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:

• 

  2004 Acura TSX Bad Paint - Stay away! - 2004 Acura TSX
  By bizop007 - December 25 - 9:40 am

  Would like to recommend it, as long is it is not Milano Red. Her cars paint, along with everybody else who purchased the vehicle - from what I can gather from various Acura forums on the internet fades and turns pink. Not one or two but pretty much all Milano Red 2004 TSX vehicles. The car was pretty much garage kept, both at home and in a parking garage at work. It was waxed each spring and fall, but still it is turning more pink each day! Yes I know it is red and red fades not this much. Both Acura Canada and the dealer - Acura on Brant in Burlington, ON would do nothing. Terrible customer service - stay away - would not recommend the purchase n Acura vehicle!

• 

  Awesome car and a great value too - 2012 Acura TL
  By chop100 - December 25 - 7:10 am

  I bought my base model last spring after researching luxury sedans for months. I got a great deal ($29,500 and 0% interest for 60 months) and I couldnt be happier. The car looks and feels like an expensive luxury sedan and yet I paid the same as an average mid-size sedan. I went with the base to save $4K over the tech package, how loud of a radio does a 50 year old need anyway? I have my own GPS and it has bluetooth and an aux hookup for my iPod already. Handling is good but not great, wallows a bit due to the size of the car I guess. The gas mileage has been the biggest surprise...averaging 27 mpg in mixed driving and even got 33 on a 1400 mile road trip.

• 

  poor suspension - lacking standard features - 2013 Acura RDX
  By garrett10 - December 24 - 8:12 am

  I own a 2013 RDX . Ordered to get model and colors, have no need for navigation. If considering this car make sure to take an extended test drive and check to make sure the features you normally expect are there. I have owned over 50 autos and this is the worst mistake Ive made since the Oldsmobile diesel. Ride is fine on highway if you dont encounter pot holes, small bumps or rough pavement. Even crawling over a speed bump makes the front suspension sound as if its coming apart. Embarrassing if you have passengers as they will think something is broken. The front passenger seat has no "up" adjustment. My wife hates riding "in the hole". Uses cushion!, in Hondas premium brand?.

• 

  Hard to impress me! - 2013 Acura RDX
  By qcman83 - December 22 - 9:33 am

  We bought this for my wife to drive. She was driving a 2012 Honda Pilot. In the past few years she has had a Honda CR-V, Lexus RX350 and a Honda Pilot. The comfort and quite has impressed us the most. I researched the 2013 RDX hard before we made our decision. Great choice. All of the websites said the the average price paid (TMV) for this model was a little over $37K. I was able to get it just a little under $36K. I would compare this to a Lexus RX350, its a little smaller, but about $9K less. Great decision....

• 

  Drove 10 miles, warning lights came on - 2013 Acura RDX
  By grishabm - December 22 - 12:48 am

  Purchased brand new RDX 2013, 10 miles down the road check VSA, check AWD, check power steering, and other warning lights started flashing. After stopping and restarting car light went off. Came back on a week later, could not accelerate > 40 mph without car automatically braking. Dealer replaced left wheel sensor, no more problems yet, but have lost faith. Asked dealer for free all weather mats for my trouble / inconvience but they would do nothing for me.

• 

  A great used choice - 2008 Acura TL
  By edechazal - December 20 - 2:23 pm

  I purchased a clean 2008 TL auto with navigation 6 weeks ago. Its a wonderful car. Im a "car guy" but no longer a boy-racer since Im in my 40s. I appreciate refinement and pieces that work well together. This car delivers in most areas. The first test drive sold me on the cars feel and driving dynamics. Im 5 11" and the car fits me like a glove. I like the view from the drivers seat, the powertrains responsiveness and the look of the tan leather interior. I also test drove the redesigned 2009 model and definitely prefer the 2008 since it fits better. Piece of advice: be ready to spring for a new set of Michelins when you buy. Fresh tires clean up lots of problems.

• 

  Until Now - 2001 Acura CL
  By ladyveee - December 19 - 6:22 pm

  I have had my 2001 3.2 CL since 2004. Thats right shes 11 years old and has been so good to me as I have been to her. Last week I had an interesting experience that Ive never had before. She putted 3 times while in traffic and just died. It wasnt the battery and 30 minutes later she started up and the problem has not reocurred. She has been with mechanic for approximately a week and they cant find anything wrong. Mechanic has been driving her to and from work to see what happens. If mechanic can not find the issue, I may have to consider replacing her, I drive too often and late at night and am afraid of getting stranded or worse. Up to this point she has been reliable. I love her but

• 

  Love my TSX - 2004 Acura TSX
  By rcush10 - December 19 - 2:23 pm

  I love this car. I bought it used with 110k miles on it mid 2010 for $10k. It came uniquely equipped with a trunk lid spoiler and a front body air dam giving it a little extra style. It is quick and the 6-speed manual is slick. I have put 50k miles on it and I get 27-28 mpg consistently. Despite my admiration for the car, I have had to put a little $ into it. The starter died a couple weeks after I bought it. It consumes oil fairly quickly. 1 headlight was very foggy. The backlight behind my dash buttons doesnt work. Drivers side seat heater doesnt work. At 50+ mph, something rattles somewhere under the middle of the car. I think it is a part of the exhaust system.

• 

  13 Non Tech AWD RDX - 2013 Acura RDX
  By clquake1 - December 18 - 9:00 pm

  As an owner of an 08 RDX and a 13, I can tell you the ride quality is much better, dont let the harsh reputation of the outgoing model discourage you. Its also not a floaty car, if you want that, go with a Lexus, or 70s-80s Cadillac. Despite my very heavy lead foot, averages 21 mpg in heavy city/stop & go driving. This is not a CRV as another commenter/troll said, who clearly does not own any RDX. Uses premium gas, dont listen to a) the sales guy or b) someone who thinks they know better that the teams of engineers that designed it. Brakes are a bit touchy. Materials quality not on par with MB/Audi, but also not priced like MB/Audi.

• 

  GREAT RIDE LOVE IT! SH-AWD - 2010 Acura TL
  By deezeer55 - December 18 - 12:30 am

  I switched to this TL from a Lexus LS. It is obviously a hugeeee difference but I am a fan of the sportiness. The TL turns heads everwhere I drive and the exhaust note is beautiful. The design is great and it is really a fun car to drive. I am a fan of Acura now. I will probably never turn towards german. I like my japanese cars and will always stay with acura and lexus. Havent drove the car in the snow yet (excited to try it out). Great car overall. Fun ride. Reliable. Worth the price. Turns head. Overall 9/10 overall happiness.