2023 Acura Integra

Overview

It’s baaack! Sort of. Acura discontinued its wildly popular Integra in the early years of the millennium and never quite hooked Integra fans on alternative models. So the Japanese automaker has bowed to popular pressure and reintroduced (and redesigned) the Integra for 2023. It shares a lot of the driving fun of its predecessors, but has a more practical focus, borrowing heavily from popular Honda Civic features, while offering a more posh feel. The 2023 Integra is a four-door, compact, FWD hatchback, designed as a gateway to luxury vehicles, but with an affordable price tag.

The Perfect Ride …

For the young at heart, who have a few bucks to spend on a fun drive with sporty aspirations. The new Integra will probably find its niche among driving enthusiasts who acknowledge the need for some compromise and realize that the sports car they crave is not the best choice for commuting or hauling more than one passenger at any given time. With the 2023 Integra, they can drive four passengers around in comfort, with a full load of groceries in the back, but still push the engine and handling to deliver a soupçon of excitement. The top-priced six-speed manual transmission model offers the best shot at meeting those diverse criteria, all without breaking the bank or guzzling too much gas.

Drive and Handling

The Integra gets its engine from the reliable Civic: turbocharged, 1.5L with four inline cylinders. It delivers 200 HP and 192 lb-ft of torque and zips up to 60 mph at a respectable, if hardly earth-shattering 7.1 to 7.4 seconds. Gone are the thrillingly high revs of the sportiest early Integras. The 2023 redlines at 6500 rpm—again, a respectable but undramatic position on the tachometer. Of course, the new generation compensates for the reduced thrill factor with fuel economy. The base trim, with the continuously variable transmission, gets 30 mpg in the city and an impressive 37 on the open road.* The next level up in the price range, the A-Spec, also with CVT, gets 29 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway.* The only model available with a manual transmission, featuring a responsive, short-throw stick shift, is the A-Spec with the Technology Package. It gets 26 mpg in town and 36 mpg on the highway, not much of a sacrifice for the zippy ride.*

Like most CVT vehicles, the Integra offers several drive modes, to give more road feel: The Comfort and Normal modes ensure a smooth, cushy ride, desirable for long hauls. The Sport mode is a lot more fun, but ups the vibration and noise factor. The (standard) all-season tires certainly figure in the increased noise level. The 6-speed manual transmission is the only model with a limited-slip differential. That feature, combined with MacPherson struts in front, translates into deft handling.

Key Features

Although the Integra borrows heavily from the Civic, it includes high-end touches justifying its reputation as a gateway to luxury. Standard features include items one won’t find in the average compact car: heated side mirrors, heated front seats, an 8-way power-controlled driver’s seat, and a  leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Technology Package adds such creature comforts and visual appeal as micro-suede front seats, dual automatic climate control, a 12-way power driver’s seat, a 4-way power seat for the front passenger, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. It bumps the touchscreen display from seven to nine inches.

All Integra trims come with a full roster of high-tech safety and driver-assistance features: blind-spot monitoring, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a multi-view rear camera.

Alternative Options

Drivers who want a more mature experience will appreciate the Acura TLX. If you're interested in more space while still enjoying some performance, the Acura MDX is an amazing choice that doesn't feel like a compromise. Not sure yet? The MotorWorld | MileOne Autogroup team can steer you in the right direction. Contact us online today.

Image Credit: Acura

*Based on 2023 EPA Estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid only) and other factors.