How Does The First Generation Acura NSX Hold Up 35 Years Later?

Forbes

24-03-2025

On the road with the first generation Acura NSX
When the Acura NSX was first unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Motor Show it was a complete step away from the brand's reputation for family cars. The mid-engined supercar was dubbed New Sportscar eXperimental and revealed with a 3.0-liter V6 engine. Acura prioritized performance with a holistic view of the vehicle, right down to crafting it to be the first mass produced car to use an all-aluminum body to save weight.
Not only for presenting a memorable shift away from its standard product line, Acura's NSX quickly became known for its association with three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna. His involvement in the car's development undoubtedly helped sales and boosted the NSX's credibility as an impressive supercar. After extensive testing around the Nurburgring, the car embarked on a 15 year production run with a mid-life facelift in 2002 to ditch the pop-up headlights.
The facelifted first generation NSX with fixed headlights instead
Tucked away in an bustling industrial estate next to Honda's UK headquarters sits two immaculate first generation NSXs: one of the earliest and one of the latest examples. The 1989 pre-facelift model features an automatic gearbox and, of course, iconic pop-up headlights. In contrast, the 2005 facelifted model has a slightly larger 3.2-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
With the automatic gearbox, the NSX feels more subdued than you expect. It's ideal to drive for long periods of time but it's lacking some of the shine I was hoping for. Because of its looks, this initial incarnation is always going to be a standout show car. If you put your foot down, it shifts down a gear and holds it until you're starting to fly. The potholed roads of the UK feel like an entirely inappropriate stage to test the capabilities of this stunning model though.
Taking in the scenery with the first iteration of the NSX
Despite its obvious low-slung cabin, the driving position is raised high inside giving you a good view of the road ahead but perhaps pushing taller drivers into the roof. This deceptive position makes it a shock when you go to get out and realise you're almost sat on the floor.
While it's easy to keep the car on the straight and narrow, the 1989 model has a noticeably heavy steering feel after any more than a quarter turn. It stiffens up in the corners and feels reassuringly responsive, making you work to place it where you want, evoking more of a race car experience. It's no wonder then that Senna was involved in its development and was even said to have driven the 1989 model I tested.
Jumping into the facelifted model, the six speed manual helps to elicit that supercar excitement. The pedals feel slightly higher so you need a slim pair of shoes to clear the bottom of the dash. Similarly, the facelifted model has a progressively weightier steering setup and strong brakes to shave off the speed when you're approaching a junction. With the slightly more powerful 3.2-litre engine and the manual gearbox, the driving experience is everything you'd hope for from a supercar of this era.
Both the original and facelifted interiors are near identical
Interior styling is said to have taken inspiration from the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet. At the time, you can imagine the interior being fairly high tech with its car graphic on the dashboard and tape player in the center.
The center console is adorned with a number of buttons and dials to control heating, cooling and the radio. The seats are supremely comfortable and supportive. Behind the steering wheel, Acura consolidated a number of controls onto chunky stalks. The hazard lights, headlight settings and cruise control are all operated via these bulky stalks.
Rather amusingly, when the pop-up headlights are deployed, the 1989 car I drove pulled power away from the dashboard so the clock display, for example, looked like a calculator display that hasn't seen enough sun, the numbers are there but they're so faint it's barely useful.
The long rear end with the integrated spoiler remained on the facelifted model
When the Acura NSX first hit the market, it was sold for around $60,000. By the end of its production run retail prices had climbed close to six figures. Over the years, prices haven't changed dramatically but since the original NSX is something of a rarity it holds its value quite well.
On average, most early models range between $75,000 to $120,000 with pricing varying depending on condition and odometer readings. Up the budget to around $170,000 and you can get your hands on an Acura NSX T with a targa top. The most sought after and inevitably the most expensive examples typically feature mileages of under 5,000 miles and command a price tag of circa $200,000.