2017 Acura NSX Review - The most fun you can have in a Super Car - GT Sport | Reviews By Gil

After a 12-year absence, the Acura NSX has returned with all sorts of electronic wizardry. Does all this hybridization take away from the driving experience? Quite the contrary.

2017 Acura NSX

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Interior

The new NSX is a very nice place to be. There's a long, flowing swoop that runs down from the dashboard and into the center console. The red leather seats bring a nice vibrancy to the cabin. The red theme continues onto the door sills with sculpted aluminum hand holds around the door lever. You'll be treated to a digital gauge cluster that glows yellow as the revs rise. The yellow glow turns to a pulsating red as you approach the 7000 RPM redline. It brings a large amount of theater and makes the new NSX even more exciting to drive. Even though it's a cutting-edge super car, you can still see out of it well. Visibility out the front isn't compromised, and the rear view is far from the worst on the market.

Exterior

There's not much essence of the original NSX in here, and that's not such a bad thing. The new design gives a new vision and outlook on what the NSX is - the New Sports Car Experience. The new NSX has some serious competition and it has brought the looks to match. The front end has a particularly angular squint and there are sculpted lines everywhere you look. The new, bold design language is the work of Michelle Christiansen, former Lead Principal Designer for Acura Exterior at Honda R&D. Christiansen had been a designer at Acura since 2005 whose previous work included the Acura ZDX, RDX, and RLX to name a few. Christiansen left Acura in March of 2018 and joined Faraday Future as Senior Exterior Design Manager.

2017 Acura NSX

Power

The 3.5-liter, twin turbo, V6 engine is completely unique to the NSX. This is paired with 3 electric motors (2 in front and 1 in the rear) for a combined output of 573-hp. Everything about this engine is immediate. The throttle response is instantaneous, and the revs rise with ease. Unfortunately, it isn't the best sounding V6 on the market. It's kind of generic and doesn't sound like something special. I only wish the V6 sounded as good as it performs.

How does is it drive?

This may be the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel of a super car. Acura's 4-wheel drive system is one of the most entertaining drive systems to operate. Under steer is almost non-existent, and the 3800 lb. NSX loves to rotate upon entry. There's no push like you get in a traditional 4-wheel drive vehicle at all. Instead, it feels like a very well developed RWD car.

The 9-speed dual clutch transmission is quite delightful to operate. Response is quick and deliberate. Fortunately, this 9-speed transmission is not geared like 6-speed. You can absolutely use all the gears which makes the NSX incredibly fun to drive. The steering is reasonably quick and you're not wanting for more power. Even though it's incredibly easy to slide around, 570-hp feels like the limit of this chassis. It's perfectly capable at this power output but doesn't feel planted enough for extreme power modifications. The brakes are strong which is nice when approaching the NSX's top speed of 193-mph. Finally, the exhaust crackles and pops like every exotic super car should.

Value

A new NSX will set you back $157,500. As a much as I love this car, this is quite a daunting price. That puts it in a price bracket with some very heavy hitters like the Nissan GTR and the Porsche Turbo. That sounded like a high number when I first heard it, but it's not too bad. If you consider you're getting a new, hybrid super car with 573-hp and an electric only mode (for a few miles only), it's somewhat justifiable.

Should you buy one?

I'm normally not a fan of super cars, but this is by far the most fun I've had in one. However, the 2016 Acura NSX has some steep competition being priced at $157,000. An extra $4000 will get you a new Porsche Turbo, and not to mention the Nissan GTR only starts at $99,990. Both of those machines outperform the NSX, so it's understandable why some would have trouble justifying the hefty price tag.

2017 Acura NSX

Conclusion

I love the 2016 Acura NSX. It has looks that will match the other super car offerings of today and is the epitome of how 4 wheel drive cars should handle. Even though it's not as quick as its competitors, it's still a wonderful example of the next generation of super cars.

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