2023 Acura Integra Review: The Honda Civic Si for Grown-Ups

Where Integra (mostly) works

Let’s forget the Integra’s Civic roots for a moment and instead focus on the competitive set Acura has pitted the new sedan against. This includes cars like the Audi A3 for around $36,000. The Audi A3 has a bigger engine, more torque, and hits 60 mph a second faster (as claimed by the manufacturer). The Mercedes-Benz CLA250 is more expensive, with a starting price of around $40,000, but has more horsepower. many More torque and even faster, up to 60 mph. Mercedes says it travels in 6.3 seconds. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe costs around $39,000 and, like the other models, is faster than the Integra and has more horsepower and torque. (All rates include destination fees.)

All of these cars are faster, quieter and more luxurious than the Integra, but the Acura wins on cost. His Integra on the base starts at just over his $32,000 price tag. That’s well below the starting price for these German entry-level luxury sports sedans.

It’s when Acura is optioned up to the best trim with all the bells and whistles that makes Acura more competitive with its German competitors in terms of equipment and amenities. It works better than the outgoing (unloved and overlooked) Acura ILX that has never been marked. Renaming the car to his Integra (recently his only Acura model to have a name instead of his three-letter moniker) is a big step towards re-establishing competitiveness in this segment. bottom. Harnessing that nostalgia might be a cheap way to get attention (if this was still called ILX, would you care?), but it definitely works. Just look at the Ford Mustang Mach E electric SUV with a nostalgic name card.

However, when comparing cabins, the Integra doesn’t hold up well. It has a slightly better interior than the Civic, which is better than most cars in the compact sedan class, but not better. luxury Compact sedan rival. In particular, the Mercedes-Benz and his BMW interiors are easily outclassed in everything from controls to sophisticated multimedia. Yes, the Integra offers some fun interior colors (check out the red upholstery) and lots of standard equipment, but its real advantage is its size. It has a much roomier cabin than any German sedan, and rear seats that can be used by adults. There is also plenty of room in the front. However, materials tend to degrade when you ride in the back seat, and this car lacks what most luxury cars have, such as rear vents. Playing in the big-time luxury category means you have to bring in goods worth the price, and the Integra can only achieve half of that.

Where Integra Doesn’t Work

The bigger problem is that the Integra isn’t that big of a step up from the Civic Si.Its interior is almost as nice as the Integra, and in most ways it feels just a little faster and sharper. Must If you want more utility in your hatchback than the Civic’s trunk, or if the Si is too stiff for your daily commute and you want a more comfortable ride, the Si’s 200-horsepower engine can be fitted with an automatic transmission. is recommended. Simply put, the Integra is the Honda Civic Si made for adults.

Badge followers are unlikely to consider it alongside more traditional German sports sedan offerings, but in reality the Integra only competes slightly with them anyway. is just over $32,000 and will cost around $38,000 trim if you ignore the options list. However, it’s about $3,000 to $8,500 more than the Civic Si (this is only one-way with options). It’s a much harder pill to swallow.

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