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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  Mercedes to Acura - 2005 Acura TL
  By Retired Mercedes CLK - April 9 - 9:56 pm

  Although pretty, the Navigation stinks!! Has a very wide turning radius. Seats took a little getting used to, initially felt uncomfortable and hard. Handles pretty well and sturdy for a 6 cylinder. Pick up is slow, dont expect a sports vehicle or ride. I love the aesthetic appeal both inside & outside!! Its a cute car that reminds of a BMW 3-series. Overall, I recommend for the money even over the Mercedes.

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  Great Car - 1994 Acura Integra
  By Blackura - April 9 - 3:34 pm

  I have owned a black Acura Integra LS for 13 years. This is a great car. It handles really well. Make sure you get some decent tires like Michelin Energy+ or Kumho Solus. You will notice the performance different. Repairs so far: master brake cylinder, starter, radiator, resister fan, and b- pipe. Not bad for 13 years. Brake pads last forever on this car as I have only replaced each set once! Mileage is good for a 1994 model. While living in the rural country I was getting 35 mpg! Since 94 other cars have caught up with the Integra in terms of acceleration and gas mileage but it is still impressive. Driving this car down winding country roads is a lot of fun due to the amazing handling!

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  The 2009 Acura TL is world-class - 2009 Acura TL
  By Sean - April 9 - 12:58 am

  I love the Acura TL. The first thing everyone notices is the distinctive styling. Trust me, when you see this car in person, it looks great. Its very bold, distinctive and really stands out. Beautiful lines everywhere. The interior is also beautifully designed. You can see the beautiful lines and really see and feel the high level of craftsmanship. As well done and even more so compared to Audi interiors. Everything feels great. It has a powerful and smooth engine that can satisfy all but the most discriminating owners. The ride and handling is a perfect balance between sport and comfort. Drive the TL and youll see how special this is. Its style, technology and luxury at its best.

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  Best Vehicle Buy EVER ! - 2009 Acura TL
  By Bakers07 - April 8 - 8:01 pm

  We just bought our new TL and absolutely LOVE IT!!! We traded in a Cadillac STS and would never ever go back to a Cadillac. Everything about this car is great including the salesperson that sold it to us. It is just as roomy as the STS but way more roomy. The great thing about these cars are they are quiet. We love both the interior and exterior look of the car !! If you are thinking about buying this car... DO IT !!

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  A Dream Car - 2009 Acura TL
  By ozzy - April 7 - 10:13 pm

  This is my third Acura. First one was 03, then 05 and now 09. The changes from the previous models are drastic. Every detail was thought of, even windshield wipers that no longer leave a streak of water on the windshield in front of drivers eyes. The interior is very high tech, functional and not boring. The suspension is now softer and the bumps are forgiving. Its wider and longer, so it gives you a lot more space. The tech package makes this car even better. For $35K, youll never find a better car with features such as color backup camera, Ipod integrations, Navi w/weather/traffic updates, push button, etc.

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  Holy Cow!!! - 2009 Acura TL
  By autofanatic - April 7 - 5:15 pm

  This is the first car Ive ever driven that really handles like its on rails!! The SH-AWD system is amazing, and after driving it back to back against the 335i and G37, theres simply no comparison. While the other two might be a little quicker in a straight line, they cant match the handling of this car. Plus, their interiors looked really cheap compared to how luxurious the TL is, and both felt really cramped. Concerning all the comments about the exterior, I have to admit I wasnt sure about it at first. But the more I look at the car the more I love it. Ive never had a vehicle that turns so many heads. I had two guys in their 20s compliment the car saying it was "tight"!

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  13 years with a Mercedes, now my Acura - 2009 Acura TSX
  By Bru - April 7 - 4:42 pm

  I leased a Mercedes C280 sedan new in 96 then bought out my lease. I had considered replacing it since about 03, looked for a new car every so often but couldnt find a worthy replacement, test drove many cars. This TSX was love at first sight. I had no idea Acura had redesigned the TSX until I visited the dealership - old one was a little too small & plain for me. Love It! Awesome! Fun! Intuitive! I feel like Im driving the best looking car (definitely under 50K!) on the road. Honda/Acura reliability, 0-60 faster than the inline-6 Benz I sold, handles great, all the gadgets you want. Didnt get the tech package because a 6 disc changer is so 90s and I want a portable NAV. Cool!

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  Beautiful Looking & Driving Car-Love It! - 2006 Acura TL
  By AmyB - April 7 - 2:29 pm

  I bought a 2006 in Feb of 2009 and I love it! Best driving car Ive owned, even compared to a luxury sports car I have. A mechanic I know described it as "the car that you feel one with when you drive it!", and hes exactly right. Smooth, beautiful, easy ride, without being cushy or boring. In other words it has great road feel in a good way, but is not hard...its nimble, agile, firm but smooth as silk. Beautiful interior....open & airy, with classic sleek styling and perfect ergonomics. This is a lovely car, inside and out. A lot of comfort, luxury and style for the price range. Only been two months but so far so good....Loved it instantly upon first test-drive and even more now!

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  Bang for the buck - 2007 Acura TL
  By lions208487 - April 7 - 8:16 am

  I test drove the new G35, and well the Acura cant quite beat the Infiniti as far as straight off the line power, however, when it comes to the complete package for the money, nothing beats the Type-S. Test drove the BMW 3 series, Mercedes C-class, Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura. I went with the Type-S simply for everything you get with the car. Fun to drive, great power, and all the extras that you would have to pay more for with another vehicle.

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  Great car - 2009 Acura TSX
  By no - April 6 - 8:10 pm

  I was a confirmed small car driver but this car has changed my mind, it is not the big slow mid size but a taste of luxury I was not expecting at the price point. It is smooth and effortless to drive and gets me 31mph which is close to my old mini.