Why Doesn't Acura Have A STUNNING Looking Vehicle In Its Product Portfolio? Honda Has Delivered, Why Not The "A" Brand?

Honda/Acura designers have played it safe for quite some time. Although they're respectable -- though not noteworthy cars (save for the NSX II) -- their staid styling keeps me from going beyond a casual glance at their website.

Agreed, they really need a reshuffling of their entire organization from engineers to stylists.

Acura models all show their fundamental Honda roots and design. Why pay for premiums for an Acura when you essentially get the identical car with a Honda. They almost look the same.

Higher end vehicles tend to be more conservative - in styling.
Still - Acura should probably have a completely separate design staff - which they clearly do not. There was a time when Acura was differentiated by having more powerful engines (The Legend was the 6 cylinder Accord for instance) - but that has also gone by the wayside. And the interiors of the Acura really place it as a second tier luxury - competing (maybe) with Buick and Infiniti - rather than Mb and BMW.

The new RDX is very good looking for the segment. Acura showed a Precision Concept sedan a few years that was outstanding. Its silhouette is nearly identical to the new Accord. If they follow past practice it will be out next year.
The RLX should be killed and have a longer, more luxurious MDX to replace it.

I'd merge the TLX and the RLX into a new sedan at the TLX's price called Legend.

I hope Acura is turning the styling corner like Honda did. New RDX looks good inside and out.

Honda's styling department is inept is why. Whoever is in charge thinks that dullness and boredom is the look for Acura having been b-slapped over the beak fiasco. They are capable of the Precision Concept's level of excellence, but apparently not building it.

The chances for Acura ever to be taken seriously as a premium brand are long gone. Honda should content itself with its Mercury division.

I believe they are just stubborn. I would not be out of my depth when I say that their design shop may still be run by a tyrant type of mentality who is unwilling to give the younger more innovative designers a break ... probably also related to the Honda family and will likely fire anyone who outsmarts him .. because come on!!!! who can actually say that an ACURA Is their first choice when looking for a luxury car .. I mean they Are the settling car brand .. you settle when you can't afford a German brand luxury or even a Lexus outdoes Acura hands down these days ... SADDD because I love the acura engine, technology, and overall reliability and durability of long lasting ..

And that would be an example of ineptitude.

This seems like an odd article for a couple reasons. First, while I like the new Accord, I am not sure it's as stunning as OOR suggested. Second, Acura has a very small portfolio, of which 2 cars are stunning (the new RDX and NSX), the TLX A-Spec is nice looking, and the other three are average but too conservative. The two cars that are stunning happen to be the 2 that have had the latest full redesign. If the TLX and RLX redesigns can mimic the success of the 2019 RDX, this entire topic becomes a mute point.

Now there is another Japanese luxury brand that is really struggling with design right now, and it includes the worst-looking SUV on the road since the Pontiac Aztek. If you guessed the Lexus RX, you are correct.

no dude .. you've been drinking too much Acura Kool aid ... your blinded by some odd loyalty to the ugly car brand .. I love Acuras engineering but their styling is ugly .. even a Kid In 4th grade can tell you that ...

there's nothing wrong with having an honest conversation ... my first luxury car was a 2004 Acura TSX and I have not bought another one since than as I migrated over to the likes of Bmw and Mercedes. I currently own a Mercedes e350 convertible and I absolutely love the car and the design on it. I am in the market to either get a 2nd suv or a sedan but more on the larger size and having a 2nd Bmw or Mercedes is out of my budget so I was considering an Acura because I loved my tsx. the only resistance I have is how ugly the Acura tlx is and the mdx back appears like a deformity in design. it's just ugly .. I cannot fathom spending the kind of money on a luxury vehicle that just is ugly. the Lexus nx is also ugly but in the front because of it's rocket front end look. I hope that Acura execs read our comments and help re invigorate their designs as their cars are awesome but not their designs. also please Acura try for rear wheel drive or make all wheel drive more common because a lot of folks are moving to subaru and subaru is making their cars somewhat more decent looking

It costs the same amount to build a good looking car as it does an ugly one! - ferdinand piech

Truthfully, outside of a couple of Astons and Ferraris, there aren't many truly "STUNNING" cars on the road. No Audi. No BMW. No Benz (E-Coupe maybe the exception). Absolutely no Lexus (and don't even try with the LC). No Bentley. No Rolls. No non-premium brand.

You must love Mitsubishi Eclipses then.

I have to defend Matt on this one. The NSX is good looking, but very constrained compared to competitors such as the Ford GT and Audi R8. Good, but not, "wow."

I also agree Acura should merge the RLX and TLX and take the it upmarket slightly. I remember when I first saw the TLX at an Auto Show before it was launched and thinking it looked great. Then the production version came out and could have been a new Camry. They do tend to dilute designs for production.

One of the funniest and saddest moments I've ever witnessed was at the LA Auto Show a couple years ago when Acura released the new ILX or TLX. Acura had a MASSIVE floor space with a giant rotating center stage with their brand new car spinning on it with a couple models standing around. The entire Acura space had one, ONE, customer walking around. The rest of the venue was packed. Infiniti was right next door and it must have had a hundred people walking about. Acura is just oh so bland.