Overview & Reviews

Acura is an upscale automaker known for offering cars with impressive levels of luxury, features and performance. It's come a long way in a short time, however, as the history of Acura is relatively brief. Parent company Honda introduced the Acura brand to the U.S. market in 1986 in an effort to create a separate luxury division for its products. At first, it was just a two-car show: the Legend sedan, which was the first true Japanese luxury car sold in America, and the Integra sport coupe and sedan.

Though essentially a marketing creation for the North American market, the Acura brand was immediately successful. Consumers liked the features, performance and upscale image of Acura cars, along with the fact that Acuras were backed by Honda's reputation for reliability and low ownership costs. In 1991, Acura introduced its crown jewel: the all-aluminum NSX sports car, which offered performance close to that of other exotic cars while undercutting them in price.

As Acura's product line grew in the 1990s, however, the company struggled a bit. Some of its products were duds, and it risked alienating loyal customers when it replaced the Legend and Integra names with alphanumeric designations. The company jumped on the hot luxury SUV bandwagon in the mid-'90s with the SLX. Unfortunately, the SLX was just a rebadged version of an Isuzu SUV, and its quality did not match customers' expectations.

For the new millennium, Acura revamped its product range. An all-new SUV called the MDX debuted, sporting numerous family-friendly features, including a third-row seat. The Integra was replaced with the RSX sport coupe, and an all-new entry-level sport sedan called the TSX was introduced after that. A complete redesign of its most popular model, the midsize TL sedan, followed, as did a redesign of its flagship RL luxury sedan.

By mid-decade the NSX was gone, but Acura filled out its model lineup with the street-performance-oriented RDX compact crossover, the TSX wagon and the ZDX, a fastback-styled crossover that placed unique styling over practicality. Today Acura is still trying to find its ideal niche but there's no denying the quality of Acura's vehicles, nor their appealing mix of performance, technology and value.

User Reviews:

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  Bang for the buck - 2009 Acura TSX
  By boxster - May 20 - 1:42 pm

  Lots of feature for the price. Comparable to Mercedes c-class, mbw 3-series as far as luxury features. Performance-wise, it feels under power.

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  Exciting car to drive - 2009 Acura TL
  By Wayne - May 20 - 7:38 am

  Picked up this 2009 TL Sho With tech package 4/2009 and I must say the nav system is much better than in my 05 RL. The vehicle is fun to drive and Im having a hard time staying out of it. The sound system is top notch and I love the IPod USB feature. Overall after doing much research and test driving BMW, Mercedes and Infinity this is the value for the money out here.

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  The best car ever - 2006 Acura TL
  By Torri - May 20 - 6:53 am

  I own a 2006 TL. I often just get in the car and ride because I love the feeling and the looks I get from others. I must say it is a real head turner. The voice activated navigation system is very easy to use, the blue- tooth technology is awesome. The only thing I am not impressed with is the 2 tone interior, besides that I have no complaints about my new purchase. I think Acura has definitely stepped up and can run with the best of them. It is well worth the money, you will not be disappointed.

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  I Love This Car - 2009 Acura TSX
  By Michael - May 19 - 3:35 pm

  Though less than a month old, I am in love with this car. I previously owned a 2005 Volvo S40 turbo, and while I have nothing but good things to say about that car, I think I like my 2009 TSX better. The interior can feel a bit like the cockpit of a 747 at first, but within days I was comfortable navigating and controlling it. The nav system with integrated blue tooth and iPod is a dream, and the the backup camera, while cheesy, is a nice touch. The only drawback to this car is power. At barely over 200HP, it seems hesitant to accelerate. The handling and braking work like a champ, but I would love to see this with a turbo. Overall, this is a fantastic car!

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  Get one! - 1997 Acura CL
  By kalzone - May 19 - 9:06 am

  Ive always been a VW/Audi guy and recently bought a used 1997 CL 2.2 for about $1500. Best money I ever spent. I cant believe I got all these option in one package. Engines good. AC, power seats, sunroof, ABS, radio all work great. Plus its great on gas. It doesnt corner like an Audi or a VW but close. Has lotsa room and is built tight. VTEC engine performs great and literally sips gas. Why didnt I discover Acuras sooner? Only thing I changed was a ball joint. You can pick these CLs up now for about 2grand and you wont be disappointed. Its a mixture of luxury and performance. Its not a Beemer but is much better than an Accord. My advice, get one!

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  Awesome Car - 2005 Acura TL
  By TL in PA - May 19 - 4:50 am

  We love our new Acura TL. We love the power. Also the grade logic control which we cant live without. The interior is great and has ample room. It is a well packaged car with good distinctive looks that sets itself apart without being "ugly." The Bluetooth is an awesome feature along with the sweet sound system. We truly have enjoyed our TL. Its an awesome highway cruiser with plenty of passing power. Best bang for your buck, no comparison to others in the class. Acura is the BEST!!

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  RSX Type S - great all round car - 2002 Acura RSX
  By redline8x1000 - May 18 - 5:51 pm

  This was my first car I bought on my own and it was great. Had everything you would want in a car including, performance, looks, utility, fuel economy, and reliability. If I had a need for a 2nd car I would have kept it however Im sure it will be a blessing to the next owner.

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  Great car, handles like a go-cart - 2004 Acura TSX
  By TSXter - May 18 - 10:00 am

  Had the car about a month, very satisfied with performance, handling and fuel economy. Has a squeek on the top of the dash that I have to get taken care of. Miss the memory seats from my last car. Car is great and a lot of fun to drive. The navigation system with voice command is the best I ever tried, and is fun and worth the money.

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  What a deal! - 2004 Acura TSX
  By brenob - May 18 - 10:00 am

  I looked at several others entry level luxury-sport cars. The 330Ci, G35, C320 Sports Coupe, and others. The TSX was more fun, had better fuel efficiency, better features, and (except for the 330Ci) better handling and road feel. Plus the included features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, and sunroof were standard, not extra. If youre thinking about getting this car I would DEFINITELY go with the navigation option. The navigation is amazing, the 8" LCD touchscreen is amazing, and the voice activation lets you keep your hands on the wheels and eyes on the road!

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  I love this car! - 2004 Acura TL
  By corene Myers - May 18 - 10:00 am

  I have only had this car since April, but we already have a love affair. It is a wonderful ride, its sporty, smooth and just a beautiful car, both in and outside. I get compliments on this car where ever I go, even at the traffic signals people tell me how beautiful the car is.