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:

• 

  My Silver Bullet - 2005 Acura RL
  By Deborah - November 12 - 3:12 pm

  I have been driving my RL for the last two months and I am very pleased with the vehicle. As the owner of a 2002 TL Type-S, I find the difference in the two cars to be everything I expected it to be. While I enjoy the sporty ride I get from my TL, when I get into the RL I can still appreciate sporty but I get a hugh dose of luxury. The comfort of the interior is beyond what you would expect from a car that on the surface appears so sporty. The handling is also excellent. Very quick and responsive.

• 

  Very Good for price...!!! - 2005 Acura TSX
  By JimmyTSX - November 12 - 2:40 am

  This is the first ACURA I own. All the amenities come as standard. The driving experience is good, not boring at all. The small I4- 2.4L, really performs well. Very smooth and ready to rev quite effortlessly. The interior is well laid-out and good materials abound. It surely gives you the feeling of a entry-luxury model. All in all, this car wont win over the famed and famous euro brands but for a model under 26K, the TSX will gain a lot of enthusiasts.

• 

  Great Car - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Frankie - November 11 - 8:42 pm

  This is a great car. My second Acura (1994 Integra), I went back to Acura for the dependability. I love this car. The six-speed makes it fun to drive and the pick up makes it rewarding to press the gas. The navigation system is a feature I do not plan to live without again, and the XM radio is nice when traveling.

• 

  I love this car! - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Elisa - November 11 - 6:19 pm

  This car is not only safe but it is fun to drive. I love the little kick it has when you accelerate. It is the most fun 4 cyl car I have ever driven. The gas mileage isnt bad either, but it depends in all what you are looking for in mileage. All in all great car!

• 

  Comforts of Life - 2006 Acura TL
  By Sandra Smith - November 11 - 7:20 am

  My TL ws purchased as a gift from my husband. I had always wanted a luxury car, after driving the acura rsx type S, I feel in love with the dependability of Acura. The TL is a joy to drive.

• 

  great car. - 2005 Acura TSX
  By asada - November 10 - 3:57 pm

  Great car to drive in open road and canyon roads. Just wish it had more torque power range off the line.

• 

  A car to keep - 2004 Acura TSX
  By Bob Campbell - November 10 - 12:25 pm

  Usually buy new car every two years. This is one car we will keep for a long time! Solid, comfortable, & fun to drive long miles at a stretch. Interstate trips of 500 miles+/day are enjoyable. Have owned 5 Camrys in the past and our TSX is a step up. We are 70+ years old. My wife (all 52" of her) loves to drive this car. Auto trans is smooth and tractable summer & winter in Vermont. Ride is a bit firm but gives great control. Second car is 2005 Civic LX - similar and good low cost alternative for local drives.

• 

  Blackstar Granite - 2005 Acura TL
  By Tommy Joe Louis - November 10 - 6:50 am

  My recurring dream of a beautiful black racehorse named "Blackstar Granite" who gracefully and effortlessly earns the Triple Crown has come to life in the form of a magnificent automobile---my new 2005 Acura TL in Nighthawk Black Pearl. Once again hungry for a mid-size luxury sedan, and after being left totally uninspired by the Mercedes C Class, BMW 3 Series, Audi 5, Lexus ES 300, and Jaguar S, this was the only car that literally "knocked my socks off". Its beauty and elegance inside and out, and its performance left me speechless. With 270 horsepower, a sound system to die for, and every luxury feature I have ever hoped for, this is the first car I feel I would want to keep forever.

• 

  Great Car! - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Stephanie - November 10 - 12:16 am

  This car is great. I have had it for 5 months and I have had no problems with it. It is a fun car to drive and it does have some pickup to it. I do not regret my purchase at all!

• 

  love it - 2006 Acura RSX
  By tina - November 9 - 4:15 pm

  bought this for gas mileage (30 mpg/city & hwy combined) & reputation of Acura/Honda. Rear is mostly for stuff/doggies. Fun to drive/6100 miles & no problems. Car is used for work- great manueverability/turnarounds/tight spots. Good acceleration for hwy entrance. Sunroof is far forward so recommend a visor. Aftermarket arm rest avail for between front seats - would be nice if it was easily available. Not a family car. Trunk liner is a must have. Hope Acura looks at Hybrid model in the future as it would be great!