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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  Too many rattles - 2004 Acura TL
  By Steve - October 31 - 12:46 am

  The 2004 TL was the first car purchase that truly excited me. I actually had to order one and wait 6 weeks. 1 1/2 years later, the leather seats look horrible. The car rattles everywhere! The rims are scared because of poor design. The dealer doesnt seem to care about any of these problems dismissing them as simple wear. This is not the build quality I expect from Acura. My Accord has better leather and a better build. Perhaps Im a victim of an early production model, but Acura really blew it. Im now looking to sell the car.

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  great car - 2002 Acura MDX
  By dade - October 31 - 12:20 am

  this car is the bbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssstttttttt

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  Came up from an Acura TL - 2015 Acura TLX
  By Rick Drew - October 30 - 8:27 am

  The Acura TLX is an excellent replacement to an Acura TL (which I drove for the past three years). In terms of space, it is equal to the TL. I cannot perceive a difference (from the TL) in the available space inside (I am 6 and heavy set) and I am totally comfortable in this car. In terms of performance the car accellerates quite well ( I use the "Sport" setting) and it really knows how to "get out of its own way." I am not agressive enough a driver to benefit from the SH-AWD but I feel totally in control and very comfortable wih the handling. The audio system is just fine (I have the standard setup) and I have no problem dealing with the two screen control. Anyone who says its confusing just hasnt taken a few minutes to learn how to be comfortable with it. I like that I can now "type in" directions to the "Nav system" as opposed to the TL which required me to "spin and select." The soundproofing has been significantly enhanced and it cruises at very low cabin noise levels. I really like the safety features such as the blind spot warning. I also like the Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS). It works very well. If you dont keep a light touch on the wheel while it is in use, it will notify that "Steering Required" after about 20 seconds which is fine with me. After all, this is not a self-driving car but the LKAS makes a long highway trip very relaxing just as cruise control does. Mileage is amazing. I get 25 MPG combined city and highway and it will travel over 500 miles on a (17 gallon) tank of gas on the freeway. I have driven non-stop from L.A. To the Bay Area without gettting into reserve. What I would change: I hate the engine idle stop feature (which is the default and kicks in at every stop). I would prefer that the default would be that it is OFF and you would then choose to turn it ON. I also disable the collision warning (that you are over taking the car ahead) because it sets off too many annoying false alarms every time I approach a car ahead of me. I would make this default to OFF as well. Finally, I wish it had exhaust tailpipes to funnel or direct the exhaust away from the back of the car. As it is, the back endof my (white) constantly gets sooty from the exhaust getting caught up in the turbulence behind the car and pulled back towards the car. Finally, it sometimes. "Hangs on" to a gear too long. For example, if I use the downshift paddle shifter to decellerate, it may hold the selected downshifted gear too long when I accellerate out. Summary: hey, its just a car and no car is perfect (at least that I can afford) and overall I am very satisfied with the TLX. It is a real step up from the TL and I am very glad I bought it. I think its one of the best kept secrets sport sedan class and offers terrific value especially when compared to its pricy German competition.

• 

  Fun to Drive = 10 - 2004 Acura TSX
  By Carlos - October 29 - 5:10 pm

  I now have 20,000 miles on my TSX. I love my job, but I love my commute even more, thanks to this car. I get 25mpg in a mixed driving. On a road trip, over 30mpg. The only problem I have had is that the jockey box lid hinges were too tight, so the wrong compartment would open. Fixed it myself in 5 minutes. I like the fact that this car isnt as common as 3-series, and G35s. Actually, its not in the same class as those cars, but its just as fun, interior features are first class, and you get Honda reliability. I even appreciate the fact that there is no timing belt (its a chain), since I plan to keep this car for a long, long time.

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  First try with a luxury brand--2017 Acura RDX AWD - 2017 Acura RDX
  By tabjaxx - October 28 - 3:37 pm

  My wife wanted a small, luxury SUV and we settled on a 2017 Acura RDX AWD base model. It is a solid SUV with nice features for a base model. No squeaks or rattles. Initial gas mileage was 25 mpg before the cold weather settled in, dropping it to a still respectable 23 mpg. I like the variable cylinder management that shuts off 3 cylinders during low output conditions. It is such a smooth process you dont know when it is happening. The technology interfaces are kind of old fashioned for an upper end vehicle. No touch screens or fancy graphics. Buttons and knobs are nicely laid out, but I wish fan speed was controlled by a knob instead of buttons. Radio does not stay on after car shuts off. Seats are comfy, but leatherette surfaces are more like plastic than leather. Heated seats warm up fast, but I miss a heated steering wheel. Elevated rear seats are nice with plenty of legroom. Great visibility out rear and side windows. The 19.5 gallon gas tank could be larger. The AWD version comes with a spare tire instead of a tire repair kit. Headlights look and function great. Overall, happy with the vehicle. It doesnt necessarily have the feel of a luxury vehicle, but we dont feel we paid a luxury price for it either.

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  Type S - 2005 Acura RSX
  By Woe-D - October 28 - 2:21 pm

  I bought my type S in Feb. The car is just sick. It handles like no other car I have ever driven. The gear ratio is ridiculus. I can shift gears so quick it doesnt make any sense. I recently took it to the mountains and had a blast going around sharp curves at high speeds. Not even feeling like I was even going 15 miles an hour. It is a great car.

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  Go drive it !! - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Mike Green - October 28 - 10:48 am

  If you are considering a sedan in the upscale market, go drive this car. Originally I wasnt prepared to kiss goodbye that kind of money for a FWD 4 cyl car (came from a BMW) but after driving it, the cars responses were so agile, yet forgiving...sharp yet smooth. I find the car has good power at low rpm and GREAT acceleration above about 4,000 rpm. Havent driven it in the winter yet but am getting a set of Michelins w/rims. Overall I am very happy with this car.

• 

  They just cant get it right - 2016 Acura MDX
  By jl - October 28 - 8:13 am

  I thought many times before writing this review. I felt that there was no need to let others know about my problems , but my conscience just kept telling me to share my thoughts with the media. When I was driving home the first time from the showroom there was a metal knocking noise under vehicle and was quite concerned. I immediately called my salesman who put me through to service.the manager said there is a bulletin on this but acura had no fix ,but are working on one. i asked how long? and he responded by saying they have been working on it since 2014.I laughed and then choked and said what are you talking about. He said the design of the parking brake cable was not designed correctly and it knocks like a chain hitting the bottom. after quite a few adjustments and the rear brakes overheated from overtightening the cable, I just gave up and said I will live with it until acura comes up with a fix. Well, to continue, Ive had countless parking sensor issues that just go off even if no one is around waiting for the red light to change. It sometimes scares me thinking another vehicle is approaching .The only way to shut the sensors off is to override them and shut the system off completely. they removed my bumper 6 times ( damaging the bumper)and replaced modules and sensors and harness and still no fix.The dealers remedy is to just shut them off permanently, even though i bought the advance model to get this option factory installed.My preset steering wheel only works sometimes. My 9 speed tranny clanks ,I guess it wants to let me know its still there . My brakes practically go down to the floor and acura tells me that its ok. Seat adjustments are not great,but i guess acceptable. My rear backup camera looks like I have been driving in a dense fog ( useless) .They say other mdx cameras look similar. The ride quality on smooth roads is fine ,but try hitting a few minor potholes and it goes right through the cabin. While I was even servicing the vehicle a woman was complaining about the terrible ride quality and vowed to sell her mdx just to keep her sanity. There is a scraping noise when you first start the suv in the morning. Might I have to say more. Acura customer relations keeps telling me that they would like to continue working with me to correct these issues after more then 5 attempts ( i stopped counting) and yes I am aware of the lemon law.I said the right thing is to put me in another vehicle and you can continue to correcting these issues on your own and spend 24 hours a day to figure it out so other loyal customers dont suffer. Acura ,unfortunately with being the best selling luxury suv cannot get it right. i guess people gravitate to it because the price is great compared to other similar suvs .Also, acura shares the same mother company as the civic and accord who have held top honors for many year, so people that want luxury and reliability will hopefully get it like the honda products previously mentioned.I am not writing to punish acura I just want them to get it right. In closing, Maybe I just might just decide to stop punishing myself one day and move on to another brand after owning acuras for many years. I guess Im finally getting wise that taking off a shield on the front grill or giving real wood trim instead of plastic will ultimately not shield this company from customers realizing that there is something wrong here. What acura needs to do instead of fixing a grill issue is to fix mechanical issues that are the real reason why people have always purchased honda products in the first place called reliability.

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  Great car - 2005 Acura TSX
  By sportingbill - October 27 - 10:46 pm

  The Acura TSX is supposed to be the entry-level sedan. If it is, this is a fine entry level. Everything, meaning everything, has performed as advertised on this car since purchase 10 months ago. It is quick, it is nimble, it is a blast to drive. If you are overweight, you might not be as comfortable in this smallish interior as some. It has a 4-cylinder engine, but it is tuned to performance levels. Pickup has never been an issue.

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  Absolutely a wonderful car - 1998 Acura NSX
  By Kushbudz - October 27 - 10:14 pm

  In this day and age where you see Bimmers and Porsches everywhere its amazing how many heads a 15 year old design turns. True marks of a classic. Besides the looks the car is an absolute thrill to drive. The brakes are amazing, the road feel is unmatched and the engine hits right where you need it.