MILTON, ONT. — The Forks of the Credit Road, a 60-minute drive northwest of Toronto, is a steep and windy stretch of two-lane pavement and we are looking at it up ahead through a front windshield with a steep 21.9-degree angle. The car? Acura's 2006 CSX, the Honda Civic-based replacement for the 2005 Acura EL, which also rode on the basic mechanical bits and pieces of the Honda Civic.
So we're here to get a taste of the new entry-level model in Acura's five-car lineup which includes the CSX ($25,400-$31,900), RSX ($27,200-$34,00), TSX ($34,900), TL ($42,000-$45,800) and RL ($69,500). Look at the pricing (note: TSX and RL pricing is for the 2005 models) and you can see Acura's strategy.
The idea is to get youngish, somewhat affluent buyers hooked on the CSX and then keep them in the fold as their incomes expand and their driving needs and tastes evolve. Textbook business school stuff.
Canadian business schools, that is. You see, the CSX exists only in Canada because our take-home incomes don't match the Americans. Down south, the U.S. lineup for Acura starts with the RSX; here the starter model is the CSX. One of the advantages of having a Honda plant that snaps together Civics in Alliston, Ont., is the possibility of creating this only-in-Canada car.
Yes, the cynical among us will in fact say this new Acura is a gussied-up Civic and to some extent that would be correct.
Certainly the CSX looks quite similar. Honda types say the Civic's new styling direction is called kan-no dotai, or sensual moving object and if that name fits for Honda it should also apply to the CSX.
In the details, well, there is unique CSX front sheet metal not shared with the Civic. It houses an Acura pentagonal grille and optional HID (high intensity discharge) headlights. The CSX also has its own side mirrors, chrome-plated handles, five-spoke wheels and dual exhaust tips.
Beyond that, Acura officials are quick to argue that the CSX has more power than the Civic sedan (155 horsepower versus 140), electric power steering, more standard equipment and a higher grade of materials all around, especially in the interior.
"It's a completely different car going after a completely different customer," says Honda Canada vice-president Jim Miller.
As we whip carefully through the Forks' corners, this Acura doesn't feel dramatically different from a very well equipped Civic sedan, though the seats really jump out as a nice fit. They are snug enough to hold you in the twisty bits, but they don't squeeze you in tight so much as to pinch the air from your lungs.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has a pleasant hum when pushed hard and responds quickly to throttle inputs. The five-speed manual transmission in the CSX is a little disappointing; the lever does not move smartly from gear to gear and there is even the occasional hang-up between second and third gears. Very reminiscent of the '06 Civic's manual.
The touchy clutch engagement takes a bit of getting used to, also. I suppose Acura could argue that this is a sportier car than the Civic, so drivers should not be so casual about their pedal work. Of course a high-quality five-speed automatic with racing-like paddle shifters behind the steering wheel is available (a $1,300 option) for those who don't wish to bother with a clutch.
Over all, though, the handling is agile, the steering is well tuned to stay on-centre when necessary but also respond quickly when you turn into a corner. The brakes, anti-lock standard, feel sure and firm. The small steering wheel looks identical to the Civic's, save for the Acura badge in the middle. That's not a bad thing. It's an excellent wheel for gripping.
In fairness, I should note that Acura research and development engineer Kimitaka Ando has earlier in the day gone to great pains to describe the differences between this Acura's 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder power plant and the 1.8-litre four in the CSX.
He says the CSX engine traces its roots to the RSX. In any case, it's a solid engine that with a manual transmission delivers a very respectable 8.7 litres/100 km city and 6.4 highway.
As for the cabin, Acura has chosen materials that match or exceed what the main competitors are using in the Volvo S40, Volkswagen Jetta, Audi A3 and the four-cylinder versions of the Nissan Altima and Mazda6.
The cabin itself is adequately roomy, though keep in mind the kan-no dotai design means the '06 model CSX gives up a little bit of interior volume to the '05 EL, despite the gain in overall size. Interestingly, the CSX has more hip room and, truth be told, even larger folks will not likely feel cramped in this small car. In particular, a nearly flat floor makes for useful leg room in the back seat.
Note, too, that the '06 Civic and CSX share a two-tier gauge cluster, which places "primary" instruments in a pod atop the dashboard, with "secondary" gauges viewed through the steering wheel.
Company officials say the upper panel functions like a head-up display without the expense of projecting the gauges on the glass. It also lets Honda use some of what would otherwise be dead space under that sloping windscreen.
Except, of course, enthusiasts may say that fuel level and coolant temperature gauges are not as useful as a tachometer. There's the rub.
The tach isn't a "primary" gauge, though the speedometer is.
The analog tachometer has been relegated to the secondary display area. There is also a vast expanse of open area atop the dash between the base of the windscreen and the leading edge of the dash. Personally, it's not to my taste.
But no one can quibble with the cabin's tight panel fits, the crisp turn of the knobs, and a centre console with useful cup holders, a sliding armrest and a place to stash 25 CDs. All that and a load of standard equipment is in even the least expensive CSX.
For instance, the starter CSX with its durable cloth upholstery, has the usual power windows, door locks and the like, as well as automatic cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels and a full array of standard front, side and overhead curtain air bags.
Move up to the Premium version ($29,400) and you add leather-covered heated seats, a moon roof, HID headlights and a six-disc compact disc changer.
The Premium Navi version ($31,900) has a navigation system, voice-activated audio and climate control systems and a single CD player along with a digital audio card slot. For the record, MP3 jacks are standard on all models.
All in all, Honda has put together an affordably priced entry car for its upscale Acura brand. The car drives well, comes with lots of standard convenience and safety gear, and if past history is any indication at all, the CSX will be close to bulletproof.
Sure, there is a Civic underneath, but platform sharing is the way the car business works. In this case there is enough to separate the Acura from the Honda.
