What is the Honda equivalent to the Acura RLX?
The Honda equivalent to the Acura RLX is the Honda Legend, which is the flagship sedan sold in Japan and several other markets. In the United States, Honda does not offer a direct flagship sedan under the Honda badge; the RLX serves as Acura’s top-tier model in that market.
Understanding the RLX and Legend relationship
To grasp how the two brands align, it helps to know that Acura is Honda’s luxury division, and many of Acura’s flagship sedans are closely tied to Honda’s Legend in terms of design lineage and engineering. The RLX in North America has historically represented the Acura-branded equivalent to Honda’s flagship Legend in other markets.
- The RLX is Acura’s flagship sedan in the North American market, while the Legend is Honda’s flagship in Japan and select other regions.
- Both models share engineering and design philosophies typical of Honda’s prestige lineup, with branding adapted to each market.
- Naming conventions differ by region: “RLX” is the Acura badge in the U.S., “Legend” is the Honda badge used outside the U.S. for the same flagship concept.
- There is no current direct Honda-branded flagship sedan in the U.S.; buyers seeking a Honda-branded alternative would look to models in the non-luxury lineup, such as the Accord, which occupies a different segment.
In sum, the RLX’s closest global counterpart is the Honda Legend, reflecting how Honda and Acura split branding while maintaining a shared flagship engineering philosophy across markets.
Regional naming and availability
Regional branding and market strategy determine how the flagship sedan is named and sold. The Legend represents Honda’s approach in Japan and some other markets, whereas the RLX represents Acura’s luxury-forward execution in North America. This difference in branding mirrors the broader market positioning of each brand.
Historical naming linkage
Historically, Acura models have often mirrored Honda’s Legend platform or design language in a market-specific badge. The RLX effectively served as the North American expression of the Legend’s flagship concept, even as the names and dealer networks differed.
- North America: Acura RLX is the flagship sedan offered by Acura; Honda does not offer a direct flagship sedan under its own badge in the U.S.
- Japan and select markets: Honda Legend is the flagship sedan and carries the Legend nameplate rather than the Acura badge.
- Global strategy: The Legend/RLX relationship illustrates how Honda and Acura share technology while using regional branding to target different buyer preferences.
For buyers, this means the “equivalent” in spirit and engineering exists under the Honda Legend in markets outside the U.S., with the RLX serving as its Acura counterpart in North America.
Bottom line for buyers
In short, the Honda equivalent to the Acura RLX is the Honda Legend in markets where Honda markets a flagship sedan under its own name. In the United States, there is no direct Honda-branded flagship, and the RLX remains the top-tier model offered by Acura.
Summary
The RLX and Legend represent a regional branding strategy rather than two independent designs. The Legend is the Honda flagship in Japan and other markets, while the RLX is Acura’s flagship in North America. Buyers should understand that, depending on where they shop, the same flagship philosophy is marketed under different badges.
What is the Acura RLX comparable to?
Cars similar to 2020 Acura RLX. The Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are the core of the mid-size luxury sedan segment along with the BMW 5-Series, and offer German quality and panache with tech superiority.
Is Acura just a rebadged Honda?
They are both owned by the same company, however, Honda specializes in delivering a range of mainstream automobiles for customers, while Acura is focused on the production of luxury performance models for SUVs and sedans.
Are Honda NSX and Acura NSX the same?
Acura operates as the luxury division of Honda, thus making it the perfect brand to launch this new sports experimental vehicle. The original NSX was actually sold as both the Acura NSX and Honda NSX, depending on the target market.
What car replaced the Acura RLX?
2020 was the final model year for the RLX as the market shifted towards SUVs and crossovers. As a result, the TLX became Acura's flagship sedan.
