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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  Best Handling & Very Roomy - 2010 Acura MDX
  By danny1878 - September 4 - 9:48 am

  Acura electronics, SH-AWD, ACC and body roll is the best (feel like driving a sedan). Wish it has better MPG than 19.7. Roomiest seats among competitor such as RX, BMW, etc.

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  Good Value for the money - 2010 Acura MDX
  By Tien - September 3 - 7:35 pm

  Owned 2003 MDX and was very pleased with the reliability. Did not want another MDX but ended up getting this one instead of the RX350 due to Value for the money. RX350 is actually more expensive than the MDX and does not offer 3rd row seat. Vehicle drives great so far. A couple of things. a) It required premium fuel. Wife did not know and put in plus instead. This caused the vehicle to jerk when transitioned from first to second gear. One premium fuel is used, problem went away. b) Leather seat is fairly easy to get dirty. Interior is compatible with RX350. Lexus used to has much better interior in the past but 2010 RX350 has similar leather grade as MDX 2010.

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  Good long term buy! - 2007 Acura MDX
  By traeger - September 1 - 12:25 pm

  Looking at many CUVs, I went with my mdx. It is fantastic. Tight construction, sure footed ride and handling, spacious second row!, good entertainment package with fantastic features. This is a very good all around car for all variations of travel, weather, and conditions.

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  Terrible Car - 2008 Acura TL
  By Will - August 31 - 5:19 pm

  This car has so many rattles it is difficult to describe. Cheap interior parts and poor quality control at the plant. Car has been at the dealership at least 6 times and they havent fixed anything, actually made it worse. Now a window leaks when you go through a car wash or heavy rain. All on a 2 year old car with less than 30k.

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  16 and Going Strong - 1994 Acura Vigor
  By Rob - August 31 - 4:36 pm

  This is the best car I have owned new or used and I have owned ten other cars including a Mercedes. Bought the car new. Great road car that is very agile when you need to pass. Can drive it in very heavy snow and not get stuck. No major problems with the engine or drive train. Replaced timing chain at 65K and again at 125K miles as prevention maintenance. The muffler system lasted for 15 years. Tune-ups every 30K miles, oil changes, brakes about every 50K miles and tires pretty much sum up the cost to drive it for 16 years plus. Honda should think about putting the 2.5 five cylinder in their new TSX instead of the six.

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  Very Happy - 2010 Acura MDX
  By Happy Owner - August 30 - 1:32 pm

  Just bought my MDX last week. So far I am VERY impressed. Bought it for my wife, she had owned an 03 and loved it. I finally talked her into buying the new one so I would enjoy driving it around with the kids and her on the weekend. I have an 05 TL and this car is just as fun, if not MORE fun, as my TL. Handles great, lots of tricks and toys and looks fantastic. My only gripe is the gas mileage.

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  Tires and iPod connection - 2007 Acura TL
  By George - August 30 - 1:21 pm

  Just would like to address those that complain about tires not lasting: in a sport-sedan dont expect sticky tires that hold the road last very long. Long-lasting tires will spin when you drive. iPod: for all of you 2007 TL owners: the iPod connection is in the middle compartment under your elbow, well hidden, just look for it. Not a good place, but its there.

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  Do not hesitate! - 2000 Acura TL
  By John - August 30 - 12:13 pm

  This is the best car i have ever owned. I bought it brand new in 2000 and besides regular maintenance and normal wear and tear things I have had to pay nothing in repairs. Yes, absolutely nothing. I thought it was unheard of to get this performance + reliability for the price until i bought her.I just bought a 2009 TL and LOVE IT! I dreaded the day when I passed this car along to my son. But at least I can feel confident this vehicle will not leave him stranded on the side of the road. This vehicle is far superior to any German made luxury car by far. I have owned a BMW, Lexus, Audi (worst by far), and a Mercedes and the TL tops them all.

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  If youre short, dont buy - 2010 Acura TSX
  By The Trader - August 28 - 1:17 pm

  Traded a 05 Volvo, wonderful car except for turn radius bought a 10 Prius traded it for the TSX - talked into it by saleslady rather than the TL, I preferred. What a year! Hate this car I cant see out the front as the seat wont come up high enough or the steering wheel wont adjust high enough without blocking the dash (at least I can see the dash unlike Prius). Seat belt locks door too heavy and hinges in wrong places for me. This car was built for a giant. Im just a little ol lady and dont need all the gadgets, much less the sporty feel.

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  I feel betrayed - 2002 Acura MDX
  By no more acuras - August 28 - 10:44 am

  Let me start off by saying I loved my Acuras. Had an RL that was the best i owned. It failed on me and traded for the MDX. Loved the MDX, best in class, dream car. Then the probs w the tranny started. Thank God I bought it certified. 100 mi before expiration they replaced it free, but right at 12 mos later its crapping again. I feel like my spouse cheated on me. For something I love to cause me this much pain, Ill never buy another Acura. To fix it will cost more than I owe it. They may have gotten better, but they lost me for good this time. The RL was bad enough when I replaced the window motor on 3 windows and at 105k the engine died. Can you tell Im bitter? Sorry, i dont want to be.