Acura Safety Features: AcuraWatch, ACE Body Structure, and Crash-Test Ratings
Safety has always been one of the defining characteristics of every Acura vehicle. Whether you’re commuting through Nashville traffic, driving I-65 to Franklin, or taking weekend trips across Tennessee, Acura engineers every sedan and SUV with advanced safety technologies designed to help protect you, your passengers, and everyone sharing the road. Every new Acura comes equipped with AcuraWatch™, a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies that work together to help detect potential hazards, assist with driver awareness, and help reduce the severity of certain collisions. These systems complement safe driving habits. They never replace attentive driving, but they provide additional confidence in everyday situations.
Comprehensive Safety with AcuraWatch
AcuraWatch™ is Acura’s standard collection of active safety and driver-assistance technologies. Using cameras, radar sensors, and intelligent software, these systems continuously monitor traffic conditions around your vehicle. Together, these technologies are designed to help drivers react sooner, maintain lane positioning, and improve awareness during highway and city driving. Depending on the model, AcuraWatch™ includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Forward Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Traffic Jam Assist (select models)
- Blind Spot Information System
- Rear Cross Traffic Monitor
Safety Comes Standard
One reason many families choose Acura is because advanced safety equipment is not reserved for expensive trim levels. All Acura models include AcuraWatch™ as standard equipment, allowing drivers to enjoy premium safety technologies without purchasing costly option packages. Whether you’re shopping for an Integra, ADX, RDX, MDX, or another Acura model, you’ll find advanced safety technologies throughout the lineup. Each model combines premium performance with intelligent safety systems designed for daily commuting, family travel, and long-distance road trips.
Acura’s ACE™ Body Structure
Not every safety feature is visible. Acura vehicles are built around Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body construction. This unique structural design helps distribute crash energy more evenly during certain frontal collisions, reducing the amount of force transferred into the passenger compartment. Combined with strategically placed crumple zones, high-strength steel construction, advanced airbags, and reinforced passenger safety cages, ACE™ is designed to help protect occupants in a variety of crash scenarios.
Active Safety vs. Passive Safety
Modern Acura vehicles use two types of safety systems.
Active Safety Features
Designed to help avoid an accident before it happens. Examples include:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Passive Safety Features
Designed to help protect occupants during a collision. Examples include:
- Multiple Airbags
- Side Curtain Airbags
- Seat Belt Pretensioners
- ACE™ Body Structure
- Advanced Seat Belt Systems
Working together, these technologies create multiple layers of protection for drivers and passengers.
How Acura models perform in federal crash testing
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration runs the New Car Assessment Program, which rates a vehicle from one to five stars in frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance, then combines those results into an Overall Vehicle Score. Every Acura model fully evaluated in NHTSA’s 2025 and 2026 model year testing has earned a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score. One thing worth understanding about that number: NHTSA rates the specific configuration it tests, not a whole model line. If a rating is doing real work in your decision, look up the exact model year and drivetrain at nhtsa.gov/ratings — or ask us and we’ll pull it up on the screen with you before you drive anything.
| Model | Body style | Seating | AcuraWatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integra | 5-door sport hatchback | 5 | Standard, every trim |
| ADX | Subcompact luxury SUV | 5 | Standard, every trim |
| RDX | Compact luxury SUV | 5 | Standard, every trim |
| MDX | Three-row luxury SUV | Up to 7 | Standard, every trim |
| Body style | 5-door sport hatchback |
|---|---|
| Seating | 5 |
| AcuraWatch | Standard, every trim |
| Body style | Subcompact luxury SUV |
|---|---|
| Seating | 5 |
| AcuraWatch | Standard, every trim |
| Body style | Compact luxury SUV |
|---|---|
| Seating | 5 |
| AcuraWatch | Standard, every trim |
| Body style | Three-row luxury SUV |
|---|---|
| Seating | Up to 7 |
| AcuraWatch | Standard, every trim |
Sources: IIHS Top Safety Pick award list; NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. NHTSA rates specific tested configurations — verify the exact year, model, and drivetrain at nhtsa.gov/ratings. Last reviewed July 2026.
Experience Acura Safety at Gary Force Acura in Brentwood
Reading about safety technology is one thing. Experiencing it is another. At Gary Force Acura in Brentwood, our team can demonstrate AcuraWatch™ features during your test drive and explain how each system works in real-world driving situations. Whether you’re upgrading your family SUV or searching for a luxury sport sedan, we’ll help you understand the safety technologies available on every Acura model.
Frequently asked questions about Acura safety
Is AcuraWatch standard on every Acura?
Yes. AcuraWatch is standard equipment on all four current Acura models — the Integra, ADX, RDX, and MDX — at every trim level, with no option package required. The core technologies are consistent across the lineup; a handful of additional features such as Traffic Jam Assist vary by model and trim.
What does AcuraWatch include?
The core of AcuraWatch is four systems: Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Road Departure Mitigation. Depending on model and trim, it can also include Blind Spot Information System, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, Low-Speed Follow, and Traffic Jam Assist.
How do Acura models perform in federal crash testing?
Every Acura model fully evaluated in NHTSA’s 2025 and 2026 model year testing has earned a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the top result in the New Car Assessment Program. NHTSA rates specific tested configurations rather than entire model lines, so if a rating matters to your decision, confirm the exact model year and drivetrain at nhtsa.gov/ratings. We will look it up with you on any vehicle you are considering.
Does Acura have automatic emergency braking?
Yes. The Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) is Acura’s automatic emergency braking system and is part of standard AcuraWatch equipment on every new Acura. It can detect a vehicle or pedestrian ahead, warn the driver, and apply braking if the driver doesn’t respond in time. It reduces collision severity; it does not guarantee a collision is avoided.
What is the ACE body structure?
ACE stands for Advanced Compatibility Engineering and it is Acura’s frontal crash structure. Instead of routing impact forces through a small number of members into the passenger compartment, ACE distributes them across a connected network that carries the load around the cabin. It also reduces the force transferred to the other vehicle in a collision between vehicles of different sizes.
What’s the difference between AcuraWatch and Honda Sensing?
They’re the driver-assistance suites of the same parent company and share core engineering — both cover collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and road departure mitigation. AcuraWatch is calibrated for Acura’s chassis tuning and generally carries a fuller feature set at a given price point.
Which Acura SUV is best for a family?
The MDX is the practical answer for most families. It’s Acura’s only three-row model, it carries a 2025–26 IIHS Top Safety Pick award, and AcuraWatch is standard on every trim. Families who don’t need a third row and want a smaller footprint should look at the RDX or the ADX, both of which carry the same standard AcuraWatch equipment.
Can I try Acura safety features before I buy?
Yes. Schedule a test drive at Gary Force Acura in Brentwood and a product specialist will demonstrate Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Information System in normal driving. We’ll also confirm exactly which features are equipped on the specific vehicle you’re considering.