For most people today, the words “station wagon” still conjure up visions of the faux-wood-paneled behemoths of the 1970s—which goes a long way toward explaining why the new crop of wagons has universally changed the “station” to “sport.”
But whatever you call them, cars like the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, set to make its U.S. premiere at the New York Auto Show in April, are gaining new prominence in the marketplace as a result of changing customer tastes. The new Acura, for example, is being touted as providing “balanced and efficient performance coupled with bold styling and versatile cargo capabilities.”
In other words, you get the kind of dynamic driving experience missing from most SUVs and crossovers, but without giving up the interior flexibility that makes those vehicles so popular as family haulers.
According to Los Angeles Acura, the TSX Sport Wagon will essentially be a rebadged version of the European Honda Accord Tourer (“Tourer” being a euphemism here for “station wagon”), a car that has a nice track record of success across the pond. Switching nameplates like for the U.S. will allow Acura to position the vehicle against up-market rivals such as the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon, Saab 9-3 SportCombi (“SportCombi” being Swedish for “station wagon”) and Audi A6 Avant (“Avant” being Audi-ish for “station wagon”). This also will let the company sticker the car with a correspondingly up-market MSRP, likely to start a few grand north of $30,000. For those looking for a less expensive luxury car, certified preowned Chantilly might be the next best option.
Acura hasn’t provided detailed specs yet, but the UK Accord Tourer, for comparison, offers a range of four-cylinder gas engines, including a 2-liter powerplant that can deliver mpg ratings in the upper 30s in the European testing cycle. Of course, the U.S. model will surely offer the bigger, less-efficient 2.4-liter four instead, along with the requisite V6 option for a high-performance model. All told, Woodbridge VA Acura expects the TSX Sport Wagon to provide a rare blend of utility, efficiency, and sportiness.
For those that aren’t hung up on the luxury badge, there are many other options available to satisfy the need for versatility. These vehicles include the Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza, and even the Nissan Juke, which Arlington Nissan dealers expect will fully satisfy all aforementioned needs of utility, efficiency, and (definitely) sportiness.
Customers can expect the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon to hit dealerships this fall.
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