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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  Bought it brand new. Amazing Car - 2005 Acura RSX
  By nateprice - October 4 - 9:48 am

  Bought it off the lot in 2005. Have had it for 193000 miles. The only thing Ive had to replace is the rear calipers which siezed up at 150,000 miles. Still have the original clutch. No other repair costs. And I drive this thing HARD... Brakes last, tires last, amazing gas mileage. 5 spd manual is fun, 160 hp engine could be a bit beefier. Type S isnt that much faster and requires premium. Friend has type s, He barely accelerates faster up to 60 mph. From 60+ the Type S really accelerates better. Handles amazing! Take turns fast with confidence and ease. Steering is responsive

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  Acura RDX - 2014 Acura RDX
  By pr1 - September 29 - 8:24 pm

  I have had my Acura for three weeks and I remain very satisfied with my choice of the RDX. I had narrowed my search down to three brands when I arrived on the Acura sales floor in Tustin California. I always felt that a root canal was preferable than shopping for a new car. The salesman I was put in contact with, Kevin, knew his product, easily explained the cars features and then stepped back to let the car sell itself. During the next few weeks I found myself back on the sales floor several times to ask Kevin questions about some of technological features. Thats when I found Kevin to be as accommodating after the sale as he had been before.

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  Best 2014 (7 Pas) SUV - 2014 Acura MDX
  By nav11 - September 29 - 2:28 pm

  Former 2012 ML350 owner, the 2014 Acura is $5k cheaper and offers so much more for the money. I test drove Infiniti Q60 and it did not compare. No contest the MDX is the by far superior than ML, RX, Q60 and the XC. The MDX provides an Excellent ride, best mpg in its class, sexy jewel headlights, roomy, prompt acceleration. Acura did a great job.

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  A great little car - 2003 Acura RSX
  By mjl73187 - September 7 - 11:11 pm

  This is truly a little gem of a car. Ive had mine for over four years, put almost 50,000 miles on it, driven it three times round-trip from Connecticut to Arkansas, driven it around the mean streets of Brooklyn. It never lets me down. Ive driven it at 80+ mph with all my worldly possessions (including an antique desk) crammed in the back and STILL gotten 34 mpg. Ill drive it until the wheels fall off, unless I need something with four doors.

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  Very Happy - 2013 Acura RDX
  By flipmank - September 5 - 9:33 pm

  Ive been driving my Acura RDX AWD for about 5 months and Im really happy with the car. Performance and comfort aside its generally the best looking car in any crowded parking lot. Looks matter and the RDX (post 2012) looks better than most luxury SUVs.

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  20 Years Later She is still Cruising - 1993 Acura Legend
  By dtuura - September 4 - 11:09 pm

  I have had 7 cars in the past 5 years ( all used ) and ive got to say this car takes the Cake. Got a 93 legend for $900 with 152k and i cant regret it. The design and performance of the car is Great and for once i have no Engine lights on. The car doesnt overheat, the tranny doesnt slip and it always starts right up. The one down side is deffinately the suspension but Whatever! the car is 20 years old, that should be expected. also the gas Mileage isnt that Great but i think ill survive

• 

  Great luxury midsize SUV - 2012 Acura MDX
  By mike828 - August 28 - 3:26 pm

  After researches on most of the luxury midsize SUVs and driving tests on new Lexus RX350, Mercedes-Benz ML350 and Acura MDX, I decided to go with MDX Elite, mainly based on its performance, comfort, handling, safety features and value. I have no regrets with my purchase of this fantastic crossover since I drive it for almost two years.

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  Traded Porsche - 2014 Acura RDX
  By jadrie2 - August 28 - 10:29 am

  Believe it or not, the 2014 RDX rides and drives better than my Porsche. I downsized, traded and got 2014 RDX with Tech pkg and walked away with over $15k check to me. Some things are just a name and status symbol....

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  Acura made a great vehicle even better - 2014 Acura MDX
  By mogulz - August 26 - 8:07 am

  The 14 MDX looks similar to the 13, except for the jewel headlights and less obtrusive beak. But the driving experience is much different. In comfort mode, it drives like a Lexus RX300. In sport mode the suspension and steering tightens up and it drives like a 13 MDX. Normal mode is a happy medium. Power is still impressive. Acura claims it is faster than the 13. I believe it. Mileage is excellent. Ill get at least 26mpg on the highway. Around town has been closer to 20. The technology in the stereo, navigation, bluetooth, etc is impressive, but not intuitive. I have had to flip through the manual on several occasions to do something I had thought was elementary.

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  always BMW and now my first MDX - 2014 Acura MDX
  By acuramdx14 - August 22 - 8:14 am

  This the best and fun car I drove is acura MDX in 2003 I bough new X5 the in 2009 trade it for new X5 and I also leased a BMW GT 535 2010 this GT was a bad experience bad car look nice but bad handeling and comfort my brother have ML mereceds 2013 tghe MDX much faster and better on curves