Does Acura Use Honda Engines? (Read This First)

Most automobile brands have subsidiary companies that have a specific function like Toyota is the parent of the luxury Lexus brand.

The same goes for Nissan, which has Infiniti as its luxury brand.

Honda motor company also has a luxury brand which is Acura. And these subsidiary companies share most things in common with their parent company.

Yes! Acura uses the same engine as Honda. However, the engine power of an Acura is more than that of a Honda. Since Acura is the luxury brand of Honda, the things that set it apart are mostly luxurious. However, the other parts of the vehicle are almost the same as that of the Honda.

Who Makes Acura?

Acura Use Honda Engines

Honda is the brand that makes Acura. The Honda motor company decided to make a luxury brand to stand a chance against brands like BMW, Benz e.t.c.

So it gave rise to Acura in 1986 as the daughter company of its Honda brand.

For years, Honda has been making reliable and affordable vehicles. Nevertheless, they could not level up with the classy Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac, e.t.c.

The only way to break out and stand in the luxury market is by making an offshoot brand. 

They began production with the Acura integral type and Acura legend. And this saw them in the luxurious car market.

Due to the step Honda took, other brands like Toyota and Nissan made Lexus and Infiniti their luxury brand.

Do Honda and Acura Engines the same?

Yes, our Honda and Acura engines are the same. However, there is a slight improvement in the general performance of the Acura engine.

But both Honda and Acura engines have the same build and components. 

The Acura legend engine is the same thing as a Honda engine. Both cars have a 2.5 and 2.7 L engine with 160 horsepower. It is for the 1990 brand of Acura.

In 1991, the engine used by the Acura received a modification to be more than that of the Honda. 1991 Acura legend engine has a 3.2-liter engine type with a horsepower of 202. 

Despite the improvement, it is still the same engine used by Honda. However, the VTEC engine series used by Honda is top-notch.

Acura Honda engines are very durable and can last for 300,000 miles. It is the reason why the engines for both vehicles are the same. You may learn more about whether Hyundai uses Honda Engines or not?

Acura is made to be high-performance, and the Honda engine offers that height of the action.

So, Honda motor company saw no need to stress on the engine of the Acura and focused more on designs.

Nonetheless, there are still minor differences with the engine that set both parent and daughter companies apart. That is what makes the engine of an Acura costlier than a Honda.

Do Honda and Acura Use the same Parts?

An Acura is nothing less than a Honda with more luxury built.

The Honda Acura type of vehicle uses the same parts for its production, just that an Acura may have an improved engine, good suspension system, high-end interiors, and additional luxury details.

Even with all the improvements, it does not change that Honda and Acura use the same parts as per the link between them. This fact is evident in the Honda Civic and Acura ILX.

The framework, paint, and assembly line are the same. The Acura TSX is sometimes packaged as a Honda Civic in some countries.

The same goes for the Acura NSX and Honda NSX. The Acura is only more of luxury and performance.

And the cost of an Acura is very high compared to a Honda. Notwithstanding, that is why it is a luxury brand.

Another thing I would like you to note is that no matter how the same parts of Honda and Acura are, you will never be allowed to use the parts interchangeably.

They may be the same brands as Honda motor company, but the parts are sold differently. Almost all the parts are the same, but Acura has the higher-end parts.

And the parts of Acura, no matter how similar it is to the Honda, will cost you a couple more dollars.

The metals used in the assembly of an Acura are heavier than a Honda build. Though the parts are interchangeable, they are always separate from each other.

So when you are finding a Honda part, you will be given a Honda part, which is the same for Acura. Even though they use the same parts, they will always be marked out and sold differently.

Is Acura as Reliable as Hondas?

Since Acuras are a branch of Honda, they are also reliable. However, they are not as reliable as Hondas.

Acura indeed has everything you would find in a Honda vehicle. It lasts as long as Honda, even though it is a luxury brand.

When it comes to the reliability scale, Honda is ranked higher. JD powers made a reliability scale and discovered that four (4) Honda cars rated higher at 3.5 out of 5.

In comparison, only two Acuras got 3-star ratings ( Acura RXL and NXL models). 

Honda is a parent to Acura, so it is logical to say Acura is also reliable. But it would be best if you were careful not to misplace priorities.

No matter how reliable Acura is, it can never match Honda in that regard.

The fact that Honda motor company made Acura for the luxury brand should make you know it will not be as reliable as the parent.

Reliability cuts across all fields and over time. It is easier to purchase, use, maintain and repair a Honda than Acura.

Yet they both perform the same function with distinction to the luxury of the Acura. Since Honda is the choice of average consumers because of the low cost, it is considered reliable.

When going for a long trip or family vacation trip, people prefer to use Honda. It is more reliable than an Acura.

The reliability of any vehicle is determined based on consumer rating. And most of these consumers are average citizens.

Why Is Acura not Popular?

Acura is not popular because of its low-end designs compared to other luxury cars in its class. It was popular when Acura came to light with the Acura Legend and Acura Integra types.

This popularity was only within the Honda motor company

Honda made a daughter brand to compete in the luxury market with German-made brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, e.t.c.

But unfortunately, the result has not been evident as people do not even see Acura in that class. Notwithstanding, the Acura Integra type made a wave when it first came out.

What Acura does that makes it unpopular is the issue of making the exact Honda vehicle with a higher end.

That is why you would hardly or never hear someone try to compare an Acura with a Mercedes-Benz.

However, Acura is not just stepping up to make cars that compete with higher German luxury cars. 

Notwithstanding, Acura has plans to rebrand the Acura Integra type, and you should expect a six-speed manual transmission.

However, this proposed release shares similar components with the Honda Civic. Why Does Honda Civics Get Stolen? (Explained)

Conclusion 

Honda motor company made Acura its luxury brand. Therefore, they share a lot in common with just slight differences.

The distinction is the design and comfort, just as the brand suggests “luxury.” And the engine used by the Honda and Acura type is the same.

Ordinarily, Honda already has a high-performance engine, which they also used for the Acura.

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