Also Integra just won North American Car of the year for 2022: acuranews.com/en-US/releases/release-4e58b4e0fcd795affa5685a66a1a1076-2023-acura-integra-honored-as-north-american-car-of-the-year
@@KirkKreifels The old Integra's had a naturally aspirated high revving engine - at least the one I had back in 1997. 8000 rpm limit that I touched a few times to ring out out the performance. I had the Coupe Hatchback GSR with the B18C engine. Really fun to drive because of its lightweight & double wishbone suspension. Not a fan of turbo powered engines but when the Civic Type R came out I was impressed by how they used an electric motor to keep the turbo spooled up so there was no lag.
Still driving my 2004 TL with 120k miles. They need to make another car like this. Just a good all around car with only options being the transmission, color, everything else being standard. Still a timeless design, fun to drive, and reliable.
Yeah, I'm driving my '08 TL at 198K and it still drives and rides great. The sales tell you that the 3G TL was pinnacle for the TL. The package was great looks and decent performance for the time. The latest TLX looks great but the performance numbers don't do much for me. The gas mileage and zero to sixty are literally weighed down by the weight of the car. I am not sold on battery electrification either, so it looks like Acura will not be in my future. There are still too many issues with range, infrastructure, maintenance and understanding the life cycle of battery powered vehicles that still need to be resolved.
My 2004 TL in red Pearl still looks great. 146K and still runs like new. The body style has aged very well. It is quick enough. Still gets over 32 mpg on highway. Wish it did better in city but it is a V6. I love this car. Not sure what I would replace it with. It could last another 10 years as little as I drive.
Acura has the same problem as Buick; what the hell is “premium” now-a-days? Staking their ground in between luxury and affordability has been the bane of Acura since they went with alpha numeric nomenclature and this compromise finally culminated in the disastrous “Integra” launch event where even diehard fanboys were too confused to applaud! Acura and Infiniti desperately need a makeover. Their initial mission as an end-round to American import restrictions is no longer relevant.
Couldn't agree more. I was living in Japan, when they killed the Legend and Integra names. I was like, "Whose idiotic idea was this? You guys are trying to carve a niche for yourselves by ERASING the precious brand names you worked so hard to create in the first place?"
Acuras are basically just Hondas with more soft touch points, and sleaker styling. Most of them don't even use real leather anymore so idk how that's luxury
I sorely missed my Integra (one got sold and the other got slaughtered by a F-150) 1995 Integra was based on Civic platform, however, if you compared a 1995 Civic and 1995 Integra, it was night and day with interior quality and level of refinements.
What he said. 2006 TSX here as a daily, not sure it'll ever die, and if it does, none of the newer ones grab me in any significant way. They're all oversized, overpriced crap.
04 tsx with about 260k miles, i just recently checked out the integra . It feels just like a tsx but the limited visibility in the back kinda sucks and the rear view mirror sits really low
I would jump at the chance to drive/own an Acura ADX (HRV). My wife and I are 'senior citizens' who want a crossover but not the larger style. Hang in there, Honda/Acura, you will always have customers here in the states.
@@stachowi I can't speak to price gouging, but I will say that the dealer experience is awful, particularly the service department. Paying more for a "premium" brand like Acura, you shouldn't be treated like you are at Muffler King.....it's awful. Crappy waiting areas, always crowded, no loaners, etc.
Biggest thing for me why I got a fully loaded Accord instead of TLX is the hybrid drivetrain. If Accord/Civic/CRV and NSX have hybrids, can’t see why they can’t have them in other Acura
Bought a 2020 Crv in December 19 and traded it for a 2020 RDX in May 20. The Crv was a most disappointing vehicle, you could push it faster than the cvt transmission. Will never buy a vehicle with a cvt transmission again.
The biggest thing for me is having a healthy amount of power, so hybrid is out of the picture, and no CVT transmissions, either. I don't understand how people can buy that stuff. Please stop, or they'll continue to make it.
I really hope for the best for Acura and all the other Japanese luxury brands. I actually like Acura, but it's obvious that they haven't been doing well in terms of sales and products, which is sad. I really hope that parent company Honda is able to turn things around for Acura, and that they can make some sort of recovery that'll get them back up and running. Maybe not like they were back in the 2000s, where they really reached their peak, but at least a good gradual increase in sales and performance.
I've heard multiple times that chain supply issues caused severe car shortages in 2022. While visiting the dealership in 2022 several times for parts for my 2008 MDX, I've noticed that their showroom was almost empty at any given time. This appears so bad, one of the biggest dealerships in Toronto was forced to move in with Honda in 2023. Sad times for sure.
I went to my dealership in Pickering/Canada to get a service for my 2017 MDX elite package and the manager email me a day after and wanted me to buy my MDX above market price I was shock
There could be many reasons for this. I think it's complacency and the market reflects that. It seems that Honda, as a whole, has relied heavily on its reliability factor to sell cars vs becoming more edgy. Toyota has mastered the "Simple but elegant " design. And if Camry drivers want to step up a little, they can slap an L on their vehicle for slight upgrades, nothing too crazy. Which means that Honda has to be on the extreme end of that moving forward. I mean, the Kia Sportage X-Line is a great car technology wise for nearly 15k less than the RDX with similar features. Let's be honest, if I'm going for the top of the line Acura MDX at over 50k MSRP... I might as well grab a Genesis GV80. You have to be better than your competitors at that price point. You're asking for too much money not to.
I'm not sure about comparing Acura to Genesis. I see where you're coming from though, although at this point Genesis is competing at such a high league as they're emerging. Even Lexus I feel is threatened with the cars Genesis is putting out. Despite this, Lexus has a stronger brand from how I see it. Putting Acura in an even more difficult position.
Acura still suffers from an identity crisis. You can't claim to be a performance brand and produce subpar products in every segment. Type S models are too expensive for what you get and not competitive relative to the overall market. Unfortunately, despite recent efforts to reinvent itself, Acura is still an also-ran premium brand. If it wasn't for the bread and butter MDX they wouldn't exist.
They miss the performance mark every time. I wanted a Type S so bad and I'm just not paying that much for 355hp and lose to everyone in the segment. Honda/Acura refuses to give us power every time. Dating back to never building a V8 for the Legend to compete with Lexus.
Acura lost their mojo back in the 2000 thru 2007. I used to own a 1997 Acura Integra GSR & had many people tell me how much they liked the look. They got rid of the manual transmission & their ILX was no where near the Integra as being a sportier more distinguished looking Civic platform based car. Had my Integra for 17 years before trading it in. After 17 years of my constant attention it still had so much more life in the B18C engine. The new Integra looks bloated / heavy. The old Integras had double wishbone suspensions with a light weight. I remember how well that car handled & you had to shift the gears to motivate it making a run to the 8000 rev limit so much fun ! AEM cold air intake made the stock exhaust sound very mean.
I have to disagree with you on Acura lost their mojo thru 2000- 2007. I believe it was right after 2008 where Acura went down hill. The Tsx and Tl were really great cars . Great styling , good interior with a good features. Tsx came with what is arguably one of the most solid 4 cylinder ever made from honda , the K series, K24a2. You'll easily find videos of people pushing 2-3 times more power than what was rated with no modification to the engine itself. Also the tsx came with double wishbone as well. The Tl was also amazing , more features than the tsx and nicer interior. The J series J32 was also a really solid engine , especially the Tl Type-s J35a8 . People put well over 250k-300k miles on both these cars and are still driving them everyday. I personally own a 2003 Acura Rsx Type-s and that car is a blast and been solid to me. Simple intake and some good tires/brakes = Amazing blasting through local canyons hearing that lovely engine scream at 8000. But I won't deny , my compalint about the car was that they went backwards with the front suspension design, going with a McPherson strut vs double wishbone, wish they kept the Dc2 suspension design with the Dc5. Truly doesn't makes sense to me how the more sporty oriented car got the downgrade in suspension while the Tsx (which was still suppose to be a sporty kind of sedan) got the double wishbone front and rear. That will always bug me lol.
@@amirparvez5415 I was talking specifically about the Integra & its successor the ILX based both on the Civic platform. The TSX was nice but different car. It was also never the performance car the Integra was in the Acura stable.
well even then I kind of disagree, the ILX at least still had the k24 and also came with DCT transmission, the civic did not. Also the civic si of the same year got the inferior version of the k24 vs the ILX. Yeah sure it wasn't as nimble as the Dc2 integra was but it definitely was on par with the civic at the time , the civic might slightly handle better due to less weight.
yes I'm fully aware the tsx was never the performance stable , but the integra wasn't neither, the NSX was. All I was saying was while the integra/Rsx was the more performance oriented between the Tsx , it didn't seem to get that treatment when they decided to revise the front suspension geometry design with a inferior design than the last gen. While the Tsx got the better suspension design
Personally I think the ILX was a better counterpart to the Civic than the present day integra and civic are. I rather have the k24 mounted to a DCT than the 1.5L turbo to a CVT lol
I agree with being complaCENT. A name only last so long. Most comments I see are from people with older cars still running no problems. My semi newer 2015 MDX front end is annoying. It creeks and squeaks. Apparently it’s just a bad design. People have thrown thousands chasing the solution. Guess wd-40 will be mine.
I really wanted to pick up another RDX/integra last year but between the supply shortage/dealership service I really couldn’t do it. I had much better experience at my Mazda dealership. Hope Honda/Acura will get a better year in 2023.
It was simple, we had no cars to sell. We would end most months with single digit cars left over at the end of each month. We finally started to get MDX's in December.
Yeah, sure. Acura has been in decline for 15 years. Sales were north of 200,000+ circa 2005. Even before the chip shortage, Acura was only hovering around 125,000 sales a year. It's a dead brand just like Fiat and Mitsubishi in the USA.
Owning a 2016 ILX, it’s a fun car, agile and good on gas. But nothing beats my 2nd TSX. Japan Built, K24, double wishbone suspension and with size/practicality. All of those things mixed with character and personality, makes me excited to talk about that car. Acura needs to bring back charm, sport and driving experience.
Acura fucked up their brand a long time ago when they tried to use alphanumeric names for their models like Lexus and the German brands do. Think of how popular and well known a car named the ACURA LEGEND would be if it was still around! Glad they noticed this even slightly with the integra.
Honda Acura quality has dropped off so bad that they’re not worth buying any more. Terrible attention to detail and they don’t give the customer what they want.
A few thoughts as an owner of a RDX and TL Type S who’d love to buy a new Acura soon. 1: Chip shortage. It might’ve been your video or another channel, but when Honda’s CEO said the chip shortage was behind them that was a bold face lie. The bigger city within an hour of me has two Acura dealers and this last year they’ve never had more than a handful of RDX, MDX, and Integra’s. Actually, one of them just got rid of their 2021 TLX’s. (The TLX is a great car but it’s a car and SUVs are King). 2: Acura (and Honda) love to lease. But when you don’t have any cars, dealers were selling them and there were no incentives. I’ve noticed they brought some back now but theyre not great. 3: I won’t spend a lot of time on this but Acura, lose the touch pad. It’s funny to me they’ll say it’s less distracting so they’ll put it on Honda’s systems but Acura gets stuck with that. Just dumb. 4: I REALLY hope you’re wrong about the RDX coming 2024. The RDX is a huge seller for them and that just seems forever out if they want longer. I personally would love to see a Type S RDX because I don’t need a third row and I love my RDX’s SHAWD but I’m not going to get my hope’s up. 5: The Acura ADX is so long overdue. It’s wild to me they wouldn’t made a smaller RDX to get people into the brand. The Integra is great but non care people don’t know the name. I think that makes me sad is that they’ll do a non SHAWD AWD system for it to keep cost low and gas mileage up. The gas mileage I understand but if you want to set up from Honda to an Acura you need to have the sportier drying dynamics.
Not just supply issue. It’s average at best. Reliability is poor, no hybrids, no EV, old tech, meh interiors. Basically honda plus for previous civic owners.
Very informative video! As an enthusiast, I used to love Acura. So many great cars from the 90's and 00's but there's a lot more competition today than there was back then. Acura's offerings had been pretty stale for over a decade and as I got into my 30's and had more disposable income I just kind of lost interest and turned elsewhere. In the last 6 years I've had 2 Porsches, 2 BMW's a MB and an Audi. Especially now with Genesis and the other Korean automakers offering some decent performance and luxury for less. I think Honda/Acura missed a lot of opportunities not bringing the Type-R and S a decade sooner. Most of their biggest fans, the 90's kids had nothing interesting to buy when we were at the age to buy. I mean they brought back the Integra but everyone who cared about the Integra has already moved on. That's my opinion.
the reason acura survived in canada and usa is because they were always a cheaper alternative to Lexus/BMW/Mercedes.. prior to 2022, Acura dealers were selling cars almost 30% off msrp!! Now they are selling a MDX Type-S which has similar specs to a GLE450 for the same price or even more! For the same price, 100% of the time people will go with Mercedes over Acura
My roommate went to look at a Civic here in the Northeast. The only new one there was a sport (NA 2.0) with a 5k market adjustment (+31k total) and the dealership said they couldn't even sell it because it's a show model. At that point try and find an Integra at MSRP.
I got an integra at the end of last year for under sticker. Toyota dealership was charging like 5k above sticker and wouldn’t come down so I drove to the Acura dealership and they were willing to make a deal
Acura is an american creation, which is why all acura cars are made in North America. Honda on the other hand does sell a variety of cars in japan that is not available anywhere else in the world. Honda Legend is basically the RLX, but not discontinued and is hybrid.
When you said "I saw an RL today, it was in black, all wheel drive" I had to subscribe. You have the same fascination with cars that I have. Great vid.
Kirk, almost anyone (except for the falling startups) in the premium-priced market can do better than Infiniti. But still wonder what Acura can offer that Lexus, Genesis or the German brands can't and I DON'T STILL SEE IT ("me too" is not enough) PS: if that "AD-X" winds up as the "nicer HR-V / ZR-V", maybe that is going somewhere one supplies are more plentiful...
Acura issue is lack of powertrains choices and many models are just a more expensive sporty looking version of the Honda version. Acura needs to bring back the Sport Hybrid, provide a plug-in hybrid, and up the hp/tq for the Type-S closer to 400 hp/tq (engine improvements and/or add Sport Hybrid tech to the Type-S). Acura need a Hybrid w/ or w/o plug in for the RDX ASAP. Acura might be dead in a few years waiting for the Acura ZDX BEV to improve sales.
The Acura RDX needs a good hybrid option! They are loosing sales to Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and KIA. I would also love to see a more rugged RDX package! I'm a Honda owner that hopes Acura does well.
Honda feels like they’re behind on everything to me. They have no BEVs of their own (won’t have any of their own until at least 2026), no PHEVs, and only 2 of their 8 vehicles are traditional hybrids until the Civic hybrid arrives. They’re behind on tech, most models (except Accord) are stuck with basic 7-9 inch screens with limited functionality. They’re also slowly pricing themselves out of the affordable category, the Civic now starts at $25k. The CR-V costs more than every competitor, starting at $5-7k more than anything in the segment, and the top trims are lacking many features and still are priced at the upper end. It also doesn’t help that a lot of their stealerships make it nearly impossible to get ANY of their models at MSRP. Honda is one of the best engineering companies in the world, being the largest engine and motorcycle manufacturers in the world, making lawnmowers, F1 engines, jet engines, robots, etc. Known for making some of the most legendary cars like the OG NSX, S2000, Integra Type R, Prelude and even the current (Now discontinued) NSX, Si/Integra and CTR. They’re a reputable and reliable company with a huge following and have one of the highest brand loyalty. However, the average consumer who knows nothing about cars is going to look at what competitors (especially Kia and Hyundai) are doing, see a cheaper and more feature rich car and choose one of those. The Civic and Accord are the only cars that are no doubt class leaders, the SUVs are all bland and have many competitors who are better options. I’m a huge Honda fan but I’m not liking the direction the brand is going in. Acura besides the MDX makes no competitive vehicles. Hyundai and Kia will continue to eat their lunch if they don’t improve and FAST!
It would be nice for Acura to excel beyond Honda's shadow. They really dont compere and living off their niche fanbase. I would like to see an answer to the Lexus IS. Something exclusive to set the MDX aside from the pilot, a true competitor to the BMW M2, bring the manual back and a first ever roadster.
The reason why Acura sales are down is because they don't have anything exciting. Their only semi exciting car is the acura integra, but even then it feels like an over glorified civic, and the manual one requires you to get the A-Spec package bringing the price to 37k which is way too much for a fwd car with 200hp. And the base model has a cvt which is stupid for a luxury car
Civic and accord has more of a modern interior. I GOT SICK OF ACURAS LACK OF DIRECTION AND IDENTITY AND WENT WITH OTHER BRANDS.. ACURA NEEDS A OVERHAUL
It’s because Honda for some odd reason has given Honda all the money for tech but leaves Acura out. You’d think your premium brand would lead with the tech first.
I feel like the previous gen acuras including the current RDX felt like Hondas with rearranged interiors. The MDX and RLX were very good examples of this imo. They didn’t feel luxurious at all at that point.
Idk who at Honda/Acura is making decisions. With how fast in car tech has advanced, and how direct competitors are using that to their advantage… (digital dash, HUD, pano roof, touchscreens) Acura and now Honda alike look they are reacting to what others were doing 3-5+ years ago. Mousepads/track pads pretty unanimously were dropped for touchscreens by almost everyone. What did Acura do? Redesign their cars to include a new touch pad…. BMW/Audi/MERC all have used digitally dashes for years…. Acura unveils the new RDX then TLX both without any digital dash. Lexus has been slow to respond too but…. These are features we have come to expect as standards in “luxury” or premium cars… so for Acura to be so far behind is what baffles me. Honda is doing the same too.
I agree. Manufacturing issues aside, Honda and Acura are pretty conservative and have been for years. Perhaps with the exception of the more recent NSX, the direction Honda/Acura is going seems so restrained. They have had more problems with this whole supply thing compared to their Japanese counterparts: including their powersport division. It's frustrating since I know they have the capability to be so much better.
@@michaelskinner896 the NSX is stunning, they neglected to update any of that infotainment tech over the years to even the current Acura tech they had available. The new MDX they really got right IMO. The touch pad aside lol, but at least 2 12in screens with the digital dash & HUD. Will they wait for a full redesign to put that digital dash in the RDX & TLX? Or will they add it in a refresh? Take the new Honda pilot. They put the same 9in screen used in the new Civic & CRV. In the pictures it immediacy looks too small for the size of the car and out of place. Let alone price lol. But before they show off the interior of the Pilot, they released the images of the new accord featuring a 12in touchscreen. Manufacturing would explain why that screen didn’t also make it in the $50k+ Pilot I suppose… but still, the Pilot has the higher price tag and is competing agains cars that have been offering bigger and better for years. Hyundai, Kia, even Toyota are figuring out the manufacturing piece, so is that really to blame for Honda/Acura? Or just inept decision makers? I own a 15’ CRV, and ‘10 TL 6MT, and have a growing family so the new Pilot was high on my radar. Idk any more though, it’s frustrating.
I love sports cars with analog dials and digital mixed. I’ve got an MX-5 and I love the blend. Analog is hard to wash out in the sun an feels more visceral. I’m a fan of dials and buttons. Jumping through screens for basic functions is not intuitive.
Also, I don't think it's appropriate to call Integra an entry level car. I mean, it starts at $32K, which is practically a base Tesla Model 3 territory considering subsidies. Especially given that most true enthusiasts will be buying the M/T version, which is almost $37K. Even clearly being an Acura fan, I honestly don't understand why anyone would buy an Integra at that price in modern day. $25 for base model and $30K for top trim would make sense, but not what it is now. Very happy for the MDX, though!
Very happy with my 2013 TSX 6spd manual. It's bullet proof with its na 4 cyl 200 hp engine and it's a rock solid car. 59k miles on it. Also, happy with my CPO 2018 RDX (bought in 2020) with its na V6 engine and 6spd AT. 37k miles on it.
If the Integra, their lowest priced vehicle, only added to the bleeding, that's not a good sign. They probably need a SUV below the RDX to get some momentum going
Yes, ADX please! I drive an 23 HR-V AWD, & I love everything about it except the 0-60. And was just thinking to myself “Self, an Acura Version of this car would be simply amazing!!!” It’s the perfect size & offers great utility, With pretty good handling for the price. An ADX Type S is a tantalizing idea. Think a smart man’s macan.
Acura is falling behind. The integra was a disappointment. The fact that they sell a cvt with a luxury car is ridiculous. The tlx type s underperforms in acceleration due to its high weight. So does the base tlx. The best they got going for them is the rdx and that’s starting to get outdated. The mdx is behind with old base powertrains and The type s that isn’t anything to be amazed about. With the mainstream market moving to suvs I doubt the integra type s would be very interesting to basic consumers.
Acura has been going down hill BEFORE the pandemic. Look at their numbers from 2005-2019. You compare the numbers to other'luxury' or 'sports' divisions you see that it has more to do with car selection, lack of innovation, and etc.
I Love Acura I just wish they would put out hybrids EVs are good and all, but they need to transition into it. Their sport hybrid system has a lot of potential.
I agree. If they had made the Integra or subcompact CUV with the RLX/NSX performance hybrid systems, they would probably be better off. I understand that they wanted to keep this to low price point, but they keep handicapping Acura by not differentiating the models enough from Honda like VW does with Audi.
My dad has a 2016 Acura TLX with a V6 engine and no Technology or Advance package. If I were about to buy an Acura, I would buy a 2021 Acura TLX Type-S because of the V6 engine and SH-AWD, and it is the best Japanese sleeper sedan Acura has made.
Love my integra, it's super practical and sleek and I was able to get it at msrp unlike what local honda dealers were offering for a damn civic hatch. It's not really that fun though so I wish the type s came with the 10 speed automatic. That's the car I'd really like to see
@@ansuman3900 My 1990 Integra I got for my high school graduation revved nicely and cruised at 120 mph with beers and people loaded inside and it was rated with 130 horsepower. Manual 5 speed. Very low to the ground with double wishbone suspension. Lightweight. This car like all others is more of an SUV than a sports car.
I think Honda can recover with the new Accord once it hits, if it’s able to keep up with demand. But mistake they made was taking away the 2.0T to give people still an option even if it doesn’t sell that many units. Acura, once the RDX Type S finally comes out it will be hard to definitively keep in demand because it’s a redesign, they need to hurry up and should’ve been before the integra anyway! And they need to make minor changes to the integra, take that stupid CVT out and boost up the HP, with SHAWD, that would just be a glory to people! They don’t think about that, an lower priced ACURA with SHAWD and at least 201 Hp 230 Torque would sell out fast!
I've owned a 2003 Acura (brand new RSX S-Type) and a 2011 (slightly used TSX V6). I feel the current crop is less good looking, bulkier and way too expensive.
Honda and Acura are competing for the same supply chain. With the dire straights at Honda/Acura, some hard decisions will be needed to design a complimentary model layout rather than overlapping. Acura should get the bigger more luxurious trims. MDX is the better performer, but the Pilot is all new for ‘23 with new 10-speed Honda powertrain.
I just bought A used '14 Rdx last month now there's no issues with it before I purchased it and it still runs perfectly fine. And I know it won't break down when I go over 100k miles
As long they are super reliable and AWD this is success for me. Transmission replacement at 130000 km for no reason after 7.1 years (warranty expired at 7.0 years) is disastrous for 2015 TLX. Reliability, AWD, the rest I don't care much. Willing to give a 2nd chance and hoping for transmission repair 5000$ to last long before I need to give that 2nd chance.
Acura has been a mess of a brand since their heyday of the 1990's. They should be a major luxury player today given that they were first to the US market among the Japanese in 1986, but they have squandered their lead with bad product decisions, weird styling, no USP and and unclear marketing efforts. Now, they're hoping Gen Xers remember the good old days as they start using beloved nameplates like "Integra" on mediocre products. Other than that though I have no strong feelings on the matter.
Maybe it's the lack of build quality and service dept not wanting to fixing anything. Had my 2021 TLX Aspec AWD and the issues range from steering rack needing replacing at 6,000 miles to brakes and rotors needing replacing every 7,000 miles due to Acura installing brakes not suitable for a car with this weight. Let's not forget grease leaking from the steering wheel onto the brake pedal. Dealer claimed acura told them this is normal and happens when the cabin is hot. Speakers crackling when accelerating even after fakra replacement. Was told there was loose grounds and the radio harness installed on the TLX was to short and that took 4 seperate trips to service and the dealer claiming they could not replicate, only to hop on highway and record the static and pops. Now just have been dealing with the steering wheel clicking for the last yr and a half and service claims they drove other TLXs and heard the clicking, " It's Normal". Then the rear driveshaft seal on rear dif started leaking at 15,000 miles. Car was amazing until it hit 6,000 miles. Now I see why the radio is amazing. Needs to be to drown out all the plastic clicks and rattles.
Their cars are ok still. Interior materials are nice but not competitive. They are about 5k more expensive than they should be. Their awd is fantastic though. Customer service is neutral
I had a 02 3.2TL, bought it brand new and it was one of the best Acuras ever made, and it was affordable too Nowadays they are way overpriced, and their product simply cannot catch up with the competition
I believe that with gas prices fluctuating as they are, people are gaining interest in electrification. By that I mean hybrid, PHEV models. Since Honda does not have these options on the Acura nor the Passport and Pilot vehicles, anyone who wants to improve gas mileage has to go elsewhere. I have a 2021 Passport on lease, one more year to go and most likely will buy it at end of lease. Do I wish it was hybrid... yes. But the buyout price (26,200) and what I've paid into the car make it my best deal. It will have < 20k miles at end of lease.
Electrification is a mirage. People need to wise up and see who are mining the lithium and cobalt, and understand electric vehicles do nothing for the environment. Where does the electricity come and how is it generated? Coal. We are petroleum-rich and cars are way cleaner than people think they are. It’s a scam.
I think they'd do well if they could get the volume. They're uncommon cars that also happen to look good AND be reliable. I'm seriously considering an Acura sedan for my next car.
Didn't know they're so popular in Canada. Maybe it's location dependent. In California, it's a a bit of a treat to see a (newer) Acura lol. They're relatively rare here.
I had the 03 manual with the comptech supercharger, shit was a monster!!!! Got into a accident and got a 07 TL Type S, it’s 2023 so I’ve had the TL for ten years, but ima be honest, I think the CL was the best Type S Car, i wasn’t big on the RSX I’m 6’4”
One thing I absolutely hate about modern Acura's is the automatic transmission shifter design I'm not a fan of the push buttons and the knob that prevents people like my mother from buying one much rather have the traditional lever style
Step 1 Acura ditching “named vehicles” for alpha-numeric. Step 2, NOT giving their customers what they asked for: RWD, V8’s, more performance etc Step 3, wacky cars (ZDX) and designs. (Giant shield grilles)
You’d have to look at production numbers against sales numbers to confirm supply chain issues. Simply looking at sales number is flawed and possibly playing into Honda’s notion of using supply chain as an excuse for disappointing sales. This is important because Honda is publicly traded. And giving a reason of supply chain (external factor) is far better to investors than something internal affecting dropped sales. Hence not surprising Honda would make that supply chain statement you read.
Acura let the Honda sensibility accounts take control. The 2009 Acura TL was the start. That marked the beginning of a dark time for Acura. They are gonna have a hell of a time to convince people otherwise.
Acura is only sold in Canada, the US, Mexico, Panama and Kuwait. There's absolutely no way they can make that brand sold worldwide since there's not enough budget for Acura, currently and the same goes for Genesis Motor. However, Lexus did sells cars worldwide and it's a great sub brand of luxury cars ever since and it's made by Toyota.
@@chezzyperson3339 I agree. Feel like this would sell really well, built on the same platform as the new HRV. I think this would really help Acura get back into it.
Acura Are still super solid cars period. Regardless of sales or forces due to economy and fluctutations everyone is trying to hold onto thier customer base in these times. Acura will not be vanquished I can tell you that 1000 percent. Neither Acura nor Lexus or Porsche I see those as pretty tight formated brands Ill say Nissan and Infinity as well.
The decrease in sales is due to a shortage in the main chip used when building the car. The manufacturer of the chip is having a hard time with production since the pandemic started. I purchased a 2022 RDX back in April and noticed the showroom floor options were extremely limited and asked why. I was told Acura and other Japanese brands are experiencing an extreme shortage due to this chip. Hopefully things get better or they find an alternative.
Still got my 05 RSX. Still love it. No new cars compare to it imo. In looks and just fun and overall performance. Numbers can be higher but idk if Id be smiling like I do with my original baby.
I hope they can recover. My family has been an Acura family for as long as I can remember and we still have our 2008 TL Base that we bought brand new that’s now my car and it has been very reliable a few things here and there because it’s a decade+ old car. We even bought a new RDX a few months ago and I love the TLX Type S. Maybe if they gave the Type S models like the TLX and the Integra more power and mod friendly like the older ones they could get some more sales but I doubt it as the industry is adopting Hybrid/ Electric cars there’s a chance that the next Type S after this integra is some hybrid electric nonsense
Hybrid and electric are always a boost to acceleration and torque. But US buyers like yourself do not like change and the US market lags behind Europe and Japan.
Acura has a few problems. They needed to add a hybrid in their line up. They should’ve never taken away the MDX hybrid. All their SUV’s should give us hybrid as an option. The TLX is fine the way it is, however the TypeS should’ve been 400 HP at 3600LBS. The TSX sport wagon needs a return for the guy that doesn’t want an SUV and give us a TypeS and Aspec wagon. The Base model Integra is not a hit in the looks department and performance should be more than the Civic NOT the same.
I will tell you what Acura has been doing wrong: their advertising. It's all "racer boy" zoom zoom, nothing about luxury. My father wouldn't even consider buying an Acura as his perception from their ads was that it wasn't a luxury brand. He bought a Lexus instead-- they've done a MUCH better job of advertising based on their refinement and luxury. And yet when I ride in a nice RDX or MDX I think it's just as nice as a Lexus.
We also need to take a look at sales with rising inflation and interest rates. 2009 came on the heels of the mortgage debacle. Due to COVID 2022 & 2023 faces the same pressure, though the financial underpinnings are very different between 2009 and 2022. The inflation numbers are up across the world. The Fed aren't the only ones raising nterest rates to combat inflation, consumer spending and in the US low unemployment numbers. Some of the sales figures are effected by the economy as well. China also faced months long COVID lockdown for months at a time.
I had a car accident in my new Civic. Didn’t take much time at all for the parts to come in. They’re not struggling with supply shortages as many other brands. The biggest thing with Honda, as I just bought another new car, is their dealers aren’t keeping stock on the lot. I bought my car site unseen! Many dealers are doing this. It has to be hurting sales. I am a loyal Honda buyer so I didn’t mind buying it that way but many others who would buy it because they saw and test drove it, those buyers aren’t going to easily find a dealer with cars to try.
Infiniti used to make decent, fun to drive cars. When they went to the drive by wire steering, the 4 cylinder engine and especially the awful CVT, that was it for me. I just tested a RDX and it was just “ok.” Looks like genesis is doing well
When the years 2023 and your product look like it’s from 2010 no one is going to buy it look at the crazy transformation that’s happened to Hyundai Kia in the last five years. Acura makes better cars than Hyundai and Kia in terms of reliability, but they fail to make their cars look modern and feel modern that’s why it’s better to buy a Honda than it is an Acura. because it’s basically the same car nowadays there’s no difference if you want a super reliable luxury car it’s better to go with Alexis because it has a different feel to it than a Toyota or Honda.
Think they dropped the ball with the TLX Type S, the car looks good but for their performance model they could have at least set their sights on upping the Kia Stinger which came out several years earlier but has more features and wins in performance
Correction: I said the TLX was down 24% in December. It was up 24%, but that didn't help it much as it was still down 56% on the year.
Also Integra just won North American Car of the year for 2022:
acuranews.com/en-US/releases/release-4e58b4e0fcd795affa5685a66a1a1076-2023-acura-integra-honored-as-north-american-car-of-the-year
When are you testing the integra type s? I'm first in line at my dealer for one. I'm pretty excited
@@KirkKreifels lmao I really can’t believe that, not to hate the car as I do like it. There are just way more better cars out there
@@KirkKreifels The old Integra's had a naturally aspirated high revving engine - at least the one I had back in 1997. 8000 rpm limit that I touched a few times to ring out out the performance. I had the Coupe Hatchback GSR with the B18C engine. Really fun to drive because of its lightweight & double wishbone suspension.
Not a fan of turbo powered engines but when the Civic Type R came out I was impressed by how they used an electric motor to keep the turbo spooled up so there was no lag.
Lol those awards are absolute bs. I'm surprised you take them seriously.
Do you buy cars based on JD Power and Ass awards too?
Still driving my 2004 TL with 120k miles. They need to make another car like this. Just a good all around car with only options being the transmission, color, everything else being standard. Still a timeless design, fun to drive, and reliable.
I have an 05 TL with 228xxx miles. Engine runs good... People always think the car is newer
Yeah, I'm driving my '08 TL at 198K and it still drives and rides great. The sales tell you that the 3G TL was pinnacle for the TL. The package was great looks and decent performance for the time. The latest TLX looks great but the performance numbers don't do much for me. The gas mileage and zero to sixty are literally weighed down by the weight of the car.
I am not sold on battery electrification either, so it looks like Acura will not be in my future. There are still too many issues with range, infrastructure, maintenance and understanding the life cycle of battery powered vehicles that still need to be resolved.
My 2004 TL in red Pearl still looks great. 146K and still runs like new. The body style has aged very well. It is quick enough. Still gets over 32 mpg on highway. Wish it did better in city but it is a V6. I love this car. Not sure what I would replace it with. It could last another 10 years as little as I drive.
I still have my 08 TL Type S with 67k miles. I love it. Agree it is a timeless design!
My 04 TL has almost 200k miles and is an absolute gem!
Acura has the same problem as Buick; what the hell is “premium” now-a-days? Staking their ground in between luxury and affordability has been the bane of Acura since they went with alpha numeric nomenclature and this compromise finally culminated in the disastrous “Integra” launch event where even diehard fanboys were too confused to applaud! Acura and Infiniti desperately need a makeover. Their initial mission as an end-round to American import restrictions is no longer relevant.
Agree. Spot on.
as a honda person yes spot on.
Couldn't agree more. I was living in Japan, when they killed the Legend and Integra names. I was like, "Whose idiotic idea was this? You guys are trying to carve a niche for yourselves by ERASING the precious brand names you worked so hard to create in the first place?"
Acuras are basically just Hondas with more soft touch points, and sleaker styling.
Most of them don't even use real leather anymore so idk how that's luxury
I sorely missed my Integra (one got sold and the other got slaughtered by a F-150) 1995 Integra was based on Civic platform, however, if you compared a 1995 Civic and 1995 Integra, it was night and day with interior quality and level of refinements.
My 2003 Acura RSX has 230k miles on it and is still going strong. K series are bulletproof 💪
Lol that's another reason why no one is buying bc they don't break.
What he said. 2006 TSX here as a daily, not sure it'll ever die, and if it does, none of the newer ones grab me in any significant way. They're all oversized, overpriced crap.
04 tsx with about 260k miles, i just recently checked out the integra . It feels just like a tsx but the limited visibility in the back kinda sucks and the rear view mirror sits really low
Absolutely love my 21 TLX A-Spec and 22 MDX Tech. Not perfect by any stretch but I’ve yet to regret my purchases.
I would jump at the chance to drive/own an Acura ADX (HRV). My wife and I are 'senior citizens' who want a crossover but not the larger style. Hang in there, Honda/Acura, you will always have customers here in the states.
The new HRV has Porsche like design with Honda elements which I like a lot.
i've ben a honda buyer for last 30 years straight... the way the dealers are price gouging loyal customers is destroying their reputation.
@@stachowi It’s all by design. This world and it’s big players have their timeline already made. The booms and busts are predetermined.
@@stachowi I can't speak to price gouging, but I will say that the dealer experience is awful, particularly the service department. Paying more for a "premium" brand like Acura, you shouldn't be treated like you are at Muffler King.....it's awful. Crappy waiting areas, always crowded, no loaners, etc.
@@FirstHillSeattle M/B Seattle, it's a dump. Here they are very nice.
Biggest thing for me why I got a fully loaded Accord instead of TLX is the hybrid drivetrain. If Accord/Civic/CRV and NSX have hybrids, can’t see why they can’t have them in other Acura
Wait till your car break in a few years and see how expensive the parts are
@@supertec2023 just like all cars?
Bought a 2020 Crv in December 19 and traded it for a 2020 RDX in May 20. The Crv was a most disappointing vehicle, you could push it faster than the cvt transmission. Will never buy a vehicle with a cvt transmission again.
We are releasing a hybrid in 2024/2025. We also had the hybrid RLX until 2020.
The biggest thing for me is having a healthy amount of power, so hybrid is out of the picture, and no CVT transmissions, either. I don't understand how people can buy that stuff. Please stop, or they'll continue to make it.
I really hope for the best for Acura and all the other Japanese luxury brands. I actually like Acura, but it's obvious that they haven't been doing well in terms of sales and products, which is sad. I really hope that parent company Honda is able to turn things around for Acura, and that they can make some sort of recovery that'll get them back up and running. Maybe not like they were back in the 2000s, where they really reached their peak, but at least a good gradual increase in sales and performance.
I've heard multiple times that chain supply issues caused severe car shortages in 2022. While visiting the dealership in 2022 several times for parts for my 2008 MDX, I've noticed that their showroom was almost empty at any given time. This appears so bad, one of the biggest dealerships in Toronto was forced to move in with Honda in 2023. Sad times for sure.
I went to my dealership in Pickering/Canada to get a service for my 2017 MDX elite package and the manager email me a day after and wanted me to buy my MDX above market price I was shock
Plenty of inventory just look at autotrader. No one wants an uncompetitive brand that’s basically an American brand at this point.
Yeah, I really feel for this industry
Theres so such thing as “supply chain shortage” 😂😂😂😂😂😂 its called controlled supply
@@gurp1116 Conspiracy much??
There could be many reasons for this. I think it's complacency and the market reflects that. It seems that Honda, as a whole, has relied heavily on its reliability factor to sell cars vs becoming more edgy. Toyota has mastered the "Simple but elegant " design. And if Camry drivers want to step up a little, they can slap an L on their vehicle for slight upgrades, nothing too crazy. Which means that Honda has to be on the extreme end of that moving forward. I mean, the Kia Sportage X-Line is a great car technology wise for nearly 15k less than the RDX with similar features. Let's be honest, if I'm going for the top of the line Acura MDX at over 50k MSRP... I might as well grab a Genesis GV80. You have to be better than your competitors at that price point. You're asking for too much money not to.
Hondas reliability has been slipped a lot recently too so they don’t have much left
I'm not sure about comparing Acura to Genesis. I see where you're coming from though, although at this point Genesis is competing at such a high league as they're emerging. Even Lexus I feel is threatened with the cars Genesis is putting out. Despite this, Lexus has a stronger brand from how I see it. Putting Acura in an even more difficult position.
Overpriced and poor interior design. The current layout with the drive mode knob being the most central aspect of the center stack is a joke.
they are nicer inside than Honda. Thats the whole point.
Acura still suffers from an identity crisis. You can't claim to be a performance brand and produce subpar products in every segment. Type S models are too expensive for what you get and not competitive relative to the overall market. Unfortunately, despite recent efforts to reinvent itself, Acura is still an also-ran premium brand. If it wasn't for the bread and butter MDX they wouldn't exist.
They miss the performance mark every time. I wanted a Type S so bad and I'm just not paying that much for 355hp and lose to everyone in the segment. Honda/Acura refuses to give us power every time. Dating back to never building a V8 for the Legend to compete with Lexus.
Exactly
Acura lost their mojo back in the 2000 thru 2007. I used to own a 1997 Acura Integra GSR & had many people tell me how much they liked the look. They got rid of the manual transmission & their ILX was no where near the Integra as being a sportier more distinguished looking Civic platform based car. Had my Integra for 17 years before trading it in. After 17 years of my constant attention it still had so much more life in the B18C engine.
The new Integra looks bloated / heavy. The old Integras had double wishbone suspensions with a light weight. I remember how well that car handled & you had to shift the gears to motivate it making a run to the 8000 rev limit so much fun ! AEM cold air intake made the stock exhaust sound very mean.
I have to disagree with you on Acura lost their mojo thru 2000- 2007. I believe it was right after 2008 where Acura went down hill. The Tsx and Tl were really great cars . Great styling , good interior with a good features. Tsx came with what is arguably one of the most solid 4 cylinder ever made from honda , the K series, K24a2. You'll easily find videos of people pushing 2-3 times more power than what was rated with no modification to the engine itself. Also the tsx came with double wishbone as well. The Tl was also amazing , more features than the tsx and nicer interior. The J series J32 was also a really solid engine , especially the Tl Type-s J35a8 . People put well over 250k-300k miles on both these cars and are still driving them everyday.
I personally own a 2003 Acura Rsx Type-s and that car is a blast and been solid to me. Simple intake and some good tires/brakes = Amazing blasting through local canyons hearing that lovely engine scream at 8000. But I won't deny , my compalint about the car was that they went backwards with the front suspension design, going with a McPherson strut vs double wishbone, wish they kept the Dc2 suspension design with the Dc5. Truly doesn't makes sense to me how the more sporty oriented car got the downgrade in suspension while the Tsx (which was still suppose to be a sporty kind of sedan) got the double wishbone front and rear. That will always bug me lol.
@@amirparvez5415 I was talking specifically about the Integra & its successor the ILX based both on the Civic platform.
The TSX was nice but different car. It was also never the performance car the Integra was in the Acura stable.
well even then I kind of disagree, the ILX at least still had the k24 and also came with DCT transmission, the civic did not. Also the civic si of the same year got the inferior version of the k24 vs the ILX. Yeah sure it wasn't as nimble as the Dc2 integra was but it definitely was on par with the civic at the time , the civic might slightly handle better due to less weight.
yes I'm fully aware the tsx was never the performance stable , but the integra wasn't neither, the NSX was. All I was saying was while the integra/Rsx was the more performance oriented between the Tsx , it didn't seem to get that treatment when they decided to revise the front suspension geometry design with a inferior design than the last gen. While the Tsx got the better suspension design
Personally I think the ILX was a better counterpart to the Civic than the present day integra and civic are. I rather have the k24 mounted to a DCT than the 1.5L turbo to a CVT lol
Bring back a modernized 90's Acura Legend!!!!!!!!!
They have been very complacent as of recent. In this day and age the competition is very strong and you can’t relax. The same goes to Honda as well.
I agree with being complaCENT. A name only last so long. Most comments I see are from people with older cars still running no problems. My semi newer 2015 MDX front end is annoying. It creeks and squeaks. Apparently it’s just a bad design. People have thrown thousands chasing the solution. Guess wd-40 will be mine.
@Anna Graham Yeah I have heard a lot of issues with Acuras from that time. It's concerning.
I really wanted to pick up another RDX/integra last year but between the supply shortage/dealership service I really couldn’t do it. I had much better experience at my Mazda dealership. Hope Honda/Acura will get a better year in 2023.
attitude matters. Mazda has the right one.
It was simple, we had no cars to sell. We would end most months with single digit cars left over at the end of each month. We finally started to get MDX's in December.
Hoping for a strong 2023 for you
Yeah, sure. Acura has been in decline for 15 years. Sales were north of 200,000+ circa 2005. Even before the chip shortage, Acura was only hovering around 125,000 sales a year. It's a dead brand just like Fiat and Mitsubishi in the USA.
@@LakeHowellDigitalVideo Fiat and Mitsubishi might be a dead brand but I see acuras on the streets everyday. Definitely not a dead brand here
@@LakeHowellDigitalVideo I doubt it I want an integra but I can’t find one for msrp all of them are like +5k over msrp
Yes Kirk, Honda is so upscale and premium with their pricing we have to ask whether they really need a separate premium brand called Acura?
Acura doesn't exist in Japan... They could live without them here ... Maybe in my lifetime
Owning a 2016 ILX, it’s a fun car, agile and good on gas. But nothing beats my 2nd TSX. Japan Built, K24, double wishbone suspension and with size/practicality. All of those things mixed with character and personality, makes me excited to talk about that car. Acura needs to bring back charm, sport and driving experience.
it was a euro accord rebadged. They canceled it in Europe so no new one.
I just purchased an Acura RDX 5 days ago. Love the vehicle. I had an RDX back in 2015 and an MDX back in 2001.
Acura fucked up their brand a long time ago when they tried to use alphanumeric names for their models like Lexus and the German brands do.
Think of how popular and well known a car named the ACURA LEGEND would be if it was still around! Glad they noticed this even slightly with the integra.
Honda Acura quality has dropped off so bad that they’re not worth buying any more. Terrible attention to detail and they don’t give the customer what they want.
A few thoughts as an owner of a RDX and TL Type S who’d love to buy a new Acura soon.
1: Chip shortage. It might’ve been your video or another channel, but when Honda’s CEO said the chip shortage was behind them that was a bold face lie. The bigger city within an hour of me has two Acura dealers and this last year they’ve never had more than a handful of RDX, MDX, and Integra’s. Actually, one of them just got rid of their 2021 TLX’s. (The TLX is a great car but it’s a car and SUVs are King).
2: Acura (and Honda) love to lease. But when you don’t have any cars, dealers were selling them and there were no incentives. I’ve noticed they brought some back now but theyre not great.
3: I won’t spend a lot of time on this but Acura, lose the touch pad. It’s funny to me they’ll say it’s less distracting so they’ll put it on Honda’s systems but Acura gets stuck with that. Just dumb.
4: I REALLY hope you’re wrong about the RDX coming 2024. The RDX is a huge seller for them and that just seems forever out if they want longer. I personally would love to see a Type S RDX because I don’t need a third row and I love my RDX’s SHAWD but I’m not going to get my hope’s up.
5: The Acura ADX is so long overdue. It’s wild to me they wouldn’t made a smaller RDX to get people into the brand. The Integra is great but non care people don’t know the name. I think that makes me sad is that they’ll do a non SHAWD AWD system for it to keep cost low and gas mileage up. The gas mileage I understand but if you want to set up from Honda to an Acura you need to have the sportier drying dynamics.
Not just supply issue. It’s average at best. Reliability is poor, no hybrids, no EV, old tech, meh interiors. Basically honda plus for previous civic owners.
Very informative video! As an enthusiast, I used to love Acura. So many great cars from the 90's and 00's but there's a lot more competition today than there was back then. Acura's offerings had been pretty stale for over a decade and as I got into my 30's and had more disposable income I just kind of lost interest and turned elsewhere. In the last 6 years I've had 2 Porsches, 2 BMW's a MB and an Audi. Especially now with Genesis and the other Korean automakers offering some decent performance and luxury for less. I think Honda/Acura missed a lot of opportunities not bringing the Type-R and S a decade sooner. Most of their biggest fans, the 90's kids had nothing interesting to buy when we were at the age to buy. I mean they brought back the Integra but everyone who cared about the Integra has already moved on. That's my opinion.
The Legend and Vigar needs return.
I’m more of a Lexus guy but I hope everything turns around soon.
the reason acura survived in canada and usa is because they were always a cheaper alternative to Lexus/BMW/Mercedes.. prior to 2022, Acura dealers were selling cars almost 30% off msrp!! Now they are selling a MDX Type-S which has similar specs to a GLE450 for the same price or even more! For the same price, 100% of the time people will go with Mercedes over Acura
My roommate went to look at a Civic here in the Northeast. The only new one there was a sport (NA 2.0) with a 5k market adjustment (+31k total) and the dealership said they couldn't even sell it because it's a show model. At that point try and find an Integra at MSRP.
31k for the 2.0 is absolutely insane
integra ngl looks a lot worse, its just a civic si in a acura body
I got an integra at the end of last year for under sticker. Toyota dealership was charging like 5k above sticker and wouldn’t come down so I drove to the Acura dealership and they were willing to make a deal
@@anothersiguy the 2.0 could have vtec and flow well but it doesn't.
Thing is, they’ve really limited their market. They’re not sold in Europe or even Japan.
Acura is an american creation, which is why all acura cars are made in North America. Honda on the other hand does sell a variety of cars in japan that is not available anywhere else in the world. Honda Legend is basically the RLX, but not discontinued and is hybrid.
@@blazefreak. So is Lexus, but it is sold in Europe.
Remember the Acura Legend? Now that was an awesome vehicle!
When you said "I saw an RL today, it was in black, all wheel drive" I had to subscribe. You have the same fascination with cars that I have. Great vid.
Kirk, almost anyone (except for the falling startups) in the premium-priced market can do better than Infiniti. But still wonder what Acura can offer that Lexus, Genesis or the German brands can't and I DON'T STILL SEE IT ("me too" is not enough)
PS: if that "AD-X" winds up as the "nicer HR-V / ZR-V", maybe that is going somewhere one supplies are more plentiful...
Acura issue is lack of powertrains choices and many models are just a more expensive sporty looking version of the Honda version. Acura needs to bring back the Sport Hybrid, provide a plug-in hybrid, and up the hp/tq for the Type-S closer to 400 hp/tq (engine improvements and/or add Sport Hybrid tech to the Type-S). Acura need a Hybrid w/ or w/o plug in for the RDX ASAP. Acura might be dead in a few years waiting for the Acura ZDX BEV to improve sales.
The Acura RDX needs a good hybrid option! They are loosing sales to Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and KIA. I would also love to see a more rugged RDX package! I'm a Honda owner that hopes Acura does well.
They should bring the hybrid system from the Rlx.
i just picked up a 2016 acura tlx v6 awd 6 days ago.........my god i LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best bang for my buck
Honda feels like they’re behind on everything to me. They have no BEVs of their own (won’t have any of their own until at least 2026), no PHEVs, and only 2 of their 8 vehicles are traditional hybrids until the Civic hybrid arrives. They’re behind on tech, most models (except Accord) are stuck with basic 7-9 inch screens with limited functionality. They’re also slowly pricing themselves out of the affordable category, the Civic now starts at $25k. The CR-V costs more than every competitor, starting at $5-7k more than anything in the segment, and the top trims are lacking many features and still are priced at the upper end. It also doesn’t help that a lot of their stealerships make it nearly impossible to get ANY of their models at MSRP. Honda is one of the best engineering companies in the world, being the largest engine and motorcycle manufacturers in the world, making lawnmowers, F1 engines, jet engines, robots, etc. Known for making some of the most legendary cars like the OG NSX, S2000, Integra Type R, Prelude and even the current (Now discontinued) NSX, Si/Integra and CTR. They’re a reputable and reliable company with a huge following and have one of the highest brand loyalty. However, the average consumer who knows nothing about cars is going to look at what competitors (especially Kia and Hyundai) are doing, see a cheaper and more feature rich car and choose one of those. The Civic and Accord are the only cars that are no doubt class leaders, the SUVs are all bland and have many competitors who are better options. I’m a huge Honda fan but I’m not liking the direction the brand is going in. Acura besides the MDX makes no competitive vehicles. Hyundai and Kia will continue to eat their lunch if they don’t improve and FAST!
Canada had their own Acura models, the CSX and the EL. In China, they had this small crossover called the CDX. Really wish we had it here.
It would be nice for Acura to excel beyond Honda's shadow. They really dont compere and living off their niche fanbase. I would like to see an answer to the Lexus IS. Something exclusive to set the MDX aside from the pilot, a true competitor to the BMW M2, bring the manual back and a first ever roadster.
I really want Acura to succeed, they make great cars.
The reason why Acura sales are down is because they don't have anything exciting. Their only semi exciting car is the acura integra, but even then it feels like an over glorified civic, and the manual one requires you to get the A-Spec package bringing the price to 37k which is way too much for a fwd car with 200hp. And the base model has a cvt which is stupid for a luxury car
Their interior is what drove me off. No touch screen, no digital dash, and behind technology to other auto makers.
Yeah don't understand why the Integra has a digital dash and the TLX doesn't.
Civic and accord has more of a modern interior. I GOT SICK OF ACURAS LACK OF DIRECTION AND IDENTITY AND WENT WITH OTHER BRANDS.. ACURA NEEDS A OVERHAUL
Crazy how the TLX still doesn't have a touch screen yet even the Lexus IS now has a touch screen
It’s because Honda for some odd reason has given Honda all the money for tech but leaves Acura out. You’d think your premium brand would lead with the tech first.
I feel like the previous gen acuras including the current RDX felt like Hondas with rearranged interiors. The MDX and RLX were very good examples of this imo.
They didn’t feel luxurious at all at that point.
Idk who at Honda/Acura is making decisions. With how fast in car tech has advanced, and how direct competitors are using that to their advantage… (digital dash, HUD, pano roof, touchscreens) Acura and now Honda alike look they are reacting to what others were doing 3-5+ years ago. Mousepads/track pads pretty unanimously were dropped for touchscreens by almost everyone. What did Acura do? Redesign their cars to include a new touch pad…. BMW/Audi/MERC all have used digitally dashes for years…. Acura unveils the new RDX then TLX both without any digital dash. Lexus has been slow to respond too but…. These are features we have come to expect as standards in “luxury” or premium cars… so for Acura to be so far behind is what baffles me. Honda is doing the same too.
I agree. Manufacturing issues aside, Honda and Acura are pretty conservative and have been for years. Perhaps with the exception of the more recent NSX, the direction Honda/Acura is going seems so restrained. They have had more problems with this whole supply thing compared to their Japanese counterparts: including their powersport division. It's frustrating since I know they have the capability to be so much better.
@@michaelskinner896 the NSX is stunning, they neglected to update any of that infotainment tech over the years to even the current Acura tech they had available. The new MDX they really got right IMO. The touch pad aside lol, but at least 2 12in screens with the digital dash & HUD. Will they wait for a full redesign to put that digital dash in the RDX & TLX? Or will they add it in a refresh? Take the new Honda pilot. They put the same 9in screen used in the new Civic & CRV. In the pictures it immediacy looks too small for the size of the car and out of place. Let alone price lol. But before they show off the interior of the Pilot, they released the images of the new accord featuring a 12in touchscreen. Manufacturing would explain why that screen didn’t also make it in the $50k+ Pilot I suppose… but still, the Pilot has the higher price tag and is competing agains cars that have been offering bigger and better for years. Hyundai, Kia, even Toyota are figuring out the manufacturing piece, so is that really to blame for Honda/Acura? Or just inept decision makers? I own a 15’ CRV, and ‘10 TL 6MT, and have a growing family so the new Pilot was high on my radar. Idk any more though, it’s frustrating.
I love sports cars with analog dials and digital mixed. I’ve got an MX-5 and I love the blend. Analog is hard to wash out in the sun an feels more visceral. I’m a fan of dials and buttons. Jumping through screens for basic functions is not intuitive.
Ugly styling is huge factor. Why they kept that beak-like grill shape for so long baffles me
Sales are down because they are not making enough cars to sell. It isn't rocket science. They have no unsold inventory.
Also, I don't think it's appropriate to call Integra an entry level car. I mean, it starts at $32K, which is practically a base Tesla Model 3 territory considering subsidies. Especially given that most true enthusiasts will be buying the M/T version, which is almost $37K. Even clearly being an Acura fan, I honestly don't understand why anyone would buy an Integra at that price in modern day. $25 for base model and $30K for top trim would make sense, but not what it is now. Very happy for the MDX, though!
Tesla starts at 46K. When the bill passes you might be able to get a few grand back but it’s definitely over 40K
Too expensive Hondas.
with less space compared to their cheaper Honda
Very happy with my 2013 TSX 6spd manual. It's bullet proof with its na 4 cyl 200 hp engine and it's a rock solid car. 59k miles on it. Also, happy with my CPO 2018 RDX (bought in 2020) with its na V6 engine and 6spd AT. 37k miles on it.
The new Prius has the same 0-60 time as the integra (give or take) and gets far better fuel economy. That’s what I’d go for.
YEP!!! even tho the Prius is less engaging to drive and doesn’t have on par driving dynamics I think it’s overall a better pick.
@@kenminajjj agreed
If the Integra, their lowest priced vehicle, only added to the bleeding, that's not a good sign.
They probably need a SUV below the RDX to get some momentum going
Acura RDX,... Lots of recalls to read from NHTSA. It doesn't inspire confidence in the brand.
Yes, ADX please! I drive an 23 HR-V AWD, & I love everything about it except the 0-60. And was just thinking to myself “Self, an Acura Version of this car would be simply amazing!!!” It’s the perfect size & offers great utility, With pretty good handling for the price. An ADX Type S is a tantalizing idea. Think a smart man’s macan.
Acura is falling behind. The integra was a disappointment. The fact that they sell a cvt with a luxury car is ridiculous. The tlx type s underperforms in acceleration due to its high weight. So does the base tlx. The best they got going for them is the rdx and that’s starting to get outdated. The mdx is behind with old base powertrains and The type s that isn’t anything to be amazed about. With the mainstream market moving to suvs I doubt the integra type s would be very interesting to basic consumers.
Acura has been going down hill BEFORE the pandemic. Look at their numbers from 2005-2019. You compare the numbers to other'luxury' or 'sports' divisions you see that it has more to do with car selection, lack of innovation, and etc.
Exactly.
I Love Acura I just wish they would put out hybrids EVs are good and all, but they need to transition into it. Their sport hybrid system has a lot of potential.
I agree. If they had made the Integra or subcompact CUV with the RLX/NSX performance hybrid systems, they would probably be better off. I understand that they wanted to keep this to low price point, but they keep handicapping Acura by not differentiating the models enough from Honda like VW does with Audi.
Same. Im 50/50 in EV but in my opinion Hybrid should be a must at this point
My dad has a 2016 Acura TLX with a V6 engine and no Technology or Advance package. If I were about to buy an Acura, I would buy a 2021 Acura TLX Type-S because of the V6 engine and SH-AWD, and it is the best Japanese sleeper sedan Acura has made.
Its heavy and slow. Far from a sleeper.
Love my integra, it's super practical and sleek and I was able to get it at msrp unlike what local honda dealers were offering for a damn civic hatch. It's not really that fun though so I wish the type s came with the 10 speed automatic. That's the car I'd really like to see
If you want 10sped just get the tlx
why not fun?
@@rlscott1251 that was out of my price range unfortunately. Plus I also wanted the practicality of a hatchback
@@jamesmedina2062 It's a CVT plus the engine isn't that powerful
@@ansuman3900 My 1990 Integra I got for my high school graduation revved nicely and cruised at 120 mph with beers and people loaded inside and it was rated with 130 horsepower. Manual 5 speed. Very low to the ground with double wishbone suspension. Lightweight. This car like all others is more of an SUV than a sports car.
I love my 08 tsx it is a great we’ll balanced car to daily and the k24a2 sounds amazing when you keep the exhaust set up and intake set up simple
Sadly 80% of Honda profit is going toward Electric and Self-Driving these days.
I think Honda can recover with the new Accord once it hits, if it’s able to keep up with demand. But mistake they made was taking away the 2.0T to give people still an option even if it doesn’t sell that many units. Acura, once the RDX Type S finally comes out it will be hard to definitively keep in demand because it’s a redesign, they need to hurry up and should’ve been before the integra anyway! And they need to make minor changes to the integra, take that stupid CVT out and boost up the HP, with SHAWD, that would just be a glory to people! They don’t think about that, an lower priced ACURA with SHAWD and at least 201 Hp 230 Torque would sell out fast!
they could make a high revving 2.0 T with big turbo. Managers limit Honda too much and Mr Honda is dead unfortunately.
I've owned a 2003 Acura (brand new RSX S-Type) and a 2011 (slightly used TSX V6). I feel the current crop is less good looking, bulkier and way too expensive.
Honda and Acura are competing for the same supply chain. With the dire straights at Honda/Acura, some hard decisions will be needed to design a complimentary model layout rather than overlapping. Acura should get the bigger more luxurious trims.
MDX is the better performer, but the Pilot is all new for ‘23 with new 10-speed Honda powertrain.
I just bought A used '14 Rdx last month now there's no issues with it before I purchased it and it still runs perfectly fine. And I know it won't break down when I go over 100k miles
The Type S Integra looks awesome. Both FK8, & FL5 vibes, but the price is gonna be insane!!
As long they are super reliable and AWD this is success for me. Transmission replacement at 130000 km for no reason after 7.1 years (warranty expired at 7.0 years) is disastrous for 2015 TLX. Reliability, AWD, the rest I don't care much. Willing to give a 2nd chance and hoping for transmission repair 5000$ to last long before I need to give that 2nd chance.
Acura has been a mess of a brand since their heyday of the 1990's. They should be a major luxury player today given that they were first to the US market among the Japanese in 1986, but they have squandered their lead with bad product decisions, weird styling, no USP and and unclear marketing efforts. Now, they're hoping Gen Xers remember the good old days as they start using beloved nameplates like "Integra" on mediocre products. Other than that though I have no strong feelings on the matter.
Maybe it's the lack of build quality and service dept not wanting to fixing anything. Had my 2021 TLX Aspec AWD and the issues range from steering rack needing replacing at 6,000 miles to brakes and rotors needing replacing every 7,000 miles due to Acura installing brakes not suitable for a car with this weight. Let's not forget grease leaking from the steering wheel onto the brake pedal. Dealer claimed acura told them this is normal and happens when the cabin is hot. Speakers crackling when accelerating even after fakra replacement. Was told there was loose grounds and the radio harness installed on the TLX was to short and that took 4 seperate trips to service and the dealer claiming they could not replicate, only to hop on highway and record the static and pops. Now just have been dealing with the steering wheel clicking for the last yr and a half and service claims they drove other TLXs and heard the clicking, " It's Normal". Then the rear driveshaft seal on rear dif started leaking at 15,000 miles. Car was amazing until it hit 6,000 miles. Now I see why the radio is amazing. Needs to be to drown out all the plastic clicks and rattles.
I just bought a 2023 tlx type s and it's the perfect daily driver
Their cars are ok still. Interior materials are nice but not competitive. They are about 5k more expensive than they should be. Their awd is fantastic though. Customer service is neutral
I had a 02 3.2TL, bought it brand new and it was one of the best Acuras ever made, and it was affordable too
Nowadays they are way overpriced, and their product simply cannot catch up with the competition
yes. they still had value then. Not anymore!😢
My son has a tlx type S in the gold color. It is a rare car. Very nice and fun to drive. I expect it to hold its value due to rarity.
I have the 21 in the same color & it is indeed rare in fact they only made 2000 of them for the 21
I believe that with gas prices fluctuating as they are, people are gaining interest in electrification. By that I mean hybrid, PHEV models. Since Honda does not have these options on the Acura nor the Passport and Pilot vehicles, anyone who wants to improve gas mileage has to go elsewhere. I have a 2021 Passport on lease, one more year to go and most likely will buy it at end of lease. Do I wish it was hybrid... yes. But the buyout price (26,200) and what I've paid into the car make it my best deal. It will have < 20k miles at end of lease.
Electrification is a mirage. People need to wise up and see who are mining the lithium and cobalt, and understand electric vehicles do nothing for the environment. Where does the electricity come and how is it generated? Coal.
We are petroleum-rich and cars are way cleaner than people think they are. It’s a scam.
Not enough batteries or charging stations…
The crazy this is Acura has so much potential too. They need to fire their management department
Dealer markups…especially on the type S vehicles. I went to a dealer and they were rude and acted like their cars were highly prestigious.
The chart shows TLX sales were UP 25%, not down
It should be legislation that prevents dealerships selling cars 10-20 ABOVE manufacturers suggested selling price. ITS THAT SIMPLE.
I think they'd do well if they could get the volume. They're uncommon cars that also happen to look good AND be reliable. I'm seriously considering an Acura sedan for my next car.
Uncommon? Where I live here in Calgary, Canada I see at least 30 or so 4th gen MDXs per day 😭
Didn't know they're so popular in Canada. Maybe it's location dependent. In California, it's a a bit of a treat to see a (newer) Acura lol. They're relatively rare here.
@@AddaxCrazy Same in Toronto. MDX, RDX and even TLX are super popular. Starting to see more Integra’s too, which is what I drive.
@@486DX40 I think Ontarians love the reputation from honda and toyota, as lexus cars also are very common up in york region
@@bendai5376 Yeah that’s facts, and Lexuses are by far the most common stolen cars in the Toronto metro area, especially the RX.
Still rocking 2002 Acura CL type S with 230k miles .
I had the 03 manual with the comptech supercharger, shit was a monster!!!! Got into a accident and got a 07 TL Type S, it’s 2023 so I’ve had the TL for ten years, but ima be honest, I think the CL was the best Type S Car, i wasn’t big on the RSX I’m 6’4”
One thing I absolutely hate about modern Acura's is the automatic transmission shifter design I'm not a fan of the push buttons and the knob that prevents people like my mother from buying one much rather have the traditional lever style
Step 1
Acura ditching “named vehicles” for alpha-numeric.
Step 2, NOT giving their customers what they asked for: RWD, V8’s, more performance etc
Step 3, wacky cars (ZDX) and designs. (Giant shield grilles)
You’d have to look at production numbers against sales numbers to confirm supply chain issues. Simply looking at sales number is flawed and possibly playing into Honda’s notion of using supply chain as an excuse for disappointing sales. This is important because Honda is publicly traded. And giving a reason of supply chain (external factor) is far better to investors than something internal affecting dropped sales. Hence not surprising Honda would make that supply chain statement you read.
They are putting out a 300hp plus FRONT wheel drive "luxury" sport car. All their competitors are either rwd or awd.
Acura let the Honda sensibility accounts take control. The 2009 Acura TL was the start. That marked the beginning of a dark time for Acura. They are gonna have a hell of a time to convince people otherwise.
Acura is only sold in Canada, the US, Mexico, Panama and Kuwait. There's absolutely no way they can make that brand sold worldwide since there's not enough budget for Acura, currently and the same goes for Genesis Motor. However, Lexus did sells cars worldwide and it's a great sub brand of luxury cars ever since and it's made by Toyota.
Can do do a separate video on the ADX? I think that would deserve a full video. Maybe also talk about TLX mid cycle refresh if it’s happening.
@@chezzyperson3339 I agree. Feel like this would sell really well, built on the same platform as the new HRV. I think this would really help Acura get back into it.
@@ezrawinslow it’d only help them if they gave it enough features to truly make it stand out.
Acura, Infiniti and Lexus buyers are shifting to Tesla.
😭😭😭
Lexus is fine. Infinti barely sold 55k cars and Volvo nearly passed Acura.
Wish they'd make cars like the 3rd and 4th gen TL's again. Focused on being individualized rather than rebadged honda cars for their sedans.
Acura Are still super solid cars period. Regardless of sales or forces due to economy and fluctutations everyone is trying to hold onto thier customer base in these times. Acura will not be vanquished I can tell you that 1000 percent. Neither Acura nor Lexus or Porsche I see those as pretty tight formated brands Ill say Nissan and Infinity as well.
The decrease in sales is due to a shortage in the main chip used when building the car. The manufacturer of the chip is having a hard time with production since the pandemic started. I purchased a 2022 RDX back in April and noticed the showroom floor options were extremely limited and asked why. I was told Acura and other Japanese brands are experiencing an extreme shortage due to this chip. Hopefully things get better or they find an alternative.
Still got my 05 RSX. Still love it. No new cars compare to it imo. In looks and just fun and overall performance. Numbers can be higher but idk if Id be smiling like I do with my original baby.
If they built a beautiful 2 door coupe that is reliable as a Honda and doesn’t cost as much as the NSX, I’d buy that car.
I hope they can recover. My family has been an Acura family for as long as I can remember and we still have our 2008 TL Base that we bought brand new that’s now my car and it has been very reliable a few things here and there because it’s a decade+ old car. We even bought a new RDX a few months ago and I love the TLX Type S. Maybe if they gave the Type S models like the TLX and the Integra more power and mod friendly like the older ones they could get some more sales but I doubt it as the industry is adopting Hybrid/ Electric cars there’s a chance that the next Type S after this integra is some hybrid electric nonsense
Hybrid and electric are always a boost to acceleration and torque. But US buyers like yourself do not like change and the US market lags behind Europe and Japan.
Acura has a few problems. They needed to add a hybrid in their line up. They should’ve never taken away the MDX hybrid. All their SUV’s should give us hybrid as an option. The TLX is fine the way it is, however the TypeS should’ve been 400 HP at 3600LBS. The TSX sport wagon needs a return for the guy that doesn’t want an SUV and give us a TypeS and Aspec wagon. The Base model Integra is not a hit in the looks department and performance should be more than the Civic NOT the same.
I will tell you what Acura has been doing wrong: their advertising. It's all "racer boy" zoom zoom, nothing about luxury. My father wouldn't even consider buying an Acura as his perception from their ads was that it wasn't a luxury brand. He bought a Lexus instead-- they've done a MUCH better job of advertising based on their refinement and luxury. And yet when I ride in a nice RDX or MDX I think it's just as nice as a Lexus.
The problem is they only have 4 cars on sale. They need more product.
ADX hopefully. ZDX coming.
They have plenty of cars, they need more SUVs.
We also need to take a look at sales with rising inflation and interest rates. 2009 came on the heels of the mortgage debacle. Due to COVID 2022 & 2023 faces the same pressure, though the financial underpinnings are very different between 2009 and 2022. The inflation numbers are up across the world. The Fed aren't the only ones raising nterest rates to combat inflation, consumer spending and in the US low unemployment numbers. Some of the sales figures are effected by the economy as well. China also faced months long COVID lockdown for months at a time.
I had a car accident in my new Civic. Didn’t take much time at all for the parts to come in. They’re not struggling with supply shortages as many other brands. The biggest thing with Honda, as I just bought another new car, is their dealers aren’t keeping stock on the lot. I bought my car site unseen! Many dealers are doing this. It has to be hurting sales. I am a loyal Honda buyer so I didn’t mind buying it that way but many others who would buy it because they saw and test drove it, those buyers aren’t going to easily find a dealer with cars to try.
There’s not enough Hondas and Acuras being made which is why it’s so low, also why the prices are so high.
Infiniti used to make decent, fun to drive cars. When they went to the drive by wire steering, the 4 cylinder engine and especially the awful CVT, that was it for me. I just tested a RDX and it was just “ok.” Looks like genesis is doing well
When the years 2023 and your product look like it’s from 2010 no one is going to buy it look at the crazy transformation that’s happened to Hyundai Kia in the last five years. Acura makes better cars than Hyundai and Kia in terms of reliability, but they fail to make their cars look modern and feel modern that’s why it’s better to buy a Honda than it is an Acura. because it’s basically the same car nowadays there’s no difference if you want a super reliable luxury car it’s better to go with Alexis because it has a different feel to it than a Toyota or Honda.
It's their styling.
Think they dropped the ball with the TLX Type S, the car looks good but for their performance model they could have at least set their sights on upping the Kia Stinger which came out several years earlier but has more features and wins in performance
But thats a KIA lol. KIA boys stealing them with a fucking usb charger! Nobody want that shit.