What’s the Difference Between Acura and Honda?

Many often wonder about the differences between Acura and Honda. Truthfully, the answer is rather intriguing. In September of 1948, just three years after the end of WWII, Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company. According to Honda’s website, Soichiro was soon joined by Takeo Fujisawa, and the two set out to make the world’s greatest motorcycles. 

Honda’s first motorcycle, frame and engine, was completed in 1949, and the next decade, the company would gain traction and eventually open it’s first major production plant is 1960. By 1964, Honda was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. 

For the next half-century Honda would expand exponentially. Its first production sports car, the S500, was released to the public in 1963, and from there, the company would become one of the world’s top producers of cars, and eventually, all things motorized.

It was in 1986 when Honda introduced Acura to the American market in order to compete with other luxury brands. Acura is widely recognized as the first Japanese luxury brand, and its introduction to America and Canada prompted other major Japanese auto manufacturers to launch their own luxury brands, as well.

Acura experienced almost immediate success, according to Bloomberg.com, “…by 1990, Acura was selling 138,000 vehicles, including 54,000 Legends. That same year, Mercedes sold 78,000 cars; BMW and Lexus each sold 64,000.” For a newcomer, it took little time for Acura to compete with older luxury manufacturers.

From that point on, Acura would become a staple of American car markets. In fact, Acura’s sales boomed even more after redesigning many of its cars in the early 2000s. Needless to say, sales have continued to be strong to this day.

So what is the difference between a car with Honda branding and a car with Acura branding? Simple: the difference is luxury. While both cars originally stemmed from the same manufacturer, an Acura provides a much more comfortable and advanced driving experience. Choosing an Acura over a Honda means that the consumer will have access to technology not available in Hondas. Another major difference is Acura’s superior fuel efficiency.

The biggest difference between the two is what they produce. Acura concentrates specifically on producing luxury cars while Honda has had a hand in everything motorized. Developing engines for light vehicles and race cars, aircraft, solar cells, mountain bikes, ATVs, power equipment and even robots, Honda is not simply a car brand but a motor company. On the other hand, Acura has been tasked with building the world’s finest luxury vehicles. At the end of the day, Acura has managed to do just that.