Here’s What Makes Acura And Honda So Different

7 minutes reading

Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 16:00 0 6 autotech

Acura and Honda share the same corporate DNA, yet the two brands have grown into distinctly different propositions — and the gap between them is wider than many shoppers realize. Acura launched in 1986 as Honda Motor Company’s luxury division, becoming the first Japanese luxury brand to reach the American market, beating both Lexus and Infiniti to the punch. The original mission was straightforward: sell more refined, more powerful versions of Honda vehicles to buyers willing to spend a little more. Honda would keep serving the commuter market; Acura would chase those with heavier pocketbooks.

Are Acuras Just Fancy Hondas?

Although Acuras may have historically been known as “Hondas with leather seats,” that’s no longer the case. First, every model in Honda’s current lineup is available with leather seats. But more importantly, Acura has built its own ethos of “Precision Crafted Performance” over the years, which separates it from its corporate sibling.

Acuras Lean More Toward Luxurious Performance

A static rear-quarter shot of a gray Acura TLX Type S

Acura

Acuras Are Still Technically Hondas With Leather

That’s not to say that Acuras aren’t good for long drives — they are. But cloth seats are not available on any current Acura model, even the entry-level Integra. Whereas the Honda Civic and HR-V still come standard with cloth seats. Additionally, Acura models carry a significant premium over their Honda counterparts. The Acura Integra starts around $32,000 and can climb to over $50,000 for the Integra Type S, while the Honda Civic starts below $25,000 and tops out around $44,000 for the Civic Type R.

Acuras Are Mostly Sold In North America

Another key difference between the two Japanese brands is that Acura is primarily focused on the North American market. Its vehicles are sold in both the United States and Canada, but are also available in select other countries including Kuwait, Mexico, and Panama. Honda’s headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan, while Acura’s headquarters is in Torrance, California. Acura vehicles are also produced at factories in Ohio, which include the now-discontinued NSX supercar.

There are four factories located in Ohio:

Marysville
East Liberty
Anna
Russells Point

These factories build all the current and past Acura models including:

NSX
Integra
ILX
TLX
RDX
MDX

These factories handle everything from the engine, transmission, and all-wheel-drive systems to painting and final assembly.

Honda Has Become A Little Racier Than Acura

Over the years, Acura released many sporty models, starting with the NSX in 1991. The automaker then went on to introduce other performance variants like the Integra Type R in the late 1990s, which led to the birth of the “Type S” moniker in the early 2000s. Any model wearing the Type S badge — which included the RSX, TL, and CL at the time — came outfitted with sportier suspensions, manual transmissions, and more powerful engines.

Honda, on the other hand, produced its own sporty models, but they weren’t as special. The Honda Civic Si made its debut in 1986 and still lives on today. However, it was always little more than a gussied-up Civic with a little more power. Then there was the Honda S2000 — a two-seat roadster with a front-engine/rear-drive layout, near 50/50 weight distribution, and a high-revving engine that could redline at 8,000 to 9,000 rpm, depending on the model year.

Needless to say, Acura also had a little more of a leg up on performance compared to Honda, which was reflected in its higher price tags. However, Honda has started to produce more race-inspired models in recent years.

The Honda Civic Type R

Rear 3/4 view of a 2020 Honda Civic Type R

After spending decades revising and improving the Civic Si, Honda decided to pull out all the stops and bring the Civic Type R to the U.S. in 2017. Before then, the Civic Type R was only available in Japan, Europe, and Australia. The U.S. market welcomed the hot hatchback enthusiastically, as it proved Honda could still build a proper performance car.

The Civic Type R had everything enthusiasts wanted: a turbocharged engine producing over 300 horsepower, a race-tuned suspension suitable for street use, and race-inspired bucket seats. The 2017 model could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds — the quickest ever for the Civic nameplate at the time. Honda has since revised the Civic Type R, making it smoother on the street and better sorted for the track, with the current version putting out 315 horsepower.

Is An Acura Worth Its Higher Price Tag?

Low angle action shot of 2025 Acura RDX driving over bridge

Considering the level of detail that Acura puts into its vehicles, it’s safe to say that they are worth their price tags. When comparing the Civic Type R to the Acura Integra Type S, the differences are apparent. Both cars share the same basic drivetrain — a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual transmission — but the Integra Type S extracts five additional horsepower from that setup.

Sure, that may be nothing to write home about, but the Acura adds meaningful amenities like heated seats, an adaptive suspension, and an ELS sound system that many consider a step above the Bose unit found in the Civic. Additionally, although the Integra Type S’s seats are not as aggressively bolstered as the Civic’s, they are more comfortable and easier to get in and out of for daily driving. The Integra’s interior is also lined with leather and soft-touch materials for a more premium feel.

Ultimately, the Integra Type S commands a premium of roughly $7,000 over the Civic Type R, and a closer look at both cars makes it clear where that money went.

Acura RDX vs. Honda CR-V

Front 3/4 shot of 2026 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid parked

The same comparison can be made between the two automakers’ most popular models: the Honda CR-V and the Acura RDX. The CR-V is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine tuned for fuel efficiency over outright power, and a hybrid variant is also available.

The Acura RDX, on the other hand, is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing nearly 300 horsepower, and it is available with the brand’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system for added traction under hard cornering. The RDX is more performance-oriented and luxurious overall, with its leather interior, aluminum accents, and ELS sound system rounding out the premium package.

	Acura RDX	Honda CR-V
Engine	Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder	Turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder
Horsepower	272 hp	190 hp
Torque	280 lb-ft	179 lb-ft
Transmission	10-speed automatic	CVT
Driveline	FWD, AWD	FWD, AWD

Acura Is Worth The Premium

Anyone in the market for a sensible commuter car could find a lot to like about Honda’s current lineup. The brand has established itself as one of the most reliable in the industry, and its vehicles are engineered to go farther on a tank of gas while holding up over the long haul. Acura has done the same, but the added luxury, power, and technology poured into its models is evident and worth every penny — especially for those who like their daily driver seasoned with a healthy dose of performance.