Up Close: 2009 Acura TSX

This is actually the second time I’ve been able to inspect Acura’s new entry-level sport sedan, because the automaker invited journalists to drive the 2009 TSX last month. A full review of the sedan hits Cars.com tomorrow morning, but here’s a brief rundown on the new model.

Acura has taken a few more chances with the TSX’s styling, giving it larger fender flares and a small shield grille. I find it stylish, but some sport sedan shoppers might wish Acura had made things even a little more radical.

The cabin features Acura’s typically good materials and attention to fit and finish. For 2009, Acura has replaced the TSX’s touch-screen navigation system with a more-in-vogue knob-based system that uses a large dial in the middle of the dash to control navigation functions. Standard leather front seats are comfortable though the passenger side seat, which doesn’t have adjustable lumbar support, is less so.

Despite its positive qualities, the new TSX has a problem, and it has more to do with other sport sedans that are competing for the same buyers, like the similarly priced 306-hp Infiniti G35. With a 105-hp advantage and rear-wheel drive, it’s hard to see how an enthusiast buyer says no to the G in favor of the TSX. There are many more photos of the TSX below, with live shots to be added later this morning.

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2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Acura TSX