If you’re in the market for a luxury car or SUV, then chances are that you’ve come across the Acura lineup. This Japanese brand is well-known for its renowned reputation for reliability, style, and for bringing a healthy dose of performance to the luxury table. But is Acura owned by Honda?

Does Honda own Acura?

To put it simply: Yes, Honda owns Acura, and it still does. In fact, the Acura brand made its debut in 1986 and is solely based in North America. This means that you’ll find Acura-branded cars and dealerships in the U.S. and Canada, but you won’t find them in Japan. However, the luxury car company has gained a lot of popularity since its debut in the 80s, which is impressive considering it only started with two cars: the Legend and the Integra. Thankfully, the legacies of those two initial models still carries onto the product lineup today.

Which cars and SUVs does Acura make?

The Acura lineup is easy to get familiar with since all of the cars are named with three letters. The cars in the lineup are headlined by the entry-level, compact ILX sedan, the mid-size TLX, and the full-size, flagship RLX. There are only two SUVs to choose from; the RDX and the three-row MDX. And if you have the means and the need for speed, then you opt for the NSX supercar.

Where are Acura’s vehicles made?

While Acura is owned by Honda, which is based in Japan, the vehicles in its lineup are actually made right here in the U.S., in Ohio, to be exact. In total, Acura has four different production plants in that state: Marysville, Russells Point, East Liberty, and Anna, Ohio.

The ILX and TLX are produced in the Marysville plant while the RDX and the MDX are built at the East Liberty site. The engine and drivetrain components are produced at the plant in Anna while the transmissions and other related components are done at Russells Point. But if you want a real treat, then you can head on over to Marysville where the Performance Manufacturing Center is located. This is the location where special editions of the RDX, MDX, and TLX are built, as well as the venerable NSX.

Are Acura vehicles more expensive to own than Honda vehicles?

Since Acura is a luxury brand and its cars are considered more premium than those found in the Honda lineup, they do cost a little more from the get-go and can be a little more expensive to maintain. If anything, you can expect to pay around 25 percent more for the parts and labor to maintain any of the Acura vehicles as compared to their Honda counterparts, except for the NSX, of course.

Regardless, you can expect to get a more luxurious experience in an Acura as the brand uses softer interior materials in addition to a variety of potent engines as compared to the Honda lineup. So if you’re looking for a luxury car or SUV, then don’t forget to check out what Acura has to offer in person.