The 2023 Acura Integra marks the return of the Integra after a two-decade hiatus. For 2023, Acura is replacing the aging ILX sedan with the Integra, as Acura’s entry-level luxury compact car. In resurrecting the Integra nameplate, Acura has attracted the attention of many driving enthusiasts who compare the new hatchback to its predecessors. Most enthusiasts were disappointed to learn that a high-performance trim isn’t available, however, Acura has decided to take the Integra in a different…
The 2023 Acura Integra marks the return of the Integra after a two-decade hiatus. For 2023, Acura is replacing the aging ILX sedan with the Integra, as Acura’s entry-level luxury compact car. In resurrecting the Integra nameplate, Acura has attracted the attention of many driving enthusiasts who compare the new hatchback to its predecessors. Most enthusiasts were disappointed to learn that a high-performance trim isn’t available, however, Acura has decided to take the Integra in a different direction rather than try to outdo the Type R. The 2023 Integra aims to recreate the engaging simplicity of the five-door liftbacks and four-door sedans that were the brand’s highest-volume models. The revived Integra is a fun-to-drive small car with a premium look and feel.
The interior of the Integra shares plenty of parts with the Honda Civic, but is distinctly different with styling pulled from other models in the Acura lineup. The Integra comes standard with heated seats, leatherette upholstery, and an eight-way power adjustable driver seat. Choosing the A-Spec model with the optional Technology package adds faux-suede inserts to the seats, 12-way power adjustments for the driver, and four-way power adjustments for the front passenger. The Integra comes with a host of safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and forward collision assist. Upgrading to the Technology package provides additional safety features, such as front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and low-speed brake control.
The Integra, as expected, shares most of its framework with the Honda Civic Si and is essentially a Si hatchback with a higher level of standard equipment and more sophisticated road manners. The Integra comes standard with front-wheel-drive and the same 200-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s in the Civic Si. The Integra comes standard with an automatic transmission, however, a manual transmission is available on only the highest trim, the A-Spec Technology. The Technology package easily justifies its $3000 price increase with several additional features included in the markup. Features such as an adaptive suspension system, a 10.2-inch digital gauge display, and a 16-speaker ELS stereo system, among other items are bundled with the manual transmission. The Integra is lively and spry, with a heavy-weighted steering wheel that delivers satisfyingly direct steering. The adaptive dampers allow the driver to choose between a comfortable cruising ride or a stiffer performance-oriented setup for better cornering.
The EPA estimates the base car with the CVT to be the most fuel-efficient with a rating of 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Upgrading up to the A-Spec trim with the manual transmission drops the fuel economy estimates to 26 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Such ratings allow the Integra to compete against its rivals in the class, which have similar fuel efficiency ratings.