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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  Hot car - 2006 Acura TL
  By magic - May 13 - 6:20 pm

  I looked at a lot of cars. Most were overpriced good cars or junk. This is one of the best investments I have made. It is a better car for long drives as gas mailage seems to get better the closer you drive to 70mph. If you were looking to spoil yourself without breaking the bank. here is your chance. So good we bought 2 at the same time. i like starters and chrome 18" wheels. My wife likes auto starters. we both love acuras

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  My Acura - 2005 Acura RSX
  By Liz - May 13 - 3:33 pm

  This is the first Acura I have ever bought and I love it. I will continue to purchase Auras from now on. I highly recommend the Type-S which is compared to the Type-R from Japan. This can is smooth in the turns and allows for some great driving capablities.

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  My first Acura(Honda) - 2002 Acura RSX
  By Hugh27 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Just got my RSX and love it. Handles great, looks good, mileage is good also. Im still on their FREE tank with 350 miles(26 mpg+/-) in town. Once it hits about 3000rpm you can feel wants to go! And with a red-line of 6800 this car is going to be fun!

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  Crash Tested - 2005 Acura MDX
  By Stacey - May 12 - 10:56 pm

  I recently totalled my 2004 in an unavoidable accident. The car safetly features are amazing. Everything worked perfectly saving my and my 7 year old from serious injury! I can say this car performed amazingly under the most important of all curcumstancies and I have orded a new 2005 to replace it!

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  2nd Integra - 1995 Acura Integra
  By 2nd Integra - May 10 - 2:49 pm

  This is my second Acura Integra & I love it! Its fun to drive, looks great and has tons of cargo space! Like my other Integra, this one is extremely reliable. Although it has 128,000 miles, Im sure it will last for another 128K. Too bad Acura decided to discontinue the model.

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  Excellent Car - 1998 Acura RL
  By Murray - May 10 - 1:57 am

  Ive only had for a year -- purchased used with 60000 miles on it -- mint condition. No problems so far -- runs well in winter and summer (live in cold climate). Very smooth ride -- brakes well -- and handling is surprising for the size. Very nice on highway. Previous car was an Accord -- for the money I get a lot more features -- and the used RLs are not much more money then the V6 Accords for same year. Highly recommended.

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  97 3.2 TL - 1997 Acura TL
  By John - May 9 - 6:49 pm

  Great audio for a stock system. Beautiful car and much more elegant than Toyota. Solid engine, but it could use a little more power. Very reliable, but the gas mileage isnt the greatest. Never try to change the timing belt yourself. It took me three days. It can be done, but its a pain. If you change the transmission and differential fluid often it will shift very smoothly and erase the "clicking" sound when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. Overall, a very stylish and dependable car. Ill be driving this for a while.

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  Darn near perfect - 2004 Acura MDX
  By Acura Mom - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Traded my 2001 MDX in for this car...wanted the Navi system. Loved my 2001, love the 2004. Good color choices, both interior and exterior. Handles beautifully, quiet interior, good power. Lots of room for my kids and my big dog. Rear camera is a great feature. I do miss the sunglasses holder that was in the 2001 version. Cant have everything!

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  mdx is amazeing - 2004 Acura MDX
  By johny fox - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the MDX on Aug 2002. I was blown away how amazeing this suv was. When the mdx first came out in 01 i knew that that was the suv that i wanted... I went to baysore acura and said i was the siver mdx, I didnt even test drive it once.... Just knowing the reputation of honda i knew it would be an amazeing SUV. Ive had it since 2002 and not one problem with the mdx, and i now have 40,000. I recomed this suv to every one..... the Navigation is the best i have seen so far. thumbs up to HONDA.

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  Best on the Road - 2004 Acura TL
  By Joe Applegate - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This car is probably the most advanced in its class and likely out performs cars in higher class. It powerful, economical, is technically advanced (you verbally communicate with the car), and has by far the best sound system I have ever heard in a car.