We’ve driven the Acura RSX plenty of times since its introduction in 2001, so when the updated 2005 version arrived we decided to do something different with it.  Acura’s sport-compact hatch is the darling of legions of car modifiers and cruisers everywhere, and its prowess on the track is undisputed.  But how well-equipped is the RSX for a road trip?  We packed up a handsome copper-colored RSX Type S and headed to the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, to find out.

For 2005, the RSX Type S gets a minor design tweak and, of much more interest to performance buyers, a boost in horsepower and a re-tuned suspension.  These changes should help to keep the popular RSX near the top of the sports-coupe heap even in the face of redesigned competitors from Mitsubishi and Ford.

At first glance, the RSX seems to say anything but, “road trip.”  This stubby, four-place hatchback is shaped rather like an upside-down speedboat, with a tapered nose, aggressive four-unit and an arched silhouette.  On the RSX Type S, the side sills and body cladding are more noticeable than before, and the taillights have also been redesigned.  17″ wheels are standard equipment on the RSX Type S.  It’s a sports car that can double as a grocery-getter, not a long-distance runner.  Our test car was painted Blaze Orange Metallic, a brilliant and distinctive hue that impressed some onlookers and led others to call it “pre-rusted.”

Inside, there’s more than enough space for two people and a weekend’s worth of luggage.  The cockpit is open, with a low console and instruments clustered in front of the driver.  Titanium-colored trim accents the headrests, dash and door panels.  There’s lots of legroom up front, and the rear seats are habitable but far from capacious.  With the rear seats up, the trunk will hold sixteen cubic feet of stuff.  The interior is sparse but decently equipped, with automatic climate control, a moonroof, and side airbags.  The RSX has a nice Bose sound system.  On the road, there was space in the console for necessary travel incidentals like fast-food cups, snacks and maps.  Our only two complaints were a lack of leg support for taller drivers, an oft-repeated gripe of ours, and a lack of decent visibility to the rear.

We expected the biggest downer of the trip to be the RSX’s 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine.  Don’t get us wrong; this award-winning powerplant deserves all of the accolades it has earned.  Hotter cams and a larger intake for 2005 bump the RSX Type S’ horsepower to 210.  Around town, the i-VTEC variable valve timing system and the race-bred 2.0 impress, with seemingly limitless rev ability and high-rpm pulling power.  On the freeway, though, the RSX is turning between 4000 and 5000 rpm at all times, and Acura’s 2.0 is not a quiet motor at high revs.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that the RSX didn’t assault our eardrums too badly.  With the revs so high, power was available when it was needed, and fuel economy didn’t suffer as much as we feared it would, either.  The RSX impressed us mightily, and had no trouble dealing with the traffic of Toledo, Cincinnati, Louisville or notoriously congested Nashville.  The six-speed manual transmission is direct and responsive, thanks in part to carbon synchros in fifth and sixth that improve shifter feel.  The RSX is also a certified Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV).

The suspension consists of MacPherson struts with control links up front, and double wishbones at the rear.  For ’05, Acura has done a comprehensive retuning, with a lower ride height, new bushings and thicker stabilizer bars.  The front coils are inversely wound to reduce unwanted steering inputs from spring windup.  The RSX Type S is “track-tuned” with firmer springs and shocks and a front strut tower brace.  It’s stiff on the road, but not uncomfortably so.  Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard equipment; fortunately, we never needed them during our trip.

All in all it’s good news for RSX owners and intenders; if you find yourself needing to make a long trip, your little Acura won’t punish you for it.  Acura’s one-price strategy makes buying one easy, too; the RSX Type S starts at $23,570.

The Fact Box:
All specs are for the 2005 Acura RSX.
Length:     172.4 in.
Width:        67.9 in.
Height:        54.9 in.
Wheelbase:    101.2 in.
Curb weight:    2840 lb.
Cargo space:    16.0 cu.ft.
Base price:    $23,570
Engine:     2.0 liter 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain:     six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:     210 @ 7800
Torque:     143 @ 7000
Fuel capacity:    13.2 gal.
Est. mileage:    23/31

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