2002 Acura RSX Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The 2002 RSX had some large shoes to fill: the new entry-level coupe was relacing the popular Integra, which last rolled off the production line in 2001.
The engine on the 2002 RSX was a bit bigger than the similar I4 engine in the 2001 Integra. The base engine is a 2.0-liter I4 rated at 160 horsepower and 141 lb/ft of torque, while the Type S gets some tuning to 200 horsepower. Base mileage ranges from 24-27 city and 33 highway for the base, and 24/31 for the Type S.
Safety for this car is excellent, with five-star NHTSA ratings for both the driver and passenger front impact. Good thing, too, as this car is fast and fun to drive. While the base car is available in either a 5-speed automatic or manual, the Type S is available only as a 6-speed manual. Acura is definitely building these cars to be fun and exciting to drive.
Drivers love the driving part of the 2002 RSX; they praise its quick acceleration, smooth handling, and sharp cornering. Some have complained about cracking leather on the steering wheel and throughout the interior. Others do not like the base radio on the car, but do note that it is relatively easy to replace.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2002 Acura RSX
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by ApolloMocha C
Nov 24, 2022
I owned one of these and car was amazing, I put over 258k miles on mine and never had any issues, and when I did I didnt even notice them car still ran just as good and when I got to my location Id notice the issue, fix it and it was good to go againNov 24, 2022
by Jose D
Oct 22, 2021
The Acura Rsx is a great commuter car but if you looking to the get more sportier then the Type S is the car you want to get Oct 22, 2021
by Anonymous
Apr 30, 2015
I have enjoyed owning my RSX for the past 2 years, it still looks good and I hate it was a limited model. Acura needs another sporty car. Anyways, the rsx type s comes with a great engine (k20a2), and what could be a great transmission, if they had put an lsd in it. Under hard acceleration you will notice the lack if a lsd, especially coming out of corners. Other than that it has been a great car, reliable, good gas mileage.Apr 30, 2015
User rating:
by ApolloMocha C
Nov 24, 2022
I owned one of these and car was amazing, I put over 258k miles on mine and never had any issues, and when I did I didnt even notice them car still ran just as good and when I got to my location Id notice the issue, fix it and it was good to go againNov 24, 2022
by Jose D
Oct 22, 2021
The Acura Rsx is a great commuter car but if you looking to the get more sportier then the Type S is the car you want to get Oct 22, 2021
by Anonymous
Apr 30, 2015
I have enjoyed owning my RSX for the past 2 years, it still looks good and I hate it was a limited model. Acura needs another sporty car. Anyways, the rsx type s comes with a great engine (k20a2), and what could be a great transmission, if they had put an lsd in it. Under hard acceleration you will notice the lack if a lsd, especially coming out of corners. Other than that it has been a great car, reliable, good gas mileage.Apr 30, 2015
by Cory E
Dec 27, 2013
this is a great car to have fun in fast and sharp! has the best handling of any front wheel drive car i've driven. the 6 speed manual transmission is great for quick acceleration. i absolutely love the RSX Type SDec 27, 2013
by Oudom P
Dec 13, 2012
This was my first brand new car that I've ever bought. after 280,000 miles and 10 years of ownership, this car is still going strong like day one. Maybe simply because I have used Mobile1 Synthetic motor oil every oil change. This is a perfect car for commuting or a weekend of spirited driving. I never had any major issues with this car, besides regular maintenance. Too bad I'm growing out of it, and upgrade to a more luxurious and sportier ride.Dec 13, 2012
by Jared T
Oct 26, 2012
Great car, purchased in Nov 2001 and driven until Aug 2012. No major maintenance problems or issues during the 120k miles I racked up on it. Sad to see it discontinued, but wouldn't be surprised to see a new successor pop up in the near future.Oct 26, 2012
by Derek C
Mar 30, 2012
I love my RSX. I've babied it since the day I bought it when I turned 16. It has great styling, everything inside and out is exactly where it should be, and it's very efficient without under-powered. It has been a great match to my personality.
Car looks great, much better than the other coupes in its price range like the Civics, Cobalts, Focuses, Corollas, etc... The factory aero kit and side skirts on mine give it a nice sporty look without going too Fast and the Furious.
Car has almost never been to the shop. In 90k+ miles, it has had one minor interior leather quick fix (under warranty), and one starter replacement after 70k miles. Maintenance on it is very easy. I've been changing oil and cleaning air filter on my own the entire time.
As for performance, I believe it was MotorTrend that announced it as the best handling front wheel drive car they'd ever driven when it came out, and I can attest. It's wonderfully light and nimble, and the perfect balance between spacious and outright boat-like (like most of current generation cars are). Engine-wise, yeah, the 200 hp Type-S engine would be nice, but I actually prefer the 5-speed manual over the 6 in the Type-S, and as long as you're in the proper gear, the car has plenty of get up and go for real driving conditions (60 mph achievable in 2nd gear, 90 mph in 3rd).
And last but not least, you have to love that it's relatively short production run has helped keep its resale value up. After 10 years I could still get nearly half of what I paid for it brand new. Good luck finding that in any other car!Mar 30, 2012
by Joel L
Nov 08, 2011
If I didn't have a family this car would be ideal as an every day car. The car is reliable and gets great gas mileage. I love the style and perfomance that Acura delivers. Really a lot of fun to drive.Nov 08, 2011
by Doug M
Feb 02, 2011
the car is great i never have any problems with it. it has an exedy clutch lowered on neuspeed springs with type r wheels. the car is fun to drive kind of slow but fun to drive. i love itFeb 02, 2011
by Sasha U
Jul 20, 2010
Its a fun little car. 200hp but little drag when the a/c is on. Grips the road on turns.
Sleek body style. However I'm disappointed with the leather seats up front. They
dont hold well and tend to ripJul 20, 2010
by Denal X
Apr 03, 2010
Nice pocket rocket for city drive. Good on mileage, 2L vtec engine is good on
customization but I like to stick to stock. Good for two people, never used the back
row seats. No good for the second row any ways.
I love the body line cues.Apr 03, 2010
by Troy B
Mar 22, 2010
it performs well for a base rsx, its fast enough to pass on the freeway and fast enough to have fun around town. Other then a lot of road noise and kinda stiff suspension, its a honda engine so you pretty much know what to expect. Other then a drop I dont really need to do anything to the exterior, I love the way it looks stock. Great gas mileage, honda parts are cheap. It handles really well, nothing like taking corners way over the suggested speed without fear of losing control.Mar 22, 2010
by Sean V
Feb 19, 2010
Currently fastest car I have owned. Only has a CAI for now, was able to get a 14.8 out of it. Very solid car, nice interior/exterior. Better mpg than my integra which surprised since it's faster but I'm not complaining! Definitely fun to drive, but would be much more fun with mods! Feb 19, 2010
by Jonny Rsx W
Feb 18, 2010
It only does around 500kms to a tank of gas, and the braking isn't the best since it has abs brakes, so sometimes it locks up if u brake really fast.. The acceleration is pretty good, and I haven't had to do too much in maintenance ways.. I dropped the car 2inches in the front and 2inches in the back, it rides really tight now, but is real rough over bumps now:(... Feb 18, 2010
by Anonymous
Feb 04, 2010
I have been driving and building hondas since i was 14 (now 20) and love the rsx. I have had a turbo civic, turbo integra, turbo crx's and this has to be the best car in a single package.
It does miss a few un-necissary things like heated seats, but otherwise you can't argue.
I have owned my rsx now for a year and love the sound of I-Vtec it just sounds SO MUCH better than ANY B SERIES motor!
The car handles excellent, rides smooth, pretty quick with just intake and exhaust. If you want to stall All-Motor and go fast I would highly suggest KPRO.
Not to mention honda/acura basically builds the car around the motor and suspention.
To Conclude to whoever spelled "VTECH" should go buy a house phone, Honda enthusiast, "hit vtec, it makes everything better"Feb 04, 2010
by William C
Jan 05, 2010
acceleration, braking and handling is awesome, but i need more.
build quaility : just like honda quality not an Acura.
appearance : if u looking for the best looking car in low budget, the answer is rsx.
Cost of ownership : gas mileage is good but rsx needs preminum gas. maintenance fee is actually high. especially price of parts are high. Jan 05, 2010
by Alex S
Dec 08, 2009
Acceleration is quick- V-TEC has a good kick in high RPM
Braking kinda sucks
Handling needs work
Appearance to me is beautiful, very sleek
Build quality is very good. Have had no major problems
Fun Factor- Its a blast to driveDec 08, 2009
by Marc C
Nov 23, 2009
light weight, tight handling, responsive 2.0L engine, aesthetics, spacious front seats, easy to maintain, ridiculously good gas mileage, six speed transmission is sporty and adds to the experience. Overall, a solid car thats quick and fun to drive around town and on highway.Nov 23, 2009
by Chris M
Oct 05, 2009
Performance- 2.2 iVTEC w/INJEN Cold Air, TEIN shocks and springs adjustable, Skunk2 Exhaust, Red Top Battery, Clutchmasters Stage 2 Clutch with Short shifter.
Build Quality- Custom molded body kit front end brackets kept breaking car was realy low.
Appearance- Carbon hood w/pins, Carbonfiber head and tail lights, stock interior, 18" ADR's w/ TOYO Runflat Proxies (dont do well on wet road)
Cost of Ownership- bought it as it was
Fun Factor- it was quick and fastOct 05, 2009
by Jaret S
Aug 20, 2009
Acura RSX type S. The interior is nice, S models have the
leather, 6 disc in dash, back-lit red gauges. 6 speed
transmission is slick, read in a magazine that it's "one of the
best gear boxes in the world". Quick and agile for a front
wheel drive. Very little maintenance even though it's rev
limiter is 8400RPM. Aug 20, 2009
by Tristan D
Aug 06, 2009
loved this car to death wanted to keep it forever but it was totaled 6 speed manual quick no problems besides minor old car problems nothing major very sporty best car i ever owned that was perfect in the snowAug 06, 2009
by Kyle L
Jul 26, 2009
I think that it has the capability to be an incredibly fast car but, I personally think that it's not made for a quarter mile. I think it's better suited for the autocross track. I think that if someone is looking for a quick Honda 4 cylinder, then this would be the perfect car.Jul 26, 2009
by Zach M
Jul 21, 2009
great performance all around, runs with strong v6's
like 350z's and v8's like mustangs but still manages
over 30 mpg with a best of 34.2 mpg, look forward
to driving it everyday, only routine maintenance is
needed, holds value well, rides great for a sports
car almost no body roll, 4 cylinder that can run a
13 second quarter mile with bolt ons and not break
your wallet to keep it up and runningJul 21, 2009
by Kevin X
Jul 02, 2009
Very good for daily drive. Great appearance and very fun to drive. Gas mileage is decent and does not have many problems. 2.0 iVtec sounds really nice at high rpm. Insurance can cost a lot since it considered a sports car.Jul 02, 2009
by Jonny Rsx W
Mar 22, 2009
Performance its acceleration pretty good, the braking its great, also the handles wonderful.. Build Quality not too bad:) For the cost of ownership for the gas mileage, the car only gets around 500kms to a tank of gas:(.. Build Quality:)
Mar 22, 2009
by Ryan G
Feb 25, 2009
Overall great car! Love the feel and look of the car. Easy to mod, which is a plus for my modding habits. The horsepower is okay but really lacks in the torque area as most Acura/Hondas do. Like I said though overall great reliable car.Feb 25, 2009
by Dustin N
Oct 17, 2008
In 2002 when the RSX was first made, it was the fastest fwd four cylinder car in the world. Stock that is. Cost isn't that bad for a new one but used it's even better. 3rd best car ive ever drove. One would be the Infiniti g35 Coupe. Second would be a 2006 Subaru WRX STi. Last thing to note is it had a wide variety of aftermarket parts.Oct 17, 2008
by Mark D
Aug 03, 2008
Everything came standard on the Type-S, with no options really to be had. The car is telepathic in terms of communicating the road through the steering wheel and seat. You can feel the friction and contact patch on each individual tire. Off the line is a decent start, but top end is lacking due to the 4 cylinder engine. You can whip this car through an autocross course beautifully. Lots of trunk space and front wheel drive makes this car more practical all year round than one would initially think.Aug 03, 2008
by Wes B
Jul 30, 2008
Car was a great car top speed Govened was 120mph, handled like it was on rails,
could eat Mustangs for any day of the week. Add a cold air intake to the mix and
then u will be really blowing the doors of some of the other more popular choice
cars. And it was a blast to driveJul 30, 2008
by Rob W
Jun 27, 2008
Its a Civic on steroids. Handles great, and handles even better at higher
speeds. Hugs the pavement at 140mph just like it does 45mph. Fun to
drive, shifts great, and comfortable as hell.Jun 27, 2008
by Matt S
Jun 26, 2008
A big leap over the Integra, the RSX Type-S brought the smallest Acura more in line with the rest of the Acura lineup by adding a slew of luxury features and higher level of performance. While it's 200 HP appears impressive, the i-VTEC engine never seemed to fulfill it's promise of sports car performance. Reserving it's power for a VTEC surge at about 5200 RPMs, the Type-S was great for highway sprints, but always seems numb on the daily side road commute. Build quality was exceptional though and for a car in it's class, it was a performace deal.Jun 26, 2008
by Luke B
Jun 24, 2008
This badass Acura has 200 hp to the engine and 142 ft lbs of torque with 60K miles on it. The style is great and the interior has a awesome look! There are endless upgrades you can do to this car. Just becareful what you put on and how you do it because it could lead to some mechanical problems. The car is very fun to drive and is good on gas. Usually my tank lasts about 2 weeks and I get about 300 miles to the tank. I would recommend this car to anyone that wants something reliable but still has a sporty look/feel. Jun 24, 2008
by Anas G
Apr 21, 2008
excellent engine, best transmission, loads of funApr 21, 2008
by Julie D
Dec 24, 2007
the Honda manual transmissions have always been the best ones as they provide the smoothest shifts as well as a nice progressive clutch.Dec 24, 2007
by John S
Dec 07, 2007
The red-line of 6800 makes it a fun car to drive in a straight line, and the amazing suspension makes city driving feel like you’re on a track! I love this carDec 07, 2007
by Max P
Dec 03, 2007
My 2002 RSX 5 speed manual was a great car to me. It had great acceleration for a 4 cylinder, and was certainly sporty enough to beat the other cars in its class. Although mine came to an untimely death due to some poor driving, had it not ended so abruptly we would still be together today.Dec 03, 2007
2002 Acura RSX Pricing
Original MSRP
$20,450 to $23,670Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
6 disc in-dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bose · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: sport bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
