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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  My 1995 Acura Integra has 323,000 original miles - 1995 Acura Integra
  By lollypopgramma - December 5 - 9:33 am

  I am the original owner and I just love my Integra. It has never needed any major repairs and outside of normal maintenance has all its original parts. I now own 4 cars but I cannot seem to part with my Acura. I intend to give it to my 16 year old granddaughter when she gets her license.

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  Good Value - 2011 Acura MDX
  By mvarga - December 3 - 10:44 pm

  I have had the 2011 Acura MDX w/Advance Package for about six months now, and I somewhat regret my decision to buy an Acura. While the ventilated seats and blind spot assist are great, the interior quality is lacking. For a car that costs over $50,000, I would expect a lot less plastic and authentic wood trim. If you are looking to buy a seven passenger midsize SUV, I would also consider the Lexus GX460 or the Audi Q7 because both of those vehicles have interiors that are far superior to that of the MDXs. Overall, I think that you get a lot for a cheap price. I would definitely recommend the Advance Package because it has many useful features.

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  Bad Transmission - 2001 Acura CL
  By kaumudi - December 2 - 1:57 pm

  I had acura integra before drove till it reached 250k and then donated it never had any problems. decided to try another acura and guess what tranny out in less than 4 months of driving. Stay away from 3.2TL models altogether. My cousins bought the same car, engine head blew on the highway.

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  Enjoying my first SUV - 2012 Acura MDX
  By appstategrad95 - November 30 - 9:01 pm

  Overall quite pleased with the vehicle. Its fun to drive, has a good bit of technological goodies and should be a reliable vehicle I hope my family enjoys for years to come.

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  Poor Mans 3 Series (and then some) - 2012 Acura TSX
  By exriguy - November 29 - 2:43 pm

  Read all the reviews and bought a black Special Edition. Paid just over $28k and it is the best "drivers car" you can get at that price, hands down. The sports interior on the SE is roomy and as nice as an M3 all the controls and fit and finish are what youd expect in an Acura. Seats are perfect and standard equipment is plentiful base stereo rivals upgraded stereos in other cars. Handling is on par with a 3 series, steering included. Despite the occasional review about vague "on center" steering feel, it is only in contrast to the previous car -- hardly noticeable and far from an issue. Takes corners with a nimbleness that only a 3 series can rival, but for $10k+ more.

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  Better choice than BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes, etc. - 2012 Acura TL
  By mcorley - November 21 - 4:36 pm

  Okay, so I am in my late 50s now and have owned so many cars since the late 60s that I cannot count them all. I owned Pontiac - Chevy - Ford - Lincoln etc. Switched to Japanese cars, specifically an Acura TL in 2001 and have since had many Honda/Acura products in my garage. Decided to test drive all high end sedans including Acura, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Infiniti and Audi. Drove them all. I can afford any of them yet decided that the new 2012 style TL was the best of the lot regardless of price. BMW overpriced and for the poseur - not all that. Audi was gutless like the Mercedes, Infiniti & Lexus quality second rate to the Acura. Best dollar for dollar car purchase Ive ever made. Awesome!!

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  [violative content deleted] - 2006 Acura RSX
  By dilbones - November 21 - 6:28 am

  I bought the car for 3000 dollars less than the Blue Book value from a dealership in the Philadelphia Area. It came with 70,000 miles and it was in wonderful condition. The exterior flows-- its designed so well and it looks so sexy! Its so smooth. By the way, mines red. ) I like simplistic interiors similar to that of the 98 Hondas. My family has owned four generations of Accords, and I love the older looking interiors. This cars interior is simplistic, yet futuristic, and thats why I love it. The slip angle at all four corners of the car was designed perfectly, and with MacPherson Struts, I was surprised at how perfectly this car corners. Fast, sexy, and reliable. 5 stars

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  A Welcome Change - 2012 Acura MDX
  By bulldog1979 - November 21 - 1:12 am

  I traded my 2009 RL for the 2012 MDX. I was looking for more room, and was willing to give up some technology to get it. I now feel I have a win/win situation. I have the elbow room I sought, and dont feel Ive given up any significant features. I now have a navigation screen I can see in the day or with my sunglasses on. The voice command system is more reliable/logical. The sound system seems just as good. I now have the hard drive storage for CDs. The power and acceleration seem better. The interior has high quality materials. It is a little thirstier by about 2 miles/gal. I miss the keyless ignition.

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  12 ZDX - 2012 Acura ZDX
  By keybd29 - November 18 - 9:12 am

  This car is lightening agile lane to lane but in a sustained curve it tends to roll and under steer. I believe this is because the zdx has a high center of gravity and perhaps made worse because of its heavy all-glass roof. The zdx has very poor throttle response, just lots of lag, and utterly no steering feedback! Keep your eyes glued to the road! Build quality is super and interior cabin is quiet. Rear seating in too cramped for most adults except for short trips, and, I find that even in the drivers seat my head often brushes the roof. IMO driver controls are dangerously complicated. All in all I find the zdx middling to poor in terms of fun to drive.

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  Dont get Nav - waste of money - 2011 Acura MDX
  By whomiam1 - November 14 - 8:57 am

  I purchased a 2011 MDX earlier this year and got the tech package in order to have built in navigation. I love my old Garmin and wouldn travel without navigation again. Unfortunately after purchasing it I found it to be so outdated and inaccurate that it is nearly useless. I have to install my Garmin anyway. I later learned that Acura uses a system made by a little company that has no credibility. WHY! You would think that with Acuras reputation on line they would look for a REAL nav system from one of the major producers. I just hope i can prevent others from making the same mistake. PS: if your thinking of getting a Lexus instead their system is apparently even worse.