Who makes the Acura RSX?
The Acura RSX is built by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., under the Acura luxury brand in North America.
Origin and branding
The RSX sits at the intersection of Honda's engineering and Acura's premium positioning. It represents Honda's approach to regional branding, delivering a sport coupe with Acura branding in North America while echoing the engineering lineage of the Honda Integra platform.
Key facts about the RSX's maker
- Manufacturer: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Branding: Acura (Honda's luxury division for North America)
- Global naming: Acura RSX in North America corresponds to Honda Integra DC5 in Japan/Europe
- Production years: 2002–2006 (the RSX's North American production window)
These points capture who makes the RSX and how the model fits into Honda's global lineup.
Global markets and manufacturing details
In the United States and Canada, the car was sold under the Acura badge, while in Japan and parts of Europe it bore the Honda Integra name. The RSX shares its core platform with the Integra lineage and was built using Honda's global manufacturing network, reflecting the company’s practice of regional branding alongside shared engineering.
Context and legacy
Introduced as a successor to the American-market Integra, the RSX ran from the early 2000s until 2006, after which Acura and Honda redirected their compact sport offerings in different directions. The RSX remains a notable example of Honda’s badge-engineering strategy and the Acura brand’s approach to performance-oriented cars.
Summary
The Acura RSX is a Honda product designed for Acura’s North American market, with an overseas counterpart known as the Honda Integra DC5. The maker is Honda Motor Co., Ltd., operating the Acura brand for North America.
Are the RSX and Integra the same?
Yes, the Acura RSX was essentially the 2002-2006 North American version of the fourth-generation Honda Integra. The RSX was a rebadged Integra sold in the United States and Canada as part of Acura's effort to move to alphabetical branding. The main differences between the two were the badges, and the Japanese-market Integra was also sold as a right-hand-drive vehicle, while the RSX was left-hand-drive.
- Vehicle lineage: The RSX is considered the successor to the Integra in North America, and the fourth-generation car was sold as the Integra in other markets.
- Branding change: Acura changed the nameplate from the well-known "Integra" to the alphanumeric "RSX" to build brand recognition for Acura itself.
- Minor differences: While the core car was the same, there were slight differences, such as some minor detuning of the engine in some versions and different trim levels. Parts from both cars are often interchangeable.
- Newer models: The Integra nameplate has since been revived by Acura for a new model, which is a separate vehicle from the older RSX.
Is the Acura RSX a rare car?
All to say the RSX, which was never all that common to begin with—in its best year Acura sold just 30,117 of them—is only going to become more special as time goes on, and as contrasts are drawn with the new RSX EV. Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don't miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it.
Why was the RSX discontinued?
The Acura RSX was discontinued in 2006 primarily because Acura wanted to shift its business model toward larger sedans and crossovers, and it was replaced by the ILX. Additionally, the release of the Honda Civic Si with a similar engine and transmission meant there was less market need for a dedicated RSX model.
You can watch this video to learn about the discontinuation of the Acura RSX and other coupes: 58sExtreme_Exotic_whips !YouTube · Jan 3, 2019
Reasons for discontinuation
- Strategic shift: Acura wanted to focus on larger and more profitable models like sedans (e.g., the TL) and the brand's new MDX and RDX crossover SUVs, moving away from entry-level sports coupes.
- Replacement model: The ILX was introduced to replace the RSX as Acura's entry-level car.
- Market overlap: The 2006 release of the Honda Civic Si offered a comparable engine and transmission setup, making the RSX less unique and creating market overlap.
- Change in brand focus: Acura's strategy focused on "fancied-up" versions of Honda models like the Civic, leading to models like the ILX, which was essentially a luxury-badged Civic.
This video discusses the current trend of car manufacturers moving towards crossovers: 1mKirk KreifelsYouTube · Sep 1, 2025
The RSX's legacy
- Replaced by the Integra: The RSX had a cult following and is considered by many to be the successor to the Integra, which was its predecessor.
- Spiritual successor: The Acura ILX served as the spiritual successor to the RSX before the Integra nameplate was revived in 2012.
- Possible return: Acura has recently filed trademarks for the RSX nameplate in Japan, which some speculate could signal a future comeback for the nameplate.
What is the Acura RSX based on?
It will be built on the same production line as the Acura Integra. Although it's called the RSX, the new model drops the sedan style for a sporty crossover SUV-like design. Based on Honda's EV platform, Acura's designers took full advantage of its flexibility, creating a bold, wide stance and a coupe-like silhouette.
