What is the premium version of Honda?
The premium version of Honda is Acura, Honda's luxury and performance brand.
Acura was created in 1986 as Honda's dedicated luxury division to compete with established premium brands. This article explains Acura’s origin, its model lineup, and how the brand fits into Honda’s broader strategy to appeal to premium buyers while keeping Honda's mainstream offerings strong.
Origins and branding
Acura was introduced in 1986 in North America as Honda’s luxury division, designed to deliver higher-quality interiors, advanced technology, and refined driving experiences that set it apart from standard Honda models. The brand has since cultivated a identity built around precision, performance, and premium feel, underpinned by Honda engineering.
Global footprint
Today, Acura is primarily sold in North America, with efforts to expand selectively in other markets where permitted. The brand operates as Honda’s luxury arm, offering models that emphasize comfort, technology, and driving dynamics, alongside distinctive performance variants.
Product lineup and technology
Acura’s lineup centers on premium sedans and SUVs, with performance variants under the Type S badge. The core models in the brand’s current portfolio illustrate its emphasis on luxury, sportiness, and technology integration.
- TLX — midsize luxury sport sedan
- RDX — compact luxury SUV
- MDX — three-row luxury SUV
- Integra — compact hatchback revived to appeal to younger premium buyers
- NSX — flagship hybrid supercar showcasing advanced performance technology
These models reflect Acura’s strategy to blend comfort and technology with performance credentials, while exploring electrified powertrains across its range.
Recent developments and future direction
Acura has pursued a performance-forward approach with the Type S badge, highlighting higher-output variants of core models such as TLX and MDX. Looking ahead, the brand plans to broaden its electrified offerings, aligning with Honda’s broader push toward electrification and more capable, efficient powertrains in premium segments.
The Type S lineup represents Acura’s commitment to sports-oriented performance, while its ongoing electrification strategy aims to balance luxury, efficiency, and driving dynamics across a growing range of vehicles.
Summary
In short, Acura stands as Honda’s premium luxury and performance division, created to offer higher-end design, technology, and performance without diluting the main Honda brand. With a lineup that emphasizes refined sedans and SUVs, along with a flagship NSX and high-performance Type S variants, Acura continues to shape Honda’s approach to premium buyers while pursuing electrification and advanced technology for the next decade.
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What is the premium brand of Honda?
Acura
Acura, on the other hand, is Honda's luxury division. Launched in 1986, Acura was the first Japanese premium car brand. The vehicles under this marque are designed with a greater emphasis on performance, luxury features, and a higher level of craftsmanship.
