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They could all be considered luxury brands. Coming from a Honda civic, I see Acura as a luxury brand. Some wouldn't consider anything less than a Bentley or Rolls-Royce to be a luxury brand. We might consider the Ritz a luxury hotel, but a homeless man might say the same about a Red Roof Inn.

Differences in Perception...

dallison

none?

YeuEmMaiMai

side dimming mirrors have been on Subaru for 2016+ model year legacies and outbacks so not everyone is baffled :p

Cadillac was luxury before the 1970s fro the 70's until just recently they were a has been. They have turned it around for sure but I would not say they are where they need to be

besides NONE of what we are talking about as luxury comes close to what luxury is (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, etc.)

https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com...ack-badge.html

kurtatx

Luxury is more ethereal and cannot be simulated by tacked on options. The Honda Accord has a boatload of options available. When you drive a BMW or Merc, you know the car you're driving is engineered to be luxurious. The engine, transmission, design, and interior all feel different. You can have a nice backup camera all you want, but you can't simulate that.

RDX10

This 1000%. This is exactly what I was trying to say when I was describing what the Genesis felt like when I drove it. It's just a feeling you get, hard to put a finger on what gives you that feeling lol.

kurtatx

And I think this is what gets Acura in some trouble, as well. They talk about the technology in the car, but outside of the SH-SH-AWD models, tacking on every nanny and special feature is more "upscale" than it is "luxurious".

ttribe

I loved my 3G TL back in the day, but it truly didn't feel that much different from an Accord when you were driving it. Of course, I completely ruined myself by going from that to an E60 M5...but I digress.

kurtatx

Well and that's the thing about Acura. Acura could be a more exciting upscale model WITHOUT going full on luxury with the $45,000+ price tag, but they simply don't. If Acura were to put an exciting engine in an Accord with AWD that drives better, they could live in that niche world. Right now, though, the Accord Touring is just so amazing (albeit not very exciting) that it is totally obviating the need for the ILX and 4 cylinder TLX.

DaIll1

^^ I prefer the DCT8 over the CVT though

RDX10

I agree with this 100%. Especially now that you can get ALL the features AND THEN SOME of the top level MDX for example in a Kia sorento or Nissan Murano. But the funny part is the Kia sorento feels more premium IMHO (strictly the SXL model) than the MDX. It's things like mirrors that automatically unfold when you appraoch the car with LED puddle lights and LED's in the door handles. Things like 2-tone napa leather seats with electronically adjustable thigh supports for the driver seat. You can't just keep shoving in half baked tech and features and assume that makes a luxury car. It doesn't. It's the way all these things work together to make you as the driver feel. I drove a 2016 MDX Tech and felt it was ok but nothing special, I sat in a top of the line Sorento SXL and couldn't beleive how nice it was. Peter shryer's past work at Audi really comes through.

Something I have been saying for a while is that Acura's biggest problem is they have no direction. They don't know if they are a sport brand or if they are a luxury brand.This means we end up with mushy cars with harder rides and a crap ton of wind noise. They have also priced themselves too high in some aspects for what you get. The RDX is 45k-50k in Canada, the MDX goes up to 70k. For 70K I can get a very nicely optioned X5 or GLE or Durango. For 50K there are MUCH nicer mainstream vehicles. Acura used to provide solid cars for the price, they now offer alright products for too much money IMHO.

RDX10

I just noticed something. OP why are Volvo and Genesis italicized in the poll?

kurtatx

Are those not the ones for which you voted?

RDX10

Hmm I thought I voted for Cadillac as well. I guess it never clicked. But wow thanks I did vote for Genesis and Volvo, meant to do cadillac too.

nist7

I agree with this. Though I want to also add that given the increasing economic standards, the expectation of the public, and the technology inflation/spread, many of our past associations of what constitutes "luxury" have become now more standard and not associated with classic luxury anymore (leather, backup camera, HID/LED lighting, etc. etc.)

And given this and with you sentiment of engineering from the ground up to be luxurious, which I agree with, and the modern technology uplifting of all things....true luxury brands are now going to even more absurd lengths to stand out...by offering options and things that are quite eye opening to the average modern driver.

Examples of this span the spectrum of anywhere between interior accent lighting in Mercedes (already few year old option now probably) to the Breitling watch installed on the Bentley Bentayga to leather-wrapped air vents in the Panamera to gold-plated Rolls emblems and 'starlight' ceiling lighting and the virtually total customization of almost all interior pieces for some of the ultra high end brands (Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani, etc.)

So I think it's a combination of both....there must be an intention to design/engineer/build for it AND there has to be appropriate options/features that clearly separates it from loaded Hondas/Toyotas.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Whenever you vote on a poll, your choices are shown in italics...

kurtatx

This I definitely agree with. The CVT is my key frustration with Honda at the moment, although our CR-V isn't terrible.

thoiboi

No none of the above poll option yet?

kurtatx

"Lexus or better" option might work

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

thoiboi

Thanks JB!

wackjum

The "luxury" car market has become completely meaningless as manufacturers strip and burn the planks of their roof to stay warm. In the name of constantly growing market share, they are making it "affordable" to lease a brand new luxury car. Since we live in a society where appearances are everything, the peer pressure is overwhelming to gravitate towards brands that carry some panache. It doesn't matter that it is a base Audi hatchback. In the eyes of most consumers, it is instantly placed in a tier of luxury and prestige.

And perception does change. Audi was the "also ran" not too long ago but has posted an incredible turnaround. Certain cars such as the Cadillac Escalade have also carved their own, but I don't see that drifting down into the Cadillac brand as a whole. Luxury can also be lost just as quickly. There was a time when the Lincoln Navigator was a credible alternative to the Escalade, but then I suppose not enough rappers bought them and it has faded in prestige. You can't point to any bag of features anymore. It is all about perception.

FYI I voted in the newly available "none of the above" option.

dallison

I consider them to be bottom feeders.

dallison

and no whiskers option?

kurtatx

FCA has so many great brands under their umbrella, Chyrsler needs to be put out of its misery.

thoiboi

Slackin'.....

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Whiskers option is more of a Ramblings thing

RDX10

Thank you, I meant to also vote for Cadillac, I guess I didn't so I was confused for a minute there.

F23A4

Perfect reply!!

YEH

All, aside from Buick (premium) are luxury brands, but a good portion of Buick's lineup does compete with the likes of Acura, Lincoln, the FWD Lexus models, etc.

Not to say that the Germans don't have offerings which don't pass muster as being luxury (notwithstanding, MB's commercial vans), but all in all, they are considered Tier 1 luxury (with MB leading the pack and Audi lagging behind).

Of those listed, Cadillac is the only one where one can make an argument for it being a Tier 1 luxury brand (altho an incomplete is more appropriate as their lineup has significant holes that need to be filled).