I have been tossing and turning between the 2007 Acura TL and the TSX. I've done all the comparisons, read millions of reviews, compared/contrasted all the specs between the two, and am still not sure which is the best vehicle for me.

I have yet to test drive both cars which will happen this Saturday.

These are the cars I am considering (within my budget):

2007 Acura TSX with Navigation
2007 Acura TL (no navigation)

Which is truly the better luxury car?
Which is the better handler on the road?
Which just feels better/more comfortable inside?
Is the TSX a slow mule, or does it have enough pep under the hood?

I'm not drag racing, but I do want to know I have some performance there when I need it... and I do not want to compromise luxury either. I sat in both cars, and for some reason, with the seat back all the way, I always manage to bang my knee into the dash on the TL, but not the TSX.

Any objective opinions here would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Welcome...and do some searching. There are some threads around on this already. A test drive should narrow it down for you.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=TSX+TL

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=TSX+TL

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=TSX+TL

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=TSX+TL


Having said that, only you can decide.

the test drive should be the eventual deciding factor considering you haven't driven either and that you are on the fence about both cars!

TL. Money is the only factor.

I also have two kids at home... will they be more comfortable in the back of a TSX or a TL?

Surely the TL, since it's wider and longer.

I would research dimensions on Edmunds and compare the two if I were you.

TL

Exterior
Length: 189.3 in. Width: 72.2 in.
Height: 56.7 in. Wheel Base: 107.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 4.4 in. Curb Weight: 3623 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 38.7 in. Front Hip Room: 55.6 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 58.3 in. Rear Head Room: 37.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.7 in. Rear Hip Room: 53.8 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.8 in. Rear Leg Room: 34.9 in.
Luggage Capacity: 12.5 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 13 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 6 Base Engine Size: 3.2 liters
Base Engine Type: V6 Horsepower: 258 hp
Max Horsepower: 6200 rpm Torque: 233 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 5000 rpm Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 39.7 ft.

TSX
Exterior
Length: 183.5 in. Width: 69.4 in.
Height: 57.3 in. Wheel Base: 105.1 in.
Ground Clearance: 4.3 in. Curb Weight: 3345 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 37.8 in. Front Hip Room: 54.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 55.4 in. Rear Head Room: 37.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.5 in. Rear Hip Room: 54.4 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.4 in. Rear Leg Room: 34.2 in.
Luggage Capacity: 13.2 cu. ft. Maximum Seating: 5

Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 4 Base Engine Size: 2.4 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 4 Horsepower: 205 hp
Max Horsepower: 7000 rpm Torque: 164 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4500 rpm Drive Type: FWD
Turning Circle: 40 ft.

If money is no object, the TL is a no brainer, IMO.

The TSX actually has rearseat room I mean it's not that small. It's a Euro Accord, which is a midsize sedan. I see couples have kids in the back seats of Civics which is even smaller.

Actually, if you don't care about Honda/Acura and brand badging and want to save money, have space, and still have engine power, just get the 2007 Accord V6 Ex w/navi. It has 244 hp.

Did you also notice that even if the TSX is a bit smaller it has more luggage capacity room 13.2 cu ft than a TL which has only 12.5 cu ft. Also, you can fold the rear seats of the TSX, but you can't in the TL.

The TSX is small compared to the TL or even the US accord. Its rear seat has about the same room as a Civic does seriously.

Rear Legroom:
TSX - 34.2 in
Civic - 34.6 in
TL - 34.9

Rear Hiproom :
TSX - 54.4 in
Civic - 51.0 in
TL - 53.8

Rear shoulder room is also up an inch in the TSX over a Civic but larger still in a TL. Most people forget a car's width when they refer to rear seat space. The TSX is a much wider car than a Civic.

Having said that, IMO your better off with a TL if you plan to put two gets back there. I get by just fine using the back of my TSX for kids, but their not back there that often so....

TL a no brainer? hardly. There are pleny of people who chose a TSX over a TL based solely on the car's superior handling, nimble feel and better MPG. I also prefer the TSX's styling but thats subjective.

Depends on your definition of "luxury". Features, styling, feel, price?
twisty road with better road feel: TSX, freeway with more umph when you need to pass: TL
Again depends on how YOU feel sitting in it, and what kind of car you're used to. I will allow that the TSX seat took me a long time to get comfortable in.
Again, depends on what you're used to, what you expect, and what kind of driving you like to do. If you like to cruise at top gear and then just punch it to get going, then you'll like the TL. The TSX needs to be driven at higher RPMs in order to feel more responsive. Off the line the TL will take the TSX, but how often will you be using full throttle starts from a dead stop in your everyday driving? The TSX has no problems getting out of its own way but it doesn't have the HP nor the torque of the TL's V6.

that's one thing I don't like about our cars (CL/TL). why isn't that a standard feature in many cars these days? You'd think that more people would want that feature as it opens up sooo many options for strorage.

tl, but yo should test drive and just see the difference... i mean theres more aftermarket parts for the TSX, but the TL comes out factory way faster than a TL... (a tsx with a supercharger is still slower than a TL)

I agree. The cars he is looking at are not even in the same category. TL ownz

Yet, they are cross shopped so often...hmmmm

For a daily commuter car, I shopped the TL and TSX (among other brands) and I ultimately chose the TL as it was a bit larger and felt better on the road. I particularly felt the TL's handling was more precise than the TSX - which is the exact opposite opinion you offered.

In fact, I thought I had researched various auto enthusiast sites and determined that my "seat of the pants" opinion was supported by their testing.

For shits and giggles, I checked out Edmunds' stats on the TL and TSX (2004 models) in the slalom and it appears the TL beats the TSX as the TL notched 67.5 mph and the TSX was 62.5 mph.

I also read a few months ago that the 2007 base TL (non Type S) has received suspension tweaks to improve handling over the 2004-2006 models.

Perhaps people are choosing the TSX over the TL for "superior handling", but I didn't feel it nor do I think it's anywhere near superior.

Perhaps it's just a matter of opinion - so ultimately, the OP should drive both cars and decide for himself.

I hate to say its 'generally accepted' or 'generally acknowledged' that the TSX handles better than the TL but it kind of is. When the subject is brought up (which it has many times before) 8 out of 10 people will say the TSX has superior handling Its a smaller more nimble car on the same chassis as the TL so thats not really surprising. Having said that in my experience the TL's ride is much better. Its a more planted car.

As for the numbers, they only tell a part of the story. TL has larger tires which will obviously help in the slalom.

Absolutely a matter of opinion. The OP has to decide for himself, it shouldn't be any other way.

Interesting! I never would have guessed so many people would choose the TSX as the better handling car verus the TL. Learn something every day I guess.

I wholeheartedly agree about testing numbers.

Thanks for the response!

You really need to sit in the back of the cars, and have your kids do so as well. The TSX is barely, barely smaller then the TL in sitting room I've found in test drives, etc. I'm also in the same boat, deciding between the TL and TSX. I don't see a $5k difference between the TL and TSX though.

The other sticking point, how can you really get a TL and not an Infiniti G35? Its a lot more car for the money.

My wife and I are going to drive the cars this weekend and decide, but it looks like for me the choice is the TSX or G35. It'll depend if I think the G35 is worth the extra cash, but I doubt the TL is, especially when its roughly the same as the superior G35.