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Acura RSX (tested: Type S)

by Wayne Paterson

The long run of the Acura Integra ended in 2002, as it was redesigned and renamed to fit into the new Acura letter-number scheme. Along the way, the standard 140 horsepower four was replaced by a 160 horsepower engine and, in the Type S, a 200 horsepower in-line four. We were surprised by the high 8000 rpm redline, which let us stay in gear longer than in ordinary cars. In other vehicles of this speed, it seems that you need to shift almost as soon as you've gotten into gear. The down side is relatively low torque, around 140 lb-ft in both engines.

Acceleration is very good if you're already in high rpms, though not particularly strong when you start out. That may be why the RSX, with the 200 horse engine, does 0-60 in about 7 seconds. Those looking for overwhelming torque may want to grab a Camaro while they can, while those who prefer to start out with manageable power and enjoy a long boost as the engine revs will like the RSX.

Because of the engine's power characteristics and high redline, we recommend the easy-to-use manual transmission over the five-speed automatic. We will commend the automatic for one feature, though - gas mileage is about the same as with the manual, if the EPA is to be believed.

The high-revving engine brings noise into the cabin, and the exhaust is not tuned to provide muscle-car-style music. At highway speeds, the engine tends to rev high even in sixth gear (the type S has a six-speed manual, other RSX models have a five-speed). Around the town, noise can be greatly reduced by staying in a relatively high gear, but that lowers power. It's easy to operate the clutch, fortunately, but finding the right gear in a hurry can sometimes be trying with six to choose from.

Our Type S came without any options, and still cost under $24,000, including destination charge. That includes all sorts of options - power moonroof, locks, mirrors, and windows; 16" alloy whees; speed-sensiting wipers; four year warranty; leather seats and micron air filter; six-speaker Bose CD/cassette player; cruise control; and antilock brakes.

One nice thing about the RSX is the way it lets you have both speed and economy, with 24 mpg in the city, 31 in the highway (on premium), and good trunk space, rivalling much larger cars (18 cubic feet). The hatchback design makes accessing the trunk easy.

The suspension on the Type S is very tight, so you feel every bump and road imperfection, which is not exactly what we expect from an Acura - though it wouldn't be out of place in a sporty Honda. The payoff is in handling, which is very good on all models. There's very little body lean, and the steering is responsive if sometimes a little oversensitive on the Type S. Brakes are good, a factor sometimes overlooked in sporty cars.

The back seats are not particularly roomy, though, resembling those of other sporty coupes (the Stratus coupe being an exception). It's also hard to get back there. The coupe design hurts the RSX in other ways - visibility is very poor in some directions, and reaching back for the seat belt can be wrenching. Larger people may find the interior too confining, with a low roof and seats that seem designed for smaller bodies.

Like other sporty cars in this segment, the interior tries to differentiate itself, in this case rather successfully. Where some go too far (the Audi TT and Dodge Stratus coupes come to mind), the RSX, for the most part, pulls it off with functional, attractive interior decor. The chrome-and-black look works pretty well, especially in the instrument panel and easy-to-use thermostatic (automatic) climate control. We particularly like the latter's ease of use - dialling in the temperature is done with a knob for fast results, and the fan is easy to override. The one annoying quirk is that setting the system to automatic on a cold day sets up the defroster first, which activates the air conditioner compressor to dry out the air. When you switch back to manual heat, the air conditioner stays on. Hopefully a software engineer will catch that one before next year.

Speaking of climate control, we like the round vent which quickly and effectively can be closed, particularly since it makes it obvious that the vents are closed (or open). These vents are also quiet, even when the fan is on full blast, and easy to aim.

The standard CD-cassette stereo has decent sound - not by any means exceptional - and while you can presumably replace the speakers, the head unit seems custom fitted to the car.

Red backlighting is given to all controls, including the radio and climate control, and the numbers and letters are sharp but easy to read.The tachometer and speedometer are attractive with their black on silver motif, but the 160 mph speedometer only covers three-quarters of a circle, so that you pass the legal speed limit at what would be 30 mph on many cars. There's lots of unused space on the speedo which could be used to make it easier to navigate in the legal and quasilegal space.

As far as creature comforts go, there is a clever sliding bin setup under the radio which, if one slide is pushed, provides deep cupholders, and if the other is pushed, shows a shallow storage area (which can remain full while you use the cupholders). It's good for an EZ-pass or small pair of sunglasses. There are also map pockets on both doors, and a shallow area behind the shifter which won't hold anything for long if you use the RSX's handling capabilities anywhere near their limit. Finally, two or three CDs can be stowed out in the open by the emergency brake.

The interior really does work pretty well, and is nicely coordinated. We like the cruise control setup - one switch activates the system, with a green light to show that it is on, and that switch remains where you left it the last time you drove (that is, you only have to switch it on once in your car's life). Oversized buttons on the steering wheel take over from there, and when a speed is locked in, an indicator in the instrument panel lights up for confirmation. Our only complaints about the interior, aside from the lack of a center console and that speedometer, have to do with visibility - there isn't any when you look over your left shoulder, and it's restricted by the pillar on the right as well.

Overall, those seeking hard-core handling performance along with high-revving acceleration will be happy with the RSX, but those seeking a larger interior, better visibility, and softer ride may prefer the similarly-priced but torquier Dodge Stratus coupe (an expanded and more livable Mitsubishi Eclipse), which makes its 200 horses with a V6. The Camaro, while hardly refined, provides terrific brute force. On the other hand, it's hard to beat the four year warranty and Acura resale value. If you like a firm ride and love screaming past 6,000 rpm, head over to your Acura dealer - but don't buy one without a test drive.

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