Acura vs. Lexus Comparison
The two biggest names in Japanese luxury cars are Acura and Lexus, longtime rivals that were made to provide an alternative to the German companies that dominated the market for so long. But how do they compare to one another? Motorcars Acura has put together this guide to examine some of the more important differences between the two.
American Made
Buying an American-made car is important to a lot of people for a wide variety of reasons. Supporting local communities, higher labor standards, or just cheaper parts for repairs are all valid reasons to spend your money on a vehicle built here in the US. But figuring out which vehicles are built here isn’t as simple as it used to be, with different parts or components made all over the world, and that’s why Cars.com has a ranking of the vehicles made using the most American labor1. This takes into account where individual parts are made, and where engines are assembled, and Acura has the most top 20 models of any non-domestic luxury brand on the list. The most recent ranking is from before the Integra debuted, but every other Acura model for sale in 2023 is in the top 20. Every Acura model with the exception of the ZDX, which is built in partnership with GM and therefore uses different supply channels, is a top 20 model. In fact, much of the work done assembling Acura vehicles is done right here in Ohio.
Lexus, by comparison, has only the TX on the list at all. And while the TX ranks fairly high, for no other model to even be in the top 100 shows far off Lexus is compared to Acura when it comes to American labor.
MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Awards
For the last 40 years, MotorWeek has given annual awards to vehicles that best exemplify their given segment. A number of factors are considered, including price, practicality, performance, and fuel economy. For 2024, the Acura Integra was named Best Sport Sedan2 for the second year in a row. Lexus didn’t win any awards in any category.
Performance Car of The Year
When the Integra was revived for 2023, it was met with heaps of praise and awards from the automotive press. With the introduction of the Integra Type S in 2024, we saw a repeat of this, with Car & Driver saying3 it “might be perfect” and putting it on the Editor’s Choice list. But it was Road & Track that took it even further, making it Performance Car of The Year4 for 2024. This is understandable, as the Type S significantly raises the performance level of the Integra. The engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with a six-speed manual transmission, an incredibly rare feature these days, and one that enthusiasts are especially excited about.
