2022 Acura NSX Type S

Overview

Acura's flagship isn't a large sedan or even a decked-out full-size SUV; it's the 2022 NSX Type S sports car, which utilizes a hybrid powertrain. A twin-turbo V-6 and three electric motors team up for blistering acceleration but the system also enables quiet, electric-only driving so your neighbors don't have a cow every time you idle through your subdivision. Other similarly-priced sports cars such as the McLaren 570S and the Mercedes-AMG GT offer sharper handling or more raw power, but the NSX is easier to live with on a day-to-day basis. Of course, there are some downsides, including the dated cabin and infotainment system; the NSX's interior storage is also not generous.

What's New for 2022?

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that the 2022 NSX will wear the vaunted Type S badge and come with 600-hp version of the supercar's twin-turbo V-6 hybrid powertrain. Standard. The bad news: 2022 will be the NSX's last model year before it's discontinued, and only 300 will be available for sale in the U.S. Along with the pumped up powertrain, the 2022 model wears tweaked front-end styling and Type S badging.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Acura doesn't separate the NSX lineup into trims, so there's just a single model that you can customize to your liking. We dig bright colors, so opting for either the Indy Yellow or Thermal Orange is a must—either hue will cost you extra. You can go nuts with the interior colors; none of them cost extra, and the schemes include Ebony, Red, and Orchid. If you can stomach their added cost (with your choice of silver, red, black, or orange calipers), the carbon-ceramic brake rotors are worth the upgrade if you plan to take your NSX to the track.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

While it will certainly satiate your need for speed, the NSX Type S can't outpace some key rivals such as the Audi R8 or the McLaren 570S. In our testing, it snapped off lightning-quick acceleration times and managed a 2.9-second run from zero to 60 mph. Its electric-only Quiet mode, however, gives it something its rivals don't have: discretion. The V-6, the nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and one of the electric motors work as a team to power the rear wheels. The other two electric motors operate independently to drive the front wheels, effectively giving the NSX all-wheel drive. In Quiet and Sport modes, the steering is direct and accurate but light to the touch, which we think is an attempt to make the NSX feel maneuverable on a day-to-day basis. Such a setup, however, feels out of place on such a performance-oriented vehicle. In Sport Plus and Track modes, the electric-power-steering system dials in more weight. Regardless of the setting, the steering is crisp, and the car responds smartly to the slightest of driver inputs.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Hybrid vehicles are more efficient in stop-and-go city traffic than their gasoline-only rivals, and the NSX is no different. An EPA rating of 21 mpg in the city beats the Audi R8 V-10 by a whopping 7 mpg. The Porsche 911 Carrera 4S matches the NSX's 21-mpg rating in the city and beats the NSX on the highway with a 28-mpg rating; the NSX is rated for 22 mpg highway. In our real-world highway fuel-economy test, the NSX delivered a decent 23 mpg, beating its EPA rating slightly but falling behind its nonhybrid rivals. For more information about the NSX's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Touted as the everyday supercar, the NSX is certainly comfortable and intuitive enough for just about anyone to use as a daily driver. But its cabin doesn't have the premium feel and luxurious amenities one expects from an Acura, let alone one that is meant to compete with the best from England and Germany. Our test car featured the optional leather-and-faux-suede seats, faux-suede headliner, and carbon-fiber-trimmed steering wheel. The bright red leather appealed to the younger among our staff, but some found it garish and juvenile. While the seats are comfortable, we'd prefer more thigh support, and enthusiastic drivers will likely desire more side bolstering as well. For something marketed as the everyday supercar, the NSX's interior storage cubbies aren't especially commodious. Its trunk is located right behind the engine, which might be problematic for hauling home your Häagen-Dazs. Plus, we managed to fit just one of our carry-on suitcases inside the tiny trunk.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated navigation comes standard and is hooked up to an ELS Studio nine-speaker stereo. As with some other interior parts, the touchscreen system is taken from lesser Acuras and Hondas, and the same complaints we have about them apply here, too. The system's interface already looks outdated, and we found the menu setup to be unintuitive. To make matters worse, its lack of redundant buttons and the unwieldy touch-sensitive volume slider, which makes precise adjustments difficult, add an extra layer of complexity.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The NSX's lack of driver-assistance features might pose a concern for safety-minded consumers but a comprehensive standard airbag system provides an acceptable level of protection. For more information about the NSX's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard front- and rear-parking sensors

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Acura provides some of the most comprehensive coverage in the segment. While a four-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty is offered by Audi, BMW, and Porsche, none provide as much powertrain coverage as Acura. The NSX's sophisticated hybrid-electric components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
• Hybrid components are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles

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