Acura Vigor Sales Figures

The Acura Vigor

The Acura Vigor was a mid‑size premium sedan derived from Honda’s Vigor sedan for the Japanese market. Honda had sold the Vigor in Japan since 1981, but the badge didn’t reach North America until the 1992 model year. Positioned between the compact Integra and the flagship Legend in Acura’s lineup, the Vigor aimed to offer sport‑luxury driving with Japanese reliability. After a short run, it was replaced by the Acura TL for the 1996 model year.

Model Overview

A key element of the Vigor’s appeal was its unusual powertrain. Instead of the four‑cylinder or V‑6 engines common among competitors, Honda installed a longitudinally mounted 2.5‑litre inline‑five. This all‑aluminium engine produced about 176 horsepower and 170 lb‑ft of torque and drove the front wheels via either a five‑speed manual or four‑speed automatic transmission. Mounting the engine longitudinally gave the car a 60/40 weight distribution and a long nose. The chassis used double‑wishbone suspension at all four corners, and four‑wheel disc brakes with optional anti‑lock braking helped give the Vigor a sporty feel. In North America the car came in LS and GS trims. The GS added leather seats, wood trim, a power moonroof and upgraded audio.

The Vigor’s roots go back to the early 1980s when Honda created a more luxurious variant of the Accord for the Japanese market. By the late 1980s the model adopted unique styling and the five‑cylinder engine. When Acura brought it to North America for 1992, the Vigor competed against entry‑luxury sedans such as the Lexus ES 300 and Nissan Maxima. Reviews praised its smooth five‑cylinder engine and handling but noted its high price relative to the larger Legend and limited rear‑seat space. Poor sales led Honda to discontinue the Vigor after the 1994 model year in the U.S. market; the Acura TL replaced it starting in 1996.

U.S. Sales Performance

Sales of the Acura Vigor were modest. Enthusiast sources estimate that Acura sold roughly 43,908 units over the car’s three‑model‑year run, with the final 1994 model year accounting for only about 8,722 units. The numbers were dwarfed by the more popular Legend and later TL, underscoring why Honda decided to shift focus to a new model.

The tables below show annual U.S. sales volumes and year‑over‑year percentage changes for the Acura Vigor. These figures come from manufacturer sales reports.

U.S. Annual Sales

U.S. Annual Growth

Sources: Honda/Acura media materials; MotorTrend; MotorWeek and enthusiast archives.