-cylinder versions of the TSX stopped from 60 mph in 133 feet; comparable sport sedans that we tend to've tested have braking distances that are ten-15 feet shorter. The Sport Wagon came to a halt in 127 feet.
In crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the TSX earned a prime rating of "Sensible" in each frontal-offset and aspect-impact tests. In government testing, the TSX sedan and wagon were both awarded a top score of 5 stars for rollover protection.