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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  Its the best SUV - 2004 Acura MDX
  By Tabasco - December 23 - 10:00 am

  This is the best SUV on the market. Here are my only complaints: The switch for the sunroof is located to the left of the drivers wheel. Passenger can not control the sunroof. The other annoying thing is the clock, located on the radio which most times is not readable. They should either locate it in the instrument cluster or make it bright so I dont need glasses to see the time. It would be nice to make a time button on the Navigation screen.

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  Fun To Drive - 2005 Acura TSX
  By Steve - December 22 - 6:16 pm

  After comparing many other near luxury wannabes, I found the TSX to represent exceptional value for my hard-earned money. I had owned a TLS and really loved it. WDP with Parchment interior. I dumped it for a lower monthly payment and for the glass fog lamps that continually needed replacement @ $300. The TSX is made in Japan. Looking at other imported product, it seems to have suffered a little in build quality when the point of manufacture is transferred to North America. I wish someone from the automobile industry could speak on this issue. We want to support our local workers.

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  A new Dud - 2017 Acura ILX
  By Laurel Blue - December 21 - 6:52 pm

  I just leased a new 2017 Acura ILX two months ago. This was the seventh Acura Ive owned or leased, beginning with the 5 cylinder Vigor many years ago. I loved each and every one of these cars...except this one. I HATE it. There should be a warning sign on these- "Watch out! Buy this if youre a dummy." The "new" 8 gear transmission, with two clutches, is way too complex and does not offer performance as Acura bills it. The car hunts for gears as you accelerate, and has very little power from 10mph to 40 mph when you are accelerating. The car lugs in the lower gears. My previous car, a 2014 Acura ILX was perfection itself. I should have kept it. The most annoying aspect of this new car? The muffler. Acura is apparently ignoring its traditional (loyal) adult audience and seeking to attract new users that are young men in their 20s. So they have "boosted" the HP, but this is not accurate. The car is much less powerful than before, despite the claims for higher HP. And it is supposed to be thriftier on gas, but so far (I now have a little under 2000 miles) it is not as much of a gas-saver as was my 2014 Acura ILX. The worst thing? The muffler. It is noisy as all get-out. I suppose this was to attract those young males. I would do anything to get a different muffler that is quiet. I do not wish to hear the constant "throaty growl" Acura has decided is necessary. I keep thinking 33 tortured months to go...Arrgh.

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  Nice Ride - 2006 Acura TL
  By texbuck - December 19 - 4:50 pm

  This is my third Acura, I continue to purchase Acuras because of the quality and value concept. The service departments have always been great, free loaner cars, car always washed after an oil change etc.

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  Honesty - 2005 Acura TL
  By Smiles - December 19 - 1:53 pm

  Great car, lots of style. Rattles a little especially when cold. Handling is good but not on par with the Audi A4. Strong acceleration, some lag between first and second gear with the automatic when pushing the car. Love the technology and the amenities, nothing comparable in the same price range with all the bells and whistles. However nothing handles and drives like the German cars, but cash is always the deal breaker. Nice job ACURA!

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  A Great Looking Car with Some Quirks - 2005 Acura TL
  By Chris T - December 17 - 7:30 am

  Have an 05TL with Navigation. The Nav is worth the money. The car will get up and go from 0 all the way to 120+. Could use some more low end torque, but it really pulls above 4,000 rpm. Two major annoyances for an enthusiast like me. The automanual when in manual mode still shifts by itself out of or into 1st gear. It completely ignores your commands at launch, and if youre in 2nd and floor it, it downshifts to first whether or not you have commanded it to do so. Very annoying. The TSX doesnt have this flaw. Also, the front doors wont stay open, even on a flat surface they constantly want to swing closed on you. Other than that, only the FWD prevents it from being an outstanding car.

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  2004 Accord, I Mean TL - 2004 Acura TL
  By Toco229 - December 17 - 2:00 am

  For one year I drove my Honda Accord, from 2003, then with the announcement of the 2004 TL, i sold mine. But as soon as i went into the car i realized it had some very similar attributes to the Accord. Same styling, same navi, same leather options and all. When i went for a test drive i found it extremly uncomfortable. I could feel every bump in the road and more. But i was very happy that when i put my foot on the accelerator it zoomed off with the roar i loved. Over all its a great car but i wouldnt recommend selling your accord to get another accord, i mean TL.

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  acura TL w/ navigation review - 2004 Acura TL
  By Jane L - December 17 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely fun to drive, excellent handling, beautiful interior and great features

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  MDX The Cross Over SUV - 2002 Acura MDX
  By krc21756 - December 16 - 10:00 am

  The wait was long (3 months) but well worth it.Visibility is excellant. No blind spots. Handling is supurb. Body lean is minimal as is nosedive when braking. The power is awesome. 240 HP 245ft-lbs @3000 rpm. 80mph @ around 2000rpm.0 to 60 in 8 seconds not bad for something that weighs 4300lbs. 16- 17 mpg city driving! This is the SUV to copy and manufacturers are. The upcoming Volvo XC-90, The Porche Cayenne. The Honda Pilot. Improvements can be made and Im sure theyre working on it. Quaility is what you would expect from a luxury vehicle especially when the build only 40,000 units a year. The automotive industry is finally getting interesting again after years of stagnating.

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  best - 2002 Acura RSX
  By omar - December 14 - 4:36 pm

  this is an all around good car.