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:

• 

  Cheaply priced, not made - 2000 Acura Integra
  By Sights - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Great car to drive. If you love to drive, then this is one to consider. Whether iss racing down a street, or going for a nice enjoyable ride it delivers!

• 

  mdx is the best - 2003 Acura MDX
  By heather - May 31 - 10:00 am

  The MDX rides smooth, it is extremly comfortable and drives like a luxury car. I can fit seven people plus a stroller and a picnic. It is truly like having a luxury car and SUV in one. I had a suburban and this is so much better that I cannot believe I ever owned a suburban. I love it and will only get rid of it to give it to my daughter when she drives and then buy another one for myself!

• 

  THE CAR - 2003 Acura TL
  By HHRCPA - May 31 - 10:00 am

  The TL is a car with may solid features. It handles extremely well, is built very solidly, and is ultra- reliable.

• 

  Miata to Vigor was good decision - 1992 Acura Vigor
  By SandyOne - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Sports car drive in family style. After 10 years the style looks good and the performance has remained strong, handles like a new car.

• 

  Best Car Ive Ever Owned! - 2002 Acura RL
  By Mr. R.J. H., CISSP - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many many cars during my lifetime and the Acura RL is by far the best ever. Lexus, BMW, Audi, and any American Luxury Car cannot compare with the Acura RL. I will be an RL owner for life. The price is right and the car is an excellent value for the money. The RL is comfortable on long trips, handles very well in all types of weather, and not bad to look at. In addition, maintenance cost are low.

• 

  Brakes wear quickly A/C control fails - 2000 Acura TL
  By pomeroyb - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Tech Service Bulletin 01017 "Brake Pulsing", where they ecommend "goodwill replacement" even after warranty expires. Climate control (A/C compressor) that freezes up on long hot drives. It works if I reach over and turn it off for 5 minutes and then back on for 5 minutes. Acura claims "your air conditioner is within spec and car is now out of warranty". They had stalled me during warranty saying it was a known problem (having to do with poor sensor location and they were waiting for a fix from Acura." Acura denies this.

• 

  Great Car! - 2008 Acura MDX
  By Mike - May 28 - 2:40 pm

  I just purchased a new 2008 Acura MDX. We have 2 kids and were looking for an SUV with a 3rd row of seats. Test drove the X5, Buick Enclave and Mazda, Lexus, Volvo and Chevy. This car was by far more superior for the room, price and comfort.

• 

  176,000 and has NEVER let me sit. - 1992 Acura Vigor
  By bobsealover - May 28 - 2:00 am

  My father bought the car with 40,000 on it. It now has 176,000 and has never had any problems other than the normal wear items (brakes, bulbs, and a power antenna mast, wheel bearing) All services have been performed on- time. Thats the key to keeping these on the road. Quite good in the snow, awesome in the rain (on Bridgestone Potenza RE950s) and excruciatingly reliable. Theres a big online support group for these cars too.

• 

  the best of both worlds... - 1997 Acura NSX
  By dave jones - May 28 - 2:00 am

  some say the nsx fails in both classes - its not "exotic" enuff (power, agressiv e looks) to be a great exotic and its not "friendly" enuff (more seats, quiet, truck space) to be a luxury car for commuting/cruising. but I say what acura has done well with the nsx is find the perfect balance of b oth. if you can buy a viper and a mercedes than go for it... but if you have the money for only 1 car the nsx gets both jobs done well. I commuted in mine for over a year - its possible to enjoy both worlds at the same time day in and day out... but only in an nsx.

• 

  Sweet - 2000 Acura Integra
  By BrianB from CT - May 28 - 2:00 am

  Great Car. Gotta have the 5speed. Unbelievable handling. Wouldnt know its only a 1.8L 170hp engine. Gas milage is great.