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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  Great car except for LED headlights - 2016 Acura TLX
  By John Z. - January 30 - 5:51 pm

  Everything about this car is pretty nice. Cabin layout, trunk space, ride comfort, acceleration, etc all done to excellent standards. However, the LED headlights make this car dangerous for night driving. Projection down the road in ideal night conditions is at best mediocre. Rain or snow conditions are downright scary. The lights have NO sidesplash. Going around a dark corner is like driving into a sheet of darkness, nothing can be seen until the turn is fully made! The IIHS has found the same in their ratings and gave the TLX LEDs a poor rating. Hopefully Honda will be shamed into correcting for the next model year? If all you do is daytime driving - this is the car for you. Otherwise stay away!

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  Rides too hard-Its that simple - 2005 Acura TL
  By william hyman - December 17 - 9:46 pm

  I liked the technology( navigation & xm radio) BUT no ease of entry (wife couldnt reach door handle to close door from a seating position) tires were flat spotted for 3-5 miles from a resting position, engine & road noise was excessive. & ABOVE all the car gave me a ride like my "little red wagon" minus shocks & springs. Just traded for a lexus LS

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  Last honda product Ill own - 2003 Acura TL
  By badacurainsacto - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I was very excited to get my Acura, but have had it in for brake rotors twice, and for an engine ticking noise twice which they say is normal. Sunroof squeeks, radio squeeks and navigation system is often incorrect. I am very dissapointed in this car and will not be purchasing another Acura product!

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  Body part problems - 2009 Acura TSX
  By SMM - November 17 - 10:56 pm

  Have a problem with the defective clips holding the exterior side panels along the windshield of this car. They have repeatedly come off and dealership said I was the first to have it happen 3Xs indicating it is common. I find the trunk & hood also very thin & light causing them to vibrate at 60 - 70mph. Also have a/c problems. Seems to have a mind of its own turning on high without touching it. All other comments I agree with. Comfortable, good road feel, nice pick up - voice command however needs improvement as well as navi-lighting & paint quality (show minor scratching too easily)!

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  Acura was the car - 2006 Acura TL
  By babeh123 - October 20 - 8:56 am

  I thought I had a good car. No such luck. First the steering wheel was aligned crooked and the ride is horrible. The ride is too rough and bumpy. You feel it on smooth roads and it shakes the car on rough roads. I thought the tires were out of balance but after 3 times in the shop, no improvement. Mine is a 2006 and I am going to trade it in for a rear wheel drive car. No more Acuras for me

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  TL is Junk - 2003 Acura TL
  By Acura TL is Junk - October 19 - 1:34 pm

  I have never felt so badly about a product as to write a review, but this car is so awful that I cant let it go. I drive the car very conservatively and cautiously. The transmission has failed three times. Exterior paint scratches and chips easily. Exterior sheetmetal is thin and dents easily. Brake rotors warp and require maintenance frequently. Seat heaters no longer work. CD changer has stopped working. Interior has numerous rattles, squeaks, buzzing noises. Air conditioner has needed refrigerant refill two times. Moonroof leaked and flooded interior, car interior now has disgusting mold odor. I am sorry I purchased this vehicle.

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  Disheartened TL Owner - 2001 Acura TL
  By DaAcuraTL - October 4 - 9:41 pm

  Was continually taking it into the shop for repairs. There were 37 repairs in 7 years and this is not counting servicing, which were all done on time. Multiple attempts to fix the nav system (7 months) multiple attempts to fix handling problems on two separate occasions (23 months total) had to replace molding between doors 11 times had to replace all four window drive units at separate times had to replace heater system had to replace one motor mount had to replace windshield washer pump assembly had to replace door latching system in passenger door and drivers door is going out also had to replace all the brakes at 19,000 miles and had to replace positive battery cable.

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  Vibrates Like Crazy - 2007 Acura MDX
  By Lewis Lake - September 23 - 8:58 pm

  This vehicle vibrates badly at speeds above 60 MPH and has noise issues with rear windows down. Although the performance is great, it corners well, and acts like a big 4X4, its no fun when the vibration pushes you off the highway. The dealer has not been able to fix the problem and Acura said they have company cars the act the same way. "Live with it!"

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  2016 TLX v4 transmission jerk nightmare - 2016 Acura TLX
  By zack - September 13 - 10:14 am

  A long time Acura owner loved my TL. Car was totaled and decided to buy a new car between TLX and mazda 6 GT. I heard the 2015 transmission problem and was told by dealer the problem has fixed. Searching online found no report on the 2016 model and people talking about the problem has been fixed by updating software (I was wondering if they are hired by acura!!). I did tested the car I want to buy for 30 min stop-go many times and noticed nothing (at 65F). After 400 miles or so the car started to jerk at 0-30 mile/hr at all first 3 gears 80% to time (between 32F to 50F temperature). Now at 700 miles the car started to jerk when slowing the car from 30 - 0 miles/hr. What a nightmare to drive the car. I hope Acura come out a real solution to the issue and fix the problem.

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  Stay Close To Home - 2003 Acura TL
  By okiebill - August 20 - 9:58 pm

  We purchased the 03 TL to replace our Maxima and things were fine for exactly 50,000 miles. The transmission (auto) went out at warranty, but was replaced at no charge. The second transmission lasted 1500 miles and went out when we were in a remote rural area. Now on the third tranny and fingers are crossed. Hate to trade in a car that is already paid off, but we really dont trust it anymore. Looks great and very nice ride on the Michelins.