So, the year is 1993 and a new version of the already great Acura Integra is set to launch as a 1994 model. Your author is graduating from high school, and the Integra soon becomes among the most sought-after vehicles. Sure, there were the wealthier kids with their Nissan 300ZXs and still-fresh Jeep Grand Cherokees. But the Integra could do it all: be sporty, practical, fuel efficient with a taste of luxury. Everyone clamored for one – especially ones with a manual transmission.
Thirty years later, history is repeating itself. This Integra shares some parts with the Honda Civic, but few realize how the Civic has grown in size and just how darn good it is. The Integra still checks all the boxes – and you can still get a coveted manual transmission!
The Throwback Looks and Size
Emile Korkor, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales, says, “Relaunching an iconic model like Integra with such great fanfare and industry recognition has been incredible. We’re especially proud for the Integra development team in Japan and our production associates at our plant in Marysville, Ohio, where the 2023 Integra is built. The 2023 Acura Integra is serving the same role in the lineup as the original model that helped launch the brand three decades ago by bringing in the next generation of driving enthusiast. With its engaging driving character, flexible five-door liftback body style and advanced technology and features, the Integra will welcome a host of new buyers to the Acura brand.”
Perfect Powertrain
I like the near-perfect size of the Integra: big enough to carry four people comfortably, small enough to easily parallel park. My tester had the available A-Spec sport-appearance package, which features gloss-black window surrounds and front and rear fascia trim. A sporty lip spoiler and A-Spec badges adorn the front fenders and tailgate. Shark Gray 18-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in larger 18-inch performance tires. I loved the throwback Integra logo that is countersunk into the bumpers just like the Integras of yore.
The Integra is powered by a 200-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder. My tester featured the six-speed manual transmission, which offers an excellent rev matching downshift feature. If you drop down from fourth to second gear, the engine will automatically perform a perfect rev match. This way, you don’t need to learn perfect heel-and-toe driving technique. Of course, you could practice rev matching, but for day-to-day driving, letting the computer do the work is a welcome feature. Power on manual transmission-equipped vehicles is routed through a helical limited-slip differential to maximize available traction when accelerating out of corners.
Sounds Good
The technology package includes a bunch of goodies worthy of the price. First off, the touchscreen grows to 9 inches and adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Alexa is baked in, and you can use it to turn on or off connected lighting at your house. A wireless charging pad is built into the center stack. A USB-C port supports additional charging up front, along with two USB-A ports at the back of the center console for rear-seat passengers.
One of the biggest surprises was the 16-speaker ELS STUDIO 3D premium audio system. It’s on par with the best the OEM has to offer. There’s plenty of headroom, and the imaging is quite good. Of course, more bass is always welcome through an aftermarket subwoofer, but this factory system is a great start. Two loudspeakers called Highline speakers are mounted in the headliner above the front seat passengers. The very thin transducers don’t take up a lot of space. These overhead speakers are intended to enhance the immersive surround-sound effects.
A Super Safety Suite
For safety, Acura includes its AcuraWatch safety suite, a single-camera system with a wide field of view. I liked the way the system picks up other cars in its path and displays them on the center instrument cluster screen. This way, you get confirmation the system is working. The collision mitigation braking system can distinguish between vehicles, pedestrians, and even bicycles. It also includes traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist, which allows the cruise control to creep along, although it isn’t offered with a manual transmission because of the need to shift gears in traffic. Adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist are also part of the suite.
Sum of the Parts
If you’re looking for a nameplate from the past that includes today’s technology, seriously consider the Acura Integra. A higher-horsepower Type-S version with 320 horsepower gets a mid-2023 release.
But the current A-Spec checks all the boxes for efficiency (rated at 26 city, 36 highway with the manual transmission, 30/37 mpg with the automatic), luxury, Honda reliability, technology and fun. Loaded, you’re at $37K. Highly recommended!
