2023 Acura Integra First Drive: Back To The Future, Manual Included

Acura announced the return of its honored Integra at Monterey Motor vehicle Week nine months ago, and the joy could be heard from the throats of fans the globe in excess of. The Japanese brand has been keeping onto this nameplate for 22 a long time, and last but not least, it is again. Acura effectively established this section of incredibly hot-hatch sedans and is hoping it can flip the current market on its head all above once again. The new Integra may just be in a position to make it come about.

The Integra was a hot ticket ahead of it was pulled from the market place in the late 1990s. The new variation aims to recapture that pleasure, its new turbocharged motor top the charge. With 200 horsepower and 192 pound-ft of torque, the 2023 model jumps off the line eagerly and has lots of electrical power to preserve factors intriguing.

Promoted toward younger potential buyers, the 2023 Integra is affordable, starting up at $31,895. Even absolutely outfitted—including all the alternatives and the choice of a 6-speed manual or automated transmission—it tops out at $36,895. Driving house a effectiveness-minded Acura for significantly less than $37,000 is an attractive proposition, particularly one particular that feels like a pricier vehicle from behind the wheel.

As a manufacturer, Acura released in 1986 with two products: the Legend and the Integra. Both scrappy cars with efficient engines and smooth appears, the sportier Integra lasted more time than the Legend. However, the coupe market slowed down, and Acura resolved to pull it. Perhaps the brand didn’t know it would be bringing it back two many years later on, but pleasure commenced to create internally when the concept started getting condition 5 or so years back.

I could see why even though driving the snappy, entrance-wheel push Integra on winding roadways amongst Austin, Texas and deep into Hill Region in Johnson Town.

New Integra, Acquainted Vibes

Driving the 2023 variation of the legendary Integra feels like slipping into a new variation of the beloved jacket you have experienced for several years. The Acura group did its research and understands what its prospects want with this updated car or truck. Contemplate how incredibly hot the crossover and three-row SUV market have been in the previous a number of years and the Integra may have seemed like a gamble. Immediately after all, the sedan is useless, some people today say. On the other hand, this five-doorway scorching hatch transcends the boring sedan mould.

Acura is heading upstream toward the young sector with this motor vehicle. And so significantly, the gambit is working mainly because the 1st two months of generation offered out immediately. And not only that, but a lot more than 65 percent of the consumers selected the manual transmission. Additionally, a promising indication for Acura is that 50 {7b5a5d0e414f5ae9befbbfe0565391237b22ed5a572478ce6579290fab1e7f91} of the total purchasers so much are new to the Honda team altogether.

This entrance-wheel travel five-passenger auto competes with the Volkswagen GTI, and by all legal rights, the VW should really have the edge. It arrives with a 7-speed handbook (compared to the Integra’s 6-pace), 241 horses to the Integra’s 200 hp, and 274 lb-ft of torque around the Acura’s 192 lb-ft. And nevertheless, I’d decide on the Integra and here’s why: it is more refined and upscale. It is the variation concerning sitting down in an pricey recliner and a folding chair.

2022 Acura Integra Trims and Features

Acura previewed a “frameless” diamond pentagon grille on the Variety S Strategy, and the brand name adopted that seem for the new Integra. Inside, the diamond condition repeats in the criss-cross pattern inside the vents, accented by a trim knob to alter the flow. The daytime running lights wrap about the facet familiarly.

The 2023 Integra is available in 6 hues: Efficiency Pink Pearl, Apex Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Liquid Carbon Metallic, and Majestic Black Pearl. I have viewed the white, gray, and blue shades, and the latter is a stunning Lapis that stands out additional than the other colors on the palette. It is a shade worthy of the return of the Integra.

The 2023 Integra will come standard at foundation amount with a 7-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital gauge display screen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile, a USB-A port, energy driver’s seat, heated entrance seats, and even a moonroof. All Integras are outfitted with hill start out aid, which is significantly handy with the handbook transmission.

Upgrading to the A-Spec and Technological know-how package deal adds rain-sensing wipers, wi-fi charging, a head-up screen, and a 530-watt, 16-speaker high quality audio program by ELS Studio.

From an aesthetic point of view by itself, there are many notable discrepancies. The A-Spec trim provides stainless metal pedals, red gauge needles, and red distinction stitching on the steering wheel, console and shifter foundation. With the Technological know-how Package, you will also get a four-way electricity passenger seat, alongside with power lumbar controls in the driver’s seat, microsuede inserts and stitching exclusive to the trim.

But Isn’t the Integra Just a Fancier Civic?

Designed on Honda’s international smaller-car or truck architecture, the Integra starts with a strong base and riffs from there. Every little thing up from the chassis is one of a kind to Integra, from the framework to the design. The Integra’s entire body is stiffer than the Civic and is more time and broader, sharing only the wheelbase with its fewer-pricey sibling. Due to the fact the liftgate was crucial to the reboot design and style, Acura added structure to compensate. 

It’s value noting that the CVT automatic transmission is lifted straight from the foundation Civic, and in this kind, the Integra will take a huge action down in particular charm. Though it is completely great, trusted, and tuned for precision, it falls flat following to its handbook counterpart. If you have been to drive the Integra with the CVT first and by no means place your correct hand on the handbook equipment shifter, you’d likely be glad with the overall performance. But I did not, and I’m not. There’s no question that the a few-pedal version of the Integra obtained all of the personality, and the CVT variant tags together at the rear of.

Three generate modes are accessible with a swift flick of the wrist. In consolation manner, the push is far more compliant and supple, and the steering is lighter. You would not be disappointed by sticking it in consolation manner and leaving it there. For a much more spirited generate, sport mode activates a stiffer suspension and steering that gives the Integra plenty of grace and space to carve canyons or tackle rolling hills. I envisioned to like the car ideal in Sport manner but located that Regular manner suited me extremely nicely, as it’s appropriate in involving the two. It’s a pleasant blend for a well balanced baseline.

And let me solution the major problem: With a guide transmission, is it as superior as the wildly popular Civic Si? Yes. The commonality is obvious, but every little thing from the tuning to the software is unique to the Integra.

If I had a new driver in the residence, I’d unquestionably get a Civic Si or Acura Integra to train them how to drive a handbook. The equipment shifting is forgiving and supple, and even when I still left it in 3rd gear to climb a small hill, the vehicle graciously pulled with no feeling stressed.

Dwelling with the New Integra

The Integra is an astonishing discount for this price, but with a caveat: It is only really worth it with the guide transmission, which usually means you’ll have to spring for the major trim for that possibility on your own.

A person function the Civic Si brings to the desk that the Integra lacks is the gear selection display screen within the tachometer. That little touch tends to make it quick for motorists to see what gear they’re in, and I skipped it on the Integra. It seems like a smaller detail that would be easy to incorporate.

Road sounds is apparent when touring at speeds earlier mentioned 55 mph, which is honest. Even so, it is a nice ride that permitted me to take a look at the restrictions of the upgraded ELS Studio audio program, which is outstanding. I extremely advocate cranking out regardless of what playlist evokes you because the seem is major-notch.

I tip my hat to Acura for such as a generous suite of safety and driver-guide options even at the base stage of the new Integra. Every single motor vehicle gets adaptive cruise manage, lane departure warning, lane maintaining help, forward collision warning, blind location warning, rear cross warning, pedestrian detection, collision mitigation braking method, targeted visitors jam support, site visitors indication recognition, automobile high-beams and a multi-look at rear digicam with dynamic recommendations. The only element lacking if you pick out a manual transmission is adaptive cruise control with reduced-pace comply with.

Acura has succeeded in resurrecting a beloved dinosaur devoid of the horrors of Jurassic Park. The new Integra lives up to its storied name, and it however proffers the exciting trip it guarantees that is, as lengthy as you get the guide. It’s really worth the upgrade.