How To Build a Custom Acura TSX
Discontinued in 2014, the Acura TSX has grown a thriving aftermarket mods community that can help you turn it into the car of your dreams.
The Acura TSX’s broad appeal across performance, aesthetics, and manufacturing might not have saved it from cancellation in 2014, but it did build a large fanbase that continues to fine-tune the model to this day.
Whether as a sedan ($30,635) or a station wagon ($31,985), the Acura TSX packs a 2.4L four-cylinder i-VTEC engine into a pleasantly zippy front-wheel drive. This entry-level luxury car included quite a few desirable features inside its roomy and well-furnished interior, and with 201-horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, the TSX is light on its wheels.
We've put together a guide to help you tweak both your Acura TSX and your
car insurance
policy until they’re both better than new.2014 Acura TSX factory customization options
The 2014 Acura TSX was available with two engine options for original buyers. The standard 2.4L four-cylinder engine pushes 201-horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque for 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. It’s also the only engine with the option to choose between an automatic five-speed or a six-speed manual transmission.
On the other hand, the upgraded 3.5L V6 brought performance numbers up to 280-hp and 254 lb-ft of torque and dropped the 0-60 mph time from 7.7 seconds to just 6.4. The only downside is that the V6 has a slightly lesser fuel economy—19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Once you know what engine you want, it’s easy to choose between trims. The sedan’s Base trim ($30,635) is the only one that could be equipped with the V6 engine package, and you might want to buckle up for the full features list:
- Five-speed automatic transmission
- 17-Inch alloy wheels
- Xenon headlights
- Foglights
- Heated mirrors
- Power moonroof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Leather upholstery
- Eight-way power driver seat with memory settings
- Heated front seats
- Steering wheel tilting and telescoping
- Seven-speaker sound system with CD player and satellite radio
- Bluetooth and USB connections
The Special Edition trim ($31,635 for your choice of an automatic or manual transmission) exhibits sharper exterior elements: a unique front spoiler, rear bumper fascia, side sills, and wheels. These are complemented by interior faux-suede seat inserts, red stitching, red light for the cabin and instruments, aluminum pedals, and silver accents. It looks great, but the TSX Special Edition was restricted to the I-4 engine, making it a choice between speed or style.
It’s not a trim level, but the TSX’s Sport Wagon body style ($31,985) shouldn’t be forgotten. It was only available in Base trim with a features list identical to that of the sedan. Since it has the same four-cylinder engine, you won’t lose out on speed or fuel economy, but your cargo space expands to 66.2 cubic feet!
Acura TSX optional packages
The TSX sedan’s V6 engine option automatically included the Technology Package. While the Sport Wagon could be equipped with the same package, it didn’t include the engine. Here are all the original details:
Package | Cost | Features | Available for which trims? |
|---|---|---|---|
Technology Package | $3,100 | 8-Inch display screen, rearview camera, navigation system, voice recognition, and premium 10-speaker surround-sound audio system | Base trim, sedan, and station wagon |
V6 plus Technology Package (Sedan) | $8,640 | Technology Package features, 3.5L V6 engine, 18-inch wheels | Base trim, sedan only |
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There were a total of seven paint colors to choose from, running the gamut from Bellanova White Pearl to Vortex Blue Pearl, plus the option of Ebony or Parchment leatherette seating upholstery. You could also pick up goodies like cargo nets, covers, splash guards, leather shift knob wraps, leather steering wheel wraps, and 18-inch ebony alloy wheels, among others.
MORE:
Easy car mods
Which TSX customizations can save you money
Since the TSX was discontinued in 2014, you won’t have the option of choosing your own factory customizations, but here’s what you should look for in the classifieds.
The lighter I-4 engine will save you gas money, repair money, and insurance premiums. Besides that, there aren’t many factory options that improve the TSX’s repairability, safety, or insurability. Every trim and version already comes with antilock brakes, stability control, and traction control, plus the standard anti-theft car alarm.
The best Acura TSX mods
The TSX includes an impressive list of features, but aftermarket products have given car modders the chance to add even more. Here are a few you might like:
Alarms
Bolstering the security features of a luxury car is always a good idea. The
AMG CarPro-Tec GPS Alarm System
($380) includes everything you need to get started: easy installation, no subscription, and functionality right out of the box. All you need to do is supply a SIM card. If your vehicle is broken into or towed, the alarm will sound and you’ll be automatically notified of the car’s position via text message. Some insurance companies offer incentives for installing security products like these, but it’s best to check with them directly.
Suspension
There’s no point giving yourself extra power if you can’t steer safely. Lowering the car is a good first step because a lower center of gravity embraces the road better. To get a stiff suspension (the stuff dream sports cars are made of), you’ll need to replace the coil-overs, sway bars, and brakes. Choose some lightweight tires and you’re ready to move onto the engine.
Hondata Reflash
Motortrend staff members installed a new cold-air intake, ceramic header, and exhaust system in the course of their modifications to the powertrain. However, the icing on the cake (once you’ve finished all other performance modifications) is the
Hondata Reflash
. This nifty tool reprograms the car’s engine computer so you can best take advantage of all your installed parts.Don’t forget to check out KSport’s
general guide to performance upgrades
, and online forums like TSXclub
and AcuraZine
, to finalize your list of modifications!How to find affordable insurance for your Acura TSX
Modding a car takes time, but it’s well worth the effort. The same can’t always be said about car insurance—after comparison shopping for hours, you might still miss a deal or two hiding in the fine print! That’s why
Jerry
is the easiest and most effective way to find competitive insurance quotes.The
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