While some of Acura’s models throughout the 2010s were available as hybrids, they often failed to meet standards set by competitors. Now, in 2022, the only hybrid left in the lineup is the NSX supercar, which will not see a 2023 iteration.

In a 2021 interview with Automotive News, assistant vice president of Acura national sales Emile Korkor suggested that in shifting “rapidly into BEV” (Battery Electric Vehicle technology), they would “bypass hybrids altogether.”

Let's take a look at the 2022 Acura NSX supercar and the hybrids it has inspired—as well as one that came before.

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2022 Acura hybrid models guide

The flagship supercar from Honda’s Acura brand is the Acura NSX, a hybrid supercar which just got an incredible Type S upgrade for its last year of production.

In recent years, many luxury car manufacturers such as

Cadillac

and

Audi

have dedicated themselves to an abrupt transition to luxury cars. Acura is following suit, and the first step in its transition will be getting rid of its hybrid engines, which have never really performed all that well in the first place.

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric car: what’s the difference?

Sometimes it can feel like acronyms and jargon are moving too fast for anyone to keep up with. That’s totally valid, because automotive technology has never moved faster than it is right now. So let’s make sure we have a handle on the different types of hybrid vehicles and what distinguishes them from an electric car.

A traditional hybrid uses electricity generated from a gas-powered engine to help drive the engine at lower speeds, drastically improving fuel economy for city driving.

On the other hand, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is driven forward by an electric motor that’s charged by an on-board gas generator that you fill at the pump for an extra boost of range. Otherwise, it functions as a regular electric vehicle that you can plug in and charge at home—unlike a traditional hybrid.

Most domestic all-electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries, and these are generally referred to as battery electric vehicles (BEV). For example, a Tesla is a BEV, as it is propelled by motors powered entirely by electricity.

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The best Acura hybrid cars

Other than NSX, Acura has historically offered hybrid options for three other models, the MDX midsize SUV, the

RLX

large car, and the ILX small car.

Best Acura hybrid overall: 2019 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

The

Acura MDX

has consistently delivered competitive performance in its class, and its Sport Hybrid version takes nothing away from the sportiness of the standard V6 model. In fact, the 2020 MDX Sport Hybrid combines for more horsepower than the standard 3.5 V6 offered on the base model.

Not only does it measure up performance-wise, but the two electric motors on each of the rear wheels allow for about a 6 mpg improvement to city fuel economy—although it does nothing to improve highway mileage. If you need an SUV that saves you money during your city commutes but can still take you out to the cabin in style, the Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is a great option.

While a 2020 model was released before the line’s discontinuation in 2021, the 2019version is generally regarded as the better option.

Best value Acura hybrid: 2014 Acura ILX Hybrid

If you don’t need an SUV, but you’re looking for a used vehicle that’s even better on gas, look no further to the 2014

Acura ILX Hybrid

. It gets better fuel efficiency driving in the city than on the highway, and both figures just barely miss the 40mpg mark by 1 or 2 mpg.

In the case of an earlier-2010s hybrid like this one, you’ll definitely notice the difference between the hybrid engine and the other standard engine options in terms of speed and power—the hybrid only produces 111 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 127 lb-ft of torque at 1,000-3500 rpm.

On the bright side, the Hybrid is the cheapest version of the 2014 ILX that you can get, and with a Kelley Blue Book Fair Market Range of $10,445 to $13,138, it’s a far more affordable option than a newer model.

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Are Acura hybrids worth it?

It seems that Acura has already answered this question for us, and the answer appears to be no. Acura’s decision to “skip” hybrid technology and go straight into BEV technology instead is a clever move. It will allow them to develop more cutting-edge technology, rather than just to hopefully compete with vehicles other companies are already better at building.

That being said, if you’re looking for a recent used model and have traditional hybrids on your mind, many of Acura’s hybrid offerings will check the boxes, offering efficiency and luxury all at once

Performance

The NSX has been the inspiring force for the RLX and the MDXSport Hybrid drivetrains. There’s certainly something to be said about a V6 engine that can still get 27 mpg on the highway coupled with a dual electric rear-wheel torque vectoring drivetrain and a third front electric motor that can collectively achieve the same efficiency even in the city.

Many experts have considered this hybrid system a technological tour-de-force, given its ability to work subtly without hindering driving experience. If you’re in the market for a model that’s just nearing the end of its 5-year prime, Acura’s MDX or RLX hybrids will absolutely fit the bill, and if performance is less of an issue, an older ILX hybrid will suit you well.

Reliability

The 2020 MDX Sport Hybrid has a predicted reliability rating of 80 out of 100, which is considered to be a great score. According to Motorbiscuit, the 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid beats the reliability of the 2020 version. With electric motors taking pressure off the gas engine, hybrids often get far better longevity than their all-gas-powered siblings.

Cost of ownership

Unfortunately, when it comes to purchasing luxury cars, the cost of ownership is not always going to be ideal. Between luxury repairs and value depreciation, you’re still going to be looking at a pretty high overall price tag.

Using Edmunds’ True Cost To Own® breakdown, here’s an idea of the cost of ownership for a 2019 MDX Sport Hybrid, amounting to a TCO of $63,497:

Insurance: $7,200

Maintenance: $8,904

Repairs: $3,397

Financing: $3,285

Taxes and fees: $4,003

Fuel: $18,242

Depreciation: $18,284

This figure is slightly higher than the TCO for the non-hybrid MDX, which comes to $61,332. This figure should be taken with a bit of a grain of salt though, as it doesn’t account for variable driving habits, and suggests that fuel costs will actually be higher with the hybrid. Something doesn’t add up there, especially if you need to do lots of driving in the city. Trust us, you’ll definitely save money on gas if you do lots of city driving in your hybrid.

How to get sustainable rates on car insurance

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