Acura vs Lexus -- Which is Better?

Acura and Lexus are luxury offshoots of Honda and Toyota. While their parent brands are more known for their economical and reliable vehicles, Acura and Lexus have a focus on comfort and style. If you've been considering a car from one of these brands, it's a good idea to know how they compare. With an understanding of what each one has to offer, you can make the right choice for your wallet and your driving habits.

What Vehicles Are Acura and Lexus Known For?

Acura is best known for its sporty suspension and boldly styled sports cars. However, it also produces SUVs such as the Acura RDX and the Acura MDX, the Integra, and its luxury sedan, the TLX. The company's primary focus is performance and comfort, which differs significantly from the efficiency and fuel economy for which its parent company, Honda, is known. Acura models are designed to combine the premium feel of luxury vehicles with the performance and handling of sports cars.

Lexus builds luxury SUVs and cars to last. Just like its parent company, Toyota, Lexus has a focus on reliability that is only sporadically found with luxury brands. The most best-known Lexus models are the RX 350 SUV, the Lexus NX hybrid luxury crossover SUV, and the compact IS sedan. These vehicles are known for combining luxury comfort with a rugged, capable exterior and powertrain, which has resulted in an excellent reputation over the years.

Acura vs. Lexus - Which is Better?

Deciding between these two luxury car brands can be a difficult task unless you know what you're looking for and what they each have to offer. Before you head to the dealership, it's a good idea to understand how these two Japanese automakers compare in different categories. Comparing various aspects of a vehicle's performance will help you make the best decision and find something that checks all the boxes.

Reliability

Acura

Reliability is an essential consideration for any vehicle purchase. J.D. Power conducts a dependability study every year, and it's an excellent resource for people looking for the most reliable vehicle. Unfortunately, Acura did not perform well in the latest 2024 study. The brand came in well below the average, with 216 problems per 100 vehicles. That means that if you're looking for a car that will last you a long time and won't give you many problems, Acura may not be your best bet.

Lexus

Lexus has consistently come out on top in the same J.D. Power study, and the 2024 version was no exception, with the brand at number one with only 135 problems per 100 vehicles. That's nearly twice as reliable as Acura, making a new Lexus one of the savviest new car purchases. The Lexus lineup offers a wide range of options, and you can feel confident you'll get your money's worth from them.

Price

Acura

Price should always be a part of your decision-making when choosing a new car. While luxury brands are not known for affordability, Acura offers vehicles that are lower in the price range than other luxury brands. A base 2024 Integra starts at $32,695, making it an affordable premium car, especially compared to brands such as BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Expect to pay more if you want to add features or more premium materials, though.

Lexus

Lexus has never had a reputation for being affordable, but it has offerings that are undoubtedly cheaper. For example, the 2024 Lexus UX is a small SUV starting at $36,690. That's a higher price tag than the cheapest Integra, and while the UX is available with all-wheel drive, the Acura is far more spacious.

Power

Acura

Acura is focused on performance as much as style. Its most high-performance model, the Acura TLX Type-S, features a turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 355 horsepower and all-wheel drive. This AWD Acura is an excellent option for people who want a performance luxury sedan with sporty handling and enough power to be just as exciting as some of the less potent and more expensive vehicles of the same type.

Lexus

While Lexus is synonymous with comfort, it has also developed a name for performance vehicles in a bid to attract younger buyers. The Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance has a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 472 horsepower. Lexus also produces the incredibly powerful Lexus LC sports coupe with the same engine as the potent IS sedan. These engines, mixed with the comfort and amenities for which Lexus is known, put it at the top of the list between the two brands.

Handling

Acura

Acura's cars are known for their tight handling and sporty suspension, which is tuned to be as responsive as possible. That's exemplified in the brand's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD). Like some torque vectoring systems offered by rival automakers, it can quickly shift power not just between front and rear wheels but left and right wheels depending on where grip is most needed.

Lexus

Since 2020, Lexus has been developing the Lexus Driving Signature system and implementing it in all of its vehicles. This system uses what Lexus calls "linear connection" to create an incredibly predictable experience behind the wheel. The steering wheel, brake, and accelerator pedals are all operated in tandem and connected to give the driver as much feedback as possible.

The goal is to unite the car and the driver and make them one unit, which can be thrilling and reassuring on the road.

Style

Acura

Style is subjective, and what might be incredibly attractive to some may not be to others. Acura's style aesthetic is certainly geared more toward sporty than anything else. With modern, sweeping lines and sharper angles, Acura vehicles have bold, striking looks, that suit a high-performance car.

The TLX, for example, has a unique, scooped front end and an angular grille that makes for an intimidating look. Depending on how much you want to stand out on the road, an Acura could be a good option.

Lexus

Lexus has long been known for its classy, smooth exteriors. However, in recent years, the styling has grown more aggressive in recent years, especially the SUVs. The Lexus GX is an excellent example with its boxy design that takes cues from earlier off-road vehicles and vintage Jeeps. That, combined with a more capable mechanical design, makes Lexus a good choice for those seeking comfort and a little more off-road versatility.

EV Availability

Acura

Acura launched its first EV – the ZDX electric SUV – in 2024. The top-end Type S version creates 500 horsepower and borrows General Motors technology from EVs such as the Cadillac Lyriq and the Chevrolet Blazer EV. However, since Acura is new to the EV market, it remains to be seen how effective its entry will be.

Lexus

The Lexus RZ EV hit dealerships in 2023. Its dual-motor setup puts out the equivalent of 308 horsepower, and it sports all the luxury appointments you would expect from one of Lexus's SUVs. However, it has an uncompetitive range compared to equivalent models from Audi, BMW, and Volvo.

Lexus also offers a plug-in hybrid in the NX450h+, which comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors for 304 horsepower and an all-electric range of 37 miles. A Lexus RX plug-in hybrid is also due to arrive in 2024.

While these electric options may not be as powerful as the proposed Acura ZDX, they have already proven themselves in the field. They are currently in production, which gives Lexus a leg-up in the EV category.

Safety Features

Acura

Safety is an essential factor when choosing a vehicle, especially if you are buying something for your family. Acura vehicles come with a wide range of standard features for safety. These include automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

If you want, you can add optional driver-assistance features with a Technology package, but this will cost you more than the total price. Acura's lineup also boasts a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

Lexus

Every Lexus vehicle has the brand's Safety System+ 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features. This package includes automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature. Lexus also has some of the best ratings in the automobile market for safety from the IIHS, which makes the brand a good option for people looking for comfort, performance, and security.

Which Brand Has the Overall Advantage?

Deciding which brand has the overall advantage can be tricky unless you know what you want. Depending on your goals with your new vehicle, one may be more suitable than the other. However, regarding reliability and performance, two critical factors, Lexus comes out on top.

With many high-performance options and a consistently excellent reliability rating, a Lexus vehicle is likely your best bet. Plus, their current lineup of electric cars cements their place as innovators, whereas Acura still needs to put an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle into production. If you want a car that will last you a long time and give you many years of trouble-free driving, Lexus has many model options.

On the other hand, Acura is a more stylistic and bold automaker that creates cars meant to stand out from the crowd. If you want to buy something that will set you apart on the highway, one of Acura's sporty, stylish vehicles could be a good choice. Acura vehicles also tend to be slightly cheaper than Lexus vehicles, which makes them more accessible to a broader range of people.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right vehicle is a highly subjective and personal experience. The automotive market is extremely competitive, which means you have many different options when it comes to the types of vehicles that are available and the reputations of different brands.

Acura and Lexus are known for creating luxury vehicles with a sporting edge, and both are offshoots of top-rated mainstream brands. With a good understanding of how they stack up and compare, you can choose wisely and drive away, knowing you made an informed decision.