Acura makes it easy to select a 2006 TSX, which comes in one trim level with your choice of a manual or automatic transmission and an optional navigation system with voice recognition technology. Just because there isn’t a long list of options, don’t think you’re getting stuck with a basic car. The 2006 Acura TSX comes standard with leather upholstery, heated and power adjustable front seats, a power glass moonroof, HID headlights, and a premium sound system.

Under the hood, the TSX’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine gets a five horsepower increase, but it’s barely noticeable – especially with the automatic transmission. Because it’s a high-revving motor equipped with variable valve timing, the Acura TSX’s power is best accessed with the manual transmission, stirring the gears to keep the motor in the upper end of the rev range. Keep that in mind when buying, because the TSX’s entire character is determined by your transmission choice. With the six-speed manual, the 2006 Acura TSX is fun and sporty if you keep the revs up. With the five-speed automatic, the 2006 Acura TSX is just another mundane, but nicely appointed, commuter car.

Outside, the TSX gets new front and rear bumpers that incorporate sharper lines, as well as revised side sills and a refined grille. The headlights and taillights have also undergone minor changes. The 2006 Acura TSX rides on new nine-spoke, 17-inch wheels wearing Michelin P215/50R17 all-season performance tires. Four-wheel disc, antilock brakes (vented up front) bring the TSX to a stop. Road shock and body motions are absorbed and controlled by a double wishbone, sport-tuned front suspension and a five-link rear suspension utilizing an aluminum knuckle and double tubular wishbones. The aluminum knuckle produces a weight savings of 13.2 pounds and provides 50-percent better rigidity. The TSX is also equipped with rack-and-pinion steering, and a front shock tower bar helps keep turn-in crisp.

New for 2006, the Acura TSX features an electronic brake assist system. Microprocessors analyze the driver’s braking habits under normal conditions, and when braking is applied that is out of normal parameters the system fully activates the ABS to stop the TSX as rapidly as possible. The 2006 Acura TSX is also equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), better known as stability and traction control. When it comes to safety, the 2006 Acura TSX ranks high in crash tests as well as in features. This year, the Acura TSX comes standard with dual-stage front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, side-curtain airbags for all outboard occupants, and the usual roster of safety features found on all new cars. Thanks to this safety gear, and solid engineering, the 2006 Acura TSX achieves a five-star front NHTSA rating as well as a five-star front side- and four-star rear side-impact score. In the offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the TSX gets a “Good” rating. Consumers expect safety when purchasing a luxury vehicle and the 2006 Acura TSX delivers.

Aside from the automatic transmission, the only thing that potentially holds the 2006 Acura TSX back is the fact that both Audi and BMW offer a four-year/50,000-mile warranty that includes all scheduled maintenance during that period. Acura doesn’t. Good thing it’s essentially a Honda, and not a German-engineered sport sedan that’s expensive to maintain.