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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  Nice Car - 2009 Acura TL
  By Adam B - September 14 - 11:26 am

  Although the exterior of this styling seems a bit awkward, the first time one of them drive past me on the freeway, I was hooked. Its angular styling is actually quite brilliant. I purchased one for my wife in the pearl white color and we get nothing but compliments. The ride is pleasant and the engine has plenty of power for entertaining launches onto freeways and long jaunts to LA. In fact, the day after I bought it, I put over 400 miles on it driving to southern California and it was excellent. I also have a loaded Honda Accord, and Ill admit that I used to think Acura TLs were just a dressed-up Accord. But I am a believer now that the Acura is a much nicer car, even in standard trim.

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  Kick ass sports sedan with SUV cargo space. - 2010 Acura MDX
  By Pedro Rivera - September 12 - 1:32 pm

  I was looking for an SH-AWD TL, but after a long story with a dealer ended up with this MDX; and LOVE IT!!! It is a fast SUV, with sports sedan like feel. Loving the dealers screw up!!!

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  This is a great vehicle - 2003 Acura MDX
  By Bruce - September 12 - 10:20 am

  I have owned my MDX for almost 2 years and have not had any problems. I drove it from Ohio to California and averaged 23 MPG. The seats are comfortable, the navigation system superb and the storage area large. It goes great in the Ohio winters too.

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  2007 Acura TL- Type S Rocks! - 2007 Acura TL
  By rkahrmann - September 11 - 1:32 pm

  I really love my Acura TL-Type S. The fit and finish of this car is really nice. Every time I walk out and get into the car I look forward to turning the ignition key. It drives very well on the open road and the freeway. We took a 6K+ trip this summer and the car turned out to really be a great touring sedan. I think it is the best looking car on the road on the outside. I find the seats comfortable. Braking is superb. Overall I think it is one of the best designs ever. If you can pick up a used one, what a great value it will be.

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  Do Not Buy!!! - 2003 Acura TL
  By Disappointed - September 11 - 10:21 am

  I purchased my 2003 Acura TL Type S used with 49,000 miles in January of 2008. It WAS a great vehicle until the odometer hit 66,000 miles thats when the transmission failed and had to be replaced. The cost of the replacement was $3,500. I purchased this vehicle based off of Acuras claim of producing quality and reliable products. My Acura has not exhibited any of these claims. I should have listened to the consumer reviews I read while researching this vehicle. There was an alarming number of reviews warning of transmission replacements. Will not buy another Acura again.

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  TL=FUN - 2009 Acura TL
  By John - September 10 - 5:20 pm

  Just got the car. Tried to buy a Genesis first, but could not get right with the dealer. Glad he wouldnt bargain. TL is like a sports car, lots of fun to drive. Great handling and performance. Only drawback is interior space.

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  Great, affordable, fun coupe - 1997 Acura Integra
  By T Jeffries - September 10 - 12:07 pm

  This is the second Integra Ive owned. With its well- thought-out suspension its fun to pitch into corners. (Ive owned 60s British roadsters, contemporary Japanese sports cars and campaigned a number of sports racing vehicles--from an original Shelby GT- 350 to Formula Fords--and this is still a sweet little car.) Its also a capable cruiser for long trips and terrific on gas: it turned almost 37 mpg on our last trip. Quality-built, it should last another 1/4 of a million miles.

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  Acura... Any questions? - 2000 Acura Integra
  By dirtrider86 - September 9 - 9:07 pm

  I bought this car with 93,000 miles on it, and it runs like a charm. The three best things about this car are of course the looks, the performance, and the reliability. I put an aftermarket intake in my integra and it makes the thing scream, while it also improved the gas mileage. I love how I can drop the kids and wife off at church and go out street racing!

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  Not overly impressed - 2009 Acura RDX
  By Jack Gantos - September 9 - 8:41 pm

  Ive had my RDX for nearly three years on a lease and I will be turning it in and not getting another. The gas mileage is well below what is listed at 17mpg in town. I live in Boston and drive around town and get about 11/12 miles per gallon, and Im not a lead foot. The Turbo is not as responsive as it should be--there is some lag, but it is not bad when it kicks in. Just not as perfect as the sales people tell you it is. The interior is basic. Visibility is routine. Body design is nice. But the interior trim is just an upgraded version of a Nisson X-Terra. I question if my "leather" seats are really leather. They remind me of the Mercedes leather- like material I had in my Turbo D.

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  So Sorry I Have This Car! - 2016 Acura TLX
  By So Sorry! - September 9 - 1:29 pm

  This is my sixth Acura and probably my last. Im leasing a 16 TLX and wish I read these reviews before signing. The car has the same vibration issue over 60 mph that Ive been now reading about in many different postings. I noticed it before picking up the car and was assured it would be taken care of. Big rush to get the car out the door to me and the vibration was overlooked by them. My mistake to take delivery! Its now been back twice...1st time snarky service guy told me not to drive so fast and tires were re-balanced. 2nd time one tire was replaced. The service manager now claims that Acura is working on a fix but has no idea what or when. In the meantime, I have a defective car that I hate. Oh... and the touchscreen display is a nightmare too. If I could get out of this lease without destroying my credit I would do it today. Im very disappointed and angry!