Safety
Winner: Tie
Honda doesn’t skimp on the safety features, for Acura or its own lineup. Nearly all vehicles perform well in crash testing by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Honda and Acura have very similar safety systems, dubbed Honda Sensing and AcuraWatch, respectively. Both are a suite of advanced safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. All cars come with a backup camera, and all are available with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Reliability
Winner: Honda
Honda has long had a reputation as a reliable brand, but is that still warranted? And does that reputation extend to Acura? Reliability is judged by J.D. Power, scoring out of a potential five.
For Acura, only two vehicles earn three out of five, the RLX and the NSX supercar. All others earn 2.5, two, or are yet to be scored. Most of the Honda lineup earns three out of five, while four cars, the Insight, CR-V, Ridgeline, and Passport, all earn 3.5.
Performance
Winner: Honda
Honda has a reputation for building fantastic motors, as well as a storied history in automobile and motorcycle racing. Throughout their history, they have supplied the engines for some iconic race cars, though this may never cross your mind while commuting in a Civic.
Honda’s strong performance scores are spread evenly throughout their lineup, with the Civic as the standout at 8.7, and the HR-V dragging down the average with a 6.7, due to its lackluster acceleration.
The same can be said for the Acura TLX and ILX, with performance scores of 6.5 and 6.8, respectively. Thankfully for Acura, the awesome NSX drags up the brand’s average, with its 573 horsepower and performance score of 9.1, which is unsurprisingly the best among both brands.
Interiors
Winner: Honda
You would think the luxury brand would be the shoo-in for interiors, but once again, the ILX and TLX are holding the whole class back, earning scores of 5.0 and 6.9 respectively. The recently redesigned RDX is one of the freshest vehicles in the Acura lineup, and as such has the brand’s nicest interior.
The least impressive interior in the Honda lineup is the HR-V, but the rest of the lineup all earns solid to great scores for cabin quality. The Accord, CR-V, Pilot, and Ridgeline earn scores of eight or better, but the standout among all cars here is the Odyssey, with an interior score of 9.1.
Price
Winner: Honda
If value and price are your top priorities, Honda is a no-brainer. Its lineup includes compact and subcompact cars that offer great value, including the Honda Fit. This small hatchback makes great use of its space and has a starting price of just $16,190.
Other affordable options in the Honda lineup include the Civic, which starts at $19,750, and the HR-V subcompact crossover, which starts at $20,820. Meanwhile, the most affordable member of the Acura lineup is the ILX, which starts at $25,990, but comes up short in a lot of areas.
Small SUVs
Winner: Acura
Based on overall score, the RDX is the standout vehicle in the Acura lineup. With a potent turbocharged engine, the latest infotainment technology, and a first-rate interior, the RDX is a fantastic small SUV.
The Honda CR-V is one of the best vehicles in our compact SUV rankings. It comes standard with plenty of safety tech, has a handsome, roomy cabin, and boasts a comfortable ride. Unfortunately, the Honda HR-V drags down the Honda average.
3-Row SUVs
Winner: Honda
The Honda Pilot has an enjoyable ride and a laid-back driving experience, while the standard V6 engine provides stout acceleration. The Pilot is one of a few three-row SUVs where the third row has enough head- and legroom for adults.
The MDX is a great car to drive, with its potent V6 and composed handling. It also has great fuel economy estimates. Unfortunately, the more rakish styling of the MDX results in a lower rear roof area and much tighter back seat, which is best left for kids.
Small Cars
Winner: Honda
Crossovers may be all the rage, but Honda made a name for itself building reliable small cars. The Civic and Fit are among the best options in their respective classes. The Fit is a fantastic subcompact hatchback boasting an impressive amount of tech and safety features. The Fit also has an incredibly versatile cabin with many seating/cargo configurations.
The Civic is a very high-quality small car, available as a coupe, sedan, or hatchback. All three have spacious interiors that are probably nicer than expected for this corner of the market. One would think the Acura ILX would be the “luxury Civic,” but it just doesn’t live up to that billing.
Midsize and Large Cars
Winner: Honda
If one were in the market for a new sedan, few options are as good as the Honda Accord. It features a spacious, handsome cabin and great driving dynamics. The Accord Touring comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 252 horsepower. This engine is also available on the EX-L and Sport trims.
Acura offers the TLX midsize luxury sedan and the RLX full-size luxury sedan. Both offer a comfortable ride and a long list of standard features. But both vehicles suffer from low-quality cabin materials.
Performance Cars
Winner: Acura
The Honda Civic is available in two performance variants, the Civic Si, and the even more hardcore Civic Type R. The Si makes 205 horsepower, while the Type R boasts 306 horsepower, more aggressive bodywork, and plenty of performance chassis upgrades. These are fun and affordable performance cars that offer all the comforts of a competent commuter car.
But Acura has an ace in the hole in the form of the NSX; a mid-engined supercar that makes 573 horsepower and will rocket from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The Acura NSX is a balanced supercar, with fantastic handling and a comfortable, spacious interior.
Rest of the Lineup
Winner: Honda
There are a few vehicles that Honda offers that Acura does not. The Odyssey is a spacious and comfortable minivan with a modern, well-built cabin and all the latest infotainment and safety technology. The Odyssey even has surprisingly strong driving dynamics for a minivan.
Honda even offers a pickup truck, in the form of the Ridgeline. It has an incredibly versatile bed, with a storage compartment built right into the bed. Thanks to sharing a platform with the Pilot, the Ridgeline has one of the most comfortable cabins among pickup trucks.
The Winner Is …
Winner: Honda
Had Acura’s lineup of sedans and crossovers been notably better than Honda’s lineup, this would have been a tougher choice. But most of Honda’s vehicles are actually better than their luxury counterparts, and when you take price into the equation, the choice is a no-brainer.
If you are in the market for a supercar, you have to opt for the Acura NSX. But for nearly all other vehicle classes, Honda is the smarter choice and the better use of your hard-earned money.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is your prime source of up-to-date car information. If you want to learn more about either of these brands, take a look at the Honda brand page and the Acura brand page.
We rank and review nearly every vehicle available using data from hundreds of independent reviews written by America’s top automotive journalists. Explore our new car rankings, where you can see which cars or trucks deserve a spot on your shopping list.
The deals that we list can save you a tremendous amount of money, and our Best Price Program can save you even more. By partnering with local dealers, we help consumers save an average of more than $3,000 off sticker price.
Honda vs. Acura: Worth the Extra Cash?
- Safety: Tie
- Reliability: Honda
- Performance: Honda
- Interiors: Honda
- Price: Honda
- Small SUVs: Acura
- 3-Row SUVs: Honda
- Small Cars: Honda
- Midsize and Large Cars: Honda
- Performance Cars: Acura
- Rest of the Lineup: Honda
Recommended Articles
-
2020 Honda Pilot vs. 2020 Acura MDX: Head to Head
-
2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Honda HR-V: Head to Head
-
The 40 High-Tech New Car Features You Can Buy Today
-
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Subaru Outback: Head to Head
-
U.S. News' Best Cars of 2021
-
2021 Cars With Great Residual Values
-
2021 Toyota Highlander vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Head to Head
-
2020 Best Cars for the Money
-
Best Cars for Families
Affordability vs. Luxury: Who Come Out on Top?
As automotive experts, one thing we are asked quite often is, “Hey, isn’t ‘Brand Y’ just the luxury version of ‘Brand X.’” As much as it tries to create some distance, the connection between an automaker and its luxury division is inevitable. But for the car-buyer, is making the jump worth the money?
Honda builds sharp, reliable, and efficient cars. It has a diverse lineup ranging from hatchbacks and crossovers to hybrids and even a pickup truck (of sorts). Acura’s lineup is less diverse, but in some ways, more upscale, and even includes the NSX supercar.
Is the NSX enough to tip the scales in favor of Acura? That’s exactly what we’re going to examine, comparing these two lineups on things like price, performance, reliability, and a number of other attributes. From these matchups, we’ll determine if it’s actually worth the jump in price to go to the Acura brand. Please know that our scores may change over time, so check back often to U.S. News & World Report research pages to stay up on these changes.