This is one of those cars that catches your eye from the start with a combination of style and sport, which is no easy task. There is no question from afar that the 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition looks good, but the incredible riding experience was a pleasant surprise!
Exterior
This Special Edition package on the TSX is one that is fitting for a sports car and luxury car fused together for a very sharp looking sedan with a unique look on the road. Our test model was shining in Milano Red paint, Xenon HID headlights, fog lights, heated power door mirrors with turn indicators, and remote entry with a security system. Some of the exterior upgrades include a more aggressive front spoiler, a new rear bumper fascia, unique side sills and an exclusive “Special Edition” badge on the trunk lid. The TSX’s 17×7.5-inch, 5-spoke aluminum wheels featured a polished finish with dark grey background, unique to the Special Edition model.
Interior
A luxurious but sporty interior is what the 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition offers customers who long for the best of the best. The upscale exclusive seating surfaces with perforated black Lux Suede inserts with red backing were comfortable and secure. Unique red stitching used for the seats, steering wheel and the shift knob combines with red lighting for the instrument cluster gauges, overhead lighting and footwell lighting to create an interior that was built for driving enjoyment, and we followed through with a whole bunch of fun. Our TSX Special Edition was loaded with options including Acura Premium Sound System with 7 speakers and AM/FM in-dash CD, XM Satellite radio, MP3 auxiliary input jack, USB audio interface, Radio Data System, Driver Recognition memory system, driver’s 8-way power seat with lumbar support, front passenger 4-way power seat, Homelink system, Bluetooth hands-free link, steering wheel-mounted controls and more goodies. You’ll also appreciate touches like the driver’s footwell, which has aluminum pedal covers with a race-inspired look and black headliner material which is exclusive to the Special Edition TSX.
Performance
Oh my, did we have a blast driving the 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition for a week. This car was one of the most enjoyable cars we have driven in awhile, combining speed, handling and luxury at a value price of $31,695. We were fortunate to have the 201 horsepower DOHC 16 valve I-VTEC 4 cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual transmission under the hood. Shifting gears was smooth as silk and the power made the car feel as light as a feather when taking off. Braking was a breeze with the 4-wheel disc brakes and corners submitted to the Acura TSX Special Edition and her front double wishbone suspension, rear multilink suspension, electric power assisted rack and pinion steering. Imperfect roads also weren’t a hindrance in performance as the front shock tower bar ate them up and the drive-by throttle system gave us the option of just hitting the pedal and cruising over them with ease.
Overview
There aren’t a whole bunch of sports sedans that invoke this much passion from us, but the 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition 6-speed manual transmission is certainly one we won’t forget. Acura was smart to keep the price around 30k, which is hyper competitive for what you get from style, luxury, quality and performance. Fuel efficiency is competitive at 21mpg in the city and 29mpg on the highway. If you enjoy the finer things in life without having to overpay, take a good look at the 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition, as this sports sedan will keep a smile on your face when behind the wheel!
