If you desire a sophisticated and technically advanced 2-seat supercar with exotic design, everyday civility and world-class speed and performance, you’ll like the 2018 Acura NSX.
On paper, the Acura NSX’s 573 horsepower sounds impressive, and on the road those ponies provide plenty of thrust. But they don’t come with bragging rights. The Audi R8 V10 Plus, Ferrari 488 and Lamborghini Huracan all pack over 600 horsepower. Even the Chevy Corvette Z06 and a long list of sedans and SUVs out-power the Acura.
All-new just last year, the Acura NSX has received no changes or updates for 2018.
Designed and built in America, the 2018 Acura NSX is the luxury brand’s fastest, quickest and most powerful machine. Ever. And with a base price of over $155,000, the mid-engine hybrid-powered supercar is also the most expensive Acura. Ever. With 573 horsepower and all-wheel drive, the sophisticated NSX can squirt to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and its top speed is over 190 mph. So it has the power and the speed to rival the Ferrari 488 and the Lamborghini Huracan, but it costs much less than those Italian exotics. The Audi R8 and the hybrid-powered BMW i8, cost about the same, but the BMW can’t keep up with the Acura, which is powered by a 500-horsepower twin-turbo, all-aluminum 3.5-liter V6 in combination with three electric motors, a 1.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with manual mode and paddle shifters.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors, but here's a general idea of what buyers are currently paying for used 2018 Acura NSX models when purchasing from a dealership.
It isn’t the speed of the 2018 Acura NSX that impresses. Oh, sure, it’s quick. Let it eat and the SH-AWD system does its thing, all four massive Michelins claw at the asphalt and you’re past 60 mph in about three seconds, your head pinned to the seat as the supercar’s 9-speed dual-clutch automatic snatches another gear and then another. Hold your foot down and it’ll crest 190 mph. And man can it corner, thanks to Active Torque Vectoring that independently applies power or braking forces to each front wheel to further enhance grip. And the Acura’s excellent mechanical/regenerative braking system feels great and is extremely positive. But the best part, the part that blows our minds is the civility and the comfort. The NSX is a pussycat in traffic and in the tight confines of the city. You can control these multiple personalities with four driver-selectable settings, Quiet, Sport, Sport+ and Track. Each tunes the steering, brakes, throttle response, Vehicle Stability Assist, magnetorheological dampers and Sport Hybrid SH-AWD while tweaking the level of exhaust roar both inside the car and out.
Acura’s designers have managed to create a warm and welcoming cabin with a modern, high-tech vibe. There’s nothing retro about it; still, the shapes and overall design offer a connection to the interior of the original Acura NSX, which was introduced in 1991. Visibility is excellent for a mid-engine sports car and the interior is well-finished. Deeply bolstered bucket seats trimmed in perforated Milano leather and Alcantara provide an excellent combination of comfort and support without feeling confining and are complemented by extra padding on the door panels and center console. The flat-bottom steering wheel is a cool touch. The 7.0-inch infotainment touch screen is well placed but seems a bit pedestrian at this price point.
Low and hard-edged with a wide stance and a cornucopia of scoops and flares, when it comes to design the new 2018 Acura NSX checks all the supercar boxes. Although it doesn’t exactly break new ground, there’s plenty of sex appeal and purpose to the shape. And plenty of science. Based around a total airflow-management theme, the sleek, aluminum-and-steel bodywork optimizes the NSX’s overall aero profile and high-speed stability while ensuring full functionality of the plethora of radiators and cooling devices required to keep its Sport Hybrid powertrain elements and fluids at proper operating temps under all driving conditions.
CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKES
You know the old saying, “Stopping is just a matter of money. How quickly do you want to stop?” Acura offers a Carbon-Ceramic Brake package on the 2018 NSX and it ain’t cheap. With black calipers the lightweight, heat-resistant track-ready brakes cost an additional $9,900. But the price climbs to $10,600 if you want red or silver calipers.
ELS STUDIO AUDIO
For the additional $2,800 we recommend this audio upgrade. The ELS system packs the NSX with nine speakers and 580 watts of power. That’s twice the power of the standard system, and the 5.1 DTS Neural Sound surround sound turns the supercar’s cabin into a concert hall. I’ve never heard “East Bound and Down” with such punch and midrange pulse.
While focused on delivering high-energy exhilaration, the 2018 Acura NSX boasts features that make it equally attractive as a daily driver. Despite 4-way-manual seats fitted in the interest of saving weight, comfort/convenience touches include dual-zone climate control, navigation, a 290-watt/8-speaker Premium Audio system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay apps, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth phone/streaming audio, keyless smart-entry/smart-start, Active Sound Control and more, including a modestly scaled but fully insulated and surprisingly usable 4.4-cubic-foot trunk that can hold a golf bag. The NSX wears staggered-size forged alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35ZR19 performance rubber up front and 305/30ZR20 boots in the rear.
Built to each individual customer’s order, the new 2018 Acura NSX offers a sizable selection of extras that can impart unique character to this ultimate Acura as well as enhance its overall performance. Optional seat packages add heated power buckets — with or without semi-aniline leather — while an ELS Studio Audio and Technology Package upgrades the sound, navigation and telematics capabilities. While a head-up display remains on the wish list, owners can opt for a selection of mass-reducing interior/exterior carbon-fiber bits, carbon-ceramic brakes that chop 52 pounds of unsprung weight, custom wheels, Ultra-Premium Andoro exterior paint finishes and a carbon-fiber roof.
Sole powertrain in the 2018 NSX is Acura’s technologically advanced Sport Hybrid system: a racing-inspired 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 supplemented by three electric motors that are fully integrated to optimize total performance and collectively develop 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. The V6 features direct-plus-port fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication that allows it to be mounted low in the chassis to further optimize overall balance. A Direct Drive Motor sits between the engine and the NSX’s 9-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the Twin Motor Unit at the front axle independently energizes each wheel to provide additional motive force as well as steering/braking assist via torque vectoring. With their instant-on torque at launch, the motor array virtually eliminates turbo lag and always ensures superb throttle response.
3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 plus 3 electric motors
573 horsepower (combined)
476 lb-ft of torque (combined)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/22 mpg
Curb Weight | 3803 lbs. | ||
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EPA Passenger | 44.0 cu.ft. | ||
Fuel Capacity | 15.6 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 38.3 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 42.8 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 2 | ||
Minimum Ground Clearance | 3.7 inches | ||
Overall Length | 176.0 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 57.6 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 4.4 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 39.7 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 103.5 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 87.3 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
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Number of Doors | 2 doors | ||
LED Headlights | Available | ||
Rear Spoiler | Available |
City | 21 mpg | ||
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Highway | 22 mpg | ||
Combined | 21 mpg |
Drivetrain | AWD | ||
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Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
9 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Premium | ||
Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission | Available | ||
Hill Start Assist | Available | ||
Limited Slip Differential | Available |
Horsepower-Combined | 500 @ 6500 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 406 @ 2000 rpm | ||
Engine | V6, Hybrid, Twin Turbo, 3.5 Liter | ||
Top Speed | 191 mph |
Basic | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
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Powertrain | 6 years / 70000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 5 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2018 Acura NSX | Used 2022 Acura NSX | Used 2018 Nissan GT-R | Used 2018 Audi R8 | ||
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Price | $130,122 | $256,858 | $145,250 | $129,587 | |
Consumer Rating | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 3.7 | |
Fuel Economy | City 21/Hwy 22/Comb 21 MPG | City 21/Hwy 22/Comb 21 MPG | City 16/Hwy 22/Comb 18 MPG | City 14/Hwy 22/Comb 17 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Hybrid | Hybrid | N/A | N/A | |
Seating Capacity | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
Basic Warranty | 4 years or 50000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | |
Horsepower | 500 @ 6500 RPM | 600 @ 6500 RPM | 600 @ 6800 RPM | 602 @ 8250 RPM | |
Engine | V6, Hybrid, Twin Turbo, 3.5 Liter | V6, Hybrid, Twin Turbo, 3.5 Liter | V6, Twin Turbo, 3.8L | V10, 5.2 Liter | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
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Yes, the 2018 Acura NSX is a good car. Its Kelley Blue Book rating of 0 out of 5 is within 10% of our average rating.
The 2018 Acura NSX is rated to return city/highway fuel economy of 21/22 mpg.