Is the Acura NSX and Honda NSX the same?
Yes. In essence, the Acura NSX and Honda NSX are the same car marketed under different brand names depending on the region. In North America, the model is sold as the Acura NSX, while in Japan and most other markets it is sold simply as the Honda NSX.
Brand naming and market differences
The NSX is a product of Honda, but Honda uses different badges to sell the car in different regions. Acura is Honda’s luxury division in North America, so the NSX wears the Acura badge there. In Japan and many other markets, the same car carries the Honda NSX badge. This branding distinction does not reflect a different model or hardware—it’s a regional marketing choice.
Markets where the badge changes by region:
- United States and Canada: Acura NSX
- Japan, Europe, and many other markets: Honda NSX
- Some importers may vary the badge in limited cases, but the underlying vehicle remains the same
In practice, the two names refer to the same vehicle family. The difference is branding and regional marketing, not a separate model line.
Generations and badge history
First generation NSX (1990–2005)
The original NSX launched in 1990 as Honda NSX in Japan. In North America, it was marketed as the Acura NSX, reflecting Honda’s luxury-brand strategy in the U.S. and Canada. The NSX name is widely associated with Honda’s “New Sports eXperimental” lineage, a nod to its cutting-edge engineering for the era.
- 1990: Debut of the first-generation NSX; Honda NSX in Japan; Acura NSX in North America
- Branding varied by market, with Acura used in the U.S. and Japan typically using Honda (depending on market imports)
- The core car remained the same across regions, with badge differences as the primary distinction
Conclusion: The first generation established the regional branding pattern that continued in later generations.
Second generation NSX (2016–present)
The modern NSX returned in 2016 with a hybrid drivetrain and advanced electronics. In North America, it is sold as the Acura NSX; in Japan and many other markets, it is known as the Honda NSX. The car is built at Honda/Acura facilities in the United States (notably the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio) and shares a common platform and powertrain across markets, with minor regional calibrations.
- 2016: NSX reintroduced with a hybrid powertrain
- Market naming: Acura NSX (US/Canada); Honda NSX (Japan/Europe)
- Key hardware: 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with three electric motors; ~573 hp, with regional tuning tweaks
Conclusion: The second generation reinforces the branding pattern—same car, different badge by region.
Practical differences between the badges
There are no meaningful differences in core performance or design between the Acura NSX and Honda NSX. The variations are largely regulatory, market-specific equipment packages, and branding. Customers in different regions receive the same fundamental vehicle, with minor adjustments to meet local standards and dealer networks.
Summary
In short, the Acura NSX and Honda NSX are the same car presented under two regional badges. Acura handles the North American market, while Honda markets the NSX in Japan and many other regions. The practice has persisted across generations, with the name NSX evoking Honda’s “New Sports eXperimental” heritage. If you buy an NSX in the United States, you’re buying the Acura NSX; in Japan, you’re buying the Honda NSX—the hardware is the same, only the badge differs.
