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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  LOVED MYACURA - 1994 Acura Integra
  By loved my acura - November 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought my integra 2 years old with very low miles. Over the years.. I moved and drove it many, many miles. This little car was the most reliable, cute, and fun car I have ever owned. My husband recently totaled it on the interstate so now we must move on to something else. but I highly recommend it. The only problem I could see, is if you have a minor fender-bender, it is expensive to fix.

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  Excellent quality luxury vehicle - 2001 Acura RL
  By Vlad Markov - November 14 - 2:00 am

  This car is best value buy, among all luxury vehicles. Super interior, comfortable sits, slick exterior design. Excellent car for the long ride.

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  A very nice ride! - 1999 Acura TL
  By Craigo - November 14 - 2:00 am

  This is a very nice vehicle. I rate the car very high in all categories and feel it is an outstanding value. Would like better back-up lights, and more power and performance features, but, who wouldnt. Besides, these desires appear to have been satisfied in the newer TL Type-S.

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  Love My GEEZER - 2001 Acura Integra
  By Rampage - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I love the car, but like a lot of people, feel this thing needs a sixth gear. Maybe a little tourque would be nice

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  barefoot surfers review - 2002 Acura RSX
  By barefoot - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Its performance saved my life today- the computer braking system, suspension, and perfomance.

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  chris - 2003 Acura NSX
  By chris0897687 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  a fast car with great duribility.

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  Where is the Legend - 1998 Acura RL
  By LinVA - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I owned both the 1988 and 1991 Acura Legend. I have been nothing but dissapointed with the 98 RL. This year both rear electric window mechanisms broke. The plastic pulley wheel in the door (a $1 part) broke (on both doors within two months of each other). The cost for each $244. You can only replace the entire motor mechanism. The power is lacking in the motor. The noise inside is noticeably louder than both of my previous legends. On the bright side, it is as reliable as the sun rising. One turn of the key and it is ready to get me to work.

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  Everyday Sports Car - 2001 Acura CL
  By PCO - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Opens up a can of whoop on most cars. Quiet, fast, great Hwy mileage. My kids want it when I am ready to trade. An everyday sports car that seats four.......

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  Was concerned about selling the Lexus ES - 2006 Acura TSX
  By MikeK - November 11 - 11:23 pm

  I sold my 01 Lexus ES300 and before I sold it I thought, "What car am I going to buy that could possibly compare with my ES?" Well, that question has been answered, the 06 TSX. This car is simply fabulous. The part I like best about this car is the simplistic maintenance. Im a freak when it comes to that and any fluid that might need to be changed is mearly a bolt away. I love the engine, LOVE IT!! My wife loves the way the car looks. I feel this is the best kept secret in cars today. I dont know why people overlook it. I think people who are shopping for an Acura are looking at the TL or possibly the RSX. They are making a big mistake. Look at the TSX, youll fallin love like I did.

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  This Car Rocks! - 2005 Acura RL
  By dempanther - November 11 - 9:56 pm

  Smooth ride, beautiful and well designed interior, user friendly, wand entry, no key to start car, driver memory remembers XM channels as well as seat adjustment. ROCK ON.