Acura was launched in 1986 and is the luxury division of the Honda Motor Company. They were the first luxury division of a Japanese automaker ahead of Lexus and Infiniti. The main goal of the brand was to sell luxury versions of Honda vehicles but mainly outside the Japanese market. They brought Honda’s simplicity and reliability in a premium package that would appeal to luxury car buyers.

The plan worked, so while Honda kept making affordable economy cars, Acura would sell luxury and limited edition versions. Acura was among the bestselling luxury vehicles competing with brands like BMW and Mercedes. Since the early, 2000s, Acura has had a revival and created its own design and brand identity to help differentiate it from the Honda parent company.

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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.

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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

Acura may have started as Honda’s luxury division, but they also had some very cool cars in the beginning. From the initial Legend, Integra, and NSX, Acura gave North American customers cars that Honda never offered. These were cars offered by Honda but they were available in other markets under the Honda brand. But in recent years, it seems Acura has given up on sporty models.

But Honda hasn't given up on sports cars, most notably Honda’s hot hatch, the Civic Type R. It has been in production since 1997 on the sixth generation Honda Civic. But was never offered to the American market until 2017 on the tenth-generation Civic. The Type R badge has always been a symbol of sportiness which has evolved and gotten better with the current generation.

Acura does have a performance badge similar to Honda known as the Type S. The main difference was that the Type S were sporty models of the Acura TL sedan. Acura’s Type S cars were never as sporty as their Honda counterparts as they needed to still feel luxurious. But unlike Honda which has continued the Type R name since its inception, Acura discontinued Type S models in 2008.

The Type S name has returned for the latest generation of Acura vehicles. You can now get the type S badge on the MDX SUV AND TLX sedan. However, Honda also has a new Type R that can only be gotten on the Civic hatchback. Acura gets a version of this with the return of the Integra Type S which is not as track-focused as the Civic Type R.

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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;

• Honda has been doing very well with sales of over a million units annually since the mid-2000s
• Acura has been doing between 100,000 and 180,000 units annually in the same timeframe