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Acura
2008 Acura TSX compcat luxury sedan.2008 Acura TSX - enlargeAcura is an upscale automaker known for making luxury cars with impressive performance. When the brand was first introduced in 1986 they were sold as Hondas everywhere, except in the United States. At that time, the company felt that Americans would have a hard time with the idea of paying $25,000 for a new Japanese car, regardless of the fact that it was luxurious, so they gave it a different name in hopes of disguising its origin.
Its current model offerings start with two sport utility vehicles (SUV). The larger of the two the 2008 Acura MDX SUV (MSRP $40,195 - $47,995) is a mid-size vehicle. It comes in five trim levels and is equipped with a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 engine. The MDX competes with the BMW X5, Buick Enclave, Lexus GX 470, Lexus RX 350, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Land Cruiser, Volkswagen Touareg 2, and Volvo XC90. The Acura MDX SUV is considered a luxury crossover SUV, and was the first of its kind to come equipped with three rows of seating. It is one of the most popular crossover SUVs in the U.S. market today.
Following the MDX is the smaller, compact 2008 Acura RDX SUV (MSRP $33,195 - $36,695), which is available with either the Base or Technology Package. RDX competes with the BMW X3, Honda CRV, Infiniti FX35, Lexus RX350, Mazda CX-7, or the Toyota RAV 4.
Next up is Acura's flagship, full-size luxury sedan the 2008 Acura RL (MSRP $46,280 - $53,700). The RL is available in three trim levels (Base, Base with Technology, and Base with CMBS/PAX Packages), and comes equipped with a 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine. The RL competes with the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Chrysler 300, Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Infiniti M35, Jaguar S-Type, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Saab 9-5, and Volvo S80.
The 2008 Acura TL (MSRP $33,725 - $38,225) is a luxurious mid-size sedan, that comes in six trim levels, and can be equipped with a choice of either a 258-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 or 286-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine. The TL competes with the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300, Honda Accord, Inifniti G35, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS, Lincoln MKZ, Saab 9-3, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat, and Volvo S60. TL is also available in the Type-S version ($38,425) which comes with a 286-horsepower, 3.5 liter V6 engine, a 5-speed shiftable automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.
Rounding out the list is the 2008 Acura TSX compact sedan (MSRP $28,190 - $30,290) - actually it falls between a compact and a mid-size sedan. It comes in four trim levels (Base Automatic, Base Manual, Base Automatic with Navigation System, and Base Manual with Navigation System) and comes equipped with 205-horsepower 2.4-liter I4 engine, a choice of either five-speed shiftable automatic transmission or an exceptional six-speed manual transmission. It competes with the Audi A3, Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Infiniti G35 and the BMW 1 Series.
Honda-owned Acura may not be as popular or glamorous as its European competitors, but its overall luxury and feature packages, combined with its competitive prices, have earned it more than just a passing glance at its lineup from consumers. It was introduced to the United States market in 1986 as a separate luxury-car division, producing the Legend sedan. Acura was the first Japanese luxury car ever sold in the U.S., entering the market before Lexus or Infiniti. Parent-company Honda's reputation for low ownership costs and consistent reliability rubbed off on the newer brand and helped its launch by enhancing its reputation.
A look at Acura's reliability ratings [1] showed that the Acura MDX SUV received satisfactory ratings, with its engine, transmission, drive, fuel, electrical, and climate systems, brakes, exhaust, and paint and trim trouble spots receiving excellent marks, and its suspension, body hardware, power equipment, and squeaks and rattles trouble spots receiving very good ratings. Similarly, the Acura RL and Acura TL sedans received satisfactory ratings, as well, though they did receive lower ratings for squeaks and rattles trouble spots.
Acuras are also equipped with security and safety features and have been tested and proven safe. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reflects that the 2008 Acura MDX and Acura RDX SUVs received five stars out of five in both frontal and side crash tests, and four stars out of five in rollover tests. The Acura sedans also received satisfactory ratings, as well. The 2008 Acura TL and TSX sedans both received five stars out of five in frontal crash tests, five stars out of five (front seat) and four stars out of five (rear seat) in side crash tests, as well as four stars out of five in rollover crash tests, while the 2008 Acura RL received an impressive five stars out of five in frontal, side crash, and rollover crash tests.
Acura products are definitely priced lower than their competitors and are a real new car value. They also seem to depreciate at comparable rates. Case in point, the 2006 BMW X5 had an original MSRP of $42,500 - $71,100, and a late 2007 resale value falling in $58,000 range, while the 2006 Acura MDX SUV had an original MSRP of $37,125 and a resale value falling in the $32,900 range. In another example the 2006 Audi A6 had an original MSRP ranging from $40,820 to $53,770 range and a current resale value falling within the $33,650 range, while the 2006 Acura RL sedan had an original MSRP falling within the $53,100 to $53,100 range, and a current resale value in the $37,750 range.
Like all automakers, Acura also offers a wide range of options for customizing a new car. On its website, it currently lists the following among its trailblazing innovations and achievements: Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), and Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) structural design.[1] The automaker's RL sedan appeared on Car and Driver's Ten Best list for 2005, and was also named "Number One" out of over 230 different models in Forbes.com's "Top 10 Safest Vehicles" in 2006. Acura has also been involved in American motorsports since it was founded, specifically in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and currently has Acura powered LMP2 cars in the American Le Mans series.
Honda has been using the Acura brand name to market luxury vehicles in Hong Kong, Canada, and the U.S. since 1986, introducing it later on to Mexico in 2004 and the Chinese Market in 2006. Future Acura models to watch for include the 2010 Acura NSX V10 engine powered sports car, the redesigned 2009 Acura TSX sedan, and the redesigned 2009 Acura TL sedan.
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