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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  pasadena racer - 1990 Acura Integra
  By matt perry - March 20 - 2:00 am

  ok i have had this car for a little over 2 years, and i love it. so far the only major problem has been replacing my rear brakes [rotors and pads] but thats hardly acuras fault, more mine for not replacing them sooner. but other then that a few problems have been with my transmition in the cold, and the inside fabric is pulling off of the doors. but still the power of the car is there, its quick and can kick the cra...stuff outta a civic, lol, i still stand by my lil blue baby, hope she lasts another 150k hoping...

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  TL recap - 2001 Acura TL
  By Nadeau - March 20 - 2:00 am

  Sporty, Dependable, excellent price/performance ratio with good resale value after 3 years

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  I have thoroughly enjoyed this car. - 2000 Acura TL
  By Hokiestud - March 20 - 2:00 am

  Despite being a 4-door with ample room, it is nimble and quite quick. Aside from two points below, I have no complaints at all. The car is very well- made, the sound system is good, so is the gas mileage, and the onboard GPS navigation system rocks! I would definitely buy another Acura in the future, based on my experience with the 2000 3.2TL.

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  2003 Acura by RCF - 2003 Acura RL
  By Robert Flick - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Our 2003 Acura is the best vehicle we have owned and our previous experience has been with Volvos (850s), Camrys, Buick and Honda. So far, and we have had the car since May 03, we have changed the oil once. The OnStar navagation system is fantastic and it has saved us from getting lost any number of times, not to mention the security of knowing help is available immediately. Strongly recommend the 03 Acura, you wont be disappointed.

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  ComfortPlus - 2002 Acura RL
  By Over55 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd RL - tried a BMW between purchase 1 & 2 - and the RLs comfort and simplicity was too strong to stay Bemered.

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  I LOVE MY CAR!!!!! - 2003 Acura CL
  By sheryl359 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I love my car. I cant understand why Acura would discontinue this model. Shame.

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  LOVETHISCAR - 1992 Acura Vigor
  By CT2NY - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this from a friend after I totalled my Honda Civic at 236,000 miles. I have 155+ on it right now and just bought a 2002 Honda Accord. I am already going through withdrawals about selling this car.

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  The perfect sports car? - 1996 Acura NSX
  By Mountainbear1 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my NSX for two years now and have been very happy with it. Even though its basic design is 13 years old, it is an ideal combination of style, reliability, economy, price and fun available.

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  Buy one!! - 2002 Acura RSX
  By maswell - March 15 - 10:20 am

  I hate Front wheel drive cars.I never ever wanted to get one. When it came down to driving the RSX, I decided that this was a FWD car that I could learn to love. I love driving my RSX everyday, and I cant wait to bring it to the track. I know its not as fast as the M3s there, but I can still give the 3 series a run for its money. This car has become an extension of me. When I make more money Im going back to BMW, but Ill keep my RSX around for my fun everyday vehicle.

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  Grrreeeeaaat Car - 2000 Acura Integra
  By VH3 - March 15 - 2:00 am

  I was looking at a Celica GT when my wife had purchased a 1999 Integra LS. I loved the way it drove, then I compared features. there was more bang for the buck here. Aluminum Wheels, Sun roof, ABS (which was not included on the Celica GT) 4 wheel disc brakes, 140 HP. The car tracked extremley well and has some get up and go. I always like the style of the Integra and had always wanted one. I am glad that I changed my mind and bought it. I hav not had any problems with it, I do my maintenance religiously. It is fun to drive with great gas milage. I even like it better than the new RSX, but if I ever get rid of my Integra, I would get the RSX.