Real Wagons Aren’t Tall
Acura’s TSX Sport Wagon combines utility and verve in a traditional package – By Eric Tegler
A crossover vehicle is “just a tall station wagon”. It’s a witticism that has become a cliché but, fact is, crossovers aren’t wagons. Real station wagons – like Acura’s TSX wagon – aren’t tall. Nowadays they’re also not American. If you want a real station wagon, you’ve got to look to Europe, or in the case of the TSX Sport Wagon to Japan.
Sold as the Honda Accord Tourer wagon in Japan, Europe and much of the rest of the world, the Acura TSX Sport Wagon is Honda’s only wagon offering in the U.S. and its shortness is a virtue. The sedan roof-height translates to TSX-like handling – the “sport” in the Sport Wagon. For comparison, the TSX wagon measures 57.9 inches high. Honda’s Crosstour and CR-V crossovers stand 65.7 and 66.1 inches high respectively while the Odyssey reaches 68.4 inches.
Higher rooflines (and a bit more width) generally lend crossover vehicles more cargo volume though not as much as you’d expect. With the second row seats folded the TSX wagon offers 60.5 cu.ft. The CR-V yields an additional 12 cu.ft. with the second row folded but the Crosstour offers considerably less (51.3). The Odyssey’s 93.1 cu.ft. explain why minivans are, well…vans. The point is, the TSX wagon sacrifices relatively little utility to most crossovers while providing considerably more driving enjoyment and a margin of safety that comes with better vehicle dynamics.
The enjoyment is two-fold. The TSX Sport Wagon corners with aplomb. On the skidpad, wearing conservative all-season tires, it easily pulls more g than Honda’s crossovers. The steering is direct and well weighted, especially when loaded. In straight-line cruising it often requires too many small corrections however. But the wagon’s handling definitely injects fun into the driving equation.
And compared with a number of crossovers I’ve driven recently, wheeling the TSX Sport Wagon through a parking lot is a breeze. The wagon itself has excellent sight lines and its lower stance means less concern about running into or over unseen objects or diminutive people when backing up.
The TSX Sport Wagon’s 2.4 liter i-VTEC engine is a model of four-cylinder smoothness but given the wagon’s 3600 pound curb weight, it could use more torque. The 2.4’s 201 hp and 170 lb-ft. of torque are adequate (0 to 60 mph arrives in about 8.5 seconds) but not sporting. The five speed automatic transmission shifts quickly enough but must frequently kick down when you attempt highway passing. Though you can shift it via paddles, a six-speed manual, available in other markets, would be welcome as would the optional 280 horsepower V6 available in the TSX sedan. The 2.4 is fuel efficient and combined with the wagon’s naturally lower drag coefficient yields respectable mpg figures (22/30 city/highway).
High quality materials and good front seat comfort complement a stylish interior. The steering wheel has a particularly nice feel. The center console is rather heavy on buttons but once learned, I find them preferable to touch-screen interfaces. All the expected navigation and communication (Bluetooth, MP3, USB, voice recognition, 10-speaker Acura/ELS sound system) features are present along with front and side airbags, vehicle stability assist and electronic brake distribution systems.
Back seat legroom is good but headroom is a little short for six-plus footers. Similarly, ingress/egress through the rear doors is tight. But the rear seats fold down with ease and the wagon’s rear load-in height is comfortably low though the rear shock towers do intrude into the cargo compartment. Still, you can find same issues in many crossovers.
Perhaps the most serious drawback is the TSX Sport Wagon’s price. As tested, ours rang in at well over $35,000, placing it in pricey enough territory to consider a wide variety of alternatives.
But if you do choose the TSX wagon, you won’t see yourself coming and going very often. Acura is bringing less than 5000 to the U.S. this year and the body style just isn’t in vogue. A number of passersby complimented the wagon’s good looks during our time with it and it definitely stood out from the crowd – but not above it. Real wagons aren’t tall.
The Specs
Price as tested: $35,470 Engine: 201 hp, 2.4 liter i-VTEC four cylinder Curb weight: 3599 pounds Fuel Economy: 22 city/30 highway
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