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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  Made my neighbors jealous.... - 2004 Acura MDX
  By deva - July 22 - 2:00 am

  38,500 + tax After researching a lot on SUVs that have a 3rd row option, we settled with the 4Runner (V8) and the MDX. After test driving MDX, my wife didnt like the rough handling of the 4Runner. Style and safety were our main concerns. MDX, being Acuras only SUV, they have really expended significant research into it. The twin exhaust and the VSC in the 2004 model embellishes the 265-hp engine. We got the silver with ebony interior. I recommend getting the all-purpose mats ($120.00), original mats seemed to stick everything that falls on it. A good-size SUV that is stylish, powerful, and yet quite smooth to handle, but not for unpaved adventu

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  great car - 2003 Acura TL
  By magisri - July 22 - 2:00 am

  best car I have ever driven, love everything about it but nerdy style, should have waited for the 2004 but price was right. Getting 30 miles per gallon locally.

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  Technology that Really Works!!! - 2006 Acura TL
  By Michael S. McDonald - July 21 - 11:56 pm

  Awesome car, all the bells and whistles. I you live for gadgets this is your car! If you like style and chrisma-the A-Spec package is the way to go. The dealer is a little vague on "What the A-Spec" package consist of and it is a ala carte package. You build at dealership level to your unique driving pleasure. I went all out from sway bars, strut tower braces, dampening springs, performance shocks, to full dress ground effects to the wing on the trunk. This car feels and out handles my 2002 Trans Am show car. It feels like you are part of the road and when you come into that turn it feels like you are on rails-tight, secure and sure footed. I really recommend this car! Enjoy-one I am!

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  Whats not to like??? - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Walt - July 21 - 7:36 am

  I just traded my 2001 Acura 3.2 CL in for a TSX. The TSX has a smaller engine, but is almost as peppy as the V-6 powered CL. I took a model with the unwanted Navigation system because it was on the lot and was the color I wanted. After two lengthy trips in the car Ive been converted - the nav system is indeed useful. To recycle an old quote, the car tracks like "a cannonball dropped down a chimney" - very responsive to steering and pedal input. It has a nice controlled ride without being harsh. The interior is quite comfortable and all of the cars controls and switches are easily reachable and ergonomically well thought out. Styling is a matter of personal opinion, but I like it.

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  GSR get one!! - 1999 Acura Integra
  By Neptuneda - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought this this preowned and been a reliable and great economy on the Gas. The insurance is another story. This a popular car for tuners as well. Basic bolt-ons yield big results. This is my 4th integra. Will buy another Acura!!

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  TSX Praise - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Dean Lester - July 20 - 11:33 am

  After driving a 1989 Acura Integra for 187000 miles, I figured there wasnt any problem of choice for a new car. The TSX is the rebirth of why I bought my first Acura ... style, handling, which is a top priority of mine as I used to rally a 1965 Ford Cortina. The TSX is a lot more refined then my Integra was. Quieter, faster, smoother ride, good acceleration when needed and a lot more creature comforts starting with the comfortable heated seats, the lumbar support, more headroom, more legroom and a host of standard items that are optional on other makes.I am a professional photographer and being able to put the rear seats down gives me plenty of space for equipment.

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  Buyers remorse - whats that? - 2005 Acura TSX
  By JoeShmoe - July 18 - 9:26 am

  I wanted a nicely equipped, fun to drive car that wouldnt break 35 grand level. I had a closer look and test drove A4 1.8T, 325i and TSX. Audi and BMW are of course very nice cars but once you start throwing in options (leather seats, premium stereo, xenon lights, etc) it is very difficult to stay beyond the price level I wanted. The TSX is a whole different story - it drives as nice as the other cars, it comes fully loaded and what really sold me is reliability - being a very busy professional I have no time to waste at repair shops. I never double guessed my decision - the car looks great, drives like a dream and is a real head turner. Get one, you wont regret.

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  Great Car - 1991 Acura Legend
  By baja2211 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is amazing, it rides quieter than my moms Crysler 300M. This car has got plenty of go for a 14 year old car. The car is very comfordable it has got some really cool features. Most cars even today dont come stock with 200 horsepower adn 210 pound-feet of torque.

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  The most for the Money - 2004 Acura MDX
  By MDXLVR - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I love the MDX, It blows away the Lexus for the money, the Volvo has a good looking interior, but doesnt have any of the features that are available in the Acura. The Nav system & the entertainment system are very user friendly & are worth the price. Its the best luxury vehicle for the money.

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  The Perfect Car - 1991 Acura Integra
  By teguru - July 17 - 2:00 am

  This is just an all-around great car. For my second car i couldnt be much happier. The only problems you will have with the Generation 2 Integras are the camseals.