The Integra, which has not been seen at Acura dealers in over two decades, is back to stake its claim with buyers that are looking for a small premium sedan and some fun driving.
Acura once again has this smaller entry-level car to woo first time buyers to the luxury brand, and the Integra emphasizes a more fun demeanor with an available manual transmission. The Integra A-Spec that I drove came with that slick six-speed manual that was a real delight. With just 200hp, it might not be the quickest small car, but it is engaging and the handling limits are high for a front-drive car. The Integra proved a comfortable commuter car with a touch more noise on the highway when compared to some of the competition.
The little Acura Integra shares quite a bit in common with the Honda Civic. Acura sets itself apart from the competition with its five-door design. The rear hatchback allows for extra storage when compared to a normal four-door sedan. Acura manages to give the Integra a look of its own and avoids seeming like a re-badged Civic. It sports the company front that it shares with other Acura models, including a Pentagon-shaped grill that looks very sporty on this small car. The A-Spec model adds more of a visual punch with blacked-out trim, a tasteful spoiler and dark-colored 18-inch wheels.
That sporty theme continues to the interior with a more driver-focused look and feel. The two-tone interior catches your eye, especially in the available red and black the tester came with. The micro suede seat inserts kept me in place on the corners and it looked great and is different from most of the competition. The shifter feels comfortable in your hand and the throws are short and direct. This is a small car but the back seat is usable for two adults with easy access from rear doors that open wide. The cargo space is a pleasant surprise thanks to the large hatchback that makes loading a breeze. However, shorter people may have a big reach to close the hatch.
Cost: $36,300; as tested $38,095
MPG: 26 MPG City; 30 MPG Highway. I managed 28.2 in 223 miles of mixed driving.
Options: $600 Platinum White Pearl; $1,195 destination & handling
Safety: Acura Watch; blind spot information system; rear cross traffic monitor; front and rear parking sensors; multi-view camera; collision mitigation braking system; road departure mitigation; adaptive cruise control; lane keeping assist system; pedestrian detection; traffic sign recognition
Things to know: Acura remakes the entry-level Integra as a premium compact five-door hatch. The little car is fun to drive with a high-end look and feel. You can even choose a manual transmission.
Pros:
- A true entry-level compact car that will add new buyers into the luxury brand
- Even base models come with a large amount of safety technology
- Fun to drive, front wheel car that is easy on the wallet
Cons:
- Automatic version seems slow when accelerating
- More road noise than some of the competition
- Manual transmission only available in top trim level version
