Acura Vs Honda Reliability?

It goes without saying the Acura is the luxury line of a vehicle from Honda. But the thing is, even though the Honda and Acura lineup is from the same manufacturer, The Honda Motor Company, they are not the same. And no, the fact that Acura is on the luxury lineup is not the only thing that makes it different.

After reading that, you might think about Acura vs Honda reliability. Well, you are pretty much on the right track if you are planning to purchase one of the two. Reliability is the first thing that you should consider making the purchase decision. But the question is, which one is better?

Well, to know that, you would need to stick with this discussion until the end. We will provide some deep insights about the two vehicles regarding reliability and other factors to make things easier for you.

What Is the Major Difference Between Honda and Acura?

Before we get into the details, let us give you a quick snippet of the difference between Honda and Acura. Basically, Honda displays a much broader appeal. It is well-known for building unique vehicles. On the other hand, Acura focuses on making cars that fall in the luxury category.

The Honda Motor Company established the Acura brand just to enter the luxury car market. Generally, the Acura cars will emphasize more on comfort to keep up with the requirements. On the contrary, the Honda cars will mostly focus on functionality.

Additionally, all of the Acura models will come with power seats. The models will also have a special feature that enables the drivers to heat or cool according to their preferences. Most Honda vehicles will lack this feature, mostly for private transportation.

Nonetheless, Honda cars are focused on being practical. For that reason, it would be pretty natural for you to expect the car to feature a luggage compartment. These vehicles will also come with comparatively larger cargo space. That will make things easier for you to carry luggage.

Honda and Acura Are The Same But Different, at Least in Terms of Reliability

The people over at the U.S. News compared Acura and Honda. And they found out that the two brands are unsurprisingly similar. But what surprised them the most was the differences that set them apart.

For example, both of the vehicles had pretty much the same safety ratings and equipment ratings. However, the folks over at the U.S. News have discovered that the Honda lineup is more reliable than the Acura. But how did they come to this conclusion?

Well, they relied on the Power Reliability ratings from J.D. On the ratings, four of the Honda models, Ridgeline, Insight, Passport, and CR-V, got a solid 3.5 stars out of 5. So, what about the models from Acura? Well, there were only three noteworthy models on the list. Those are the: NSX and RLX. And they got three stars out of 5.

All the others got 2.5 stars or two stars. Considering that alone, you can conclude that the model is more reliable than the models of Acura.

What About Price to Performance?

Well, the reliability score is not the only thing people look for when purchasing a new vehicle. They also take a look at the price-to-performance ratio. And the folks over the U.S. News have also looked into that. The score they offered was in favor of the Honda as it has a comparatively lower price than Acura.

Now, you might think as Honda is offering their models at a lower price, they must not have any performance-oriented vehicles. Well, you would be very wrong! The Honda lineup does have loads of performance-forward models. 

For example, if you are of a speed-hungry buyer, you will be quite amazed by the Civic Type R and Civic Si. The same thing applies to the Honda Accord Sport 2.0 T. It has more than enough to fill the needs of a speed-hungry driver.

A similar type from Acura, at least in terms of speed, would be the high-performing NSX. It brings the performance quotient pretty high up. However, the current-generation TLX drag and ILX should not be your first choices if speed is all that you are looking for.

So, Honda will take the lead regarding price to performance. But that should not really surprise you. As we have mentioned earlier, the models from Acura are more focused on providing high-end features. These luxurious cars see a price bump due to those features.

What Matters When It Comes to Honda Vs Acura?

At the end of the day, the discussion between Honda and Acura will boil down to what you are looking for. Yes, even with Honda being better at price-to-performance ratio and reliability, the Acura models are still great for what they can offer. So, you can not really go wrong with either of the two.

For example, when choosing a Civic, you might wonder if it is a better move than picking an ILX. Well, if you are really into tech-savvy features, such as a better infotainment system, the Civic is an excellent choice over the ILX. The same applies to a well-sorted interior that Civic can offer at a relatively low price.

However, the Acura RDX is an excellent option if you do not need to go through all the detailed features that the models can offer and just want a small SUV. In fact, it is a better choice than the CR-V. The RDX has a more potent engine, better overall driving dynamics, and even a Top Safety Pick Plus rating by the IIHS.

On the other hand, if you need something large in size, you will have to narrow your options to Acura MDX and Honda Pilot. In this case, you will notice that the interior materials of the MDX are better than the Honda Pilot. The MDX is also well-known for offering a quiet ride.

But the thing is, you will be getting a lot of the same features as the MDX on the Pilot. And the price point of the Pilot is pretty low compared to MDX. See? It really depends on what you are basically looking for!

Reasons to Pick Honda?

As we have mentioned before, Honda vehicles are famous for being highly reliable. Most of the models will even have better overall efficiency and will boast high safety ratings. 

Even though there is some overlap between the Acura and Honda offerings, Honda is a better choice if you are looking for a small SUV, a small or midsize car, or a midsize SUV. The models such as the Honda CR-V, Civic, and Pilot are all solid options. And the great part is that they do not come with a premium price tag.

Reasons to Pick Acura?

Most of the vehicles Acura will have similar features as the Honda Models. However, when it comes to luxurious features, comfort, and integrating high-end technology, Acura is the leader.

For that reason, if the models from Audi and Lexus interest you, the Acura should be your first choice between the two brands. On the Acura lineup, you will also find sporty SUVs and sedans. But prepare yourself to pay more than the models that are from Honda.

Final Words

So, the main takeaway from this discussion on Acura vs Honda reliability is that the models from Honda are more reliable. But as you know by now, Honda also wins in price-to-performance. However, if you want luxurious features and a premium interior, the Acura should be on the top of your list.

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