I'm one of those car guys that thinks wagons are cool. I'm not talking Wagon Queen Family Truckster here, but rather Euro-flavored wagons that are more like sport sedans with big trunks.
I like the lower, sleeker styling of a traditional station wagon compared to the bulky and high-riding crossovers that are all the rage. The Jetta TDI SportWagen (6-speed manual, please) has long been my pick due to its generous cargo capacity, ideal handling/ride balance and peppy turbodiesel that sips fuel to the tune of estimates of 30 city and 42 highway. But having driven our recently departed Acura TSX Sport Wagon, I was reminded how close it comes to knocking the Vee-Dub off my top wagon list...
As you've figured out by now, the photo above is of the European market Honda Accord Touring wagon, the twin to the Acura TSX Sport Wagon. Were I to get the Acura, I'd have to replace its grille and bumper with the Honda's. Need I say why? Otherwise, I think the TSX wagon looks fine -- the rising beltline gives it an aggressive, crouching stance that works for me. I prefer its styling to the sedan, actually, especially when viewed from the rear 3/4 angle.
Enough about looks, what really endears me to this Acura is its strengths as a daily driver and its ability to haul stuff without screaming "family car". Sure, it could use more power and it's odd that the V6 isn't available for the wagon, but it's a smooth, willing four that, under our heavy feet and subjected to L.A.'s horrid traffic managed to average about 25 mpg. It's comfortable on long rides, provides 66 cubes worth of cargo capacity and would likely be as reliable as an anvil, if Acura's strong history in that regard is any indicator.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor
ctpaul says:
04:04 PM, 01/26/12
The TSX compares (I think unfavorably) to my 2007 Passat Wagon, which is significantly more spacious, as economical and faster. Unfortunately VW decided no more Passat wagons. Once upon you could get the Passat with either 2.0 Turbo (which I have) or the VW V6 (3.2?) and you could even get Quatro or whatever VW called it when they still offered it. Options included things like navigation, proximity cruise control, etc. How things change - now the best all around wagon is probably the TSX, but that is damning with faint praise when there is no competition. The Jetta is close but a step down, I suppose if you wanted a wagon and to spend less than the TSX you could go Jetta (what else is there?)
autotragic says:
04:49 PM, 01/26/12
I'd buy it as well. Too bad I can't since Acura of Canada doesn't think it'll sell here. Poo...
legacygt says:
05:49 AM, 01/27/12
@ctpaul: I also think the TSX compares unfavorably to my departed Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon. The Legacy GT got lower fuel economy but was a lot more powerful, had AWD, was similar in size, and was well laid out and comfortable inside (although without the all the luxury and tech bits). But, of course, the Legacy wagon is also no longer available.
dinobot666 says:
07:11 AM, 01/27/12
I think Honda decided not to offer the V6 in this package because it could possibly cannibalize sales of profitable SUVs, that and it kept prices reasonable and fuel economy thrifty. In all, I think it is still a decent compromise.
fordson1 says:
07:27 AM, 01/27/12
Really nice car with a lackluster drivetrain. Wagon owners (even hipster wagon owners), once they get the loaded down with passengers and cargo, don't want to have to rev the crap out of it to get up an exit ramp.
ed124c says:
08:13 AM, 01/27/12
1. Yeah, the Honda grill looks a little better. But I wouldn't spend a small fortune by buying and importing the Honda grill.
2. The Jetta Sportwagon initially came out with the 2.0 turbo, six speed manual and ALL the goodies-- same car, different engines. I would not hesitate to take that over the TDI.
3. The TSX wagon AND sedan need more standard power. But the wagon especially needs it. And a manual tranny, of course. But I wouldn't buy it with just the 201 hp, even with the manual. Honda should be able to do better. But they aren't right now, are they? Too bad. I loved my Accords-- all four of them: '81, '88, '95, and my ex-wife's '02.*
*I haven't driven the '02, but she has had it (still has it) for ten years and still loves it. All four Accords were manual transmission cars.
lucien4 says:
09:19 AM, 01/27/12
Question what will happen when the TSX will be discontinued and replaced with the ILX.
For Europe they'll probably create an ILX wagon (and call it Accord wagon most likely). But Honda might not sell any wagons after this model anymore.
johnnyturbo says:
09:23 AM, 01/27/12
@ legacygt,
I loved the Legacy GT wagon too; that was my top pick when that car was available. We had a long-term Legacy GT sedan back in '05, and I really enjoyed the sound and strong pull of its force-fed boxer. Great road trip car too.
http://www.insideline.com/subaru/legacy/2005/long-term-test-2005-subaru-legacy-gt.html
That said, the TSX wagon isn't a slug as some of you may assume. It has decent poke at lower rpm and of course pulls stronger as the revs climb. And there's nothing wrong with averaging 25 mpg in a roomy wagon...
12rings says:
09:25 AM, 01/27/12
I always buy a wagon as well, mostly German until I went with a Subaru. ctpaul, I owed an 07 Passat wagon VR6 4motion. It was a 3.6 and a fantastic engine. The AWD however was horrible in bad weather, and the car itself was not reliable. It went to the dealer on a flat bed several times and stranded me 900 miles from home once. After trading that in I went with an Outback. That was mostly because they had discontinued the Legacy wagon. Wagons seem to be on their way out, no more Legacy, Volvo V series (except CC), BMW 5-series, etc...
The Acura isn't really my style but I applaud them for producing it.
fordson1 says:
10:26 AM, 01/27/12
@johnnyturbo: I know it's a really nice car - like the way they implemented so many of the features - not just that it has the features, but the way they did them. Very well-done, and it is an Acura and probably trouble-free.
As far as being a slug, I'm not assuming anything - if your test figures are to be believed, this thing was outdragged by your diesel Jetta sedan in terms of outright numbers, plus with all that torque, the Jetta had much better in-gear performance.
I already have an SVT Focus, which is also a pretty low-torque, spin-happy motor, that's about a second faster than this TSX both 0-60 and in the quarter, and that is pretty much as slow a car as I'm willing to drive anymore. My nice-weather car is a new GTI and what they say about power and corruption is true. You can't go back.
blueguydotcom says:
11:27 AM, 01/27/12
Saw one of these the other day in person. Sharp car! Really good space. But the automatic and that engine are a no sale. Too slow even in sedan form for me.
Bummer that Subaru has given up on the wagons with a turbo and manual. Just frustrating how hard it is to find a manual wagon with power.
dinobot666 says:
12:20 PM, 01/27/12
@blueguydotcom
You can get the WRX or STI in hatch form with a 5 speed or 6 speed manual. Plenty of power and storage.
blueguydotcom says:
01:53 PM, 01/27/12
@dino - I like the WRX but the 5 speed kills that deal. Feel like I'm stepping into a time warp with that archaic 5 speed. STI is too much coin for very little gain over the WRX (maybe worth 2-3k more in my eyes, not 6-7k).
bricknord says:
10:10 AM, 02/ 7/12
The Acura wagon is appealing to me. I wonder, though, what advantage it would have over a Mazda5? It would seem to me that if 25mpg was acceptable, the 5 would get around that mileage while having even greater versatility. Sliding doors in the Target parking lot (kids/carseats) and the 3rd row seat for occasional emergency use would be a bonus...not to mention the thousands of dollars saved.
I'm not particularly a fan of the current-gen Maz5 styling, but I don't know that I hate it enough or see enough added value in the Acura wagon to buy one in lieu of the Mazda mini-people-mover.
nefariousnigel says:
05:58 AM, 02/16/12
Is there going to be a long-term test wrap up blog entry?