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:

• 

  Impressed - 2004 Acura TL
  By flipper6 - May 1 - 2:00 am

  The car is new (not yet broken in) but so far very impressed. Ride is sporty but comfortable. Stereo is excellent but do not think 5.1 DVD really adds much quality. I am 6 foot 5 inches and I fit into this car.

• 

  looks like a mid 90s car.the lady killa - 1990 Acura Legend
  By eze - April 30 - 2:00 am

  this car is amazing for being a 1990.the performance is supirior,great handiling and excelleration.the desighn is awsome

• 

  My First SUV - 2001 Acura MDX
  By SDS828 - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Test drove and personally rated about a half dozen mid-sized SUVs in fall 2000. Selected MDX over others for basically 3 reasons - best/most useable room for hauling (make 16-20 trips/year of 600-800 miles carrying lots hauling stuff in-town), ULEV rating, and best value compared to others driven. Perspective - previous car Toyota MR2!

• 

  transmittion problem - 2002 Acura TL
  By vli - April 30 - 2:00 am

  The transmittion can not get over 3rd gear. RPM is running high while car is not moving, it is like running at neutral gear. I love the car otherwise.

• 

  RSX type S - 2002 Acura RSX
  By kot - April 29 - 11:06 pm

  Love this car, a great blend of performance and style. Smooth shifting 6 speed, great handling. Two thumbs up!

• 

  this car kicks A$$ - 2003 Acura TL
  By phatratpak - April 29 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. I wa driving old beat up dodge. My parents had 1998v6 accord, friend had 2001civicEx. Both were great cars but I wanted more. It rockets (and Im still in the break-in period)550miles. So smooth, transmission is like butter. Ride is so comfy, climate control and radio controls are fantastic. Great amount of room.

• 

  My 1999 Acura 3.2 TL - 1999 Acura TL
  By Lorraine Brooks - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this car cross country 2- 3 times...it is so reliable! I drive now as a single over 60 woman. I now go to Pleasanton Auto for my service. There they usually ask me How long are you in town for now? I reply, but I live here! The last out of state Acura serviceperson changed the oil & pronouced my car cleaner than most even in her large city. That was in Indiana...I now have some 84,000 miles on the same tires--still more tread.

• 

  2001 Acura cl-s - 2003 Acura CL
  By dragone - April 28 - 2:00 am

  A beautiful car inside and out. Very comfortable for two, back seat not for anyone over 510" or over 50 years old. Its not as difficult as most two door coupes of its size to get into and out of the rear seats because of the automatic drive of the front seats to the full forward position. My 63 year old mother would tell you differently, however. As for performance, its got a very strong pull starting at around 3800 rpm and doesnt let up till the redline. And that exhaust tone is beautiful when pushed. Id like to have a more control of the steptronic tranny in first gear. Interior materials are excellent in my opinion.

• 

  Overall Good Car, Luxury could be better - 2002 Acura TL
  By raddison - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 2002 TL for 1.25 years now. Only regular service appointments so far. Theres a noise from one of the seats that bugs me, but thats only when the stereo isnt playing, so Im not too mad they didnt find the squeak yet. The luxury is entry level, however, Ive seen more luxury on a cavalier moonroof. Having to keep your finger on the button instead of one touch, while small is part of luxury! Other than those small things the TL has been great. I love driving it and enjoy the navigation sytem lots. Its the best car Ive ever owned, but thats only compared to a Dodge Intrepid, Honda Accord and one of those K-cars.

• 

  WOW - 2004 Acura TL
  By jpro22 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic...This car has it all. Horsepower, comfort, accessibility are just a few of the luxuries of this well built automobile. Front wheel drive has its draw backs with this amount of power, but come snow season Ill be passing all the rear wheel drive cars.