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2023 Acura Integra – First Drive

Blast from the Past

With the slow rollout of affordable sports car in recent years, Acura has now finally brought back its iconic Integra that now replaces the ILX sedan. Acura has also realized the need for more practicality, and with the help of modern tech, the Integra is first to come in the form of a four-door sedan. It’s powered by a miniature 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine identical to that in the Honda Civic and is offered in a six-speed manual, or an automatic transmission variant. New technology also makes room for sportier experience such as its auto-blip downshifter.

Three trims are available with the base starting at $32,495 with the highest A-Spec Technology trim at $36,995. A-Spec trim adds sportier body cosmetics, larger 18″ rims and unlocks the optional purchase for a 6-speed manual. Acura has also got some good high-end electronics, and for about $3,000 more for the A-Spec Technology trim gets you a larger 10.2″ digital cluster, 16-Speaker ELS sound system, smartphone connectivity and a digital heads-up display.

Powertrain

All trims are powered by a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower in a classical front-wheel drive configuration. Base trims receive a continuous variable transmission while A-Spec trims and up unlocks purchase options for either a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. Unique to the 6-speed manual is an auto-downshift blip feature, that automatically revs the engine to the ideal engine RPM when downshifting to rev match for seamless gear shifts – no manual heel-toe or throttle blipping required.

Base trims with the CVT transmission gain excellent fuel economy of 30 and 37 mpg on city and highway respectively while the manual transmission a doesn’t do quite as well especially in the city at 26 and 36 mpg. These numbers are still respectable given its road-sport intentions.

Interior and Tech Features

Interior cabin features are relatively basic and carries much of the design from the Acura ILX meshed with some of the newer features from the Honda Civic such as the honey-comb mesh air vents. Under test is the A-Spec trim with a 6-speed manual and the leather-metallic gear shifter feels rock solid. A-Spec trims brings more amenities such as a seude-like faux red leather upholstery 8-way adjustable seats. A-Spec Technology trims upgrades to a 12-way adjustable driver seat and four-way for the front passenger. Rear seats were surprisingly spacious given its small form factor although longer rides may reveal discomfort.

All trims get a digital 10.2″ gauge cluster display while A-Spec trims get more upgrades such as heated seats. Base models are offered with a smaller 7″ infotainment display while A-Spec trims and up get a larger 9″ screen. Both infotainment systems run on the same software however, and are both compatible with Android Auto and Apply Carplay. We particularly liked the convenience of the 5.3″ heads-up display that adds vehicle awareness while still retaining an organic driving experience.

Test Drive and Final Thoughts

Despite its intentions, the Acura Integra feels eerily similar to the previous generation’s ILX with mostly cosmetics and the 6-speed manual transmission introduced. Still, the Acura Integra feels fluid and capable around corners and the 6-speed manual transmission is a joy to use. Unique to the Acura Integra is also an auto-downshift throttle rev-match, removing the need for manual heel-toe or throttle blipping action – that can be turned off for purists however.

The Acura Integra brings back an iconic name status and the drive is enthusiastic for the most part. Acura hasn’t yet released the Type-R high-performance trim yet, but we suspect it will align with the capabilities of its present-generation Civic Type-R. Next year’s news will certainly be exciting.

Specifications

  • Vehicle : 2023 Acura Integra
  • Model : A-Spec
  • Vehicle Type : 5-Passenger Sports Sedan
  • Seating Capacity :2+3
  • Engine : 1.5L Turbocharged 4 Cylinder
  • Transmission : 6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic
  • Price as tested: $36,995.

Pros

  • Iconic nameplate status
  • Thrilling Driving Characteristics
  • Four-Door Practicality
  • Unique auto-downshift blipping in 6-speed manual transmission

Cons

  • High price tag for just 200 horsepower performance
  • Nothing substantially unique about the Acura Integra compared to the older generation ILX