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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  Great Car - 2004 Acura RSX
  By A.E. - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This car should receive a ten for all categories due to its potential...

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  Worst mistake Ive Made - 2003 Acura TL
  By tmcdhs - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Still drive my 90 legend and performs well. Thought I would upgrade for an 03 TL, what a mistake. We have put 10k on the car sense purchase and its been in the shop four times and they still cant fix it. Cruise goes off with the slightest bump in the road. Dealer adjusted brake pedal and car locked up all four wheels and had to be towed three different times. Seat heaters very minimally if at all. Trying like the dickens to get rid of it. Cant depend on it to take the family on a trip, so it just sits in my garage... Bose Stereo sounds a bit better than AM

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  Great Car - 2016 Acura RDX
  By Sal - August 26 - 2:02 am

  Cant beat the value

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  The 2004 Acura TL rocks! - 2004 Acura TL
  By _jeff - August 26 - 2:00 am

  You absolutely cannot go wrong with the 2004 Acura TL. For the money ($35k), its jam packed with features, performance, and comfort. The car feels very solid to drive. Its 270hp engine provides a great punch off the line. It corners well (not fantastic, but you knew that). Its very comfortable inside. The nav system is great. And the audio system will really knock your socks off. You cannot, I repeat, cannot get a better car for the money.

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  Best car Ive had so far - 1996 Acura TL
  By tjael - August 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought this Acura in 1996 and it was a terrific car It has/had 157,000 miles on it. We had major maintenance work done at 100,000 miles, new belts, timing belt, etc. Other than that no major expenses. Just last week my teenage son totalled it, and at time of wreck the car was still running extremely well. Am now looking for another Acura to replace the TL.

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  Acura/Hondas Rule the World! - 2003 Acura RSX
  By umbclacrosse - August 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best for the under 25K coupe class. Great performance, car is as solid as a vault and you know re- sale value and long-term reliability are a given.

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  Overpriced HONDA - 2003 Acura TL
  By joann - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This car is a pony in a horserace. The advertised 260hp does not appear unless you floor the gas pedel. There is little or no torque, actually my mothers camry has more bottem end in normal driving. The ride is very rough an unrefined causing just about everything to rattle. The interior is cheap and is a carryover from a $16K Honda Accord with splashes of leather. DONT buy it...get the loaded Honda Accord if you are in this market.

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  Best bang for the Buck!!!!! - 2003 Acura TL
  By bigbri - August 24 - 10:00 am

  The 03 type S is like no other car. Comfort, Speed and handling is the cars strong points. I have to say the speed is the most excited thing about this car. 0-60 in the low 6s, is fast. I also love the sports shift. I recommend this car to my brother and he bought one. Test drive one and you will own it.

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  Hard To Kill!!! - 2003 Acura CL
  By Edk - August 24 - 2:00 am

  When this came out in the 6-speed I bought it! I put 20k a year on her & they are hard miles.. I drive it like the performer it is!! NO PROBLEMS!! I have 45k on it now!!

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  TL what a car - 2006 Acura TL
  By Randy - August 23 - 7:03 pm

  Just came off a lease of a 2004 Maxima. TL is better all around car for the same montly payment. Average 24-25mpg mostly city driving. Very comfortable and quiet ride. Radio is great. Looks great. What else can I say.