With stubbornly high gasoline prices, station wagons are suddenly appealing –even to the non-soccer mom crowd- and Acura’s new-for-2011 TSX Sport Wagon should be especially so.
The TSX posts the best fuel mileage rating from the federal government of any 2011-model, gasoline-powered, conventional-looking wagon: 22 miles per gallon in city driving, 30 mpg on the highway. This is higher than mileage ratings of it’s competitor Toyota RAV4 and others smaller SUVs.
The TSX also is a recommended buy of ‘Consumer Reports’ magazine. With a host of standard features, including automatic transmission, perforated leather-trimmed seats, power moonroof, two-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, roof rails and power-adjustable and heated front seats, the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon has a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $31,845.
The Acura TSX Sport Wagon is one of the best and most inventive products Honda’s upmarket sister creates, craftily blending the attractive and sporty sedan with a the real-world functionality all you Subaru Outback drivers know and love.
It turns out the Sport Wagon does have a slightly mysterious backstory, as it’s actually the European model of the Honda Accord, with significant Acura-ization for the U.S. market.
As you know, those Europeans love wagons, but Americans tend to equate them with those wood-paneled 1974 Country Squire wagons many of us grew up being hauled around, thereby forever removing the phrases “sleek” and “sexy” from the wagon lexicon.
Acura’s wagon offering is both, and sporty enough to be a fun canyon racer, yet still provides the functionality of a power liftgate and almost 61 cubic feet of storage space if you drop all the seatbacks.
It doesn’t have the larger engine optional in the standard TSX, a 280-horsepower V6, but the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder still calls up 201 horses and can return as much as 30 MPG on the highway.
Getting in and out is a breeze, with a comfortable seating position for both you and your passengers, and the large and adaptable space in the back (plus roof rails for more outdoors cargo) does add to the experience.
And the Acura tradition of sporty, upright, ventilated leather seats and well laid-out controls continues, though the domestics might have an upper hand with the innovation of seat air conditioning, missing here. The brightwork is nice, from the aluminum sill plates in the trunk area to the silvery sheen to the center console surfaces and the emergency brake.
The several hidden storage spots under the cargo floor were a surprising and welcome feature, and inside and out, fit and finish on the test TSX wagon was flawless.
All safety features are standard, and they include side curtain air bags, stability assist, traction control and front seats with anti-whiplash head restraints.
Upgrade to the Tech model and you have the positively overwhelming prowess of both the voice-operated navigation system (which also provides a backup camera) and a 10-speaker audio system absolutely loaded with surround and DVD sound, plus a burnable hard drive. Hell, the GPS is even linked to the climate control, and you can get weather and traffic updates.
Who should consider the Acura TSX Sport Wagon? Younger buyers, particularly city dwellers looking for an entertaining, practical and reasonably luxurious ride would be well served here.
Be sure to stop by Penske Acura and see this top rated vehicle. Stop by anyone of our 7 Acura locations and we would be happy to schedule a test drive.
| Dealer Name▲ | Address | Country | Phone | Make | Collision |
| 7007 East Chauncey Lane Phoenix, AZ 85054 |
US | 480-538-4600 | Acura | Yes | |
| 1502 Auto Park Way North Escondido, CA 92029 |
US | 760-737-3300 | Acura | Yes | |
| 1418 West Showroom Drive Fayetteville, AR 72704 |
US | 479-251-2000 | Acura | Yes | |
| 883 Quaker Lane West Warwick, RI 02893 |
US | 401-821-1510 | Acura | Yes | |
| 3400-E Route 42 Turnersville, NJ 08012 |
US | 856-728-3900 | Acura | Yes | |
| 5202 Kearny Mesa Road San Diego, CA 92111 |
US | 858-541-0200 | Acura | Yes | |
| 16151 Los Gatos Blvd. Los Gatos, CA 95032 |
US | 408-358-8000 | Acura | Yes |
