Acura Integra on comeback trail for 2023
Familiar name returns as entry point for Honda’s premium division
THE Integra played a pivotal role in Acura’s lineup when the car was launched in 1987, helping usher in the sport-compact era. It was eventually replaced by the RSX for 2002, but the Integra name is on the comeback trail for 2023.
Reintroducing nameplates is nothing new in the automotive industry. Most recently, Ford revived the Maverick name, which belonged to a 1970s-era compact car and is now affixed to a compact pickup. Similarly, the retired Hummer label is attached to an electric pickup and utility vehicle.
This time, the Integra, which replaces the ILX sedan, takes the form of a compact four-door hatchback and adopts the basic body structure of the Honda Civic hatchback. The Integra is nearly 7 inches longer and is slightly wider and lower. Both models are identical in distance between the front and rear wheels.
The rear hatch opens to reveal roughly about the same level of cargo volume as the Civic hatchback. It’s unique in the upscale sporty compact class that’s populated exclusively by sedans (vehicles with trunk lids) such as the Lexus IS, Cadillac CT4 and BMW 2 Series, to name a few.
Acura’s design team has done a decent job aligning the Integra’s looks with the rest of the fleet. The curved nose is fronted by the usual “diamond pentagon” grille positioned between multiple-beam LED headlights.
The theme carries to the taillights, which further differentiates the Integra look from the Civic’s.
The interior fittings mirror those of the Civic, but the trim is claimed to be of a higher grade and the cabin offers more/better standard and available equipment.
The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is identical to the Civic Si’s, rated at 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
It’s mated to a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters that control a number of gear-like steps. A drive mode selector provides Comfort, Normal and Sport settings. Each varies the transmission function and steering and throttle response according to driver preference.
The sport-tuned exhaust creates what Acura calls an “emotional” sound, which could possibly mean it recalls the Integra’s mildly raucous hot-hatch days.
Optional is a variable Active Damper System that adjusts the Integra’s ride and handling characteristics.
A six-speed manual transmission, including a limited-slip differential, is a no-extra-cost option, but it’s available only with the A-spec trim with the Technology Package.
Official fuel economy hasn’t been confirmed but will likely run close to the Civic Si’s 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
The Integra will be available in three trim levels when it arrives later this spring. Acura expects the base version to start at about $30,000. It comes with a power moonroof, 7-inch touch screen, heated front seats with eight-way power for the driver (faux leather coverings for the front) and an eight-speaker audio system.
The A-spec appearance package adds a rear spoiler, gloss-black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels (17s are standard).
Opting for the A-spec with Technology Package gets you a 9-inch touch screen and a 16-speaker Elsbrand audio package, plus a 5.3-inch head-up driver display that projects information onto the windshield. Other Technology Package features include a 12-way power driver’s seat, premium seat covers with faux leather suede inserts, and front and rear proximity sensors.
Acura’s suite of active-safety technology is standard. It incorporates adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation braking, pedestrian/ cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist and traffic-sign recognition.
The return of the Integra name with its attendant style and performance virtues should prove welcome news for those who fondly recall the earlier versions. Back then, alongside the Legend coupe and sedan and the ground-breaking NSX sports car, the Integra earned its stripes by helping place Honda’s elite brand solidly on the map.
Perhaps that magic will return.