2010 Acura TSX V6

Here’s a recipe for getting a traffic ticket while going less than 10 mph. Take one 2010 Acura TSX with a 280-horsepower V6 fitted with not-very-sticky Michelin Pilot MXM4s. Add one law-enforcement officer from a town that relies heavily on “traffic tax” for its operating budget. From a stop, slam the TSX V6’s accelerator to the floor. The driver will be rewarded with a satisfying, two- or three-second long tire chirp, a burst of neck-bending acceleration and an expensive citation for exhibition of speed, reckless driving, or more, depending on the city’s budget situation.

Power Suit

The second-generation Acura TSX debuted as a 2009 model with the same 201-hp four-cylinder engine housed in the lighter, smaller first-generation (2004-2008) model. For 2009, while the new design was welcomed (except for some debating about the new Acura grille) many were surprised to learn of Acura’s decision use the same four-cylinder in a 200-plus pound heavier car, without the option of a six-cylinder like many of the TSX’s competitors offer. So, for 2010, Acura adds the option of a larger, 280-hp V6.


Don’t get us wrong; at just 3257-3356 lbs., depending on transmission and with or without the navigation system, the TSX is a light, agile performer, and the 2010 V6 model is no different. All things being relative, the V6 option adds 79 more horsepower.


But let’s put the 280 horsepower of the 2010 TSX V6 into perspective: Chevrolet Corvettes did not match from that number from the mid-1970s until 1992. Even though the Acura’s tires are not particularly sticky by today’s standards, the average—or skilled—driver would lap a racetrack faster in a 2010 Acura TSX V6 than in, say, a dead-stock ‘84 Corvette. The TSX V6 driver would also be much safer while going much faster.

Performance Driving

The Acura’s front-wheel drive means the non-expert driver is much less likely to spin out than in the rear-drive Corvette. The Acura’s stability control, absent in ’84 Corvettes, would help keep its driver on the pavement should he make a driving error. Also, if the Acura does leave the track, the driver’s chance of surviving is much higher thanks to better energy absorbing structure, six airbags, active front head restraints and more. The 2009 TSX was rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of America: 2010 ratings weren’t available as this was written. The 2010 model earned five-star ratings, the highest available, in all Federal tests. The ’84 or ‘91 ‘Vettes would not have met those standards.


A word about the tires: While they lack the grip of, say, a Michelin Pilot Sport 2 summer tire, almost no TSX owner will intentionally take the all-season 235/45R18 Michelin Pilot MXM4 to the limit of their dry drip. It’s a different story on damp roads. Since all-season tires give up some wet-road grip, among other things, to get mobility in the snow, it’s easy to reach the “Oh, Shoot” point on a damp freeway ramp. The tires were surprisingly noisy, especially over such obstacles as tar strips, and not particularly smooth riding. On the plus side, steering feel is spectacular: The car feels as if it is connected directly to your brain. This is partially thanks to the electronic power steering. The TSX V6’s suspension is retuned with firmer springs and shocks from that in the four-cylinder in an effort to provide a sportier feel.