Is this tree an Acer - and if so, what type?

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If this is an acer, it has a lighter, airer colour than most, with a summer feel to it. This very tree - in my road - now has turned dark red. It has an attractive visual trajectory.
I was toying with getting a Rhus Typhinio 'Tiger Eyes' Stag's horn Sumach Tree as that also has a fiery display at summer's end but a) They get sold as shrubs and take a while to turn into trees b) They're a bit invasive, a bit spread-y.
With the tree I've pictured, is it a case of just buying an acer an hoping for the best, or are there different types I should look out for?

It's an acer, couldn't say for sure what variety though.

Do you have acid soil? If you don’t, you won’t get such good autumn colour, and some acres are calcifuge and won’t grow well at all.

Yes, it's an acer, there are literally thousands of varieties.

If you buy a random one it is unlikely to be the same.

Not this one, but a good all season one is Sango Kaku (though goes yellowish rather than bright red in autumn).

Another is shin deshojo, which starts out pink, then goes green then red.

Both have the more traditional acer leaf, rather than this more dissected one.

Aconitifolium, maybe? Lovely tree.

I suppose I could pluck up my courage and just knock on the door and ask! Thing is, the tree may have preceded the owners' arrival and they may not know!

It is an acre. I have two in my garden, different to one another. I bought and played them both. No idea what the first one is. As someone else said - they are thousands of different types. One of mine has gone through all the brilliant vibrant orange and red colours and now half the leaves have fallen off. The other, called Orange Dream, ironically, is still completely green!

You might find it helpful to look at the RHS website. They document pretty much every known plant with varieties, care, growing needs etc. If you go to rhs plants and search 'acer' you'll be able to filter by foliage colour, season of interest, planting environment, size, whether it can be grown in a container etc etc

I'd go with an Acer. They're slow growing but you can basically leave them to do their thing. There are different growth habits too, so see what shape you prefer - broomstick or weeping etc.

We had a sumac tree - they send up suckers which grow very fast.

Other big shrubs/trees you could also consider for red/orange autumn colour are cherry tree, maple tree, euonymus europeaus or euonymus alatus... there are loads!

If you go to a garden centre with a good stock of acers, at this time of year, you can take your pick based on leaf colour.

Euonymus alata is a similarly shaped bush with incredible autumn colour. Try Liquidamber for something with a longer trunk.

It looks like acer Orange Dream. We have two of this variety in our garden.

With acers, be aware that some are small varieties and won’t grow beyond 3 feet while others will reach 10 feet.

Sumachs are lovely but slow growing and can put up suckers which must be removed to keep it under control.

Not being very hands on, I am wary of buying sumachs. Esp as it's on the neighbour's fence so you can envisage problems.
I will look into these other recommended Acers. Thank you.

I’ve got an Acer Sango Kaku which will grow eventually to around 20ft but has coral coloured stems for winter colour and is currently the most amazing fiery colour, shown here blending in with our foxy visitor.

i don’t know if it’s true of all Acers but often they like shade as well as acidic soil. This one is in pretty much full shade and I’ve dug a hole for ericaceous compost and top dress it with more annually.

It looks like acer Orange Dream. We have two of this variety in our garden.

Definitely not Orange Dream, leaf shape is all wrong.

My Sango Kaku is another one that took a hit from the heatwave, but like @Catname's is still earning its money with its fiery stems at the moment. (Gorgeous foxy photo!) Apparently Sango Kaku is a bit of a diva, but fingers crossed for next year.

Luckily, I do have (cough) quite a lot of acers, so although I'm saying a few of them have suffered, I do still have lots going their thing well.

Good call, that could well be it.

Trouble with these dratted acers is that there are hundreds of varieties and thousands of cultivars, many of which look almost identical. Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' isn't all that easy to find in garden centres though OP, so you might find it easier to find an acer palmatum. A nice one is 'Seiryu' which looks very similar.

I had this one but drought killed it.

Thanks, this is interesting! I suppose I may have to knock on the door and ask! Assuming they know. It's the problem you get as gardeners - you can't just get the one you want, like with other aspects of consumerism. I wouldn't mind getting a cherry tree with cherry blossom for the front garden, but there are so many lovely ones in my street, I just don't know it will be the same, there will be different types and one might end up planting a dud.

I'll look up some of the ones mentioned here.

Might not be 100% but I have a plant identification app that says this.