New Car Overview of the 2005 Acura TSX Compact Sports Sedan

Acura's compact-class sports sedan, riding on the chassis for European editions of Honda's Accord, has a leather-lined cockpit and forceful power out of a twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four engine fitted with Honda's variable timing valvetrain to produce a robust 200 hp. It's fun to drive but brings the practical advantage of a four-door format with room for five riders.

The cabin stocks bolstered sport bucket seats clad in perforated leather, a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel with tabs to operate the stereo and cruise control, plus a twin-zone automatic climate system, power moonroof, keyless entry and premium audio gear.

Acura's VSA stability system is included, as are 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season performance tires, and a voice-recognition system is on the list of options for controlling navigation, ventilation and audio equipment.

New features for 2005 extend to heat elements in exterior mirrors, four-way power controls for the front passenger seat and the subscription-based XM satellite radio service.