Is Acura a Luxury Car?

Find the best Acura luxury car for you with our guide.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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Acura is the luxury and performance division of Honda—and it makes some of the most affordable, tech-savvy luxury cars you can own.
Acura takes everything that makes Honda one of the most beloved automakers in the world—practicality, dependable build quality, and a healthy dash of fun—and ramps up the luxury factor with high-end features like leather seats, improved powertrain options, and the true mark of status: the moonroof.
Whether you’re in the market for a super fast Acura NSX sport hybrid or a practical RDX crossover, you can find the best
Acura car insurance cost
for any model in the make’s lineup with
Jerry
. As a licensed insurance broker and an expert on all things Acura, Jerry is your guide to Honda’s luxury brand.

Is Acura a luxury car?

Yes—Acura is a luxury car manufacturer. Although Acura vehicles feature the same emphasis on practical engineering and budget-friendly options as its parent company, Honda, every Acura is a luxury vehicle, from compact crossovers like the
RDX
to the uber-fast NSX supercar.

What makes a luxury car?

Most Acura vehicles are based on the same platform as a similar Honda. For instance, the sporty Integra sedan shares its basic architecture with the demure
Civic
. So what makes the Integra—and other Acura models—a luxury car?
There’s no set-in-stone definition of what makes a luxury vehicle, but all of Acura’s models share some basic features that create that elusive thing we call luxury. They include:
  • Performance features like powerful engines and upgraded suspensions that soak up bumps
  • Comfort features like high-end leather, spacious cabins, and heated or power-adjustable seats
  • Technology features like premium audio systems, telematics, and cutting-edge safety features
  • Style features like luxe lighting, aluminum or carbon fiber components, and sculpturesque design
While most mass-market vehicles can deliver the same basic mechanical features as a luxury car, there’s no matching the ride quality, plush interiors, or super-powered tech capabilities of a luxury vehicle.
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Is Acura a good luxury brand?

It depends on what you’re looking for in a luxury car. If you’re looking for all-stops-pulled opulence, you probably won’t find it in an Acura: even with all the appearance packages and technology options, an Acura luxury sedan won’t match the best cars from an ultra-luxe make like Mercedes-Benz. And in terms of driving dynamics, you’ll find more speed and power from luxury brands like BMW.
Accessibility, practicality, and technology are where Acura shine. Thanks to top-quality Honda engineering, Acura makes some of the most affordable, fun-to-own luxury cars on the market. If you’re looking for a luxury sedan or SUV that feels and drives like a high-end sports car without breaking the bank, Acura is the perfect make for you.

The best Acura luxury cars

Acura currently offers three luxury cars: the
TLX sport sedan
, the Integra sport compact, and the NSX Type S supercar.

Acura TLX

Starting at $38,900, the TLX is Acura’s answer to the wildly popular BMW 3 Series. Replacing the discontinued Acura RLX sedan as the make’s flagship model, the TLX is a well-built luxury sedan that’s fun to drive and affordable to own.
Standard features include:
  • Sunroof
  • Dual-zone climate control w/humidity sensor
  • 10-speaker audio system
  • Power-adjustable heated front seats with faux leather upholstery
  • AcuraLink connected services and smartphone integration
  • Keyless entry and push-button ignition
  • Ambient interior lighting
  • Driver assistance aids, including: forward collision mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a multi-view backup camera
On top of that well-appointed base model, you can add the Technology Package, the A-Spec Package, or the Advance Package—or upgrade to the performance-tuned Type S. Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) is also available.
Key Specs
2022 Acura TLX
Engine
272-hp 2.0L turbocharged I4 OR 355-hp 3.0L V6 (Type S)
Transmission
10-speed automatic
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (standard) OR Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (optional)
0 to 60
5.9 seconds to 4.9 seconds (Type S)
EPA fuel economy (mpg)
24 combined/21 city/29 hwy

Acura Integra

Arriving shiny and new for the 2023 model year is the previously discontinued Acura Integra, a premium sport compact hatchback starting at $30,800, which makes it the cheapest Acura you can buy.
Like the Honda Civic on which it’s based—and unlike the Acura ILX, which it replaces—the all-new Integra is both practical and a delight to drive, with sporty handling and an available six-speed manual transmission.
Standard features include:
  • Digital instrument cluster w/7-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Faux leather upholstery
  • Ambient cabin lighting
  • Smartphone integration
  • Sunroof
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • Power-adjustable driver’s seat
  • Advanced driver aids including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, forward collision mitigation, and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
While you’ll have to go all the way up to the top trim—the Integra A-Spec with Technology Package—to unlock that sweet manual transmission, you won’t be disappointed by the luxury features you add along the way, including a 16-speaker ELS STUDIO 3D audio system, a WiFi hotspot and wireless charging pad, and adaptive suspension dampers for a ride as smooth as butter.
Key Specs
2023 Acura Integra
Engine
200-hp 2.5L turbocharged I4
Transmission
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) OR six-speed manual (A-Spec w/Technology only)
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
0 to 60
7.0 seconds
EPA fuel economy (mpg )
30 combined/26 city /36 hwy
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Acura NSX

The halo car of the Acura brand is the NSX Type S supercar, which is sadly departing with the 2022 model year. With a starting MSRP of $171,495, the NSX isn’t the most affordable Acura—but it is the most eye-catching, and it’s hands down the fastest car on offer from the luxury brand.
What do you get for that eye-popping price tag? A next-level luxury coupe that can tear it up at the racetrack and still get you to work with all the practical efficiency of a Honda Accord (it just looks a whole lot cooler). Oh, and it’s a hybrid.
Standard features include:
  • Forged 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels
  • Carbon fiber exterior elements
  • Leather and simulated suede upholstery
  • Front and rear parking sensors
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
The single Type S trim is plenty tricked-out to begin with, but if you want to take things up a notch, you can spring for a premium audio system or the Lightweight Package, which includes high-performance carbon fiber brakes and carbon-fiber upgrades to the engine hood, instrument panel, and steering wheel.
Key Specs
2022 Acura NSX Type S
Engine
3.5L turbocharged V6 and three electric motors (600 hp, 492 lb-ft of torque)
Transmission
Nine-speed automatic
Drivetrain
All-wheel drive
0 to 60
2.9 seconds
EPA fuel economy (mpg)
21 combined/21 city/22 hwy

Acura luxury SUVs

Sedans and supercars are just the beginning when it comes to Acura’s new car lineup—the RDX and the MDX are the make’s two SUVs, and both are outstanding luxury models.
The Acura RDX is a tech-forward compact luxury crossover starting at $41,795. Built on its own platform at the intersection of affordability and luxury, the RDX boasts a stupendous lineup of standard features like keyless entry and ignition, wireless smartphone integration, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof.
The Acura MDX is the RDX’s midsize brother, a delightful SUV whose name stands for “Multi-Dimensional Luxury.” The MDX starts at a steeper $49,195, but in return, it delivers sharp, muscular handling and premium finishes, as well as a new sport-oriented Type S model. 
If you want a luxury SUV with a 25-speaker sound system, massaging front seats, Brembo brakes, and the roomy, dependable architecture of the Honda Pilot, the MDX Type S is your dream car.

How to save on Acura insurance with Jerry

As car enthusiasts and insurance experts, we’re not just here to talk you through the delights of the Acura luxury car lineup. We’re also your shortest route to serious savings on the premium car insurance coverage you’ll need for any Acura model.
Here’s how it works: as a licensed insurance broker and the world’s first super app for
car insurance
shopping,
Jerry
can analyze your driver profile and sift through rates from over 55 insurance providers to find you quotes that fit your budget and vehicle. The whole thing takes about 45 seconds, and Jerry’s team of expert agents will handle all the paperwork that comes afterward.
Take the Jerry app for a test drive today and see how Jerry users save an average of $800+ per year on car insurance.
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FAQs

Like beauty, luxury is in the eye of the beholder. Acura isn’t more luxurious than Lexus, Toyota’s luxury and performance division—however, Lexus receives higher rankings for reliability and quality from experts like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. Lexus models also tend to be a little flashier than Acuras.
Yes and no. As luxury cars, Acura models are more expensive than their Honda cousins—but they’re among the most affordable luxury vehicles you can buy. Acura also has an excellent reputation for dependability and build quality, making Acura vehicles
extremely affordable to maintain
.
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