2023 Acura Integra

Hooniverse Asks: What did people expect from the new Acura Integra?

Jeff Glucker

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Comments

I am a bit puzzled. The 2023 Acura Integra has been shown in production form. I’ve seen it myself. I believe Acura has done a decent job with it too. The car is based on the new Civic Si, which is an excellent machine. But the Integra gets a different look outside, nicer materials, and features inside, and it should drive wonderfully based on my experience with the Si. For some reason though, it seems like people were expecting a luxury Type R or a baby NSX or something that the Integra never was in its purest form.

2023 Acura Integra

What we have is a true modern link to the original formula. It’s a four-door sedan with a liftback rear cargo area. It’s an entry-level luxury car with minor sporting pretenses. And it’s priced well too. Acura says the base price will be right around $30,000 and a fully-loaded A-Spec model with the Tech Package will land well under $40,000. They stressed the “well” part too.

2023 Acura Integra

In the minds of those waiting for this car to arrive, I think it was built up to be something more exciting than it should ever be. Sure, I disagree with a few things too. I would prefer a real automatic option instead of the CVT. Some more power to separate it a bit from the Civic Si would be nice too. But the manual will be great and so should the overall driving experience. And there’s plenty of room above this in the price structure for more performance-focused models.

2023 Acura Integra
2023 Acura Integra

I pressed Acura about the possibility of not just a Type R but maybe a Type S. Their coy response was quite telling. Acura has more in store for the Integra, but I think this is a great start for the return of a wonderful name in the halls of Honda history.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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11 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What did people expect from the new Acura Integra?”

  1. smaglik Avatar
    smaglik

    I think it looks pretty sweet, especially with the manual and that price point. If I hadn’t just bought something, this would be incredibly tempting. Honestly, I’d like to buy one with a manual just to support them for offering a near luxury car with a manual.

    Reply
    1. Tiller188 Avatar
      Tiller188

      Sums it up pretty well. Thank goodness it doesn’t seem to have ventilated seats, otherwise…well, I wouldn’t regret buying my G70, but this would have been an excellent option as well, and the liftback would be really nice (both in and of itself and because of the significant rear-seat headroom improvement it usually brings along). Your last sentence sums up a major reason for my G70 purchase, too.

      Reply
  2. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Well, I was going to bring up the old saying that “Acura” is Japanese for “Buick”, but I don’t know if that still holds true now that the Tri-shield’s lineup is entirely SUV/CUV.

    Reply
  3. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    Something with four round headlights, two doors and a hatch? I don’t know. But I heartily approve the use of an actual name for their new model, whether it hews to the original or not. Honestly, I’ve so thoroughly lost track of the Acura lineup that if you asked me to picture a TLX or ILX in my mind, I couldn’t do it… it’s that over-styled Honda-esque sedan parked over there, right?

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      My thoughts exactly. I didn’t expect a mini-NSX, but rather something that obviously says “Integra”. On paper it seems like a good car and I’m sure it will satisfy its intended buyer, but it just looks like any other Acura to me. It’s handsomely banal, and not very interesting or exciting.

      Reply
  4. Idaneck Avatar
    Idaneck

    I like it, overall, and it may be a good vehicle when my kids get the 2012 Accord. I would’ve preferred a base with manual or a 2.0t with manual. At $37k, maybe I should look at a 2 door…base Mustang GT.

    Reply
    1. Idaneck Avatar
      Idaneck

      I should add that my first car was a 1990 Integra coupe/lift back and I absolutely loved that car. So, yeah a modern version of that would be cool…and I think Acura mostly got there.

      Reply
  5. Tiller188 Avatar
    Tiller188

    Honestly? A two-door version. Not that I’m complaining, as I love me some 4-door liftback, but when I think of Integras I mostly see 2-doors, so that was kind of my expectation. Otherwise, though, it seems to me that Acura has pretty well hit the target, particularly if they have the presumed hotter variants on the way.

    Reply
    1. amoore100 Avatar
      amoore100

      When I was a kid growing up in mid 2000’s Silicon Valley it seemed like everyone’s yuppie parents drove a 4-door Integra as if it were some sort of humble-brag, i.e. nicer than a Civic but not quite a BMW. Nowadays that market has solidly been eaten by the Model 3, but I find it interesting that everyone instantly thinks of the Integra as a GS-R where I think of an LS sedan on those snowflake rims.

      Reply
  6. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I’m pretty sure the loudest complainers wouldn’t be satisfied unless they literally put a 25-year old Integra Type R back into production with zero changes, and sold it for $25k or so.

    Personally, there’s a part of me that was hoping for double wishbones (assuming it’s still MacPherson struts?) As one more point of variation from the Civic Si, but honestly, a better looking Civic hatch with the better motor is plenty.

    Reply
  7. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    I was expecting a tadpole-configuration three-wheeled convertible with a rear-mounted split-single two-stroke and tiller steering, which is yet another reason people seldom ask what I expect from new vehicles.

    Reply