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4.6

Acura RSX

Starts at:
$19,950
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New 2002 Acura RSX
Choose trim
Compare trims
3dr Sport Cpe Manual 3dr Sport Cpe Auto 3dr Sport Cpe Manual w/Leather 3dr Sport Cpe Auto w/Leather 3dr Sport Cpe Type S Shop options
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Key specifications

Highlights
Gas I4
Engine Type
27 City / 33 Hwy
MPG
160 hp
Horsepower
4
Seating Capacity
Engine
141 @ 4000
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
2.0L/122
Displacement
160 @ 6500
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
Gas I4
Engine Type
Suspension
w/Control Link
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Double-Wishbone
Suspension Type - Rear
Not Available
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
MacPherson Strut
Suspension Type - Front
Weight & Capacity
N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
N/A
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
2,694 lbs
Base Curb Weight
13 gal
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
Electrical
110
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
Brakes
10.2 x 0.35 in
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
4-Wheel
Brake ABS System
Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
10.3 x 0.82 in
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness

Engine

141 @ 4000 SAE Net Torque @ RPM
2.0L/122 Displacement
160 @ 6500 SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
Gas I4 Engine Type

Suspension

w/Control Link Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Double-Wishbone Suspension Type - Rear
Not Available Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
MacPherson Strut Suspension Type - Front

Weight & Capacity

N/A Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
N/A Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
2,694 lbs Base Curb Weight
13 gal Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
N/A Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
N/A Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
N/A Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.

Electrical

110 Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
N/A Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

Brakes

10.2 x 0.35 in Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
4-Wheel Brake ABS System
Yes Disc - Rear (Yes or )
10.3 x 0.82 in Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
Pwr Brake Type
N/A Brake ABS System (Second Line)
Not Available Drum - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Disc - Front (Yes or )

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years / 50,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
6 years old and newer from their original in-service date, with 80,000 miles or fewer at time of vehicle delivery.
Basic
2 years / 100,000 miles
Dealer certification
182-point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.6 / 5
Based on 32 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.0
Interior 4.3
Performance 4.6
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.7
Reliability 4.7

Most recent

Best Acura ever!

Over the 20 years we’ve owned this car it has been absolutely trouble free, never left us stranded. Very reasonable fuel mileage @25-26mpg. The out of pocket maintenance expenses are unbelievably inexpensive. My wife calls it her “bunny” car and even though she owns an MDX she loves the sporty drive of her 6 speed manual V-Tec RSX-S
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
Yes No

Going On 20 - Still Going Strong

Bought my 2002 RSX in February of that year. Not only have I never regretted it, I have yet to be motivated to replace it. Every time I think about buying a new car, I just look at my neat, sweet, nifty and ever reliable RSX, with it's timeless design, swift and easy pickup and great maneuverability and any thought of replacement just evaporates. In almost 20 years of ownership, I have never had any other than routine maintenance: oil changes, brakes, tires, and fluids - and that's it! Why risk replacement of perfection? Why have I even thought about replacement? Because after 20 years, I'm now 73 - And let me tell you - there are a lot more pot holes out there than there used to be!I
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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2002 Acura RSX review: Our expert's take

By

Every once in a while, a car comes along that sets the standard on its ear, readjusts the bar, rewrites the language and reduces normally verbose, easily unimpressed critics to this:

“Whew!”

Wipe your brow and buckle up. Acura’s got it down cold with its new RSX Type-S. It’s so hot it will have you wondering how you ever navigated the small-coupe universe without driving gloves and a smile. It will leave you wondering what car it replaced.

Integra? Integra? Who remembers the Integra, anyway?

The Japanese automaker didn’t just break the mold when it switched from the old staple (Integra) to the new staple gun (RSX). Acura cracked it, smashed it, recast it, then unleashed it.

So long, Integra. Glad knowing you. Glad we’ve met your next of kin.

Now don’t get us wrong. The Integra was an amazingly successful car whose seven-year run included large doses of crisp handling, decent acceleration and even a penchant for a little pizzazz.

Acura’s move to the new RSX label was a direct result of the company’s desire to polish its luxury vehicle image – a name (and marketing) switch to compete with Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, which use alphanumeric names for their cars.

ABCs aside, the new RSX is so much more.

For 2002, there is just one model and two trims – the RSX and the RSX Type-S, our tester. A four-door model will not be offered, and the race-bred Type R version has been put on hiatus (industry types say to expect a return in 2003 or 2004). The RSX effectively takes the place of the Integra LS and GS, while the sportier Type-S (a trim level also found on the Acura CL and TL) fills in for the Integra GS-R.

Truth be told, dimensionally, the RSX is similar to the Integra coupe.

Truth be told, it’s nothing like it.

The replacement is an impressive improvement in more ways than one: more power, more refined and more of what you look for in a car with an impressive fun quotient and a hatchback. (Not always a direct correlation.)

Like the Integra, the RSX is based on the Honda Civic platform, which was updated for ’01 with better handling, response and ride thanks to a substantially stiffer chassis.

Unlike the Integra, both the base RSX and upscale RSX Type-S sport a little new muscle. Two new 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder aluminum engines feature Honda’s new i-VTEC system, which is the largest ever in this line of small sedans.

What does that mean? More zoom.

Just when you thought Honda, or Acura, couldn’t squeeze any more juice out of the orange, along comes the ultimate juicer. For years, the mad scientists in Honda’s laboratories have gone into their dark-windowed garages with a four-cylinder engine and emerged with rocket ships. The rev rolls on.

The base RSX puts out 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 141 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm – 20 hp and 17 lb-ft of torque more than the Integra LS. For the Type-S, Acura tunes the engine to bring horsepower up to 200 (at a mind-blowing 7,400 rpm) and torque to 142 lb-ft (at 6,000 rpm).

How does that feel? Like riding a miniature stallion.

Just like its Honda S2000 cousin, you feel every kick in each of the 200 ponies while racing out to 60 mph in a tick over six seconds.

Rev it up . . . then rev it a little more. Again, like the S2000, the RSX demands you unleash all its guts and gusto.

Mated with a short, crisp five-speed manual transmission on the base model, and a six-speed on the Type-S (the only option offered), the RSX screams for speed and tight corners. Like the Civic, the RSX digs in by giving up on Honda’s control-arm front suspension, opting instead for a simpler strut setup. That only means tighter turns.

Steering is crisp and braking is hard, thanks to a four-wheel disc system with standard anti-lock.

Inside, Acura did a good job of keeping up the redesign theme with an interior that is larger and plusher than any previous Integra. Front seats are firm and sporty, the cockpit is constructed with the driver in mind. There are contemporary materials, easy-to-use controls and large metallic-faced gauges.

Items like automatic climate control, sculpted sport seats, a power moonroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an in-glass radio antenna are all standard. RSX Type-S cars get leather seating materials and a premium Bose audio system. More upscale items like traction control, stability control, heated seats or 17-inch wheels aren’t on the options list, however.

What’s also not in the cards is a relaxing Sunday drive. Basic transportation this is not – especially with the high-strung four-cylinder that acts like an anxious puppy in search of a snapped leash.

Rear-seat head and body room is cramped for adults and the cargo area is useful, but not generous. With the hatchback design and easy-fold split rear seatbacks, it is a versatile carrier, but a high liftover is a negative. As is interior noise over 4,000 rpm and overall visibility.

Nonetheless, it is 2,800 pounds of pleasure – a high-energy, well-controlled ride that handles potholes with ease and responds to every command.

Though sport coupes equipped with V-6 engines, such as the Eclipse GT and Volkswagen GTI GLX, produce significantly more torque, we’ll settle for the RSX.

So what will this joyride cost? Less than you think. Compared to other small coupes in its class, the RSX comes in fairly competitive. At $19,950, the RSX is more than a base Mustang, Camaro or Ford SVT Focus, but less than an entry-level Benz or BMW. At $23,170 for the Type-S, it starts to move into another territory.

But comparisons in this case are tough. In many ways, the RSX Type-S stands alone.

The Acura has grown up without growing too stale. For that, we don’t have enough thanks.

2002 ACURA RSX TYPE-S

SPECS

High Gear: Rev, rev, rev. The new Acura RSX demands a pedal-to-the-metal approach. Pluses include a volatile engine, tight handling, crisp steering and an interior that has “fun quotient” written from stem to stern.

Low Gear: Rear-seat body and head room is limited, as is cargo volume in this smallish two-door coupe. Interior noise can also get excessive at high rpms. Some extra options are not available.

Rating: 3.5

Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive, front-engine, two-door, four-passenger coupe.

Standard equipment (Type-S): Six-speed manual transmission; dual front airbags; front side airbags; anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes; air conditioning with automatic climate control; interior air filter; power steering; cruise control; split folding rear seats; power mirrors, windows, locks; keyless entry; Bose AM/FM/cassette with 6-disc CD changer; power sunroof; theft-deterrent system; sport suspension.

Competition: Toyota Celica, Ford Mustang, Volkswagen GTI VR6

Eng ine (Type-S): 200 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder

Torque: 142 foot-lbs. @ 6,000 rpm

Wheelbase: 101.2 inches

Length: 172.2 inches

MPG rating: 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway

Manufactured: East Liberty, Ohio

Warranty: Basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles; powertrain warranty is four years/50,000 miles; rust perforation warranty is five years/unlimited miles; roadside assistance is four years/50,000 miles.

Base price: $23,170

Price as tested (Type-S – includes options, destination and delivery charges): $23,170

Read more

Safety review

Based on the 2002 Acura RSX base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
4/5

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