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The Acura RSX is a sport coupe for drivers who want upscale sophistication. That sophistication extends from the well-appointed cockpit to the superb driving dynamics.

Honda's powerful twin-cam engines, well-tuned sports suspensions, and four-wheel disc brakes make the RSX an exciting ride. Supportive, contoured seats, excellent visibility, and all the conveniences make it a comfortable ride. A useable back seat and expandable cargo space make it practical. This is a terrific car for the single, upwardly mobile.

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Acura RSX comes only as a two-door coupe. Two engines are available. You need to make two major choices: whether you want cloth or leather, and whether you want the more powerful engine and related sports equipment. There's no need to upgrade for luxury features, because the base RSX comes standard with all of the convenience features of the Leather and Type-S models: automatic climate control, cruise control, power windows and locks, power moonroof, anti-lock brakes, and 16-inch alloy wheels. RSX also comes standard with a premium six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo. There really aren't any options.

RSX ($19,950) is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 160 horsepower. It comes with a five-speed manual or optional five-speed automatic with SportShift ($20,850). Cloth is standard. Perforated leather upholstery is available for an additional $1,000.

Acura RSX Type-S ($23,170) gets a 200-horsepower version of the same 2.0-liter inline-4. Type-S comes exclusively with a six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox. Leather is standard. Also standard is a Bose AM/FM/cassette/six-disc in-dash CD changer with seven speakers, including a big woofer.