So what's really the difference between the 2014 Honda's and other luxury brands?

[Midwayman]

A lot of luxury cars are in the details. NVH is typically better on a luxury car, and its not something you'll see in a stat line, or in pics. Typically the finishes are just a bit nicer. Less switch gear that is obviously reused from other cars. A lot more freedom in making something good or aesthetically pleasant rather than cheap to produce. IE they can afford complex curves on panels rather than slabs with some creases. They'll also have the latest features. Lately that's driver aides. Like lane sensing cruise control, auto stop with radar, blind spot detection, etc etc. Don't see a ton of low end cars with lots of those things as options.

 

[Midwayman]

something about Acura never brings luxury to my mind. they are a luxury brand, but I cannot put them among infiniti or lexus.

Heh. I'd put them above Infiniti from every infiniti that I've sat in. Nice enough to drive, but terrible interiors and rough around the edges on everything. They get the big picture stuff right but fail on the details.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I agree. I'd like to see a couple luxury cars on craigslist with 200+ thousand miles, if one disagrees...

People who buy luxury cars don't keep them until 200+ miles. They'll be lucky to last to 100 until they move onto their next. And people who buy cars beyond 100+ likely aren't looking at something that could cost the same as an entire shitbox every time it breaks down.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Heh. I'd put them above Infiniti from every infiniti that I've sat in. Nice enough to drive, but terrible interiors and rough around the edges on everything. They get the big picture stuff right but fail on the details.

I feel like Acura has really slacked on their advertising and design department in the last few years. I haven't heard any one talk about them or see many people drive them anymore. They hit it big with the Integra and RSX and once that early 2000s Fast and the Furious hype train died down they didn't follow the times.

I recently been in some of the newer Accords and even the Kias and they look amazing on the inside fully loaded but there's some kind of aura when you go into a BMW or a Mercedes (especially a comparable model year and up) that you really feel.

 

[compcons]

Heh. I'd put them above Infiniti from every infiniti that I've sat in. Nice enough to drive, but terrible interiors and rough around the edges on everything. They get the big picture stuff right but fail on the details.

I would suggest sitting in different models then. The g and q50 definitely are not up to the standard of the m or Qx (I guess those are now q70 and qx80 or some such nonsense). Those are definitely luxury car. Not like a newer a6 or a8 or the better equipped e class and above.

 

[exar333]

If you have to ask, you haven't been in a real luxury car.

 

[Zargon]

If you have to ask, you haven't been in a real luxury car.

I was going to say, Honda isn't a luxury brand...so that's a pretty big difference

 

[Yuriman]

Not entirely relevant to the conversation, but compare a low-end Honda or Toyota to cars in the same cost bracket (ie Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Chevy, Suzuki, Saturn before they closed) and you're going to see a lot more polish. Admittedly, I'm impressed with the paper numbers from some of the engines coming from Ford and GM lately, but I've also heard some things about the reliability of modern DI and small turbo motors.

If anything, Honda doesn't have enough differentiation in their Acura lines in part because they build Civics pretty well.

 

[smackababy]

What is the difference you ask? Literally, everything!

 

[exar333]

What is the difference you ask? Literally, everything!

True.

It's not that a Honda, Ford, or similar car companies cannot have nice interiors (they do!) but it's a totally different league vs. a high-end car. For some, the difference in materials, quality and fit & finish is worth it. For others, it may look like a waste.

It's also not a 'brand' thing either. You have vastly different tiers of interiors for many different cars under the same brand. For example, a 1-series BMW will not be nearly as nice as a 7-series. That's just the way it is...

Edit: Then you have companies like Ferrari/MB S-class AMG, etc. which are in a whole other league in attention to detail.

 

[deathBOB]

You have to lie to yourself about the Honda

 

[zoiks]

i would be willing to bet that honda build quality is better than most luxury models

I'd be willing to bet that you're wrong.

 

[zoiks]

Heh. I'd put them above Infiniti from every infiniti that I've sat in. Nice enough to drive, but terrible interiors and rough around the edges on everything. They get the big picture stuff right but fail on the details.

The interiors on the Infiniti's aren't that bad. What rough edges are you talking about? I have a 2013 g37 coupe (previously had a 2008 g37 coupe) and a 2012 FX. I shopped around for every conceivable suv when searching with similar features and kept going back to the Infiniti's since they felt they were built very well. They have very functional and well designed interiors even if they look slightly less flashier than the other cars. I tried the Lexus but hated the interior with that stupid shifter in the middle of the dash. I tried Acura but was turned off with the beak and light doors on their cars. Tried the German vehicles but they had poor resale value and high maintenance costs. In the end, I went back to Infiniti and while the cars are heavy on gas costs, they are awesome to drive with exceptional resale and reliability.

 

[tsupersonic]

The interiors on the Infiniti's aren't that bad. What rough edges are you talking about? I have a 2013 g37 coupe (previously had a 2008 g37 coupe) and a 2012 FX. I shopped around for every conceivable suv when searching with similar features and kept going back to the Infiniti's since they felt they were built very well. They have very functional and well designed interiors even if they look slightly less flashier than the other cars. I tried the Lexus but hated the interior with that stupid shifter in the middle of the dash. I tried Acura but was turned off with the beak and light doors on their cars. Tried the German vehicles but they had poor resale value and high maintenance costs. In the end, I went back to Infiniti and while the cars are heavy on gas costs, they are awesome to drive with exceptional resale and reliability.

To each their own, but the drives I have done in a G37 sedan left me unsatisfied. Everything from driving dynamics to comfort to layout just felt awful. The G37 wasn't engaging at all to drive, and it got terrible mileage every time. The only advantage going for it were the incentives - would've been a cheap car compared to the competition. The Japanese luxury cars (Acura/Infiniti/Lexus) are all decent, but they definitely are not engaging to drive at all (imo).

I ended up with a used CLS 63 at time, which was just mind boggling in terms of speed, and luxury. Of course, it is in a total different price bracket compared to the G37, but thanks to German depreciation, it was attainable. Of course, it is not a cheap car to maintain, it can go through tires fast, and it drinks gas rated 12/18 mpg, which is a terrible estimation. I got 18-20 mpg in the city, 24-26 mpg on the highway. Anyways, there is something said to be about driving a German car - expensive, but they know how to make a fun driving car.

 

[mikegg]

So the Honda Civic LX 2014 is loaded with a lot of features that seems to exist in a lot luxury branded cars like Acura and lexus.

Leather seats, back up cameras, and etc.

The only thing that I noticed is different is the engine, which the Honda's are made for having good mileage.

At least that is what I have researched.



Moved from OT.

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

I've test drove the Mercedes CLA, BMW 2 series, Fiat 500e, Hondas, Toyotas, Suburus, Scions. The Mercedes and BMW definitely stood out to me in terms of quality, feel, and driving dynamics. Those cars really pulled and the ride was insanely nice.

If I'm buying a 22k Honda Civic, then I'm going to put 7k more and buy a brand new Mercedes CLA. I ended up with a Fiat 500e EV as you can see in my other thread in The Garage.

 

[Midwayman]

The interiors on the Infiniti's aren't that bad. What rough edges are you talking about? I have a 2013 g37 coupe (previously had a 2008 g37 coupe) and a 2012 FX. I shopped around for every conceivable suv when searching with similar features and kept going back to the Infiniti's since they felt they were built very well. They have very functional and well designed interiors even if they look slightly less flashier than the other cars. I tried the Lexus but hated the interior with that stupid shifter in the middle of the dash. I tried Acura but was turned off with the beak and light doors on their cars. Tried the German vehicles but they had poor resale value and high maintenance costs. In the end, I went back to Infiniti and while the cars are heavy on gas costs, they are awesome to drive with exceptional resale and reliability.

Lots more NVH than other brands, especially the germans. The engines are rough as well. The interior features a lot more hard plastics rather than the nicer soft touch ones. Also things like silver painted plastic which is a bad enough sin in a cheap car, let alone a 'luxury' one. Also the analog clock. WTF how out of place is that. Infinities have always left like they took a Nissan, but in leather and a little more bling and that's it. Its similar to the difference between sitting in an american can like a chevy and the equivalent honda or toyota. Everything thing feels just a little bit cheap even if its hard to put your finger on one specific thing.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I was impressed with the Interior of the Honda Pilot that someone in my family owns. It was very nice and really needed the backup camera due to poor visability.

All cars are getting the nice electronics and upgrades. I think Honda has a more refined interior than Toyota. However, I think Lexus is a step above Acura. Body panels are getting thinner and thinner though to shave weight so cars will be able to meet gas mileage quotas. It's making the newer cars far easier to ding/dent. I'm hoping the industry responds with some new solutions to make the sheet metal less prone to dings.

 

[Midwayman]

I'm hoping the industry responds with some new solutions to make the sheet metal less prone to dings.

http://vimeo.com/42164857

 

[trungma]

If anything, Honda doesn't have enough differentiation in their Acura lines in part because they build Civics pretty well.

My 2007 Civic SI has been great. Fun to drive and had absolutely no problems in the last 7 years. All I had to do was change the oil, tires, and brake pads. Interior wise, it is very soild and suprising for a Civic, the rattling is minimal. In comparison, my friend's 2012 Focus Titanium is a piece of crap. The interior looks fancy but rattles like crazy and the build material is cheap. He sold it and got Toyota Rav.

t

 

[spaceman]

My 2007 Civic SI has been great. Fun to drive and had absolutely no problems in the last 7 years. All I had to do was change the oil, tires, and brake pads. Interior wise, it is very soild and suprising for a Civic, the rattling is minimal. In comparison, my friend's 2012 Focus Titanium is a piece of crap. The interior looks fancy but rattles like crazy and the build material is cheap. He sold it and got Toyota Rav.

t

ditto for our ex
an 08 we had for 6.5yrs
interior has held up excellent
reliability wise its been the best car we ever owned

 

[gorcorps]

IMO, Honda (as well as Toyota to an extent) has been living off their brand name being built up as "reliable" over the last couple decades. Neither of them are jumping on new technologies, as they prefer to wait and see what bugs are worked out before doing anything. They both end up looking and feeling dated to me. There's not nearly as much of a quality gap as there used to be between the low end auto makers, so getting the newer gadgets in higher trim Ford and Chrysler vehicles just seems like a better buy to me.

I'm thinking Honda and Toyota are doing this to make Lexus and Acura stand out that much more, but it ends up making people like me think they just aren't keeping up with the times.

 

[heymrdj]

IMO, Honda (as well as Toyota to an extent) has been living off their brand name being built up as "reliable" over the last couple decades. Neither of them are jumping on new technologies, as they prefer to wait and see what bugs are worked out before doing anything. They both end up looking and feeling dated to me. There's not nearly as much of a quality gap as there used to be between the low end auto makers, so getting the newer gadgets in higher trim Ford and Chrysler vehicles just seems like a better buy to me.

I'm thinking Honda and Toyota are doing this to make Lexus and Acura stand out that much more, but it ends up making people like me think they just aren't keeping up with the times.

This is exactly how I feel.