2012 Acura TSX Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Acura TSX overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 TSX, and includes Acura TSX safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Acura TSX is a five-passenger, entry-luxury sedan that competes with the Audi A3, BMW 328i, Infiniti G25, Lexus IS 250, Lincoln MKZ, Mercedes-Benz C250, and Volvo S60. It is based on the European version of the Honda Accord.

Acura introduces a new Special Edition model to the 2012 TSX lineup, which makes use of unique exterior cues including an SE-only front spoiler and rear bumper design, unique side sills and badges, and polished 17-inch aluminum wheels. Inside the cabin the Special Edition is equipped with black LuxSuede seat inserts with red accents, which match red lighting elements throughout. Aluminum pedal covers and a black headliner round out what makes the Special Edition so darn special.

For 2012, the Acura TSX is about as impressively equipped as an entry-level luxury sedan can be. Three models are available, each offered with an optional Technology Package: standard TSX, TSX Special Edition, and TSX V6.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, fog lights, and a power moonroof. Dual-zone automatic climate control with air filtration, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with satellite controls, power mirrors with passenger’s side reverse tilt-down function, power windows with one-touch front operation, and power door locks with remote keyless entry help to make life easier. Leather upholstery with contrasting stitching decorates the cabin, while the driver enjoys an eight-way power seat while the front passenger sits atop a four-way power seat; both have a heating function to keep things even more comfortable. We like the fact that you can open the moonroof and all four windows using your remote. That’s very handy on a hot day. The standard premium sound system is equipped with a USB connection, an auxiliary audio input jack, a CD player, and satellite radio, and all TSXs have Bluetooth phone and streaming audio technology.

For 2012, there’s a new TSX Special Edition with unique styling differences in and out of the car. Highlights include polished wheels, LuxSuede seat inserts, red cabin detailing and ambient lighting, and aluminum pedal covers.

Choosing the TSX V6 Sedan gives you 18-inch aluminum wheels, push-button ignition, an upgraded braking system and sportier suspension, as well as Active Sound Control noise cancellation technology.

The only package that’ll raise the price of the TSX is the Technology Package. It includes a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic and weather reports along with a rearview camera. It also provides a solar-sensing, dual-zone climate control system and a 60GB hard disk that can store up to 3,500 tunes that you can access through Song By Voice technology.

We’re still waiting for a karaoke function.

The 2012 Acura TSX gives you a choice between two engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder installed in the standard and Special Edition models is good for 201 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, just 100 rpm shy of redline. That means you’ll need to flog this engine to access every last bit of power. If you opt for the Special Edition, you can choose between a six-speed manual and a five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Other TSXs get an automatic transmission as standard equipment.

Meanwhile, the available 3.5-liter V6 makes 280 hp at 6,200 rpm and 254 lb-ft of torque, and is equipped with the Sequential SportShift automatic. The V6 model also includes firmer springs and recalibrated dampers for even crisper canyon carving, and it’s worth noting that, aside from fluid and filter changes, Acura expects that the engine will go 100,000 miles before needing major maintenance.

When equipped with the four-cylinder engine, the TSX is expected to get about 21 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway with the manual gearbox, and 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with the automatic. The TSX V6 is rated to get 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Safety was at the forefront of Acura engineers’ minds as they were designing the TSX, and the car comes standard with stability control, traction control, and antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist. In case those features can’t prevent a crash, you can rest a bit easier knowing that six airbags stand ready to absorb impact, and that the TSX’s structure is designed with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE), which is intended to lessen the effects of a collision in the cabin and even for the other vehicle. Pedestrian injury mitigation design includes a hood, hood hinges, and windshield wiper pivots that easily deform if the TSX hits a pedestrian.

At the time of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has yet to test the TSX for crashworthiness, but the Acura does receive a 5-Star rating for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the TSX Sedan its highest rating of Good in the offset frontal impact, side impact, and rear impact crashworthiness evaluations, but because it has not been tested for roof strength, it has not received a Top Safety Pick designation.

For 2011, Consumer Reports predicted that the TSX would return average reliability over time. We’re a bit puzzled by this, and not because 2012 scores are not out yet. A glance at the TSX’s Consumer Reports reliability history tells us that this Acura is a terrific bet. Almost without exception, ratings in every assessment going back to 2004 reflect an above-average performance in the market research firm’s surveys. J.D. Power and Associates looks upon the TSX favorably when it comes to reliability. Last year, J.D. Power assigned an above average prediction for this Acura’s long-term dependability.

The 2012 Acura TSX is guided by electric steering, something that we usually “bah” over because these types of systems have, historically, felt completely disconnected from the front wheels (because they are). Get behind the wheel of a 2012 TSX and put a blindfold on (uh, not really), and even the most grizzled driving enthusiast may be fooled by the Acura’s expertly tuned electric steering system. Computers win again. This steering setup, by the way, is a direct descendant of the one found in the deceased and beloved Acura NSX, a sports car that was far advanced for its time.

Did you know that there’s a station wagon variant of the TSX? It’s true. It’ll give you all the liveliness and handling of the sedan but also deliver almost 65 cubic-feet of storage with the rear seats folded. Unfortunately it’s powered only by the four-cylinder engine, which we’ve found to be a trifle lacking.

While the 2012 Acura TSX isn’t a standout on the entry-level sport sedan playing field, the Acura brings to the table a promising track record of safety, reliability, and fuel efficiency combined with technology, comfort and value. Austere in nature, the TSX lacks the obvious luxe touches of other upscale makes, but it makes up for it with the long list of features that come standard, which you must pay extra for in other vehicles. Plus, the TSX provides confident steering, braking, and suspension tuning, with a firm but never harsh ride quality.

By Christian Wardlaw and Liz Kim