Is Honda's quality too close to Acura?
Is Honda's quality too close to Acura?
I bought my beautiful TLX Tech in November. I still love the car to this day. My friend just bought a 2016 Accord and I really was surprised. Those Honda's have really stepped their game up and I feel that they're awfully close to Acura when it comes to the interior at the least. I haven't driven the Accord but I'm really surprised. I know that most of Acura's treasures come in the performance aspect. What do you guys think? I personally love Acura and I'm a huge Acura fanboy. I could've gotten a Mercedes or BMW but I stuck to my gut. I like the "underdog" aspect of Acura because I personally don't believe they are far off when it comes to those brands. So are Honda's quality too close to Acura? Is it hurting Acura business?
P.S. I know Honda and Acura are related
P.S. I know Honda and Acura are related
The fact that they are basically Hondas is why I haven't owned one in 10+ years.
The argument can be made that all luxury brands share parts/platforms with their "regular" siblings... and that's true... but in most cases there is a difference. With Honda/Acura, that line feels extremely blurred and has kept me away for a long time.
The argument can be made that all luxury brands share parts/platforms with their "regular" siblings... and that's true... but in most cases there is a difference. With Honda/Acura, that line feels extremely blurred and has kept me away for a long time.
Trending Topics
The fact that they are basically Hondas is why I haven't owned one in 10+ years.
The argument can be made that all luxury brands share parts/platforms with their "regular" siblings... and that's true... but in most cases there is a difference. With Honda/Acura, that line feels extremely blurred and has kept me away for a long time.
The argument can be made that all luxury brands share parts/platforms with their "regular" siblings... and that's true... but in most cases there is a difference. With Honda/Acura, that line feels extremely blurred and has kept me away for a long time.
I had a 2007 TL and a 2003 Honda Accord. When I got rid of the TL and the Accord, the TL had more rattles and more squeaks than the Accord which was 2 years older and had more mileage. Go figure?
I now currently own an Audi A5, and after 3 years of ownership and driving the same NJ roads, the Audi is holding up much better than any Acura ever did. No rattles, no plastic pieces coming off the seats, and the wear on the leather is so much better.
I now currently own an Audi A5, and after 3 years of ownership and driving the same NJ roads, the Audi is holding up much better than any Acura ever did. No rattles, no plastic pieces coming off the seats, and the wear on the leather is so much better.
My dad has the new Accord Touring. It drives a lot like a newer Acura to me. The cheap-feeling stuff is the sunvisors and shiny black plastic. Overall I liked my CL more, but they don't make anything like that now.


Last edited by AZuser; Jan 6, 2016 at 03:33 PM.
If I wanted FWD I wouldn't even consider a TLX. The Accord is a better deal hands down. If I wanted an SUV, as much as I want a MDX with it's goodies, the Pilot is a better bargain.
AWD though? Acura's your only bet for a sedan.
I think I'm going Lexus though (GS-F uh yes!) for the TL replacement
AWD though? Acura's your only bet for a sedan.
I think I'm going Lexus though (GS-F uh yes!) for the TL replacement
I just appreciate how the Acura Luxuries are basically twice as much as regular Luxury car companies Luxuries. Like, sure a Mercedes is luxury, but the Acura is 2x luxury because of what the Honda MoCo uses.
Honda and therefore Acura luxuries are more than other car companies.
It's true.
Honda and therefore Acura luxuries are more than other car companies.
It's true.

Don't feel like an idiot. The TLX Tech is actually a solid choice. I'd have one but for the back seat. These guys in this thread just wanted Acura to bring back the 6MT and make a TLX-S, and I sure would like a sportier variant of what was supposed to be the "Red Carpet Athlete" at its release, too.

But in all seriousness, you'll find a lot of Acura haters on AZ, myself included. Acura used to be the brand that led the pack. Now it struggles to follow. And in ten years they've done little to change anything about themselves. What makes us even bigger haters is the fact that we keep hoping something will change with the brand, and we occasionally feel the winds of change coming, only to ultimately be left let down.
Your TLX isn't a bad car, but, for the same or less money, you have other options.
PS, WELCOME to Acurazine, and the TLX section is here: Fifth Generation TLX (2015+) - AcuraZine Community
And to answer your question with a question, how do you define quality?
If you are defining it as reliability, then I'd expect Acuras, designed by Honda, to have excellent reliability. It's the reason I've been buying Honda products for 25 years.
If you are defining it as a feel or sense of luxury, then spend some time in my RLX Sport Hybrid, then go back to your TLX, and then a Honda Accord, then answer the question for yourself.
And to answer your question with a question, how do you define quality?
If you are defining it as reliability, then I'd expect Acuras, designed by Honda, to have excellent reliability. It's the reason I've been buying Honda products for 25 years.
If you are defining it as a feel or sense of luxury, then spend some time in my RLX Sport Hybrid, then go back to your TLX, and then a Honda Accord, then answer the question for yourself.
I'm not 100% sure, and am too lazy to research it at the moment, but I suspect that the quality of Hondas and Acuras are identical. Reason being, they are mostly cross-platform vehicles that are built on the same assembly lines. Further, if you open the hood of your car you'll probably see "Honda" embroidered or printed on an official sticker on some pretty major parts.
Your question reminds me of those left Twix, right Twix commercials.
Your question reminds me of those left Twix, right Twix commercials.
I like how people continue to say that Acura is super reliable. It's not. The reports even indicate so. Acura was super reliable in ages gone by and that is not the case today.
We have numerous transmission problems across all models, we have suspension problems, engine problems, you name it.
It's ideologies like these that keep a company like Hyundai from becoming more popular today (because they were garbage in the 80s), and companies like Acura keep selling big, based on, once again, past performance.
The funny thing is, in reliability surveys, Hyundai is ahead of Acura.
We have numerous transmission problems across all models, we have suspension problems, engine problems, you name it.
It's ideologies like these that keep a company like Hyundai from becoming more popular today (because they were garbage in the 80s), and companies like Acura keep selling big, based on, once again, past performance.
The funny thing is, in reliability surveys, Hyundai is ahead of Acura.
I just appreciate how the Acura Luxuries are basically twice as much as regular Luxury car companies Luxuries. Like, sure a Mercedes is luxury, but the Acura is 2x luxury because of what the Honda MoCo uses.
Honda and therefore Acura luxuries are more than other car companies.
It's true.
Honda and therefore Acura luxuries are more than other car companies.
It's true.
acura has BEST luxuriiiiieees!
HondAcura does a lot of things right and a lot of things could be better. The same can be said of any manufacturer.
Don't let others define who you are.
But there are others here who may have a wider worldview and are more adement to point out the shortcomings from experience.
IMO, the Accord takes the cake over the current Acura offerings. Many of the same features, if not more, at a typically lower price point. If I were in the market today, hands down I'd buy an Accord over any Acura. Unless Bob was donating to me his RLX-SHport.
I'm just glad HQ is not holding back Honda just to keep it from hurting Acura. If HQ made such a decision, other car companies would eat both Honda and Acura's lunch.
That said, the hate for Acura could be a good thing... love and hate being opposite sides of the same coin and such. Indifference would be the real Acura killer.
OP -- the TLX is a fine car, and i believe it is selling well. Having owned and loved a first-gen Integra, I fall into the disappointed group regarding the current line-up, and think the TSX was probably the last of the great Acuras.
That said, the hate for Acura could be a good thing... love and hate being opposite sides of the same coin and such. Indifference would be the real Acura killer.
OP -- the TLX is a fine car, and i believe it is selling well. Having owned and loved a first-gen Integra, I fall into the disappointed group regarding the current line-up, and think the TSX was probably the last of the great Acuras.
PS, WELCOME to Acurazine, and the TLX section is here: Fifth Generation TLX (2015+) - AcuraZine Community
If you are defining it as reliability, then I'd expect Acuras, designed by Honda, to have excellent reliability. It's the reason I've been buying Honda products for 25 years.
If you are defining it as reliability, then I'd expect Acuras, designed by Honda, to have excellent reliability. It's the reason I've been buying Honda products for 25 years.
Currently, Acuras are neither reliable nor luxurious. I can almost guarantee that an unreliable Acura will suffer in resale value. What's left if an Acura is not at least a reliable Honda?
At present the main differentiators between TLX and Accord are probably the styling / design and some interior material qualities. Acura is probably half a step ahead in the NVH levels, latest transmission and overall refinement. But if you like the design of the Accord better then all bets are off. I personally would still buy a TLX if I were looking to buy, but if I was cash strapped I would buy a loaded Accord instead of a base TLX.







that's gorgeous.


As they say, no 6MT, no care.