From the Premium Sport Compact Sedan ILX to the next generation NSX Super Car, Acura has built a solid lineup of vehicles to consider. Just as GM made the Cadillac its signature must-have model, Honda has turned Acura into an entire line of vehicles that are a class of their own.
What models does Acura make?
- ILX–starting at $25,950
- TLX–starting at $37,500
- RLX–starting at $54,900
- RDX–starting at $38,200
- MDX–starting at $44,500
- NSX–starting at 157,500
How do the different Acura models compare to other cars in their class? Have there been any recent recalls? What about Acura’s SUVs; are they as comfortable to drive as the sedans? Does Acura have a high-performance model? What are the safety ratings for these models? Well, great news! By the end of this article, you’ll have all the data you need to make an educated buying decision and feel good about it.
ILX
Think of the Honda Civic getting dressed up for a night on the town, and you’ll know what to expect from this Acura car model. The ILX’s price and full complement of high-tech features make it stand out in the crowded field of more expensive subcompact rivals.
An upgrade to ILX A-spec boosts the MSRP to a little over $30,000. Along with that comes leather upholstery, upgraded infotainment features, more driver assists, and a powerful ELS audio system.
On the downside, road and wind noise seep into the cabin in ways the Mercedes-Benz A-class or Audi A3 do not allow. The $5-8,000 difference makes up for a little road noise when you punch the pedal in our estimation. That said, it isn’t as much fun to drive as its rivals.
- 2.4 L engine
- Maximum Horsepower @ rpm 201 @ 6800
- Range, city/highway (miles) 316.80 / 448.80
- EPA Fuel Economy, combined/city/highway (mpg) 28 / 24 / 34
- Wheelbase (inches) 105.1
- Passenger / Seating Capacity 5
- Trunk Space (cubic feet) 12.4
Safety Ratings – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates the overall safety of the ILS with five out of five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet to crash-test the 2021 IL but gave the highest-ranking of Good in all of the crash-tests it performed.
TLX
With its resurrected Type S high-performance nameplate, the TLX S features a peppy turbo V6 engine and the standard version has a potent turbocharged four-cylinder.
While in development, Acura labeled the 2021 TLX “the Seven-Second Knockout,” because as Car and Driver noted, “The goal of the brand’s new sports sedan is to knock you flat on your ass.”
The TLX 3.5L SH-AWD PMC Edition Package starts at $50,945 while a more tamer 4-cylinder version comes in at $37, 500. Features of the SH-AWD PMC Edition Package include:
- 3.5 L 6-cylinder engine
- Maximum Horsepower @ rpm 290 @ 6200
- Maximum Torque @ rpm 267 @ 4500
- Range, city/highway (miles) 344.00 / 498.80
- EPA Fuel Economy, combined/city/highway (mpg) 23 / 20 / 29
- Passenger / Seating Capacity 5
Safety Ratings – Neither the NHTSA nor IIHS have crash-tested the 2021 TLX as of this writing. However, the TLX offers advanced safety features like:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Head-up display
- Surround-view parking camera system
RLX
Though the RLX has all the upscale features expected in its class – low cabin noise, spacious accommodations and a supercar-derived hybrid powertrain – it falls short of its main competitors. The generic cabin design and obsolete infotainment system are a bit of a put-off.
On the plus side, the unique hybrid model runs smoothly and accelerates rapidly. That, however, is not enough to keep it from occupying the cellar of the luxury large car class.
Safety Ratings — Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have crash-tested the 2021 RLX. However, IIHS ratings for the 2020 model were all good to superior, except for a fairly low score for headlight results.
RDX
The RDX is an SUV that doesn’t have the same level of luxury as the Mercedes-Benz GLC-class or the Porsche Macan. The Spec version, though pricey, has significant performance improvements.
Specifications of the mid-range RDX SUV include:
- 2.0 L engine
- Maximum Horsepower @ rpm 272 @ 6500
- Range, city/highway (miles) 359.10 / 461.70
- EPA Fuel Economy, combined/city/highway (mpg) 23 / 21 / 27
- Passenger / Seating Capacity 5
- Base Curb Weight (pounds) 4019
Safety Ratings — The NHTSA gave the 2021 Acura RDX an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. At this time, the IIHS has not crash-tested the 2021 Acura RDX, but the almost identical 2020 version earned IIHS’s highest-rating of Superior for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system.
MDX
This is Acura’s latest overhaul of one of its SUV models. You may want to wait until 2022, though, because it will be one workhorse of an SUV with three rows of seating, a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6, 10-speed automatic, and optional all-wheel drive.
The MDX interior has a premium look and feel and offers creature comforts like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
- 3.5 L engine
- Maximum Horsepower @ rpm 290 @ 6200
- Range, city/highway (miles) 370.50 / 487.50
- EPA Fuel Economy, combined/city/highway (mpg) 21 / 19 / 25
- Passenger / Seating Capacity 6
- Cargo Space/Area Behind Front Row (cubic feet) 90.9
Safety Ratings — The NHTSA gave the MDX a five-out-of-five-star overall rating, that included five stars in frontal and side crash-tests and four stars in rollover tests. The IIHS gave its highest-rating of Good in five crash-tests and a rating of Acceptable for how well its headlights light the road ahead.
NSX
While we may not all be ready for a high-performance car, you owe it yourself to take a look at the all-new Acura NSX. Its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 is accompanied by one rear and two front wheel electric motors to power and is accompanied by precise turning. The Indy yellow is not for everyone, but no one will miss it coming.
Even with its 570 horsepower 6-cylinder, the NSX can’t match some of its more powerful contenders in the class.
Safety Ratings – As is common for high-end luxury vehicles, neither the NHTSA nor IIHS have crash-tested this Acura car model.
