Is the Acura TSX a FWD?
The Acura TSX is a front-wheel-drive sedan produced by Honda's luxury brand from 2004 to 2014. There was no factory all-wheel-drive option offered in North America, and the TSX Sport Wagon shared the same front-wheel-drive layout.
Drivetrain and platform basics
Before you dive into the specifics, here are the essential facts about how the TSX drives and what variants were offered.
- The TSX uses a front-wheel-drive layout on a platform shared with the Honda Accord.
- There was no factory all-wheel-drive option for the TSX in North America.
- Transmission choices included a manual transmission in some trims and an automatic transmission in others, both driving the front wheels.
- The TSX Sport Wagon (the wagon variant) is also front-wheel drive; no AWD option was offered for the wagon in North America.
In summary, the TSX line remains front-wheel-drive across its variants, aligning with Honda's traditional drivetrain choices for this model family.
Implications for buyers and driving dynamics
Consider how FWD affects handling, maintenance, and overall ownership when evaluating a TSX against rivals with AWD options.
- Handling and performance: As a front-wheel-drive sedan, the TSX offers agile handling for everyday driving but lacks the all-weather grip that AWD systems can provide in snow or rain.
- Maintenance and cost: FWD layouts are typically simpler and cheaper to maintain than AWD systems, with fewer differential components to service.
- Variations by trim: The TSX included base and sport-oriented trims, including the TSX Type-S, all of which remained front-wheel drive; there was no factory AWD option on any variant.
- Market context: After the TSX ended production in 2014, Acura shifted focus to the ILX, which remains primarily FWD with AWD offerings appearing on other models in Acura’s lineup.
Overall conclusion: If AWD is a priority, the TSX line is not the right choice; however, if you want a compact executive sedan with a tunable driving experience and a history of reliability, the TSX remains a viable option in the used-car market.
Additional context
For comparison, many rivals in the same era offered AWD options, including some trims of the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, and Audi A4. Acura’s broader lineup, meanwhile, includes AWD variants on other models, but the TSX itself was not offered with factory AWD.
Summary
The Acura TSX is front-wheel drive. There was no factory all-wheel-drive option for the TSX in North America, including the wagon variant; potential buyers should weigh FWD benefits against rivals offering AWD depending on climate and driving needs.
