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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  For "Smart People"! - 2004 Acura TL
  By Richard Mesaros - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Just about perfect,next step should be four wheel drive.

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  Not bad, not great, just okay - 2003 Acura TL
  By Daniel - September 8 - 4:05 pm

  I purchased this Acura used after totaling a 2000 BMW 528iT with Sports and Premium packages. It was a good purchase but not of the same luxury features of the BMW so I have never completely bought into an Acura being an upscale car. The fact that mine has “Honda” stamped on the windows makes it difficult to consider it anything more than an expensive Accord. The sheet metal is thin and easily dents. I leaned against the car and left dents in the right rear panel. A small hail storm left minor dings all over the hood, roof and rear. It is not the quality that I expected from an Acura. I do enjoy the car but am constantly looking for my next car.

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  I love my TSX - 2006 Acura TSX
  By SipsAcura - September 8 - 12:09 pm

  I have had no issue so far with my vehicle and I have had it over one year. Drives well great performance especially on the highway. I like the way it brakes down when you are slowing down. Great value for the money lots of amenities!

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  Wish I was a "Mecha"................ - 2003 Acura TL
  By Khushwant Jhaj - September 7 - 10:00 am

  If i was aMecahnical man then i would have married this car and would has done my best to produce babies. With no second thought this was my best decesion ever. This car more relible then any girl friend i eve had and more trustworthy too. I love the handling and speed. Believe or not i drove this flying souceser at the speed 120mph while driving on Highway 5. This is till now the best sedan for the price. If you are in the market for new Toyota Camery XLE of Infinity I35 or g series with all the option go for this and you will be more happy. This is luxury for free. Believe me this is right.

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  TL-S Ride in LA - 2003 Acura TL
  By myhonda - September 7 - 10:00 am

  The value of the TL-S is unparalleled. As a rocket scientist, I can say that this vehicle is top notch technically and creature comfort- wise, dollar for dollar. I never drempt of spending more than $25k on a depreciating asset, but only this car convinced me otherwise. The acceleration is superb in sportshift or auto. It is comfortable for the largest of my guests. Average 20mpg in LA traffic. 5k miles so far. Will take on a roadtrip soon.

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  After one year - 2007 Acura RL
  By stuart - September 6 - 2:28 pm

  Had for 1 year, 14,000 miles. Excellent fuel economy 27-30 on all highway. No mechanical problems. My wife would like an adjustable passenger seat, seating position too low. Fit and finish second to none. RL has plenty of power I use it often on steep hills. I like the styling much more than the 09 grille has a richer more elegant look than the 09. Handling is great in high speed situations, far superior to the TL. I like the exterior design, quite understated, however I do see the point of someone saying it looks too much like a Honda. I understand the 2011 will be a totally new car. Acura/Honda really does want to compete with the best from Lexus. After all is said and done would I buy it again... for sure.

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  Awesome Vehicle! - 2008 Acura MDX
  By Karigirl - September 6 - 10:54 am

  I leased my new Acura MDX almost a year ago and still love it every time I get in it. My previous car was a 2004 Acura TL and I thought I couldnt find a vehicle I loved more than that until I got the MDX. The handling, the transmission, the power, the comfort, the styling, just about everything! I wish the gas mileage was better but I am lead-footed and I am averaging 17 mpg. When I drive mostly highway, I get closer to 22. We recently bought a second car, an 02 Maxima, and I couldnt wait to get back into the Acura. I forever will be an Acura fan! Best cars on the road, in my opinion (well, at least in my price range-LOL!). Oh, and did I mention, I have the BASE model!

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  More of the same from Acura - Excellence - 2008 Acura TL
  By Tony - September 6 - 10:20 am

  This is my fifth Acura. I traded in a 2005 TL for the new 2008 S-Type. The car is built like a vault with great handling and performance. The bronze metallic exterior with taupe interior is a knockout. Standard amenities, such as the nav system, are nothing short of luxurious. I found the standard bronze wheels very unattractive and insisted they be swapped with the standard issue wheels, and this was a huge improvement. Acura continues to provide an excellent product at a reasonable price.

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  Great Car! - 1998 Acura CL
  By Rita - September 5 - 2:33 pm

  I purchased this car after owning a crappy VW Passat 2 years ago. This car has been great no problems in general. The gas mileage can be rough if you want to get moving fast, but otherwise, not bad for a V6. (I typically get about 25 mpg in city traffic.) I would definitely recommend this car to anyone looking to buy a car thats a lot of fun to drive.

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  Acura worth every penny - 2008 Acura MDX
  By DisplayName - September 5 - 12:52 am

  Purchased an 08 MDX a month ago. Researched with great detail to determine which mid-sized SUV I would be the best choice. I looked at BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Mercedes ML, Audi Q7, even Chevy Tahoe LTZ and concluded that the Acura was the best choice for the money. Hondas/Acuras are legendary for thier reliability and resale value. All things considered Acura is #1. Overall the MDX is a fabulous vehicle.