Driving Impressions
Both the 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R and 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon have plenty of get up and go for any passing situation and have excellent, characterful engines mated to five speed automatics. The Subaru comes with a 3.6 liter liter 256 horsepower boxer engine whereas the TSX Sport Wagon comes with a rev-happy 2.4 liter 201 horsepower/170 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder. Both engines sound sporty when you push them but are smooth and refined on long motorway cruises.
The big difference, however, comes when the road gets curvy. Due to its elevated ride height, the 2012 Outback exhibits pronounced SUV-like body roll and doesn’t encourage the driver to push its handling limits. The 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon, on the other hand, is in another league entirely with telepathic steering, excellent body control and handling that is as easy to modulate and control as your average European sport sedan. In short, the TSX Sport Wagon is fun to drive on mountain roads whereas the Outback simply is not. And in this contest, that is a cardinal sin. (Advantage: 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon)