Retro review: driving the Honda NSX (1990-2005)

Ask many petrolheads today and they’ll tell you that the Audi R8 or a modern Porsche 911 are the archetypal ‘everyday supercars’ – models that offer supreme performance and a dash of exotica, but friendly enough to drive that you can take them to the shops just as easily as you can carve up a back road. But this was actually a title a Japanese manufacturer had taken decades before, with this: the Honda NSX.

Launched in 1990 to much fanfare, Honda called upon one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time – Ayrton Senna – to help develop its first supercar. It featured a mid-mounted V6 engine with the legendary VTEC system, an aluminium monocoque chassis (the first production car to do so) and yet promised to be no harder to drive everyday than a Civic.

Did it deliver? Well, I’ve managed to talk myself behind the wheel of Honda’s own cherished NSX heritage fleet car for a quick drive so I can find out. As a child of the 90s myself, the first time I remember noticing the Honda NSX was on a PlayStation screen in Gran Turismo – I’ve grown up with it in my periphery, quietly standing out among metal from more exotic manufacturers, so I was really curious to see if it stands up.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

If the idea of an everyday Honda coupe floats your boat in 2026, then good news – Honda’s just relaunched the Prelude after a long period off sale.

This NSX is a 2005 car, one of the last produced – before its facelift in 2002 the NSX had period-correct pop-up headlights, while the updated car also saw revised suspension, a deeper bodykit to make the car appear lower, and an increase in performance.

The 3.2-litre engine produced 294hp, meaning the benchmark 0-62mph sprint took 5.9 seconds and top speed was 175mph. Those are figures easily matched by most sports cars and even some hot hatchbacks today, but back in the 90s this was definitely a rapid car, and easily a match for the Ferrari 348 that was its closest alternative.

Stepping up to it, the first thing you’re struck by is the size. Even parked next to the new Honda Prelude – a hatchback-based coupe – the NSX seems tiny, with a low roofline, slim pillars and dinky 18-inch wheels.

Slide into the cabin and it’s a symphony of 90s-style Japanese plastic. In keeping with that everyday supercar billing though, it’s very comfortable. You sit nice and low but the seats adjust electrically, and the wheel can be tailored for reach and rake. Visibility is spectacular and there are even concessions to modernity – the sight of airbags quashes some of the nervousness you get looking at the pencil-thin windscreen pillars.

Start it up – with a proper key – and the 3.2-litre V6 fires into life without too much fanfare. The clutch is only barely heavier than a family hatchback of the era, and the gearbox has a gorgeous, snickety action. At a time when most supercars still demanded arms and a left leg like Popeye to drive them, it’s easy to see how the NSX was a revelation.

After a spell of gentle driving to warm it through, I’m given the go-ahead to give it some beans. So I do. While overall performance may only be ‘quick’ rather than ‘face-melting’, speed builds with an intoxicating sound right up to the engine’s sky-high 8,000rpm redline. VTEC variable valve timing provides a boost of power as you get towards the 6,000rpm mark, so there’s real joy to be had in wringing out the engine before every upshift – a contrast to the turbocharged sports cars of today, which produce lots of their power quite low down in the rev range.

Extensive use of aluminium means the NSX feels lightweight and nimble, and its mid-engined layout puts the weight centrally for the purest experience. The steering is easy and precise, making it an absolute treat to thread together a series of bends.

Yet when you’re done with the sweeping B-road and you have to head to Sainsbury’s, you’ll find a comparatively quiet and relaxed cruiser with a decent stereo and enough boot space for the weekly shop. Best of all, it’s a Honda – so you can be sure that when you come back to it with your trolley, it’ll start up. Reliability wasn’t really a given even for normal cars in the 1990s, but Honda managed to bring it to the world of supercars.

Buying an NSX today won’t come cheap. You’re looking at around £80,000 for a decent example, with the most special NSX-R models running you significantly more. You can certainly buy a Ferrari 348 or 964-generation Porsche 911 for less, if you wanted to. My money, though, would go on the Honda.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.