Fortunately, other than a few quick tests of the 4-wheel, 4-channel anti-lock brakes that worked flawlessly, I didn't need to find out the capabilities of the Acura's various safety systems. Of course dual front airbags are included, while side-impact and a side curtain supplementary restraint system offer an extra measure of protection in case of an accident.

What don't I like? I find the styling, especially the grille, a bit derivative. On the positive it won't be offensive to those who just want to enjoy its stellar performance, but it just doesn't stand out from a crowd enough to cause a stir. I also don't find enough style differentiation from Acura to Honda. Of course the most current Accord has taken a giant leap away from anything even remotely resembling a five sided grille, but Honda's Odyssey minivan still wears an almost identical front facade. Acura did manage to make the TSX slippery though, with an amazing 0.27 coefficient of drag (Cd), lowering wind noise and improving top speed and fuel economy.

I think, after reading this far, you should realize I feel the TSX offers fairly exciting driving characteristics. Still at or near its $34,800 price there are a few competitors with similar or better performance specs, some with more nameplate cachet and once again, others that offer more distinct styling. Some of these are even respected German brands, one of which starts its base price over $1,000 cheaper. Acura's value becomes immediately apparent as soon as these competitors begin attempting to match the TSX feature for feature. All of a sudden alternative cars that were in the low to mid $30s stretch all the way up to the low $40s, making the Acura look extremely attractive. And that's before factoring in the Japanese brand's much better than average reliability. It should be noted, though, the car that may give Acura the best run for its money doesn't come from a premium marque at all. Mazda's 6, even fully loaded with a 220-hp V6 comes to $34,105, slightly less than the TSX.