The suspension plays a huge role in the sporty feel of the TSX. While at the core it's essentially the same design found in the current '03 US model Accord, the differences in wheelbase, vehicle width, weight, shock and damper tuning, wheel and tire size all conspire to make you think otherwise. While the '03 Accord 2.4 is a reasonably athletic vehicle, this TSX turns up the wick several notches, and provides quite a different feel.

In a stunning reversal of Honda/Acura convention, I learned through speaking with Mr. Tsuto Sasaki (Chief Engineer and Deputy LPL responsible for the Body and Chassis of the TSX) that the suspension is actually 5% stiffer than the Japanese and European Accord Type R models. This translates to quite a fun ride. Turn in response is sharp, body roll is minimal, grip is quite good (despite the universally disdained Michelin tires), and the car changes directions rather impressively. Pushing it hard on the canyon roads of Malibu, the car maintained an incredible amount of poise and refinement. The few road imperfections on the segments of pavement we sampled were handled with aplomb. Ride quality is superb, especially for a car possessing the capabilities of the TSX.

Steering feel and weighting is quite good by my yardstick. To be frank, I'm not one to nitpick much about steering beyond accuracy and responsiveness, and by those measures, the TSX is just fine. Turn-in is crisp without being darty, and during my day of driving accuracy was never a problem.

On paper, the TSX's brakes may seem a little underwhelming, especially considering they appear to share the same specifications as those found on the RSX-S, which is more than 400 lbs lighter. In our testing of the RSX Type-S, we were a little disappointed by its braking performance (the RSX Factory Performance, on the other hand, is quite a different story). On the road, however, the TSX's braking performance was rather impressive, repeatedly hauling the car down from speed with authority. Pedal feel was great, with relatively low effort required for some truly eye-popping negative G's and little to no noticeable ABS activity. Credit is likely due to the superior contact patches and weight distribution of the TSX. It's unknown at this point how this braking performance will hold up under more strenuous conditions, but the initial indications are positive.