Quick Spin: High-Strung Fun

Performance, efficiency, utility, and quality are the hallmarks of the upgraded 2005 Acura RSX. This is one car that is fun to drive, easy to use, and inexpensive to own. What it lacks is character, a stylistic flair to set it apart from the crowd. And when you’re competing against vehicles like the less expensive yet equally competent Scion tC and the stylishly retro Ford Mustang for customers that are making an emotional as much as a pragmatic purchase, dull styling is anathema. Buy the Acura RSX with your head, not your heart, and it’ll serve as a dependable daily driver during the week and a thrill ride on weekends. But if you need to express yourself through sheet metal, look elsewhere.