A Complete Guide to Acura Safety Ratings

Find top safety ratings and luxury across the board with Acura.
Written by Sarah Williams
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Acura’s MDX, RDX, and TLX all received five stars overall from the NHSTA and are IIHS Top Safety Picks. Their luxury sports car, the NSX, remains unrated. 
As Honda’s luxury and performance division, Acura has a lot to live up to. Luckily for us, safety remains a top priority for this luxury brand—and their ratings prove it. With top marks across the board on all of their 2022 sedans and SUVs, you can drive your new Acura off the lot with confidence. That said, if you’re in the market for a speedy sportscar, the jury is still out on Acura’s NSX safety ratings. 
Looking for the lowdown on Acura safety ratings? You’ve come to the right place.
Jerry
, the
car insurance
expert app, has compiled a complete guide to Acura’s safety ratings, including the latest safety tech info, how safety ratings are assessed, and tips on which Acura is best in an accident. 
And if you want to lower your
Acura insurance costs
(or explore insurance for any other vehicle), Jerry’s got you covered there, too!
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Are Acuras safe in accidents? 

Aside from their unrated NSX sports car, Acura received top safety ratings across the board on all 2022 models. The only areas of note are four-star ratings for front passenger-side crash testing on the
TLX
and four stars for rollover and overall front crash for both the
RDX
and
MDX

What makes an Acura safe?

Acura’s dedication to manufacturing safe cars is reflected in its host of safety features, safe design, and safety education efforts. Their quest is to “create a zero-collision society with cars and SUVs that make the roads a safer place for everyone.”
Let’s start by taking a look at some of their impressive AcuraWatch™ safety features. First off, their Collision Mitigation Braking System not only warns you of obstacles ahead, but uses radar and camera to provide visual alerts if there is potential for a crash. It can even brake for you! This feature is standard on all sedans and SUVs. 
Acura recognizes that keeping your distance from other vehicles on the road is key to preventing accidents. They’ve included everything from Adaptive Cruise Control to Lane Keeping Assistance to help keep drivers safe in unpredictable situations. 
Another key element in road safety is visibility. That’s why Acura uses
Jewel Eye®
LED headlights. They are whiter, brighter LEDs, complete with fog lights, to help you maintain clarity under challenging conditions. 
If you find yourself in an accident with an Acura, you’ll be glad to know your vehicle is designed to reduce and disperse force in front crashes. Acura’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE) body construction allows for rigidity where it’s needed while also utilizing strategic crumple zones to protect passengers.  
If these impressive safety features weren’t enough, Acura also emphasizes accident prevention with educational safety resources for
teens
,
parents
, and
new drivers
on its website. 

The two safety rating systems you need to know

The two most important safety ratings for any vehicle are done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These two bodies perform tests to evaluate the safety of motor vehicles in the U.S. 
NHTSA is a federal agency testing vehicles since 1993.
NHTSA safety ratings
are based on a five-star system where each vehicle gets an overall score, which is further broken down into three categories: 
  • Frontal crash
  • Side crash
  • Rollover
IIHS
is a non-profit organization that conducts a series of
six tests
to determine a car’s safety, including front and side crash tests. They also evaluate the headlights and LATCH car seat attachments and assess both crashworthiness and collision mitigation.
IIHS ratings range from Good down through Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor

Which Acura has the highest safety ratings?

With top safety ratings across the board on their sedans and SUVs, it’s a tie between the 2022 MDX, RDX, and TLX. All three vehicles received Top Safety Pick+ ratings from IIHS and five stars overall from NHSTA. 
The TLX lost marks on front passenger side crash testing, which bumped the side crash rating down to four stars. For the RDX and MDX, both lost a star for rollover and overall front crash. 

2022 Acura TLX safety ratings

Starting price: $39,995
IIHS safety rating: Good (Top Safety Pick+)
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars overall, 4 stars for front passenger side
This compact sedan packs in great safety features with almost spotless safety ratings. As one of IIHS’s Top Safety Picks and a 5-star rating from NHTSA, you can rest easy hitting the roads in the 2022 Acura TLX. On top of the standard driver-assistance technology, the TLX comes with traffic-sign recognition and a driver-awareness monitor. 

2022 Acura RDX safety ratings

Starting price: $41,795
IIHS safety rating: Good (Top Safety Pick+)
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars overall, 4 stars for rollover and overall front crash
The 2022 Acura RDX is known for its reasonable starting price, responsive handling, and wide array of standard features. It also comes with impressive safety ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA. The only downsides are the rollover and overall front crash ratings, which both received four stars. For added safety, consider upgrading to the Technology Package, which features extra safety features, including front and rear parking sensors, rear-cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. 

2022 Acura MDX safety ratings

Starting price: $49,195
IIHS safety rating: Good (Top Safety Pick+)
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars overall, 4 stars for rollover and overall front crash
With a host of new driver-assistance tech, the 2022 Acura MDX is another winner when it comes to safety. The MDX includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist.  It received a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS and a five-star NHTSA safety rating. The only areas for concern are the crash-test results for rollover and overall front crash, which both received four stars. 

2022 Acura NSX safety ratings

Starting price: $171,495
IIHS safety rating: Not rated
NHTSA safety rating: Not rated
Acura’s flagship sportscar is easy on the eyes with a comfortable interior and flexible hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately, the 2022 Acura NSX has not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA and lacks driver-assistance features. You’ll get an acceptable level of protection with the NSX’s airbag system and front and rear parking sensors, but the pricey NSX may not be for you if safety is your primary concern. 

How you can save money on Acura insurance

Acura’s top safety ratings don’t just come in handy on the road—they could also help you keep your insurance premium low
Because you’re less likely to get in an accident, you’ll file less insurance claims, which can raise your rates by an average of 34%. Add the discounts some insurance companies offer for vehicles with upgraded safety technology, and you could be looking at some significant savings. 
One surefire way to lower the cost of
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