Honda is a Japanese automaker known for creating some of the most popular mass-market cars in the world. Honda cars have traditionally excelled in fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability. While most of this manufacturer’s offerings revolve around luxury sedans and SUVs, Honda's sports car résumé isn't as extensive. However, its limited sports car listing fields vehicles that'll give gearheads who desire performance something to cheer about.

UPDATE: 2024/03/20 08:19 EST BY BENSON AKIMS

Honda prioritizes quality over quantity when it comes to sports cars, and this is evident in its limited collection of performance vehicles. We've updated this list to inculcate the fastest sports cars ever created by the Japanese automaker, measuring and ranking them by their 0-60 mph acceleration timelines.

With industry rockers like the NSX, the iconic and timeless Integra Type R, and favorites like the S2000 and Civic Type R, Honda's lineup features peppy sports cars that have redefined speed and power. Not only do these cars boast top speeds and acceleration times that'll rival European creations, but they also denote stellar reliability. As such, you can scoop a lightning-quick iteration without being scared it'll give up the ghost years down the line.

This article takes a close peek at ten of the fastest Honda sports cars to ever leave the manufacturing lines, based on their 0 to 60 mph acceleration times.

To uncover the fastest Honda sports cars by 0-60 mph acceleration times, we trawled performance data from reputable resources like Automobile-Catalog, Edmunds, and vehicle manufacturer websites. Every Honda on this listing has been ranked according to its 0-60 mph time, from slowest to fastest.

2:51
Related
These Are The 12 Fastest Honda Sports Cars Ever Made
Over the years, Honda has built some impressively fast sports cars that have helped shape the automotive landscape.

10 2001 Acura Integra Type R: 6.8 Seconds

black 2001 Acura Integra Type R parked
BringATrailer

Performance

Engine

1.8-liter inline-four

Horsepower

195 hp

Torque

130 lb-ft

Transmission

Five-speed manual

Top Speed

149 mph

0-60 mph

6.8 seconds

The 2001 Integra Type R Has A Top Speed Of 149 MPH

The Integra Type R from Acura is a sports car revered for its top-tier handling and performance. And although the nameplate went on a forced 20-year Hiatus (2002 to 2022), the chatter surrounding it forced Honda's hand to resurrect the nameplate in 2023.

However, one Integra that has become not only a classic but one of the fast Honda cars out there is the 2001 Integra Type R. Although it wasn't curated for blistering straight-line speed, this Integra Type R model was a turning menace with its rigid chassis, Torsen limited-slip differential, and double-wishbone suspension. Under its hood is a 1.8-liter inline-four engine aided by VTEC technology that pushes out 195 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque. Although these numbers aren't head-turning by today's standards, it was sufficient to propel the car to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 149 mph.

9 1992 Honda Prelude Si VTEC: 6.6 Seconds

1992 Honda Prelude Fast JDM Car
JDMBuySell

Performance

Engine

2.2-liter inline-four

Horsepower

197 hp

Torque

162 lb-ft

Transmission

Five-speed manual

Top Speed

148 mph

0-60 mph

6.6 seconds

The Fourth-Generation ‘92 Prelude Si VTEC Had Design Cues Far Ahead of Its Time

Back in the ‘90s, most automakers worldwide sought to inculcate futuristic designs on their releases in a bid to attract customers. The 1992 Honda Prelude Si VTEC, which debuted as the nameplate's fourth generation, resonated Honda's commitment to this goal, as it hosted a design scheme deemed a broad deviation from the boxy and boring aesthetic cues evident in previous Prelude generations.

The 1992 Prelude was also the first-ever Prelude to come with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) technology alongside a 2.2-liter H22A1 DOHC engine that pushed out 197 horses and 162 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain structure gave the ‘92 Prelude Si VTEC the push to hit a top speed of 148 mph and complete a 0 to 60 mph acceleration run in a scant 6.6 seconds.

8 2004 Honda S2000: 6.1 Seconds

2004 Honda S2000 Red Front Quarter
via Honda

Performance

Engine

2.2-liter inline-four

Horsepower

240 hp

Torque

162 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Top Speed

150 mph

0-60 mph

6.1 seconds

The 2004 S2000 Has A 240-HP Inline-Four

Although nameplates like the NSX and Integra Type R led Honda's charge in the sports car arena, the S2000 that was introduced to commemorate the Japanese automaker's 50th anniversary deserves its flowers for its nimble handling and otherworldly balance. For 2004, the S2000 denotes improved transmission gearing for bolstered power delivery, upgraded suspension tuning, bigger tail pipes, updated brakes, and 17-inch wheels.

This year's S2000 witnessed the incorporation of a bigger 2.2-liter inline-four engine that gives out 240 horses and 162 lb-ft of torque. With this structure, the 2004 S2000 places among one of Honda's fastest cars, with a 150 mph top speed and a 0-60 mph acceleration timeline of 6.1 seconds.

7 1990 Acura NSX: 5.9 Seconds

1990 Honda Acura NSX Being Driven
Acura

Performance

Engine

3.0-liter V6

Horsepower

270 hp

Torque

210 lb-ft

Transmission

Five-speed manual

Top Speed

168 mph

0-60 mph

5.9 seconds

The 1990 Acura NSX Was The First Car To Have An All-Aluminum Monocoque Chassis

The Acura NSX debuted in 1990 (1991 model year). And the goal behind its creation was to manufacture a car that offered a Formula One-esque driving experience. This automobile was the first to feature an all-aluminum monocoque chassis. This car's suspension and frame were constructed with ejected aluminum alloy; this build saved a whopping 20kg and 200kg in the car's suspension and bodywork, respectively, when compared to what was obtainable using steel.

The 1990 NSX lived up to sports car reverence with a 3.0-liter V6 that produced 270 strutting horses and 210 lb-ft of torque. That said, the inclusion of VTEC technology meant that the 1990 NSX could reach 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and flaunt a 168 mph top speed.

6 2008 Honda S2000 CR: 5.7 Seconds

2008 Honda S2000 CR Sports Car
Via: Flickr

Performance

Engine

2.2-liter inline-four

Horsepower

237 hp

Torque

162 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Top Speed

148 mph

0-60 mph

5.7 seconds

The 2008 S2000 CR Has A Top Speed Of 153 MPH

As the S2000 was entering its final years, Honda wanted to inculcate a package that'd take the nameplate from a regular sports car to an automobile that could slug it out on the racetrack. Well, a consensus was reached, and it was tagged the S2000 CR (Club Racer). This package denoted a 51-pound weight reduction over the regular S2000, stiffened dampers, a sporty muffler, shorter shifting, and aerodynamic-driven front and rear spoilers to improve performance. These components, alongside a 2.2-liter DOHC VTEC four-pot that delivered 237 horses and 162 lb-ft of torque, paved the way for a 148 mph top speed and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

5 2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6: 5.6 Seconds

2013 Honda Accord front
Honda

Performance

Engine

3.5-liter V6

Horsepower

278 hp

Torque

252 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed automatic

Top Speed

150 mph

0-60 mph

5.6 seconds

The 2013 Accord Coupe V6 Is Lightweight And Commands A 5.6-Second 0-60 MPH Time

The 2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 is a two-door automobile that looks all shades of regular on the surface. But it isn't revered as an underrated sleeper car for nothing. Why? This year's Accord Coupe V6 denotes streamlined handling, mind-boggling agility, and accurate steering abilities.

The aforementioned merits associated with this Honda are aided by the car's 3.5-liter V6 engine that gives out 278 horses and 252 lb-ft of torque when married to the Odyssey’s six-speed automatic. This powertrain and transmission, alongside the car's light weight (3,552 lbs), means it can do a 0-60 mph run in 5.6 seconds and wrap up the quarter-mile in 14.0 seconds according to Car and Driver's testing.

4 2002 Honda NSX-R: 5.0 Seconds

2002 Honda NSX-R Front And Rear Quarter View
via Honda

Performance

Engine

3.2-liter V6

Horsepower

290 hp

Torque

224 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Top Speed

175 mph

0-60 mph

5.0 seconds

The 2002 NSX-R Was Lightweight And Blisteringly Fast

Although the NSX is a nameplate that triggers nostalgia in the hearts of Honda fans, a question beckons — what NSX variant ranks as the best ever? While some might tilt to the first-ever iteration, most lean towards the NSX-R (most especially the second curtain call that left the manufacturing lines between 2002 and 2005).

The 2002 Honda NSX-R was available for sale exclusively in Japan. And like the regular NSX, the NSX-R placed emphasis on weight reduction so it could extract as much power as possible. For context, the NSX-R integrated carbon fiber across parts like the vented hood, deck lid, and rear spoiler. The lightweight-themed structure of this car alongside its mighty 3.2-liter DOHC V6 engine actualized an output valued at 290 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque. And while these numbers are great, rumors from the automotive press speculate that the 2002 NSX-R wielded more power. Nonetheless, it remains ballistic (speed-wise), with a top speed of 175 mph and a 0-60 mph timeline of 5.0 seconds.

Related
10 Honda Cars That Are Made To Be Modified
Sturdy build quality and lively engines have always made Honda a favorite among tuners.

3 2005 Acura NSX-R GT: 4.6 Seconds

Performance

Engine

3.2-liter V6

Horsepower

290 hp

Torque

224 lb-ft

Transmission

Six-speed manual

Top Speed

180 mph

0-60 mph

4.6 seconds

The NSX-R GT Has A Distinctive Snorkel Intake That Goes Through The Rear Window

To rank high in the 2005 Super GT Series, Honda decided to manufacture the racy variant of the already stalwart NSX-R. The Japanese automaker needed to curate not less than five production units of the NSX-R GT to join the tournament, as stipulated in the Super GT homologation caveat — and it did just that!

Modification reigned supreme on the NSX-R GT, as it showcased an aerodynamic-themed body kit that featured a distinctive snorkel intake that passed through the rear window and an elongated front spoiler. This kit made the NSX-R GT 205 pounds lighter than the regular NSX-R and 300 pounds. The NSX-R GT also had a 290-horsepower 3.2-liter DOHC V6 that saw it achieve a top speed of 175 mph (similar to the NSX-R). However, the GT is ahead in the 0-60 mph acceleration time contest with a time of 4.6 seconds.

2 2017 Acura NSX: 3.1 Seconds

A Blue 2017 Acura NSX
Via: Honda News

Performance

Engine

3.5-liter turbo V6

Horsepower

573 hp

Torque

476 lb-ft

Transmission

Nine-speed automatic

Top Speed

191 mph

0-60 mph

3.1 seconds

The 2017 NSX Needs Just 3.1 Seconds To Go From A Standstill To 60 MPH

The 2017 Acura NSX is poetry in motion! This nameplate has a rich history, from the design crew (Pininfarina) that forged its evergreen and sporty architecture to the F1 racing legend (Aryton Senna) who authored its creation. Little wonder the 2017 iteration remains exclusive (only 702 units left the manufacturing lines that year) and commanded a starting MSRP of just under $150,000 when it made its debut. However, due to increased demand for the 2017 NSX, it isn't uncommon to find certain NSX models selling for $200,000 and higher.

The thoroughly impressive hybridized supercar wields an awesome 3.5-liter turbo V6 engine that's coupled with three distinct electric motors. These components deliver a combined output of 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque. In a 0-60 mph sprint, the 2017 NSX achieves a time of 3.1 ticks and can reach a top speed of 191 mph.

1 2022 Acura NSX Type S: 3.0 Seconds

Black 2022 Acura NSX Type S being driven on a track
Acura

Performance

Engine

3.5-liter twin-turbo V6

Horsepower

600 hp

Torque

492 lb-ft

Transmission

Nine-speed automatic

Top Speed

191 mph

0-60 mph

3.0 seconds

The 2022 NSX Type S Shoots A Gargantuan 600 Horsepower

The Acura NSX Type S made its debut at the 2021-edition Monterey Car Week in the USA. However, since its introduction coincides with the last model year of the NSX nameplate, the Type S oozes exclusivity, with only 350 examples (300 of which will be available in the United States) billed to leave the manufacturing lines.

The 2022 NSX Type S is easy on the eyes with a carbon fiber-themed roof, side skirts, and spoilers. That said, the car has unique Pirelli P-Zero tires that are paired with head-turning five-spoke wheels. Besides its head-turning looks, the Type S makes a statement with its engine setup (a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 alongside three electric motors) that delivers a combined 600 horses and 492 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain format allows the Type S to do a 0-60 mph dash in 3.0 seconds and hit a top speed of 191 mph.

Sources: Automobile-Catalog, Edmunds, and vehicle manufacturer websites.