TSX Sport Wagon caters to young, affluent

Sometimes luxury and practicality fight for the same space, but there's plenty of both to go around when it comes to the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon.

It's Acura's first shot at marketing what has in the past been the exclusive domain of its Honda parent.

The impending arrival of the sharp-looking TSX Sport Wagon has likely turned Honda's product planners green with envy and has them wondering if they shouldn't have lobbied harder to get a wagon of their own after all.

Internal politics aside, the new TSX hauler is a smart-looking piece of work regardless of what brand bucket it falls into. The Sport Wagon projects a certain sophisticated appearance that displays a strong kinship with the newly updated TSX sedan. The folks at Acura believe the wagon will appeal to young, affluent buyers, but there will likely be a knot of practical-minded empty-nesters, as well as disaffected Honda Accord owners just itching for a test drive.

Either demographic will appreciate the Sport Wagon's carrying capacity, which is more than double that of the sedan, even with the rear seat in the locked-and-upright position. When folded flat, the load surface extends some 70 inches, giving the TSX nearly the same cargo volume as Acura's entry-level RDX sport ute.

Providing the necessary grunt to haul passengers and their personal effects is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. This is the same base powerplant that's used in the sedan and performs with quiet efficiency at the lower end of the rev range. However, when pushed hard, the 2.4 becomes a bit raucous, although not in any seriously upsetting way.

With Acura injecting the word "Sport" into the wagon's title, you would at least expect this TSX to offer the sedan's available 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, or perhaps even the impressive 240-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that fronts the RDX. When asked about the lack of engine choices, an Acura spokesman said that the primary target audience for the wagon -- young urban family types -- ranked fuel economy as having greater importance than raw horsepower and thrust. For the record, the V-6 sedan is rated at 19/28 mpg (city/highway). The four-cylinder wagon? There's an estimate of 22/30 on the table.

Another sporty feature not offered in the Sport Wagon is the sedan's smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission (a five-speed automatic is standard). To be fair, the "take" rate for the manual gearbox is so miniscule that few, if any, feathers will be ruffled by its omission.

Where the Sport Wagon really struts its stuff is with a sharp suspension tune and steering system that make for fun driving ... from a wagon.

Buyers will definitely be able to speed through the option list. As with all Acuras, the TSX arrives with all the right up-level gear right out of the box: leather interior, power moonroof, dual-zone climate control and a cool set of 17-inch alloy wheels. A premium audio system, navigation package, power tailgate,
18-inch wheels and an aero-style body kit are among the few extra-cost items.

The Sport Wagon lists for $31,800, which is a $1,350 premium over and above the base sedan. More significantly, the price is only $1,200 more than the cost of a Honda Crosstour. That alone should encourage trade-ups to this practical-luxury model regardless of what name it goes by.