Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability

Acura vs Lincoln Reliability

Every driver has different ways of rating a car to decide if they are the best option for them. However, no matter the yardstick you are using to compare your dream cars, you can't neglect the need to compare their reliability.

Buying a reliable car will not only save you money by reducing expenses on repairs and maintenance but will also give you the peace of mind that comes with its longevity and durability.

In the case of the Acura vs. Lincoln reliability comparison, Acura is better. Acura has higher reliability ratings than Lincoln, higher safety ratings, and also better gas mileage.

Repair and maintenance cost is cheaper on Acura than on Lincoln. Here's a detailed comparison of the reliability of Acura and Lincoln.

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: A Detailed Comparison

FeaturesAcuraLincoln
Design
Aggressive, Sporty Designs
Refined and Elegant
Gas Mileage
Good
Good
Engine and Performance
Good
Good
Safety
Higher Safety Ratings
High Safety Ratings
Durability
Acura cars can last up to 250,000 to 300,000 miles, with an average lifespan of 16-20 years.
Lincoln cars can last up to 180,000 to 250,000 miles, with an average lifespan of 13-15 years.
Technology
Good
Good
Repair and Maintenance Cost
Cheap
Costly

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Which is better?

Acura and Lincoln are luxurious brands renowned for building high-end vehicles that blend elegance, luxury, and performance.

On an overall scale, Acura is better than Lincoln, especially regarding reliability. According to RepairPal, Acura has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 2nd out of 32 car brands, while Lincoln ranks 24th out of 32 car brands, with a reliability rating of 3.0/5.0.

Acura ranks higher than Lincoln on the Consumer Reports reliability rating, ranking 8th, while Lincoln ranks 10th. However, Lincoln outranks Acura on the 2022 JD Power's Dependability Survey.

According to J.D. Power's 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Acura is rated as the 28th most reliable brand in the market, while Lincoln is ranked 13th.

Let's go beyond reliability ratings and explain what makes Acura a more reliable option.

You must understand that Lincoln produces great vehicles, but their reliability can't be compared to what Acura offers. Acura beats Lincoln with a cheaper repair and maintenance cost and higher safety ratings, and they are also more affordable to purchase.

Warranty coverage is similar for both brands: a 4-year/50,000-mile standard warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. While more Acura vehicles have better gas mileage, Lincoln beats it with engines that deliver higher power and more towing capacity.

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Design

The truth is that although Acura and Lincoln are both luxury brands, their approach to design largely differs. The overall design, build quality, and strength of both car brands are superb, with luxurious interiors and advanced tech features.

However, there are tiny details that set them apart from each other. Acura and Lincoln both offer stylish and well-designed vehicles, but the aesthetics are largely different.

While Acura takes pleasure in designing luxury vehicles, Lincoln takes steps further by producing concept cars. You'll find more aggressive and sporty designs on Acura, with Lincoln focusing on refined and Elegant designs.

Lincoln's design philosophy revolves around building User-Centered vehicles. This philosophy surrounds four design elements: beauty, human, gliding, and sanctuary. There's a need to transform digital life and products into unique sensorial experiences.

This is characterized by blending interior and exterior designs to stimulate user memories. For Acura, the need to appeal to users' feelings exists.

The approach, highlights and materials, the use of precise lines, muscular appearance, and contours that enhance efficiency, Acura's design philosophy focuses on precision-crafted performance.

When it comes to legroom, headroom, and cargo space from cars of both brands, there are varying measurements since Acura and Lincoln have vehicles that outperform each other depending on the model that you choose.

Winner: Both

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Engine Performance

Engine and performance are major areas to observe and analyze the reliability of a vehicle. You wouldn't want to buy a car that you spend lots of money fixing its engines. Acura and Lincoln have good engines that are known for their high-performance, sporty, and powerful engines.

However, there are areas where the engines of both brands largely differ. With Acura, you are getting great engines with superb gas mileage, Lincoln, on the other hand, delivers more horsepower and torque and even more towing capacity.

The issue of horsepower varies according to the model of the brands that you choose. To get a grasp of the engine strength of both cars, we'll need to compare related models from both brands.

For instance, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator gets a max towing capacity of 6200 lbs, while the 2023 Acura MDX only gets 2500 lbs. The Acura MDX gets 290 hp at 6200 RPM, while the Lincoln Navigator takes speed to a whole new level by achieving 440 hp at 5500 RPM.

Trailering capacity is also better on the 2022 Lincoln Corsair, compared to the 2022 Acura RDX, but the 2022 Acura RDX has better horsepower than the Lincoln.

Fuel economy also varies on vehicles from both brands, depending on your model choice.

Winner: Both

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Safety and Technology

When it comes to the reliability of Acura vs. Lincoln safety and technology, Acura beats Lincoln with better safety features and high safety ratings.

Only three Lincoln vehicles earn the 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick (+) Award. This is compared to Acura, which has four vehicles.

Aside from the safety ratings from both brands, Lincoln fails to meet expectations and provide high levels of passenger protection as Acura. Most of their safety features and overall quality aren't good enough to match Acura's.

However, irrespective of the marginal differences in the safety of Acura and Lincoln, you are sure to get advanced safety and technology features in their vehicles.

Acura's AcuraWatch safety suite and Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 offer enough safety features and driver assistance systems to keep you in control of the road. The features and systems of these brands vary, just as they also vary on different models.

You are sure to get features like collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, a surround-view camera system that includes a 360-degree view around the vehicle, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning.

For technology, both Acura and Lincoln offer advanced infotainment systems like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and premium audio systems. You are assured of premium comfort and safety in these cars.

Winner: Acura

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Gas Mileage

When it comes to gas mileage, Acura is as fuel efficient as Lincoln. The major difference between both brands lies in the models that you are comparing.

What this means is that there are Acura vehicles that offer more fuel-efficient systems than Lincoln vehicles. For instance, Acura MDX has a gas mileage of 19/26 mpg for city and highway rides.

The differences in the gas mileage of Acura vs. Lincoln vehicles are always mild, sometimes not noticeable. Lincoln Aviator gets gas mileage of 18/26 mpg. However, Lincoln beats Acura with the 2022 Lincoln Corsair, which offers 22/29 mpg, compared to the 2022 Acura RDX offers 22/28 mpg.

However, to enjoy the best fuel efficiency from both brands, you can opt for their hybrid models; Lincoln Grand Touring or Acura MDX sport hybrid.

Winner: Both

Acura vs. Lincoln Reliability: Repair and Maintenance Costs

As luxury brands, it is expected that Acura and Lincoln should be more expensive to repair and maintain than non-luxury brands. However, this is not exactly the case with Acura. Acura is cheaper to repair and maintain than Lincoln.

According to RepairPal, Lincoln's average annual repair cost is $879, while Acura has an average annual repair cost of $501.

Acura has an average of 0.4 visits and an 8% probability of severe damages, unlike Lincoln, which has a 15% probability of severe damages and a 0.4 chance of visiting the repair shop.

It is obvious that with Lincoln, you'll spend more time and money fixing your vehicle for severe damages.

Winner: Acura

Conclusion

Acura is more reliable than Lincoln, but sometimes the reliability can fluctuate across different models. Both brands have their strengths and weaknesses.

With Acura, you are assured of impressive safety features that you can rely on and cheaper repair and maintenance costs, but Lincoln gives you more power for towing and trailering.

One major factor you might consider when choosing between Acura and Lincoln is the initial purchase cost. Lincoln vehicles are naturally costlier than Acura, so you will be saving a lot of money buying an Acura than you will with a Lincoln.

Both brands build their vehicles to appeal to different drivers and users from different age groups and spheres, so your decision on reliability will certainly boil down to preference and personal needs.