The new Integra shares some of its styling with other Acura models and some dimensions with the Honda Civic. It also carries nostalgic visual elements that tie back again to the “original” car. Embossed Integra logos in the bumpers and the rear-end appearance are samples of small design touches supposed to evoke memories of previous generations. Because it does with other models, Acura will offer an A-Spec package for the Integra, and also, like others, it’s purely cosmetic and does not enhance performance.
The Integra’s return—and with a manual gearbox, Acura Integra 2023 no less—is notable on its own, but Acura’s targeted price tag for the car is worth a headline or two. The automobile will become at around $30,000 when it goes available for sale in spring 2022. The Integra will soon be built at Honda’s auto manufacturing plant in Marysville, Ohio, which makes it the initial Integra built on U.S. soil.
The 2023 Acura Integra looks a lot like an Acura TLX or ILX and will be available exclusively as a 4-door car with a liftback (think hatchback). There’s precedent with this setup in the Integra lineup, as Acura offered the very first three generations of the vehicle with two or four doors. The fourth-generation Integra, sold in the U.S. whilst the Acura RSX, was exclusively a 2-door car.
Acura painted the prototype Indy Yellow Pearl as a throwback to the Integra Type R’s Phoenix Yellow color from the first 2000s. The automaker’s signature LED running lights and “Diamond Eye” LED headlights are also present. The Integra comes standard with 17-inch wheels, but 18- and 19-inch choices are available. The A-Spec appearance package brings a lip spoiler and unique exterior badging, gray 18-inch wheels, and gloss-black exterior Acura Integra 2023 trim.
The 2023 Integra comes standard with synthetic leather upholstery, heated sport front seats, and an 8-way power driver’s seat. Acura offers three color choices, including Ebony, Red, and Orchid. An available Technology package brings a 12-way driver’s seat and 4-way passenger seat, alongside microsuede upholstery accents. A-Spec cars add stainless-steel sports pedals, contrast stitching, and red gauge needles.
Areas of the newest Integra’s interior mirror its exterior design, such as diamond-mesh pattern inserts for the air vents that mimic the grille. The Integra’s 107.7-inch wheelbase is identical to the 2022 Honda Civic, this means the car should deliver good front- and rear-seat space. The trunk seat folds flat to open the cargo space, and the 60/40 split allows one seat to keep upright when hauling longer cargo.
The 2023 Acura Integra includes a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 200 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission is standard, but a close-ratio 6-speed manual is available. Acura notes that it tuned the CVT for the high-output engine with quick response and simulated gear changes.
In cars built with an information transmission, power hits the leading wheels by way of a limited-slip differential, and Acura Integra 2023 provides an adaptive damper system with three selectable driving modes. Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes impact suspension firmness and allow the driver to select between various steering settings and display options. The A-Spec model posseses an in-cabin engine audio function that pipes in sound from the engine bay and exhaust system.
Future versions of the Integra often see the powertrain from the Civic Type R. Which means a turbocharged engine with at the very least 300 hp. That engine delivers a zero-to-60 mph time of just 5.3 seconds in the Civic and a quarter-mile time of 13.7 seconds.
The newest Integra comes standard with AcuraWatch safety technology. Blind-spot warnings and rear cross-traffic warnings are also standard, and a parking sensor system can be acquired with the Technology package. The automobile also gets a next-generation airbag system created for better head protection. Acura says the airbags help reduce the risk of brain injuries and notes that Integra’s aluminum hood features a unique design that distributes the force of an effect with a pedestrian’s head to reduce injuries.
The Integra comes standard with a 10.2-inch configurable digital gauge cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the available Technology package brings wireless connectivity for both, plus a larger 9-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, and a 5.3-inch head-up display. An 8-speaker stereo is standard, and a 16-speaker ELS Studio audio system is available.
Though Acura is technically reasonably limited brand, Integra’s cost means it will face off against a wide variety of competitors. In its cost range, there’s the Honda Civic Si and potentially a fresh Type R, the Toyota GR 86, and Subaru BRZ. A few steps up the price ladder, you can find cars like the Audi A4, BMW 2 Series, and the Genesis G70. If Integra can meet its price target and not require thousands of dollars in added options to obtain the full experience, it could bring an entirely new value dynamic that will ensure it is an almost irresistible performance bargain.