2006 Acura TSX

It needs to be said that I'm a sucker for a red car. My new test car is sporty, and brrrrright hot red. Seriously. It nearly burns my retinas, just the way I like it. My inclination is to keep one eye on the speedometer and one eye on the nooks and crannies on the side of the road where a trooper is bound to see me coming from another hemisphere. What's more, the speedometer has actual numbers only every 20 mph. I go 5 mph under the speed limit because I'm certain Milano Red will register higher on any radar. After a week in the 2006 Acura TSX, my son informs me his favorite color is no longer blue, but red. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, if I just bought a new car and then found out I was pregnant with my first child, I would hope the car I just bought was a TSX. I am happy to tell you that while the TSX is smallish, it has legroom in the back to carry two kids around very comfortably. I am 5-foot-6 and am quite content in the backseat. If you and your main squeeze or other front passenger is less than 6 feet tall, you can all enjoy the ride. My husband happens to be 6 feet tall and unable to find a comfortable fit. Lots of airbags and 4- and 5-star Crash Test Ratings make the TSX a nice addition to any new and/or small family.

As for other family-friendly features, get this: I don't know if I'm just getting really good at installing child car seats or if the TSX is just very accommodating, but I get the seats out of my car and into the Acura in 11 minutes flat. I can assure you that's a record for this momma. Props to Acura for ease of installation! The trunk space handles a large grocery trip and a small stroller with only minor maneuvering.

Acura has done us all a favor and made the navigation system in the TSX pretty user-friendly. I like the touch-screen and simplicity of menus. On our way downtown to a Wiggles show (singing "Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car"), we need an alternate route because of the Cinco de Mayo festivities. The TSX gives me an alternate route quickly and effectively. What I'm curious about is this: Do moms out there use their navigation systems regularly? If I lived in a new town it would be incredibly beneficial, but I find that in my daily routine (and not-so-daily routine) I don't use navigation much. I am all too familiar with the quickest route to pre-school. I already know where the grocery store and favorite java hangout are. The occasion to use the system in a genuine, holy-moly-I-might-be-lost situation has yet to occur. Are there any moms willing to testify to the usage of their navigation systems?

Pardon the sidebar.

The TSX is fast; I drove the 6-speed manual. With 17" wheels and sporty tires the TSX looks great, but has a generous amount of engine and road noise. The kids have no problem falling asleep on a drive, but it's louder than the average sedan. The sound system in the TSX is quite nice, and has a 6 CD in-dash changer. I'm also becoming addicted to the XM satellite radio stations. There is some wood and brushed metal in the interior and the leather is perforated. While this adds to the hot look of the car, it creates a problem for any mom who is not fastidious about keeping beverages in exile. The heated front seats are comfortable, and I love the telescoping steering wheel adjustment. I do notice one thing in the TSX: Many of the buttons on the steering wheel are a bit too far out of my reach. I can't comfortably rest my arm on the armrest and put my hand on the shifter. It's just out of reach, and the armrest is not adjustable. Designed for a taller person, hmm?

As long as I'm being picky, I also have to mention the fact that when the doors close, they sound hollow and tinny. It makes the car feel and sound cheap. We already know it's accommodating, I wouldn't want to rename the color from Milano to Trollop. Although, maybe we should: At the end of the test drive my son hugs the car, gives it a kiss and says "Goodbye Red!" I will miss Red too. It has reminded me that I don't have to sacrifice fun for family.

*For more information on the Acura TSX and its safety features visit Cars.com.

LET'S TALK NUMBERS

LATCH Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair - Great

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Good Times-Groove On