Introduction

The Acura RSX receives many upgrades for 2005, and while no one change is particularly significant, together they add up to a car that is considerably improved over last year's model. The previous-generation Integra helped establish the current trend of import tuners. Introduced in 2002, the RSX took the Integra's place as Acura's front-wheel-drive sport coupe. The RSX has lost some of its edge competing against the high-performance Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and Dodge SRT-4. All can be had for roughly the same money, and offer significant performance advantages. What the RSX has to offer is the luxury, refinement and prestige of an Acura. Build quality and fit and finish are excellent. The RSX looks aggressive, and mild styling revisions for 2005 enhance its crisp, clean lines. Its cabin is nicely trimmed. It's oriented around the driver, with excellent seats and convenient storage. The standard RSX is fun to drive, particularly when equipped with the manual transmission. The Type-S is a lot more fun, with a sweet-sounding engine that revs to 8100 rpm. Updates to the 2005 Acura RSX Type-S help it regain ground in the hotly contested market of young, upwardly mobile enthusiasts.

Walkaround

The Acura RSX presents a classic wedgy fastback shape, with a short nose, wheels pushed out to the corners, and a smooth profile that sweeps elegantly from the nose to the high tail. As befitting its sport-coupe market, it's more aggressive than many other Acuras, even given the company's aggressive new styling direction. The changes made for 2005 continue the theme of subtle but effective. The front bumper is updated with a larger, more aggressive radiator opening under the bumper and a more dramatic five-sided Acura grille. Additionally, the headlights now feature blackout trim around the reflectors, a common aftermarket upgrade. The revised taillights have an embossed look to them, and the rear bumper has been modified for a racy look. Standard on the Type-S is a new spoiler on the rear decklid, although we still like the unadorned look of the standard RSX better. Overall, the look is clean and tidy, and Acura has continued to avoid styling cliches in favor of tight, crisp lines. Fit and finish is excellent, of course, with narrow gaps between body panels. Acura is also careful to use as few breaks between body panels as possible to give the car a carved-from-a-solid-piece look. Under the sexy skin is a chassis that is reinforced for 2005, making it 15 percent stiffer in the front and 21 percent stiffer in the rear. Insulation material has been added in the doors and roof to reduce road noise, and the side mirror gaps have been sealed shut to reduce wind noise. It works to a certain extent, but the RSX is primarily a sporty car, and you can expect more road, engine and wind noise inside than in one of the company's more luxurious offerings.

Interior Features

The RSX interior is very driver-oriented, with the center part of the dash tilted slightly toward the lucky person behind the wheel. It's not really luxurious, but textures and surfaces are all very nice for a car in the low 20-thousand range, and switchgear is all exemplary, as befitting an Acura. New chrome and titanium-look accents add a touch of elegance to the stylishly businesslike design. The automatic climate control couldn't be simpler to use, with three large dials your only input. Similarly, the audio controls are logically placed for intuitive operation. The rest of the interior layout is just as sensible, making it easy to acclimate oneself to the car and get on with the business of driving. The thick three-spoke steering wheel neatly frames clear gauges with black numerals on new off-white faces that turn red-on-black at night. The 9000-rpm tachometer and 160-mph speedometer dominate the cluster, with fuel and temperature gauges flanking them. Cruise control and basic audio controls are mounted on the steering wheel for added convenience. The front seats are excellent, with good lateral support, a deep bucket for your butt, and even small shoulder wings to help keep you in place in hard corners. They grip you even when covered in leather, but remain comfortable for longer trips. As with most cars of this size and class, the rear seat is something of a joke, reserved only for small humans or medium-size dogs. A better idea is to fold down the seatbacks, enhancing the already sizeable cargo area under the hatch, and letting you pretend you have a two-seater. Storage for small stuff is plentiful. There are bins in the doors, a sizeable lighted glovebox, and a clever tray/cupholder combination forward of the shifter. The cupholder works fine, as long as you aren't trying to stuff a convenience store bladder buster in there.