When someone mentioned that certain premium automakers shared some parts with more affordable manufacturers, you could have been perplexed if you’ve ever overheard automobile enthusiasts discussing the subject among themselves. They will point out that the Nissan 350Z engine powers the Infiniti G35 or that the previous Acura EL was essentially a Honda Civic with leather upholstery and a marginally different engine. What gives, then? Are these sporadic partnerships, or are there deeper links at play here?
Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are the three major Japanese automakers, and each has its own premium brand (Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, respectively). There are numerous reasons why doing this is not just advantageous but also necessary for them.
Take Honda-Acura as an illustration. How are Acura and Honda connected? Honda realized they needed a strategy to appeal to a more affluent demographic in March 1986. Although their economical and compact cars were quite popular in North America, they couldn’t just compete with luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac. They required a fresh persona.
With the four-door Legend and the compact Integra, they made its initial foray into the North American luxury market. Both were enormous successes (so much so that Honda’s rival introduced their own premium brand), and Acura suddenly developed a reputation as a producer of accessible luxury automobiles. They shocked the world in the 1990s with the NSX, a vehicle that combined supercar-like performance with Honda-like dependability. SUVs like the RDX and MDX routinely ranked among the best-selling models in very competitive segments throughout the ensuing years.
In This Article...
Is Acura a dependable automaker?
For 2022, Acura is one of the most dependable automakers. 28 manufacturers were listed in the Consumer Reports 2022 list, with three luxury automobile brands placing among the top 10. Infiniti came in at number four, Acura got the number eight position, while Lexus claimed the top place.
Is Acura the name for luxury?
Yes, Acura is regarded as a luxury brand since it has high-end amenities both inside and out that provide a general driving experience that is characterized by comfort, performance, and style.
Does Acura maintain its value?
While certain Acura vehicles do retain their value well, many do not. A 2017 Acura should retain 75% of its original value on average. One car that holds its value well is the Acura TLX. Because drivers want to purchase them, it has a devoted customer base, which helps TLXs maintain their value over time.
How durable are Acura automobiles?
Acura routinely ranks among the most dependable manufacturers of luxury automobiles. An Acura should survive at least 16 years, between 250,000 and 300,000 miles.
The premium vehicle sector of Honda is renowned for dependability. Acura placed second overall—not only among luxury car brands—in RepairPals’ most recent survey on vehicle dependability. Nevertheless, some models are better than others, and owner maintenance will impact the vehicle’s longevity.
What draws people to Acura?
Elegant Design Acura is a genuine luxury brand that has the appearance and attributes required to compete with the best throughout the Model Line First. Models from the brand have polished interiors that keep everyone comfortable and elegant exteriors that draw attention from others.
Can Acura match Honda’s quality?
Honda cars are distinguished from Acura automobiles by their dependability, efficiency, and high safety ratings. In addition, Honda will be a superior option if you’re searching for a small car, midsize car, small SUV, or midsize SUV, even though there is some overlap between Honda and Acura products.
What does Nissan’s luxury model look like?
INFINITI. With its lineup of carefully crafted vehicles, INFINITI, the premium brand of Nissan Motor Corporation, brings contemporary Japanese elegance to important markets throughout the world.
Is the Acura a Honda motor?
The luxury and performance arm of the Japanese automaker Honda[2] is called Acura, and it is based mostly in North America.
[3] The company began marketing luxury and performance cars on March 27, 1986, in the United States and Canada. It was first made available in Mexico in 2004,[4] China in 2006 (lasting until 2022),[5] Russia in 2014,[6] Kuwait in 2015,[4] and Hong Kong in 1991 (running until 2009). It was also offered for sale in Ukraine (until 2018). [7] Honda’s intention to launch Acura in the Japanese domestic market (JDM) in 2008 was postponed for financial reasons[8] and later abandoned as a result of the 2007–2008 financial crisis. [9]
The first luxury division started by a Japanese carmaker was Acura.
[10] In addition to the already existing Honda Verno and Honda Primo, the JDM Honda dealership sales channel known as Honda Clio, which offered premium cars, was launched at the same time as Acura. Acura was among the top-selling luxury brands in the US during its first few years of operation, outpacing well-known names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. [10] Despite declining sales in the mid- to late 1990s, the brand had a resurgence in the early 2000s as a result of radical redesigns and the introduction of new models. [10] [11]
Late in the 1980s, Toyota and Nissan, two other Japanese automakers, were inspired by the Legend’s popularity to develop their own luxury brands, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively. When Honda’s mid-engine exotic sports vehicle, the NSX, was debuted to the North American market in 1990, it provided a dependable and useful alternative to expensive exotic sports cars from Europe. The Type II engine and six-speed manual transmission were originally employed by Acura in the 1993 Legend coup. Acura created a Type R variant of its little Integra in the late 1990s. It had a high-output VTEC engine, a stiffer and lower suspension, and a lower curb weight.
Early in the new millennium, Acura unveiled many new models, including the MDX, the company’s first entirely original SUV, and the RSX and TSX, which respectively replaced the Integra hatchback and sedan. During that decade, the RSX, CL, and TL Type-S models were added to the brand’s range. The torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system SH-AWD was first included in Acura’s 2005 RL flagship model. The first Honda turbocharged engine to be used in North America was installed in the crossover SUV RDX in 2007. The second version of the NSX was introduced in 2016, and it has a Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a twin-turbocharged mid-engine.
What values does Acura promote?
While Honda has a deeper definition in Japanese thanks to its founder Soichiro Honda, Acura does not. The name Acura is a modest alteration of the Latin phrase for “done precisely.” The brand tagline, Precision Crafted Performance, echoes this idea.
What does the Acura you drive say about you?
Driving an Acura, Audi, or Volvo announces to the world that you are doing well and aspire to be the boss one day. These are respectable, high-end vehicles that are not quite at the top of the luxury vehicle market but are nonetheless classy enough to show your neighbors that you received a respectable bonus the previous quarter. These are the vehicles that those who supervise others and are one level beneath the boss at work drive. The kind of vehicles that, while we all respect them when we see them, don’t pique our interest. However, cruising in a brand-new Volvo V60 or Audi A5 announces your arrival to the world.
Is Acura comparable to Lexus?
Let’s evaluate the performance of two similar SUVs: the Lexus RX350 and the Acura RDX.
While Acura is superior in terms of performance, Lexus is more concentrated on luxury. Compared to the Lexus portfolio, the lineup offers more vehicles that push sportiness and performance to new heights. For a higher trim and additional improvements, any Lexus car that is on par with an Acura in terms of performance requirements will cost you more.
Which luxury vehicle requires the least maintenance?
The most expensive luxury vehicles for maintenance over ten years
- Model 3 Tesla. View the Tesla Model 3 maintenance schedule, projected expenses per year, and predicted likelihood of major repairs.
- a Model S Tesla.
- a Model Y Tesla.
- Toyota ES 350.
- Toyota ES 300h.
- Toyota IS 350.
- Toyota GS 350.
- Ford Model X.
Which vehicle maintains its worth the longest?
Value is a distinguishing feature of Toyota automobiles, regardless of whether they are brand new on a dealer lot or have a six-digit odometer. They are also furnished with features and technology to meet the requirements of modern drivers, in addition to being inexpensive, dependable, and efficient. The Corolla and Camry continue to be popular choices even though consumer demand for sedans is declining in favor of SUVs. There are plenty of SUV alternatives from Toyota, including the RAV4, Highlander, and 4Runner. The value of Toyota’s trucks, the Tacoma and Tundra, is also very high. In addition, drivers who want to save money at the pump continue to favor the Prius hybrid. Together with other models, Toyota has the best brand retention of any automaker, holding 58.6% of its value on average over a five-year period.
What model of Acura is the fastest?
One of the fastest sports vehicles available is the Acura NSX Type S, which can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. If you have access to a runway, the NSX can go at a top speed of 191 mph.