2019 Acura NSX Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

Minor exterior and interior cosmetic changesTechnology package and power seats are now standardSuspension tuning, tire and software updates to improve performancePart of the second NSX generation introduced for 2017

　　The 2019 Acura NSX is one of the more technologically advanced sports cars out there. With its turbocharged V6 engine enhanced with no fewer than three electric motors, the NSX returns performance figures that rival the best in the class. It gets surprisingly good fuel economy, too. But as good as the NSX is, the overall experience leaves us somewhat flat.

　　You can certainly drive it exceedingly fast, but the NSX's techno hardware conspires to diminish the car's emotional appeal. Rivals from Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche provide more thrill and theater. The NSX also comes up short inside the cabin. The infotainment interface is nearly identical to the one found in more plebeian Honda models, and interior storage is minimal. We expect a lot more from a sport coupe in this price range.

　　Certainly, the 2019 NSX accelerates and handles like few other cars on the road. But it's just a little too capable and clever for its own good.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.9 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Acura NSX (turbo 3.5L V6 | 9-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD hybrid).

　　Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current NSX has received some revisions, including revised suspension tunings, higher-performing standard tires and software updates to improve performance. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's NSX, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.9 / 10
Driving	8.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	7.5
Utility	4.0
Technology	5.5

　　

Driving

8.5

　　The breadth of performance capability in the NSX is nothing short of astounding. But in this class it's not just about capability; it's also about the way it does what it does. What the Acura lacks in flair for the dramatic it nearly makes up for in technical sophistication and overall competency.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　Exhilarating acceleration is the standard for this class, and the NSX does not disappoint. More impressive is the way it can accelerate out of low- and medium-speed corners with full confidence in all conditions. In zzdcar testing, the NSX posted an impressive 0-60 mph time of 3 seconds.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　You might never know the NSX is brake-by-wire, such is the natural feel of the pedal. There's good initial bite from the optional carbon brakes, along with easy modulation. In our panic-braking test from 60 mph, the pedal did feel soft, but the NSX managed to stop in a short 100 feet on the base tires.

　　

Steering

8.5

　　Both the effort and the ratio are just right in the NSX. More impressive is the feel and accuracy of the steering when you consider the colossal amount of work the front wheels do in and out of a corner. The steering loses little for having two electric motors attached to the front wheels.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　Despite our test car's all-season tires, it showed high levels of both grip and confidence until it got close to its handling limit. After that, it demonstrated lots of understeer and then disconcerting oversteer. The stability control is effective, but its operation is frustrating and heavy-handed.

　　

Drivability

9.0

　　Acura focused on making the NSX easy to drive, and it shows. Around town, it's smooth and quick, and stop-and-go traffic can be handled largely under electric power. Back roads and racetracks can be tamed with unbelievable efficiency. This might be the NSX's strongest feature.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　The NSX strikes a rare balance between epic performance and passenger comfort over long distances. However, the climate controls look out of place, and the piped-in engine noise grows tiresome on long drives.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　There's a mix of excellent and merely good. While the seatbacks are grippy, very comfortable and highly supportive, the seat cushions seem a bit short on length and adjustability. While not ventilated, the seats are heated and breathe well.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　Though there are only two suspension settings — both tied to driving modes — they handle most every surface, road irregularity and cornering force with aplomb. Long distances, even on a choppy freeway, won't wear down the passengers, while the firmest setting balances maximum traction with a comfortable ride.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　One of the quietest cabins in the class is somewhat spoiled by the piped-in intake noise. That's not befitting a supercar at all, even with the occasional wastegate whoosh. There's noticeable wind noise from both outside rearview mirrors.

　　

Climate control

5.5

　　Frustratingly, the climate control system has both physical and touchscreen buttons. The air vents are too small, lack articulation, and look to have come from another, older Acura. Even though cabin cooling and heating are adequate, the system is largely disappointing in a car of this price.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　For a car as clever as the NSX, its uninspired hand-me-down (or is it pass-me-up?) touchscreen interface pilfered from a Honda Civic seems a missed opportunity. While the driving position and the view out are excellent, a major part of the car's usability doesn't seem up to par.

　　

Ease of use

5.5

　　The inside of the NSX will look familiar if you've driven other recent Acuras because it shares many of the same controls. It also means the NSX inherits most of the flaws. The touchscreen has too many menus to go through, and the transmission selector buttons seem unduly fussy.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.5

　　The seat cushion bolsters not only have a bit of give, but they're also wrapped in leather, making them easy to slide past while getting in and out. The car and the roofline are very low, so taller drivers will have to bend down quite a bit and watch their heads when exiting.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　With the exception of the seat cushion not being adjustable for angle or height, it's a quick process to find a seating position that allows for any type of driving. The seat bolsters never interfere with driving. The slightly squared-off and aggressively contoured steering wheel feels natural.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　There's adequate shoulder and headroom for most drivers, though taller drivers might run out of legroom before anything else. The airy cabin doesn't feel claustrophobic.

　　

Visibility

8.5

　　The slim front roof pillars and a low cowl make for fantastic forward visibility. Visibility to the sides is also very good, and the outside mirrors are well-placed and nicely sized. Rearward visibility is decent for an exotic sports car.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　Exterior tolerances and paint quality are what we've come to expect from any Acura, and the quality of interior surfaces is generally good. There is some inexplicably downmarket plastic around the interior door latches. And the plastic on the passenger door of our test car rattled over bumps.

　　

Utility

4.0

　　It might seem unfair to expect a supercar to have much, if any, real cargo capacity, but most of Acura's rivals offer enough cargo room and small-item storage for a weekend trip for two people. The NSX lacks any real interior storage, and the trunk is heavily compromised by excessive engine heat.

　　

Small-item storage

5.0

　　Only the most minimal of storage is available in the cabin. There's room for a phone, sunglasses and maybe some breath mints, but not much more. The cupholders are detachable. Installed, they intrude on the passenger's space. When stored, they take up most of the glove compartment.

　　

Cargo space

3.0

　　There's a paltry 4.4 cubic feet of space between the engine compartment and the rear bumper. Two small bags will fit, but their contents will be subjected to quite a bit of heat due to poor insulation. There's no front trunk, so anything remotely heat-sensitive needs to be kept inside or left at home.

　　

Technology

5.5

　　With the rest of the NSX so intriguing and clever, having what amounts to the same infotainment system from a Civic is unacceptable. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, but even the excellent ELS audio system cannot rescue the parts-bin interface.

　　

Audio & navigation

4.5

　　With the exception of the animated NSX logo displayed on the screen, the touchscreen is obviously from Honda, and the interface is dated and clumsy. At least the ELS audio system is crisp, powerful and certainly makes the most of the small cabin. Competitors are simply better.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.0

　　Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported and much preferred to the native interface. Pairing your phone with just the basic Bluetooth is more complicated than it should be.

　　

Driver aids

6.0

　　Beyond the multimode stability and traction control and the ability to fully disable it, the NSX offers few of today's driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control or collision mitigation braking.

　　

Voice control

5.0

　　The elevated cabin noise in the more aggressive driving modes makes it difficult for the voice controls to work effectively. Even when it's quiet, the voice controls need too many steps to complete a simple process. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are better options.

　　

Which NSX does zzdcar recommend?

　　There's only one trim level for the NSX. Since the Technology package is now standard, we recommend keeping options to a minimum. Get the carbon-ceramic brakes only if you're planning on plenty of high-performance track days to justify the cost.

　　

2019 Acura NSX models

　　The 2019 Acura NSX is available only as a two-seat, two-door coupe in a single performance specification. There are no other body styles or trim levels. It comes standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, a nine-speed transmission, and a trio of electric motors that continually monitor and optimize the NSX's traction.

　　The V6 powers the rear wheels alone, and each front wheel has its own electric motor. This setup lets the car's onboard computers carefully accelerate or decelerate each wheel to keep the NSX on course during high-performance driving. A third electric motor pairs with the V6 engine in common hybrid-electric fashion, adding torque at low speeds and enabling very smooth engine starts. The combination of gasoline V6 and electric motors generates 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque.

　　Standard equipment includes LED headlights, adaptive suspension dampers (magnetorheological), 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, keyless ignition and entry, parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather and simulated-suede upholstery, power-adjustable seats with heating, a nine-speaker premium ELS sound system with satellite radio and two USB inputs, a 7-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and the AcuraLink smartphone connectivity system.

　　A couple of packages that outfit the NSX with extra exterior and interior carbon-fiber trim are also available. Stand-alone options include carbon-ceramic brakes, upgraded performance summer tires, premium paint hues, a long list of cosmetic carbon-fiber components (roof panel, interior trim, engine cover, rear spoiler), a different style of wheels, lightweight manually adjustable sport seats (at no additional cost), premium leather upholstery and a simulated-suede headliner.

　　

2019 NSX Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$157,500
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$220/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	4.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles