The 2011 Acura TSX has always been appreciated for, among other things, its rigid platform and precise road handling. While the four-cylinder motor offers good performance, it is not lively and will leave many drivers wishing for more. That gets resolved this year with the 3.5-litre V6, developing 280 horsepower. Plus, the suspension has been reworked.
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| 2011 Acura TSX |
The new 2011 Acura TSX Access is easy, but you must be careful getting in over wide, dirt-collecting door sills. The passenger compartment features front seats that hold passengers firmly in place, thanks to prominent lateral supports. The driving position is very good. Legroom is adequate but the sunroof limits headroom for tall people. Rear entry and exit are difficult because of the narrow door openings. The bench seat is comfortable for two adults only; the middle section is not very accommodating because of the floor tunnel and the shape of the seat. Legroom is adequate but headroom for tall people is very tight. The seatback folds in a 60/40 split but the opening to the trunk is a bit narrow. The seatback folds higher than the trunk floor with a slight forward incline. The average-size trunk is poorly served by a rather narrow opening that limits the size of items that can be stowed inside. The lid opens fairly high. You sometimes have to pull several times on the releases to fold the seatback because they don’t flip the seatback sections forward.
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| 2011 Acura TSX |
The cabin is very well finished in quality materials. Soundproofing is good, a rarity in a Honda product. There is an abundance of very good storage spaces. Instrument displays and controls are well laid out and all are illuminated at night. The 2011 Acura TSX new analog gauge cluster has LED backlighting. Also noteworthy is a voiceactivated navigation system that recognizes 100,000 words and 1.7 million city and street names. The 2011 Acura TSX has as many controls as the Honda Accord but with a better layout. However, a good period of adaptation is still required. The heating system is notably efficient, providing lots of heat very quickly.
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| 2011 Acura TSX |
As the windshield is deeply recessed from the front roof pillars, especially at their base, snow can build up and prevent the wipers from reaching their full scope, which can force the wiper motor. The washer nozzles are under the edge of the hood and can easily be blocked by snow. Safety equipment includes six airbags (dual front, side and curtain), four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability control, five head restraints and good headlights. Visibility is very good in all directions except on a three-quarter-rear angle and rearward when backing up. In U.S. government tests, the 2011 TSX obtained five stars out of five for front-occupant protection in a frontal impact and for all-occupant protection in a side impact. It earned five stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2011 Acura TSX a Good rating, its highest, for driver protection in a frontal offset crash and for all-occupant protection in the side and rear impact tests.
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| 2011 Acura TSX Dasboard |
Engine and Transmission
The 3.5-litre V6 puts out 280 horsepower and 252 foot-pounds of torque, giving the 2011 TSX lively acceleration at all times. Not only does the V6 provide good acceleration and pickup, it also sounds great. This motor makes the Acura TSX a legitimate sport sedan. The five-speed automatic transmission is always very, very smooth. It is well geared, and relatively quick in manual mode. Sport mode delays shifting. The
transmission allows for starts in second gear.
Modifications to the suspension are in the firmness of shocks and springs. The suspension is firm and usually comfortable, but there can be a very firm bounce on some bumps. The suspension is a nice balance of firmness and flexibility, reminiscent of some European cars. On a winding road, the 2011 TSX has excellent road holding, tenaciously sticking to the pavement with stable and predictable traction. With the V6, the front-rear weight distribution is 62/38, while the four-cylinder with automatic transmission is 61/39. At the wheel, the car feels solid. The electric power steering is stable, precise and relatively quick. It is a bit heavy at lower speeds, where it also does not centre up after a tight turn. It transmits a bit of road sensation. The four-wheel disc brakes have been improved to handle the V6 and are powerful and do not fade after several emergency stops at highway speeds.
Our inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical centre showed that the 2011 Acura TSX rests on a sturdy platform that is well protected against corrosion. The overhead camshafts are chain driven. The V6 transforms the TSX into a true sport sedan, not just because of the powerful engine but also the adjustments to the suspension and structural strengthening. Now we can only wish that Honda would equip it with its excellent four-wheel-drive system – SH-AWD. Its main competitors would take notice. Furthermore a station
wagon will be available next fall.
PROS: powerful V6, comfortable front seating, road holding, smooth automatic transmission, careful construction, good standard equipment.
CONS: wide and dirt-collecting door sills, rear access, steering issues, narrow opening with seatback folded, washer nozzles under hood edge, windshield recessed from A-pillars.
2011 ACURA TSX
Engine: 16-valve, 2.4-litre 4-cylinder; 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6
Horsepower: 201 hp at 7,000 rpm; 280 hp at 6,200 rpm
Torque: 172 lb-ft from 4,300 to 4,400 rpm (Automatic transmission: 170 lb-ft from 4,300 to 4,500 rpm); 252lb-ft at 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent
Brakes: disc/disc
Wheelbase: 270.5 cm
Length: 472.6 cm
Width: 184 cm
Height: 144 cm
Weight: 1,542 to 1,587 kg
Tires: P225/50R17; P235/45R18
Maximum towing capacity: 450 kg
Airbags: dual front, plus two side and two curtain airbags
Fuel consumption with V6:
Natural Resources Canada rating:
City: 11.3 L/100 km (25 mpg) Highway: 7.4 L/100 km (38 mpg)
Test result: 10.9 L/100 km (26 mpg) Test temperature: - 22°C to - 5°C
CO2 emissions: 4,370 kg/20,000 km
Fuel tank capacity: 70 litres
Fuel requirement: premium grade gasoline
Acceleration (V6)
0–100 km/h: 6.8 seconds 60–100 km/h: 3.7 seconds
2011 Acura TSX Prices MSRP $29,610 - $38,250
2011 Acura TSX 5-Spd AT $29,610
2011 Acura TSX 6-Spd MT $29,610
2011 Acura TSX 5-Spd AT w/ Technology Package $32,710
2011 Acura TSX 6-Spd MT w/ Technology Package $32,710
2011 Acura TSX V6 5-Spd AT $35,150
2011 Acura TSX V6 5-Spd AT w/ Technology Package $38,250
