When it comes to buying a used mid-size sedan that comes with more creature comforts than an entry-level specimen, there are plenty of solid options on the market. A BMW 3-Series provides an engaging and refreshing driving experience, while the likes of the Subaru Legacy comes packing a reassuring all-wheel drive system that affords it excellent versatility across a range of conditions. These options can sometimes cost a fair chunk to maintain though, and this is where the Acura TSX comes in.The Honda-based machine is built to last, but it also provides the kind of creature comforts that make it a great long-distance tourer. At the same time, its sportier underpinnings make it a more entertaining drive when the road starts becoming twistier, making it a tantalizing prospect if you're in the market for such a vehicle. Handily, they're also pretty affordable in the world of used cars. The TSX Was One Of Honda's European Models AcuraIt is common for automakers to simply jazz up the more affordable models sold by their budget marques and stick badges from their luxury brands around the place, before then charging some extra cash. Honda stuck to this recipe with the TSX, though with a slight difference. The second-generation TSX was based on Honda's Accord mid-size sedan, though it was the European version instead of the one provided to American audiences.The Euro-spec model featured a shorter wheelbase and total length, as well as sleeker styling than the American machine. US buyers tend to prefer larger and more luxurious mid-size sedans than Europeans, who prefer smaller and sportier vehicles due to the tighter roads generally found across the Atlantic. Wanting the TSX to be harder, but still retain a more upmarket feel than the American Accord, the Euro variant provided the perfect platform. The TSX Offers A Sportier Drive Than The Accord AcuraFrom the outset, the TSX feels more spritely than the Accord. While it retains similar 2.4-liter inline-four and J-Series 3.5-liter V6 engine options to the Honda, both units are tweaked slightly to produce more grunt than they do in the Acura's cheaper cousin. The former engine has a higher compression ratio than the unit found in the Accord, affording the vehicle 201 hp versus the 190 hp in the Honda. The same goes for the six-pot engine, which kicks out an extra nine horses in the TSX than it does in the Accord.The changes don't end there, either. The TSX gets a sportier suspension setup than the Accord to ensure it can kiss apexes more effectively, but all the while retaining enough suppleness to make it a comfortable daily driver. The Euro Accord that the TSX is based on also comes with a wheelbase nearly four inches shorter than the American car, which ensures the machine is more agile when it's forced to change direction.While it doesn't have an effect on outright performance, the TSX's lower roofline gives it a more commanding aesthetic than the standard Accord, though headroom is compromised as a result. The Aging TSX Represents A Strong Used Deal AcuraGiven it was a sportier and luxury offering, and was sold with an Acura badge, the TSX demanded a little over $30,000 when it was brand new just over a decade ago. This translates to just over $34k in today's money, so it wasn't exactly a cheap proposition. Depreciation has worked hard to make a handy used deal out of it though, and even later 2013 model year examples are worth an average of $10,551 these days, according to the CarBuzz Marketplace. Older specimens, built between 2008 and 2010, have a lower average closer to $7,500.The $10k mark will secure you a lower-end version with middling mileage, though higher-mileage cars can be had for well under this kind of outlay. Should you be after a newer example with lower miles, and with the Technology Pack that offers extras like satellite navigation and a premium audio system, then expect to spend closer to $15,000.Cars with extremely low mileages for their age can fetch north of $20k, though spending so much isn't really necessary on the TSX. It's a very dependable car when looked after, so even higher mileage cars will have plenty of life left in them as long as they've not been treated like the black sheep of the family. Acura's Upmarket Sports Sedan Comes With More Standard Equipment AcuraWhile we've already established the TSX's extra sporting credentials versus the Accord, now it's time to tackle how you get more upmarket toys versus the Honda. While the standard Accord featured air conditioning and cloth seats as standard, most TSX models got heated leather seats, multi-zone climate control, as well as a moonroof. That said, you can get much of this equipment with higher-end versions of the Accord, which are worth a similar amount of cash on the used market these days.As a result, the TSX stands out more due to its upmarket badge and styling if you're struggling to choose between the two. The Accord Is The More Practical Option Honda The one area where the TSX does lack when compared to the Accord is practicality. The shorter body and sportier roofline mean the cabin feels more cramped than the Honda's, with the TSX severely lacking front headroom and rear legroom versus the Accord. Its trunk is also more of a squeeze, though its 14 cubic foot cargo area only gives away 0.7 cubic feet to its cheaper sibling.The TSX's tighter cockpit therefore positions it as a better option if you fancy having a sporty and more engaging drive, whereas those who feel a bigger cabin is more important in their luxury sedan will be better off opting for a higher-end Accord instead. There Are Few Major Issues To Worry About AcuraIf you come to the conclusion that the TSX is the luxury sedan you want in your life, then we have some news that'll sweeten the deal even further. Since it's full of Honda components, the machine is one of the most reliable sedans on the road, as illustrated by RepairPal.The site estimates that you'll only have to hand over around $415 per year to keep it running on all cylinders, which is solid for a car that comes with a hefty V6 as an option. There aren't many common issues to concern yourself over, though one of the most prolific is a scary-sounding rattle from the engine upon a cold start-up.The ailment is caused by a dodgy valve timing control actuator, which luckily should only cost a few hundred dollars to put right. Beyond that, various electrical problems can take hold and cause you some problems. These include the backlighting for the dash and cabin switches failing, which can be traced back to a failed circuit board.The TSX's stability control modular control unit is also known to exit the chat, which can lead to the brake pedal feeling softer and sitting lower than usual.Make sure to check over any used example you're looking at buying to ensure you're not inheriting someone else's problem, though fortunately, they're not the most expensive things to sort should they eventually crop up.It may be a Honda with some slightly posher badges and a jazzed-up cabin, but the TSX stands out as a cheap and sporty alternative that will inject some extra excitement into your commute when compared to a standard Accord. It may lack when it comes to being a practical option, but it retains the same excellent dependability that you expect from a vehicle produced by Honda.Plus, seeing as it's more exclusive, you may also find that more eyeballs will flash your way as you drive by. That's not something you can expect when piloting a Honda, unless it's a Spocket, of course.