2023 Acura Integra Tries to Recapture ’80s and ’90s Magic With Help of Civic Si
But the transmission you choose will impact the amount of fun you'll have
Update: Since this first drive was originally published in June, 2022, we finished testing the Acura Integra. Read the complete Acura Integra road test.
The 2023 Acura Integra feels as if the automaker is trying to recapture the glory days of its youth.
Like its predecessor, the Acura ILX, this entry-level Acura is based on the Honda Civic. But unlike the ILX, which was basically the garden-variety Civic with some leather and soft-touch surfaces, the Integra is based on the spicier Civic Si and designed for those who enjoy driving.
This means it gets that car’s 200-hp, 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which can be paired with a satisfyingly smooth six-speed manual transmission.
By going with the Integra nameplate with this redesigned model, Acura is reaching back to when the Integra proved that a small car could be an object of desire, and when its flagship was a “Legend”—not just a jumble of letters.
From 1986 to 2001 the Integra did double duty as a fun-to-drive hot hatchback and well-appointed compact sedan. It was initially available in two- and four-door variations, and was a way for customers to get into a luxury brand at a price that was closer to mainstream models. Along the way, Acura even offered the GS-R and Type R high-performance versions, which, today, are the target of car collectors.
The RSX, TSX, and ILX couldn’t recapture that magic. But now, Acura feels it has a car worthy enough to resurrect the Integra name, one that is primed to take on the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz CLA.
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