2002 Acura RSX Review

The newest kid on the sports coupe block is the racy RSX from Honda's upscale Acura division. It's so different from the eight-year-old Integra it replaces that it seems as if from a different car company.

The revamped, high-quality RSX recently went on sale as a 2002 model. The essentially unchanged front-drive Integra came as a coupe and sedan. The RSX has similar dimensions, but is offered only as a front-drive coupe with a practical hatchback design, minimal front and rear overhangs and a far more rigid chassis. It remains to be seen if the legions of young California hot rodders will embrace the RSX as they did the Integra, but it's a good bet that they will.

The RSX is competitively priced. The standard RSX costs $19,950 and has 160 horsepower. The sportier Type-S version stickers at $23,170. It looks the same as the base model (couldn't Acura at least have given it more distinctive wheels?), but has a beefier, more sophisticated 200-horsepower version of the RSX's four-cylinder engine.
Both versions deliver in the low 20-mpg range in the city and in the low 30s on highways, although the engine revs high above 70 mph.

Some might complain that the two-liter engine is too small for a car that weighs 2,694 to 2,769 pounds. In fact, it is rather sluggish at low engine speeds. But it's potent when the tachometer reaches 3,000 rpm because it has dual overhead camshafts, 16 valves, free-flow exhaust system and complicated valve timing and control systems. The Type-S hits 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, with the base model taking about a second longer to attain that speed from a standing start.

The Type-S engine is more sophisticated than the base version, but both are high-revving units that call for the manual transmissions to be used a lot for the best acceleration. A downshift from top to third gear is needed for the fastest 65-75 mph passing time. Stay out of top gear if you need quick moves in 50-plus mph expressway traffic.

Don't want a clutch? The base model comes with a $900 five-speed Sequential SportShift automatic transmission that can be used like a clutchless manual gearbox, besides a regular five-speed manual. The racier Type-S comes with a nice clutch and new close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox that can be shifted with almost a flick of the wrist.

The RSX is so well-equipped, with such things as automatic climate control, power sunroof and remote keyless entry, that "hand-selected" perforated leather upholstery is the only major ($1,000) option for the base model. That leather is standard in the Type-S, which also has larger brakes, stiffer suspension and in-dash CD changer.
Surprisingly, Acura didn't give the Type-S larger wheels and tires, which is pretty much standard procedure when an automaker builds a higher-performance version of a car. Still, the 55-series tires on 16-inch wheels aren't small or narrow.

The RSX is based on the Global Compact Platform also used by Honda's Civic. So, alas, the new Acura loses the race-style double-wishbone front suspension of the old Civic and Integra and gets a common damper strut setup. The RSX still handles adroitly--despite being very nose-heavy.

While rather heavy, the power steering is quick and precise. A supple suspension and fairly long (for a subcompact car) 101.2-inch wheelbase help smooth out the ride, although the Type-S rides harder than the base model. The brake pedal feels good and stopping distances are short with the standard anti-lock system and all-disc brake setup. The standard RSX has larger brakes than the Integra, and the Type-S has bigger front brakes than the standard RSX.

The quiet, sporty looking interior's dashboard curves toward the driver. Comfortable front bucket seats hug you in corners and contain integrated side air bags. But there's no center armrest and the rear roofline hinders visibility; it's thus a good idea to use the rearview mirrors a lot. The back seat area is tight and hard to enter, but has decent room for a medium-height adult behind the right-front passenger. Cupholders are handily molded into rear armrests.

The stylish black-on-silver gauges can be easily read once you get used to the unusual placement of speedometer and tachometer markings; for instance, the 60-mph reading seems out of place at the speedometer's "9 o'clock" position, instead of near the "12 o'clock" position. Controls are easily reached and work smoothly, and sound system and climate system controls are large enough to be used while wearing gloves.
The cargo space has a high opening, but is big, and rear seatbacks flip forward and sit flat to greatly enlarge it. The hatch has an interior grip area that helps close it quickly. The Integra was above-average, but the RSX makes it seem instantly out of date.

2002 ACURA RSX

Prices

$19,950-$23,170

Likes

Racy styling. Fast. Agile. Slick manual gearbox. Well-equipped.

Dislikes

High cargo opening. Small back seat. Limited rear visibility.