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:

• 

  30000 Miles and Still Love It - 2004 Acura TL
  By Energy Man - October 14 - 4:20 am

  Great car. BS Tires are a pain when cold were replaced at 6900 mi getting Michelin shortly. MPG has been right on EPA 21 city, 29 road, 25 overall. Car is driven hard but smoothly. Handles great, Nav saved me, will buy again. Finish is fabulous but it is easy to damage front air dams and scuff wheels. Needs a larger trunk. Seats are great once adjusted correctly. Audio fabulous, rather have iPod input than tape, love XM. Rattles minor (cause BS tires flatspot overnight). Dealer replaced seat memory, aligned fender seams, installed cooling jet in tranny. Even with BS tires the car handles like its on rails but pressures must be correct. Brakes are great. Still best buy, would buy again.

• 

  Luv that Acura!! - 1998 Acura TL
  By Mabobwa Charles - October 14 - 2:00 am

  This has been, without a doubt, the BEST car I have ever owned! No problems, just routine maintenance. I would get it the car now, and drive to the west coast without reservation! All Acuras are good cars, but this one takes the cake!

• 

  acura legend 2 dr coupe ls - 1992 Acura Legend
  By digital d - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Have had my Legend half a year and like it very much. Reliability has been a problem, but I did not get the car in the best condition. Many people who have rode in it have commented on how much they like and cant believe that is it from 1992, and quite a few wish they had it. The performance is great and it is lots of fun to drive. The Legend is also one of the best looking cars available - even after 11 years.

• 

  2002 Acura MDX Touring - 2002 Acura MDX
  By Carol F - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Best car Ive ever owned-a joy to drive. Everything seems well thought out. Stability was important to me, because my last SUV (not an Acura) was so unstable I nearly lost control of it on the freeway when I had to make a quick correction. The MDX is steady as a rock. After driving it for a year, I am as delighted with it now as when I bought it. It has been problem free.

• 

  Cant beat it for value - 2007 Acura TL
  By Nicolo - October 13 - 11:56 pm

  My silver 2007 called to me from the showroom floor. I was tempted by the Aura, but the lack of HID headlights and obvi was a deal breaker for me. Wonderful paint quality, interior and exterior design, and the new wheels make a great difference. This is my 4th Acura, 2 TLs an 2 MDXs and new models always correct issues I may have had with previous ones. Also, Ive averaged 27 mpg in mixed driving over the first 2400 miles. But ride is stiffer than I expected, much stiffer than the Accord. Try it before you buy it, especially where roads suffer winter damage. And I also have the fuel light problem, although mine comes on after 13 gallons are gone from the 17 gallon tank - most annoying.

• 

  erics opinion - 1995 Acura Integra
  By eric paplia - October 13 - 2:00 am

  i have had my car for only about a month and i already love it. it is my favorite vehicle i have owned. it gets good gas milage and it is very reliable.

• 

  A Super SUV - 2003 Acura MDX
  By Mattyloudness - October 13 - 2:00 am

  A ton of room and flexibility with the seating, and it drives great at 75mph! So smooth and quiet and handles perfect. It also gives you so many options that are standard you do not have to add anything to it! Its our first SUV and glad to have it!

• 

  Beautiful - 2003 Acura MDX
  By Caper - October 13 - 2:00 am

  Love it!! The blue is a hot color!!

• 

  2007 Acura MDX - 2007 Acura MDX
  By Gary Luce - October 11 - 11:53 am

  This is my first Acura and it sure is a pleasure to drive. Handling, braking are superb and rival my wifes Audi A6. The tech package has just about every bell and whistle you can imagine.

• 

  Acura RL - 2004 Acura RL
  By laura25 - October 11 - 2:00 am

  I was waiting to make a left turn in a turn signal lane, when another car to the right of me decided to jump into my lane to also make the left turn. With my Acura, I was able to manuever my car out of his way with just a flick of my steering wheel. The other driver couldnt believe I got out of his way so Quickly. Thank God for my Acura.