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:

• 

  Simply amazed! - 2003 Acura TL
  By Goldenboyz - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Acura TL-S only 2 weeks ago and I had signed the paper work even before I test drove this fantastic machine! For value, it cannot be beaten. Its a great looking vehicle with every conceivable extra you would want, from the power outlet to hook up your cell phone to the drivers auto up and down window. Power. It simply revels in it! I clocked 0-60 in about 6.3 seconds and it will pass the average car on the street with ease. The leather interior is nicely appointed as is the general instrument layout. The white facia with the black background is particularly smart. For all round value , this car is a winner.

• 

  Bought, certified, to replace rusty CRX - 2000 Acura Integra
  By panta - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Lively performance for 1800cc Vtech engine. Acceleration to cruising speed takes little time and only 3 gears.I got 34mpg without taking it easy. Car is very quiet and solid. Turning radius is very large compared to my 84 CRX, Steering wheel too close, pedals and shift knob a bit too far away. As a certified car with 42,000 miles on it when I got it, it looked very close to a brand new very elegant black/black car, stunning appearance. Dont think Ill dare to throw it around like a go cart as I did with the CRX all the time. I did all the work on the "X" but all the computers in the GSR have me baffled

• 

  My first Honda/Acura product - 2003 Acura CL
  By R. Moramarco - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I am very pleased with my purchse,so far, after my first year of ownership. I wanted a vehicle that did not second guess me when I stepped on the gas peddle. When I said go , I wanted my vehicle to go! And boy, does it perform. Alot of people are surprised that my style car has the power it does. I also wanted a luxury car and it is that too. It has plush leather seats and wood laminate trim.

• 

  Best car ever owned - 1999 Acura TL
  By lmamo - November 29 - 2:00 am

  The car is fun to drive, quiet with excellent performance.

• 

  RSX - 2002 Acura RSX
  By mto rsx - November 28 - 6:03 pm

  this car is one of the best ive every driven

• 

  Fun Coupe - 2003 Acura RSX
  By Honodan - November 28 - 2:00 am

  I have owned the car for 6 months now and still greatly enjoy driving it. It has good exterior looks, acceleration, fuel economy, and comfy interior. The automatic climate control is nice for maintaining a constant temperature without having to mess with the controls all the time. Interior lighting is impressive. Acceleration is best in manual mode with the standard coupe (non S-type). Only minor complaint is that the steering is a bit stiff. Otherwise it is a great car comfortable for commuting but lots of fun on an open country road.

• 

  So fun to drive - 2007 Acura RDX
  By Charles Hatley - November 25 - 2:50 pm

  I love pulling up to people in sports cars at red lights and knowing how surprised they are when my little SUV takes off like a rocket! This is the most fun drive Ive ever had. The quality of the interior is incredible... blows my old VW away!

• 

  Sportier then the Infiniti or the Lexus - 2004 Acura TSX
  By marashid - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for the I30 Lexus or the g35 Infiniti but I am so glad I found the Acura. I believe it out matches its competition and I will have a better re-sale value then both the Lexus or the Infiniti.

• 

  Hot and responsive - 2004 Acura TSX
  By J in DC - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. While it doesnt look like a sports car it drives like it. Yet it still has room for 4 (large if necessary) adults. It corners, accelerates and cruises smoothly and the short throw 6 speed makes the driving a blast! Because of its conservative looks and 5 star saftey rating the TSX allows me to feel pretty sexy while not compromising my familys safety.

• 

  Excellent - 2004 Acura TL
  By Sheltiepatriot56 - November 25 - 10:00 am

  Test Driving the Acura TL was a fun experience! At first, I read an article on the TL, then I went to my local Acura dealership to find out what it was like to drive an Acura TL, and it was fabulous!!