Is Acura considered Honda?
Yes, Acura is considered a division of Honda Motor Company. Acura is Honda's luxury vehicle division, producing high-end automobiles that compete with other premium brands like Lexus, Infiniti, and BMW.
Acura's Relationship with Honda
Acura was launched in 1986 as Honda's luxury vehicle division, with the goal of providing a more premium product line to compete with other luxury automakers. Acura vehicles are designed, engineered, and manufactured by Honda, using many of the same platforms, engines, and technologies as Honda's mainstream models. However, Acura vehicles typically feature more advanced features, higher-quality materials, and a more refined driving experience compared to their Honda counterparts.
While Acura is a separate brand from Honda, it is wholly owned and operated by Honda Motor Company. Acura vehicles are sold and serviced through Honda's dealer network, and the two brands share many common components and engineering resources. This close relationship allows Acura to leverage Honda's extensive research, development, and manufacturing capabilities to produce its luxury vehicles.
Key Differences Between Acura and Honda
The main differences between Acura and Honda are:
- Luxury and Premium Features: Acura vehicles are designed and equipped with more premium materials, advanced technologies, and a higher level of craftsmanship compared to Honda models.
- Performance and Driving Dynamics: Acura models typically offer more powerful engines, sportier suspension tuning, and a more engaging driving experience than their Honda counterparts.
- Pricing and Market Positioning: Acura vehicles are priced and positioned as luxury/premium offerings, competing with other luxury brands, while Honda models are focused on the mainstream, non-luxury market.
Despite these differences, Acura and Honda share many common components, platforms, and engineering resources, allowing Acura to leverage Honda's extensive capabilities to produce its more premium vehicles.
Is Lexus made by Honda?
No, Lexus is not made by Honda; it is the luxury vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corporation. Honda's luxury brand is Acura.
- Lexus is owned by Toyota: Lexus's parent company is Toyota Motor Corporation. Lexus was created by Toyota in 1989 to compete in the luxury vehicle market.
- Acura is owned by Honda: Honda's luxury division is Acura.
- Manufacturing: While both brands have plants in Japan, the United States, and Canada, they are produced by their respective parent companies.
- Shared platforms: Although Lexus is a separate luxury brand, its vehicles often share platforms and some components with their Toyota counterparts, a relationship that is sometimes compared to the relationship between Lexus and Toyota.
Which is better, Honda or Acura?
Whether Acura is "better" than Honda depends on your priorities, as Acura is Honda's luxury performance brand with a higher price point. Acura offers more powerful engines, sportier handling, and more premium interior features, while Honda prioritizes practicality, fuel efficiency, and a lower cost of entry. Honda may be the better choice for a value-focused or family-oriented vehicle, whereas Acura is better for those seeking a more luxurious and performance-driven experience.
Acura advantages
- Performance: Acura vehicles generally have more powerful engines and advanced powertrain options for a sportier driving experience.
- Luxury: Acura interiors feature higher-quality materials, more luxury options like ventilated seats and premium sound systems, and a more upscale design.
- Standard Features: Entry-level Acura models often come with more standard features than comparable Honda models, though this contributes to the higher price.
- Target Audience: Acura caters to drivers who want a premium, performance-oriented vehicle.
Honda advantages
- Value: Honda models are more affordable than their Acura counterparts.
- Practicality: Honda vehicles are often designed with a focus on practicality, such as providing more usable cargo space or more third-row legroom in certain models.
- Fuel Efficiency: Honda engines are often optimized for fuel efficiency.
- Target Audience: Honda is ideal for buyers who want a reliable and practical vehicle at a lower price point.
Reliability
- Both brands are considered reliable. For example, both Acura and Honda have received a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating from RepairPal.com.
Which is right for you?
- Choose Acura if: You are willing to pay more for a more powerful engine, a more luxurious interior, and a sportier driving feel.
- Choose Honda if: Your priority is value, practicality, and fuel efficiency, and you don't need the extra performance or luxury features.
Is Acura actually Honda?
Many luxury brands are owned and made by larger brands, and you've likely heard that Acura is affiliated with Honda. So, does Honda make Acura? The answer is yes — Acura is the luxury division of Japanese automaker Honda.
Does Acura use a Honda engine?
Yes, Acuras have Honda engines, as Acura is a luxury division of Honda and many of the engines share a common architecture. While they use the same core engines, Acura engines are often tuned for higher performance. For example, the turbocharged 1.5L 4-cylinder engine in the 2023 Acura Integra is the same as the one found in the contemporary Honda Civic Si, though it has an Acura badge and is designed for premium fuel.
- Shared architecture: Acura and Honda vehicles often share the same core engine designs.
- Performance tuning: Acura engines may be tuned differently to provide higher performance.
- Performance focus: Acura's performance models, like the Type S, use specialized versions of Honda engines.
- Examples:
- The 2023 Acura Integra uses the same turbocharged 1.5L 4-cylinder engine as the Honda Civic Si.
- The 3.5-liter V6 in the Acura MDX is similar to the one used in the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline.
