2013 Acura TSX Review

Name: 2013 Acura TSX
Brand: Acura
Rating: 4.6 (41 reviews)

Price Range: $8,995 - $15,590

2012 Acura TSX Technology Package Sedan Exterior

Read full review See all features & specs

Appraise my car

Get the Edmunds appraisal report and a no-obligation offer for your car.

By entering your License Plate or VIN, you'll get a more accurate appraisal that may raise your car's value.

License Plate

State

Price & Payment

35 cars

$10,903 avg. price

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2013 Acura TSX

Acura TSX model years

Acura TSX for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by the Edmunds Experts

Pros

Impressive number of standard and technology features
spacious interior
sporty handling with V6 sedan and wagon
excellent build and materials quality.

Cons

Button-happy center console
unimpressive braking performance
slightly underpowered four-cylinder

What’s new

The 2013 Acura TSX is unchanged.

Edmunds says

Though not quite as compelling as a couple other rivals, the 2013 Acura TSX is nonetheless a smart choice for an entry-level luxury sedan or wagon.

For sale near Bluffton, SC

35 listings

Sort by:

New Listing
2013 Acura TSX
Base Sedan
$7,500
great price
$1,959 below market
- 132,599 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 22 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- Paulding Auto Brokers (257 mi away)
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Dallas, GA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JH4CU2F47DC011345
Stock: 12895
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2013 Acura TSX
Technology Package Sedan
$10,995
good price
$1,981 below market
- 92,550 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 22 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- JBL Auto Sales (305 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Tampa, FL
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
26 Combined MPG (22 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JH4CU2F67DC005076
Stock: 005076
Certified Pre-Owned: No

See all for sale

Vehicle overview

If the idea of a sporty, practical, affordable luxury car seems like one big oxymoron, that may be because you have yet to meet the 2013 Acura TSX. In fact, a big part of the compact TSX lineup's appeal is that this one model seems to check so many important boxes.

For starters, the TSX comes standard with quite a few upscale features, including xenon headlights, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Then there's the choice of a fuel-efficient four-cylinder or a more powerful V6 engine. Even the suspension manages to strike a likable balance between a supple ride and solid handling. Wrap it all up in stylish sheet metal outside and add a comfortable, high-quality interior and you have a car with a number of strengths.

These positives are tempered by a couple of shortcomings. Topping the list is the fact that the TSX can't match the serious performance potential of some of its more sporting European competitors. And while the interior is handsome and upscale, it lacks some of the high-end trappings common to luxury-oriented models. Given that, we'd recommend having a look at the admittedly pricier 2013 Audi A4 and 2013 BMW 3 Series, as well as the equally stylish 2013 Volvo S60.

Once you've gained that broader perspective, though, we think most buyers will find the 2013 Acura TSX to be an entry-level luxury car with a lot of good qualities. Even if those qualities do seem like they should be mutually exclusive.

Performance & mpg

The 2013 Acura TSX sedan is available with a choice of two engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder puts out 201 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque (172 lb-ft when equipped with the manual transmission), while the 3.5-liter V6 produces 280 hp and 254 lb-ft. The TSX Sport Wagon is available only with the four-cylinder. A five-speed automatic transmission with sport shift paddles is standard on all models, with a six-speed manual available as an option on the four-cylinder sedan only.

In Edmunds testing, a manual four-cylinder TSX sedan loped to 60 mph from a standstill in an unremarkable 7.7 seconds. The automatic sedan and Sport Wagon both posted 0-60 times that were about a second slower. The V6, on the other hand, posted a competitive 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds.

EPA fuel economy estimates for the TSX sedan with the four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission are 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 26 combined; with the manual gearbox those numbers drop to 21/29/24. The wagon achieves 22/30/25, while the V6-powered sedan comes in at 19/28/23.

Safety

Standard safety equipment on the 2013 Acura TSX includes antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, both the four- and six-cylinder versions of the TSX stopped from 60 mph in 133 feet; comparable sport sedans we've tested have braking distances that are a significant 10-15 feet shorter. The Sport Wagon came to a halt in 127 feet.

In crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the TSX earned a top rating of "Good" in both frontal-offset and side-impact tests.

Driving

When it comes to performance, the 2013 Acura TSX is a mixed bag. Acceleration with the four-cylinder engine is merely adequate, though the available six-speed manual gearbox helps make the most of the engine's output. The V6 delivers much more satisfying throttle response, albeit with a noticeable fuel economy penalty. Both the manual and automatic transmissions provide smooth, precise shifts.

Handling is quite good, especially with the sport-tuned suspension that underpins both the Sport Wagon and V6-powered sedan. The ride quality also is comfortable and quiet compared to other sport sedan competitors.

Interior

Inside the 2013 Acura TSX you'll find a pleasing design done up in high-quality soft-touch materials. At first the dash seems covered by an indecipherable mass of buttons, but with a little time, using these controls becomes fairly intuitive. The optional navigation system, on the other hand, is user-friendly from the first encounter. The available ELS premium audio system is another option we can heartily recommend.

The sedan's cabin offers a good amount of room, especially compared to competitors like the Lexus IS 250. At just 12.6 cubic feet, the sedan's trunk is on the small side, however. The Sport Wagon's cargo hold is another story entirely, with a generous 61 cubic feet of space.

2013 Acura TSX models

The 2013 Acura TSX is a compact entry-level luxury model that's offered in sedan and Sport Wagon body styles.

Standard equipment for both the TSX sedan and TSX Sport Wagon includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat with memory settings, a four-way power passenger seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and 60/40-split-folding rear seatbacks. Electronics include Bluetooth and a seven-speaker audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio input jack and a USB port.

The sedan also can be had with a V6 engine, an upgrade that also brings 18-inch alloy wheels, a firmer suspension and a road-noise-cancelling feature for the audio system. A Special Edition package, offered only on the four-cylinder sedan, bundles a more aggressive-looking front spoiler, a unique rear bumper fascia and side sills and wheel treatments. Inside, the package adds faux-suede seat inserts, red interior stitching, red cabin illumination, aluminum pedals, bright silver trim elements and a black headliner.

The optional Technology package adds a rearview camera, a navigation system, voice recognition and a premium 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system. This package on the wagon also includes a power liftgate.

Compare 2013 Acura TSX trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in South Carolina

$174/mo

$148/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Year

Make

Model

See pricing history

Reliability

The 2013 Acura TSX has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #8 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#8 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$339/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

1.2x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

5.6%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Recalls

4 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 19V502000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: F5F, Q5E
Manufactured from:: 2012-11-19 to 2013-05-31
Number of vehicles affected:: 9555
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Defect Consequence:: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective Action:: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.

Recall Number:: 19V378000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: M4O, P4R,
Manufactured from:: 2009-02-28 to 2009-12-17
Number of vehicles affected:: 19086
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Defect Consequence:: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.

Recall Number:: 18V661000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: M2J, S2K
Manufactured from:: 2009-08-24 to 2010-12-30
Number of vehicles affected:: 1357311
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Defect Consequence:: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective Action:: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 13, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

Recall Number:: 18V042000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: B0K, L0J
Manufactured from:: 2008-02-25 to 2008-12-19
Number of vehicles affected:: 691726
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Defect Consequence:: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective Action:: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 6 years / 70,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles

Acura TSX Owner Reviews

4.6

41 reviews

5(68%)

4(27%)

3(2%)

2(3%)

1(0%)

See all 41 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Good, sensible car

josevi, 02/23/2019

2012 Acura TSX Special Edition 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5A)

I have owned a Special Edition 2012 TSX since new. The black on black car looks sharp, inside and out. Coming from a headache-inducing 02 Jetta, I went to Acura based on its reliability reputation (which, I see, has changed for the worse as of late). The car has not disappointed on that end. It was affected by the Tanaka airbag recall, and my dealership took care of it speadily. … There was a piece of trim that was a little loose and, that too, was taken care of to my complete satisfaction. Less impressive is, however, my dealership inability to replicate an intermitent problem that the car has had with its power lock master switch for a while until, of course, it was no longer under warranty. Lesson learned for the future and I will take of this myself. After six and a half years, the heating is presenting an intermittent issue. I'd rather it did not, but I think this number of issues is more than adequate in a car that is over six years old and serves in Chicago. If you are thinking of buying one second hand, go for it. It is extremely comfortable, and well put together. After a long road trip, you will arrive to your destination in quite good shape - the front seats are armchair-like, with just the right amount of firmness and hold (they are nicely heated too, although a mid setting would be great). It is reasonably quiet inside, with muted road noise. The trunk is spacious and you have enough interior storage. I suspect that the Bluetooth is not amongst the sharpest out there, but it does the job. The sound system is quite good and the dual zone climate works very well. The interior (I choose cars from the inside out, as the interior is the part of the car you see most) is very well put together, and has a very clean and rational layout. The only problem I have with it is that the paddle shifters (which, incidentally, I never use) can get in the way of seeing some controls (windshield wiper and light settings). The car has a sporty stance and, indeed, it is powerful enough but it is not a 3 series. Mine is equipped with the 4 cylinder engine (6 cyl. and Honda automatics? No, thanks) and it is responsive in most situations. If you want to take it to the track, this is not the car for you, but you will be just fine in the highway. My favorite part of its driving behavior is its steering. I find it responsive and quick. Summing up: very good all-around car. It will take you to work in comfort and allow you to go on longer trips comfortably. It is quite reliable and fairly economical to run -apart from the general maintenance and the two issues above I will be taking care of soon, it has only needed some brake work (it is, at the end of the day, a Honda). Premium fuel is recommended, but you can run it on regular. Thanks for your time.

Better than I expected!

oldsnwbrdr, 04/24/2012

2012 Acura TSX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5A)

It's interesting to read reviews from those who traded "down" from a European brand. I did the same, and my monthly lease payment is $120 lower than the Mercedes C300 AWD Sport I traded in. My family actually prefers the Acura for a lot of reasons... the only things I miss are the 6-cylinder refinement and the Mercedes bank vault build quality.

TL owner moving down but not by much...

dadoftwogirls, 02/14/2012

2012 Acura TSX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5A)

I was tired of getting 17.5 mpg on premium gas around town with my 2009 Acura TL. I looked at BMW, Mercedes and Audi. However, I just couldn't justify the extra money. Everything cost EXTRA. I went back to Acura and they had a Milano Red Limited Edition loaded TSX on the showroom floor. I immediately fell in love with the looks and bought it on the spot. To me it is the most agressive …

Love This Car

thumper16, 07/30/2012

2012 Acura TSX Technology Package 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5A)

I've probably have had 20 new cars and that many used in my life but can't say I've liked any more than this. Love the size, the quality in and out, sound system, handling, gas mileage 25-35. Have had it about 6 months and 6,000 miles-no issues.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Acura TSX, so we've included reviews for other years of the TSX since its last redesign.

See all 41 reviews of the Acura TSX

Write a vehicle review

2013 TSX Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,510
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Key safety features on the TSX include:

Back-up camera
Alarm
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Marginal
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2013 Acura TSX Review

Appraise my car

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Edmunds says

For sale near Bluffton, SC

2013 Acura TSXBase Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2013 Acura TSXTechnology Package Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Vehicle overview

Performance & mpg

Safety

Driving

Interior

2013 Acura TSX models

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Acura TSX Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Good, sensible car

Better than I expected!

TL owner moving down but not by much...

Love This Car

2013 TSX Highlights

Safety

Related Used 2013 Acura TSX info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Acura

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2013 Acura TSX
Base Sedan

2013 Acura TSX
Technology Package Sedan