I had high hopes for this new model — I'd spent a week behind the wheel of a 2006 TSX and found myself pleased enough with the responsiveness, handling and slightly-tweaked engine that I was willing to overlook some of what I perceived to be "issues" with the '06 model. One issue I'd had was the power provided by the 2.4-liter in-line four. Another was the numbness of steering. But, overlook them I did and it was easy to do, as the old TSX had a cabin that while sound-dampened, was not overly so — and it gave you the engine sound that could mask the reality of the car's real power output. Overall it was a fun little four-door that, while not overly memorable, didn't find many haters. So the bar for the new model ain't what you'd call overly high.

The new TSX not only meets the bar, it exceeds it. Unfortunately, it's the wrong bar. For starters, let's take a look at the new-look of the exterior. For starters, the front of the car gets the new double-plenum grille already found on the new 2009 RL. While some may like the wide-mouthed front, I did not. Same is true for the interior, which blends plastics like a SoCal fruit smoothie shop.

But materials aside, the interior's got some nice qualities. There's the driver's seat, which bolsters you competently in the corners and there's also the Technology Package which includes the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition and the neat-o AcuraLink Real-time traffic and weather systems that give you dynamic traffic rerouting in your navigation around jams. There's also the Bluetooth hands-free system included as a standard, as well as a really easy-to-use standard USB port that'll do a commendable job of integrating your iPod with the killer Elliot Scheiner-tuned 10-speaker sound system. Also, the big, thick steering wheel felt comfortable and firm in my hands. It also felt numb.

Seriously, the 2009 takes that particular quality to an all new bar-busting high. I felt as distant from the road in the new TSX as I'd felt in the 747 flying into LAX the day before. It's not just the steering that had as little feeling as a college one-night stand, it was also the enhanced sound dampening. While it may help make the '09 TSX quiet as a tomb, it also denies one the sound one would hope for from an actual sports sedan.

But, with some pushing and prodding, the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine of the 2009 Acura TSX was able to provide some pleasant sounds but not the true satisfying engine note you expect from a real sports sedan. Along the twists and turns of the SoCal two-lane state roads, I found myself able to generate the sounds I was looking for out of the little mid-size four-door. Unfortunately, there was precious little room left 'til I hit the redline and that necessary shift up to fourth gear. I'd get a little bit of what I was looking for with each and every turn, but it never seemed enough to truly fill my enjoyment meter.

But the demographic for the TSX may not be searching for the same thing I was. Acura tells me the four purchase reasons given by buyers are:

1.) A well-made vehicle
2.) A fully-featured vehicle
3.) A reliable vehicle
4.) A reasonable price or deal offered

This contrasts sharply with the top four reasons I normally use to make my purchasing decisions. Those are:

1.) Fun to drive
2.) Fun to drive
3.) Fun to drive
4.) Dependable...in the car's ability to be fun to drive

So maybe the TSX isn't for someone like me. But Acura's hoping it'll be for some more buyers then they'd had in the past few years — with a desired sales target of 40,000 units — 7,000 more than targets for the previous generation. So if what you're looking for is a little bit more than what you can get from the standard fare of mid-sized sedans, you may find yourself looking at the new TSX, but if you do, realize that it's just not a luxury sports sedan. Even an "entry-level" one. What you will find yourself with is an over-priced Accord.

The 2009 TSX may be the entry-level for the Acura brand, but frankly we expect more from the bottom rung of the ladder from any luxe brand given the competition from the likes of BMW, Lexus and Infiniti. Maybe our minds could be changed with a diesel or higher-powered option, however neither is currently available.

(Hat tip to Jeff @ Temple of VTEC for help on the car-to-car photos!)

If I were to use four words to describe the new TSX they'd be:

competent yet remarkably boring

All-new 2009 TSX is larger, more agile and more powerful than ever before, raising the standards for Acura's entry-level sedan.

The second-generation Acura TSX is designed to appeal to young professionals with its keen-edge styling, athletic performance and advanced electronic features

TORRANCE, Calif. - Designed and engineered to reaffirm its place as a desirable and affordable entry point for entry-premium buyers, the all-new second-generation 2009 TSX is larger, more agile, more performance minded and even "more Acura" than ever before. Carefully crafted to honor the original TSX's vision as a world-class sports sedan, the new TSX has significantly evolved to offer more comfort, convenience, driving performance and safety. It does so with expanded luxury and electronic features, a wider stance for more agile performance, and advanced safety systems.

The 2009 TSX is expected to appeal to current TSX owners, young professionals and other image seekers who will appreciate its innovative styling, technical allure and total performance - while also valuing the outstanding customer treatment that owners have come to enjoy at Acura dealerships. Extremely brand conscious and eclectic in their tastes, buyers will find the TSX as satisfying for driving colleagues to lunch as it is for weekend snowboarding trips or vacation travel.

Powertrain

An all-aluminum DOHC i-VTEC® in-line 4-cylinder engine heralds a pair of firsts for the TSX model, including dual balance shafts and a direct ignition system. Along with improved performance, it is also cleaner as it now meets the EPA's aggressive TIER 2 - BIN 5 and CARB LEV II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards for the first time in TSX history.

Displacing 2.4-liters and producing 201 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque (with manual transmission), the new 4-cylinder engine produces its useable power across a much wider rpm range, while five percent more torque further strengthens the engine's pulling power at middle rpm levels. This torque allows the 2009 TSX to be more responsive off the line and out of corners, and stronger in the middle of the rpm range where the engine operates most of the time.

This newfound performance and flexibility is due in part to a higher compression ratio, revised valve timing, and improved intake and exhaust gas flow. Further credit goes to the TSX engine's i-VTEC® "intelligent" valve control system, which provides the power characteristics of a V-6 without sacrificing the light weight or fuel efficiency of an in-line four. Likewise, a new rear-mounted exhaust manifold layout, a close-coupled catalytic converter design, and a Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system substantially reduce emissions levels. Estimated fuel mileage is 21/30/24 mpg* (city/highway/combined, 5 AT) and 20/28/23 mpg* (city/highway/combined, 6 MT).

Two transmissions are available, both as standard equipment - a 6-speed close-ratio manual with new performance-oriented ratios for Second through Sixth gears, and a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic with a new lock-up torque converter assembly. The manual transmission features a short-throw shifter with a precise, light action that makes it highly rewarding to use, while the Sequential SportShift automatic permits fully automatic operation with intelligent features such as Grade Logic Control and Shift Hold Control, which make driving the TSX on hilly or winding roads more enjoyable. If the driver desires, the automatic transmission can also be operated manually via new steering-wheel mounted F1®-style paddle shifters.

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Body and Chassis

The 2009 TSX body structure includes two firsts for the Acura division, including a closed-channel cross-braced roof structure and inside frame rails. Along with a stronger rear bulkhead, the closed-channel cross-braced roof structure yields a more rigid and vibration-resistant structure. The first use of inside frame rails for any Acura model help tailor the aerodynamics underneath the car for improved fuel economy, lower emissions and reduced noise. In addition, new A-, B- and C-pillar separators improve the TSX's quietness over rough roads and at high speed. Slippery aerodynamics helps fuel economy as well as high-speed stability - all while lowering emissions.

In addition to its 3.0-inch greater width and 2.6-inch wider track, the 2009 TSX has a 1.3-inch longer wheelbase and 2.4 inches more overall length. These dimensions combine to provide greater interior roominess, more agile handling and improved ride quality. Another first for Acura are the TSX's new dual-mode suspension dampers, which provide excellent suspension damping characteristics at both lower and higher damper speeds. Using a unique deflector plate stack, the new dampers continually adjust compression damping characteristics to suit the vehicle speed, cornering forces and road surface.

In creating the second-generation TSX body design, Acura designers sought to retain the crisp, dynamic design of the original and enhance it by widening the body overall and adding more muscular and distinctive cues to create a keen-edged sports sedan. Their key design goal was to create an aerodynamic design that evokes both emotion and tension with a decisively sporty flair.

Outward visibility is improved with a slimmer A-pillar design, while an auto up/down front passenger window adds convenience and a reverse-linked passenger-side door mirror tilts down to help improve safety while parallel parking. The new TSX also has a wider trunk opening and a lower trunk lift-over height for more convenient loading.

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Exterior/Interior

Functionality and refinement converge with luxury and style in the interior of the 2009 Acura TSX. Featuring a blend of sweeping, contemporary shapes, a high level of standard comfort and convenience features, widespread use of premium materials and an available Technology Package, this 5-passenger sports sedan offers the upscale modern interior that customers have come to expect from Acura.

From the precision-crafted metal door sills to the satin-metal finish accents, from new leather-covered seats to the steering-wheel mounted controls, and from the premium 7-speaker sound system to the dual-zone automatic climate control, the TSX represents a merge of intelligent design and innovation. For example, Bluetooth® connectivity is standard and includes a HandsFreeLink® cellular telephone interface that makes communications easier and safer while en route.

Typical of Acura, the TSX offers an exceptional level of standard equipment. Included are a standard power front passenger seat, a new folding key with remote entry, new automatic headlight activation, a premium 7-speaker sound system with CD, AM/FM/XM®, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® , and USB port and AUX jack music interface. A HomeLink® remote control system is also standard.

Adding to the already impressive list of TSX standard equipment is the available Technology Package, which bristles with leading-edge electronics that make driving much more efficient and enjoyable. These include an Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition™, AcuraLink® Real-time traffic, AcuraLink® weather, and the highly useful AcuraLink® Satellite Communication System. The navigation system features Real-time traffic™ covering 76 major metropolitan markets, and offers Traffic Rerouting™ with dynamic route guidance to help navigate around slow-downs. For 2009, the TSX receives a dash-mounted electronic compass for added directional information while driving.

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Included in the Technology Package is a premium sound system tuned by 6-time Grammy® award winning sound engineer Elliot Scheiner. This 10-speaker Acura/ELS™ Premium Surround Sound System with DVD-Audio includes a new Note function for XM® Radio that makes it easy to identify songs to recall at a later date. With push of a button, the Note function can capture 10 seconds of up to 30 songs, along with noting text indicating song title, artist name, and XM® channel.

Safety

The 2009 Acura TSX leads the way in safety with its new Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. Engineered into the TSX model for the first time, ACE™ improves the dispersal of frontal crash energy through the use of load-bearing frame structures that better match the TSX with other vehicles of different sizes and with different bumper heights. Simply put, ACE™ helps maximize the effectiveness of the TSX's front crumple zones, better dispersing crash forces before they reach the passenger compartment.

A broad range of passive safety features likewise contributes to occupant safety, including six airbags (dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, new dual-chamber front seat side airbags, and side curtain airbags for outboard seating positions). Three-point seatbelts and head restraints are provided in all seating positions, and front seatbelt load limiters with an integrated automatic tensioning system further protect the TSX driver and front passenger. A new Active Headrest Restrain System is used for the first time on the TSX, while the rear seat features a Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) system that allows for the easy and secure affixing of up to two child seats.

Exterior features designed to further improve safety include daytime running lights (DRL), pedestrian-injury mitigation features such as a deformable hood, hood hinges and windshield-wiper pivots, and a 5-mph front bumper and 2.5-mph rear bumper. The 2009 Acura TSX is expected to achieve the highest ratings in both government (NHTSA)** and independent (IIHS) crash testing - including garnering IIHS's TOP SAFETY PICK.

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Finally, the 2009 Acura TSX is covered by a comprehensive 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and a 6-year/70,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Additional benefits of ownership include Acura Total Luxury Care® (TLC®) that provides free 24-hour roadside assistance, concierge service and trip routing.

Acura

Acura offers a full line of technologically advanced performance luxury vehicles through a network of 268 dealers within the United States. The 2008 Acura lineup features five distinctive models including the RL luxury performance sedan, the TL performance luxury sedan, the TSX sports sedan, the turbocharged RDX luxury crossover SUV and the award-winning MDX luxury sport utility vehicle.

For additional information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com. For media inquiries, please visit www.acuranews.com.

*Preliminary EPA mileage estimates determined by Acura. Final EPA mileage estimates not available at the time of printing. Estimates reflect new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

** Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact air bags (SABs).

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