Are any acuras rear wheel drive?
As of 2025, no current Acura model is rear-wheel drive. The brand’s only rear-wheel-drive model in its history was the original mid-mounted NSX, produced from 1990 to 2005. Today, the NSX uses all-wheel drive, and Acura’s lineup relies on either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.
Acura’s drivetrain strategy centers on efficiency and handling through front-wheel drive platforms and the SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) system on most of its SUVs and performance models. There is no production model in the current lineup that is RWD.
Current lineup and drivetrain options
Here is a snapshot of the drive layouts available across Acura’s current models. SH-AWD stands for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, Acura’s AWD system designed to optimize traction and handling.
- ILX — Front-wheel drive (FWD) only
- TLX — Available with front-wheel drive or SH-AWD on certain trims
- RDX — Front-wheel drive or SH-AWD
- MDX — Front-wheel drive or SH-AWD
- NSX — All-wheel drive (SH-AWD)
In short, there are no rear-wheel-drive Acuras in current production; the brand emphasizes front-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations across its lineup.
Historical note: Rear-wheel-drive Acura models
The original Acura NSX, produced from 1990 through 2005, was a landmark example of rear-wheel-drive performance, featuring a mid-mounted V6 and a pure RWD setup. Its legacy persists as a point of reference for Acura’s performance ambitions, even though the modern NSX uses an all-wheel-drive system and sits in a different category.
Beyond the original NSX, Acura did not widely market other production models with rear-wheel drive. Today, Acura’s performance and luxury lineup is defined by FWD or SH-AWD configurations rather than traditional rear-wheel-drive layouts.
Summary
Ultimately, if you’re seeking rear-wheel-drive capability from Acura today, you won’t find it in the new-car lineup. The original NSX remains the sole historical example, and the contemporary NSX, like the rest of Acura’s lineup, relies on all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. For drivers prioritizing traditional RWD, other brands outside Acura would be the path, but Acura’s focus continues to be on AWD performance and efficiency.
