2003 Acura RSX Consumer Reviews
Fuel Economy
24 - 26 mpg
Recent Consumer Reviews
(194 Total Reviews)
Great all Around Car
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX Type-S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
Review
Bought this car as a replacement for my 95 bmw M3 and have no regrets. Performance is great, handles well especially for FWD, shifter is smooth and throws are short. Plenty of trunk space for luggage or a trip to the beach or wherever your headed. Backseat is a bit small for normal sized people, kids and people under 5'5 shouldn't have it too bad back there. This car is well rounded, performs well but is still well suited as a daily driver. Suspension is a little rough and the shifter vibrates at times. Tire roar can get old. Understeer and body roll are almost non-existent. Close your eyes (but not for to long) and you feel like your driving a Honda s2000. This is really a great all around car.
Favorite Features
Top end power. Sound of the engine especially at 6k rpms. Interior design. Controls are all well placed and simple to use. Plenty of interior room and trunk space. Transmission is smooth, crisp and throws are short. Everything just seems well placed in this car.
Suggested Improvements
Tire roar!! Gets very annoying. No low end torque makes it feel like a civic below 3500 rpms. Shift Knob vibrates at high speeds. No center arm rest makes cruising somewhat uncomfortable. Seats are a bit hard.
3 out 4 people found this review helpful
5 years and no regrets
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I bought my RSX right after I graduated from college. It was essentially a present to myself for securing a decent paying job. Five years later, I still absolutely love my car and wouldn't trade it with anyone. I'll probably have it for at least another 5 years. The cost of ownership is insanely low; in five years I've only replaced the tires and brakes. With 3-4 oil changes per year, my car has treated me right.
Favorite Features
It's just a nice car to look at. It's even more fun to drive.
Suggested Improvements
Heated seats & GPS naviation. When I bought my car, these weren't too common. My next car will likely have these features.
3 out 5 people found this review helpful
Pretty great!
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 5 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
Bought used, ended up paying more that I normally do for a used car, but still a great value. Car is excellent to drive, inside console seems to be made to mold around driver. Only thing I wish is that the seats were a little bit cushier, but all in all a great car!
Favorite Features
Suggested Improvements
2 out 3 people found this review helpful
Can't go wrong
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I am now at about 60K miles and this car has been great. Reliable, cool look, great handling and acceleration, excellent mileage (never averaged less than 30 MPG) and not too expensive or refined, considering it's an Acura. Gives me what I need at a reasonable price (at the time). Unfortunately Acura dropped this great little car. Cons: bad driver side blind spot, rattles in the dash (pronounced when the car is cold) and a rough ride with stock tires (improved with different tires). Back seat is tight, but what do you expect in a coupe? Probably the best vehicle I have owned.
Favorite Features
Look, handling, MPG.
Suggested Improvements
Dash rattles.
4 out 6 people found this review helpful
Sporty and fun
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 5 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX Type-S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
Review
This was my first Acura and probably not the last. The car has awesome acceleration, great handling and is very fun to drive overall. Decent gas mileage, lots of looks, six speeds and the classic tell tale headlights (I like the 02-04 look better than the later 05-06 models). The third gear does grind from time to time. You really have to carefully place the gear to avoid it. Also this car is incredibly connected to the road. You hear and feel every little bump... a good thing if you're driving a sportier car, but tiresome if it's also your daily driver. Finally the insurance on this car is outrageous.
Favorite Features
Six speed, roomy hatch, acceleration, gas mileage, exterior design.
Suggested Improvements
Lots of road noise, bumpy ride, grinding third gear.
8 out 8 people found this review helpful
Fabulous starter into the luxury world
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
This car is a luxury car at a great deal. Acura has a great reputation for quality, as they are made by Honda. This car is no exception. It's fun to drive and handles wonderfully. Great standard features that would normally have to be added for an extra price, come standard.
Favorite Features
Suspension and handling. The seats cup you like a glove. The red dashboard lights give a great ambience and just look plain cool.
Suggested Improvements
Blind spot could be improved as well as the gas mileage.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Outstanding
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 10 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX Type-S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
Review
Great car. It has fuel efficiency and it's amazing to drive. I have owned it for 4 years now and I wouldn't change a thing.
Favorite Features
6 speed. Comfort. Fuel efficiency.
Suggested Improvements
Not applicable.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, high revving car.
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 7 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX Type-S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
Review
Another great car I have owned. This car has a sporty look to it with the optional A-spec package offered by the acura dealership which includes spoiler, lip kit and upgraded suspension rims and tires.
Favorite Features
Auto climate control with sunroof and optional 17 inch rims.
Suggested Improvements
Transmission is a little jerky with second and third gear grinds a problem on several models.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Reliable but rattles are annoying
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 5 | Build Quality: | 4 |
| Comfort: | 4 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 7 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 7 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
This is a great car for young people under the age of 30. Older than that you probably would want more comfort and luxury. The car has never failed to start up or have had any mechanical issues. Handles beautifully. Now the bad stuff: the car rattles around the dash and hatch considerably. Multiple visits to the dealership did not rectify this problem. Also, I do not get very good gas mileage. Approx. 25 mpg overall. Another complaint is the cheap leather seating and easy to scratch up interior plastic trimmings. Oh yeah, and the car is loud (tire noise) when driven on the highway.
Favorite Features
Reliability. Hatch with the fold down seats gives you plenty of cargo space.
Suggested Improvements
I wish the MPG would be better. Better quality materials for interior. MP3 compatiablity. Larger sunroof.
1 out 5 people found this review helpful
Have Clutch?
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 6 | Fun-to-Drive: | 7 | Build Quality: | 2 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 3 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 6 | ||
Vehicle
2003 Acura RSX Type-S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 6M)
Review
This vehicle was the right car for the right price, wanted something with good gas mileage and fun to drive. At 3000 miles the clutch slipped, took it in, couldn't find a problem. At 20,000 miles the clutch was shot, they replaced under a 'good faith' warranty. At 40,000 miles clutch slipped again, couldn't find a problem. At 49,000 miles the second clutch is shot, had to be replaced. Told me it was a wear and tear item and I had to pay for it. $1400 later, I'm getting my one year warranty out of the clutch and then getting rid of it. It likes to go fast, but doesn't like to stop. Brakes need improvement. The Bose sound system could be a lot better. I've heard Bose before, this is no Bose.
Favorite Features
I-VTEC! Smooth shifting. Gas mileage, average 26 mpg.
Suggested Improvements
Build better transmissions!!
0 out 1 people found this review helpful
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