The Real Difference Between Honda And Acura

Hondalaunched Acura in 1986 as its luxury division, marking a significant milestone in automotive history. The brand became the first luxury marque from a Japanese automaker, beating both Lexus and Infiniti to market by several years.

Acura’s mission was straightforward yet ambitious: take Honda’s renowned reliability and engineering excellence and package it in premium vehicles aimed primarily at markets outside Japan. The strategy centered on offering luxury car buyers the dependability they expected from Honda, but wrapped in more sophisticated styling and enhanced features.

The approach proved remarkably successful. While Honda continued focusing on affordable, practical vehicles for everyday drivers, Acura carved out its own space in the luxury segment. The brand quickly gained traction and became a legitimate competitor to established European luxury names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

However, Acura’s journey wasn’t without challenges. The brand needed to establish its own identity rather than simply being seen as “expensive Honda.” Since the early 2000s, Acura has undergone a significant transformation, developing distinctive design language and brand characteristics that set it apart from its parent company. This evolution has helped Acura mature from a luxury offshoot into a standalone premium brand with its own personality and appeal.

The Legend Was Born

Acura’s first vehicle was the Legend which was released in 1986 and was based on the Honda Legend released a year earlier. It was Honda’s first production V-6 and Acura had the benefit of having it in its first vehicle. The Acura Legend became the flagship vehicle for the brand and was mainly sold in the United States and Canada. The Acura Legend was discontinued after 1995, but Honda still kept the Legend name going until 2021.

Another vehicle that would seal the Acura name was the introduction of the NSX from 1991-2005. It was a mid-engine sports car that was built to take on Ferrari at the time and was styled by Pininfarina. In most parts of the world, it was known as the Acura NSX but remained a Honda in Japan and parts of Europe. Another Notable vehicle of this period is the Acura Integra which was based on the Honda Integra. But in later years, Acura shifted its focus to making more family-focused luxury cars and SUVs.

What’s The Difference Between Honda And Acura Vehicles?

Acura’s vehicles get more premium features and technology than their Honda counterparts. In most cases, where Acuras always make use of premium materials like leather, Hondas can have cloth seats as the default option. Comfort and refinement are the sole purposes of Acura vehicles leaving Honda to focus on catering to the masses.

Reliability is similar when it comes to the powertrain options. But being a Luxury brand, Acura’s vehicles tend to cost a little bit more to repair. Annual maintenance is well below the industry standard of $600, but Honda vehicles will cost $428 while Acura’s will cost $501. However, a lot of parts are shared between both brands and can be serviced regularly at any Honda dealer (except for warranty work). Acura will undoubtedly offer you a more premium experience at the dealership.

Safety is also similar with both brands as several Acura and Honda models have Top safety pick awards from the IIHS.

Acura has a limited range of just sedans and SUVs but Honda has a wider range of vehicles which include:

• Small and large sedans.
• Hatchbacks.
• SUVs.
• Crossovers.
• Minivans.
• Pickup trucks.
• Hybrid: Acura does not offer one at this time.

Acuras Are Mainly Sold In North America

Honda is a global brand selling vehicles all over the world but the Acura brand has its focus on the North American market. One key point that drives this home is the location of its headquarters. Honda has its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, but Acura has its headquarters in California, United States. Most Acura vehicles are even being produced in the factories in Ohio, even the new NSX Supercar was produced in the Marysville factory.

There are four factories in Ohio located in:

• Marysville
• East Liberty
• Anna
• Russells Point

They are responsible for models like the TLX, ILX, RDX, and MDX models. Components like the engine, transmission, and all-wheel drive systems are all made in these factories. Acura does not sell any of its products in Japan, they are all sold under the Honda brand name.

Acura May Not Be As Cool Honda

While Acura began as Honda’s luxury division, the brand initially delivered some genuinely exciting vehicles to North American buyers. The original Legend, Integra, and NSX gave customers access to cars that Honda sold in other markets but had never brought stateside under the Honda name. These weren’t just rebadged Hondas – they were distinct models that established Acura’s early reputation for combining luxury with performance.

In recent years, however, Acura seemed to abandon its sporty roots. Meanwhile, Honda has kept the performance flame burning, particularly with the Civic Type R hot hatch. Honda first introduced the Type R badge in 1997 on the sixth-generation Civic, but American enthusiasts had to wait until 2017 to get their hands on one with the tenth-generation model. The Type R has since become Honda’s ultimate symbol of track-focused performance, with each generation pushing the boundaries further.

Acura attempted to create its own performance identity with the Type S designation, primarily used on sporty versions of the TL sedan. However, these models never matched the raw intensity of Honda’s Type R vehicles. Acura’s Type S cars needed to maintain their luxury character, which meant compromising on pure performance. Unlike Honda’s continuous Type R legacy, Acura quietly discontinued the Type S name in 2008.

The Type S badge has recently made a comeback across Acura’s lineup, now available on both the MDX SUV and TLX sedan. Honda continues advancing the Type R formula with the current Civic hatchback, while Acura has answered with the return of the Integra Type S. Though it shares DNA with the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S takes a more refined approach, prioritizing everyday usability over hardcore track capability.

Are Acuras Worth The Premium?

Honda has made a name for itself by making affordable, practical, and reliable vehicles for the masses. They’ve been making vehicles for a very long time and have a long track record. There are also many options in their lineup suitable for almost any application. With many years of protein, there are also millions of great used options available at even more affordable prices.

Honda Vs. Acura Models Price Comparison (MSRP)

Acura, on the other hand, is a luxury brand, and luxury items will always carry a premium. They also come standard with more luxurious items like leather seats, power-adjustable seats, and a host of other standard features that may be optional on a Honda. But offered at a price point that’s below high-end premium brands like BMW, Mercedes, and even Genesis. You also get the benefits of Honda reliability since they share identical parts.

This approach also reflects in the sales figures of both brands. In the U.S. alone;