2023 Acura Integra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Every automaker tries, to some degree, to install a cohesive design language that is flexible enough to look natural on a wide range of vehicles but stringent enough that onlookers will immediately identify those vehicles as part of the same automotive family. With its pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlight design, and sharply creased character lines, Acura has designed a modern Integra that fits in seamlessly with the larger TLX sedan and the RDX and MDX crossovers.

With the arrival of the Integra, Acura is shelving the ILX compact sedan, which makes sense. Sedans simply don’t sell as well as they once did, and there’s not enough space in the market for two compact nameplates from a single automaker, let alone one with a lineup as small as Acura’s.

But the Integra is a significantly different animal than the ILX. For one, the new car employs a five-door liftback design instead of the more traditional four-door sedan style. As a callback to the third-generation Integra, which ceased production in 2001 and became the RSX, Acura has embossed the “Integra” name at the front-left and rear-right corners of the car. A wide track gives the 2023 Integra a solid, planted look, and its long wheelbase belies its compact-car proportions.

In Canada, Acura sells the 2023 Integra in three core trim levels: base (just called Integra), A-Spec, and Elite A-Spec. The base Integra receives 17-inch alloy wheels; moving up to the A-Spec trim installs 18-inch Shark Grey wheels. Regardless of wheel size and design, all Integra models are shod with performance all-season tires.

A decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and big taillights help give the Integra’s rear end a distinctive look.

Inside, the Integra shows enough familial similarities with the Honda Civic to keep costs manageable for the automaker, but not so many that it feels like a shameless re-skin of the mass-market sedan. Honeycomb grilles cover the climate control vents, but they don’t span the whole width of the dash like they do in the Honda. And, worth noting, the HVAC system’s physical controls feel outstanding, with nice, knurled metal finishes and satisfyingly clicky action as they’re turned.

A 9-inch colour touchscreen sat atop the dash in our test vehicle, which wore the U.S. equivalent of the Integra Elite A-Spec trim. The thin steering wheel looks and feels good, just as the Civic’s does, and exterior visibility is outstanding, thanks in large part to the Integra’s thin A-pillars. Rearward visibility is not as good.

The Elite A-Spec trim level features microsuede inserts in the upholstery that do a tremendous job keeping the driver in place in the driver’s seat. But like all suedes, it’s not very breathable, and we found ourselves begging for ventilated seats while driving on a hot day. Unfortunately, despite its premium-car status, the Integra isn’t offered with ventilated seats.

The 2023 Integra doesn’t offer the same level of bespoke-feeling refinement shoppers can find in competitors from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. That’s not to say it feels cheap or insufficient—it’s incredibly well screwed together—but it wouldn’t be confused with one of its German rivals.

For the first time ever, Acura is selling an Integra with a turbocharged engine. Yes, it’s a small one at just 1.5 litres, but the 2023 Integra’s turbo four-cylinder feels incredibly lively, and it pairs beautifully with the company’s six-speed manual transmission, thanks to a little technological help.

Interestingly, Acura offers only the Elite A-Spec trim with the optional six-speed manual transmission. The lower-level trims are equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Our test vehicle came equipped with three pedals and a limited-slip differential.

The previous-generation Honda Civic suffered from rev hang, a scenario used by automakers to conserve fuel, in which the engine delays a drop in RPMs when the clutch is depressed. In the current Civic and the 2023 Integra, rev hang is largely nonexistent. Short throws with the shifter make gear changes a breeze, but downshifting is especially simple, thanks to Acura’s automatic rev-matching technology. Drivers can choose to turn off rev-matching, but with it on, the vehicle blips its throttle to the optimum RPM automatically when the clutch is pushed in, opening a window for a smooth and speedy downshift. The effect is almost instant, making everyone feel like an up-and-coming Formula 1 driver.

Add in automatic stop/start and automatic brake hold, and driving the manual-transmission Integra feels a little surreal. When the driver comes to a stop light, puts the car in neutral, and takes their foot off the brake, the car automatically turns off and engages the brake. Press the clutch and the car turns on. Put it in gear and go. No need for fancy footwork. It’s unnerving but delightful. Add in the rev-matching and this might be the perfect car for teaching a teenager to drive stick.

Returning to the engine, the Integra and Civic Si share the same powertrain, but not to either car’s detriment. With 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, the 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine delivers competitive power and offers a nice, thick rev band.

Similarly, our Integra’s brakes feel great, and its suspension is firm enough to provide a sporty ride while not jarring loose any fillings. The car’s wide track and long wheelbase help it feel planted through corners, and considering the Integra is offered only with front-wheel drive (FWD), we were blown away by its handling capabilities. Shoppers living where it snows might wish for all-wheel drive (AWD), but that would simply be for foul-weather traction, not handling.

The Integra employs a variable-ratio electric power-steering system. Unlike some systems that provide an even electric assist to the steering weight, the Integra’s system adjusts as the wheel is turned. Keep the wheel close to centre, and the feel stays heavy. Start to turn, however, and the steering gets faster as it moves further off-centre. The result is a steering feel that manages to be natural on highways, but also brilliantly sharp in corners.

Finally, Acura offers three drive modes on the 2023 Integra—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—plus an individual mode. Comfort and Normal are similar enough not to matter, but Sport mode noticeably stiffens the car’s adaptive dampers and adds significant weight to the steering feel.

The 2023 Acura Integra’s usefulness as a day-to-day vehicle is highlighted by the practicality of its liftback design. However, that usefulness does have its limits.

Shorter shoppers—or shoppers with heavy luggage—might not appreciate the rear end’s impressive height. One the liftback is opened, there’s a long way to the trunk floor. Cargo space is impressive, with 688 litres of storage available behind the rear seats, but the lift-over height will make loading and unloading heavy or bulky items a chore. Acura claims a mountain bike will fit with the rear seats folded, but we wouldn’t want to load and unload something that cumbersome more than we absolutely had to.

Get past the lift-over height, however, and the Integra offers plenty of space, and it’s comfortable for driver and passengers, too. The front seats benefit from a logical dashboard layout, a couple of smartly placed cupholders, a tray ahead of the shifter for a phone, and a decently sized centre console cubby for other items.

In the back, passengers should have decent legroom, provided they’re not considering a career in the NBA. Headroom, unfortunately, comes up short (unless future careers include racehorse jockeying or Olympic gymnast). Sit up straight, and six-footers should just barely graze the headliner. Lean back, however, and the Integra’s steeply sloped roofline means things will get pretty cramped. Closing on a positive, the seat cushions in the back are incredibly soft.

All Integra models receive Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Bluetooth connectivity and at least one USB-A port for the front seats. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster also comes standard. Opting for the Elite A-Spec package, however, adds in quite a bit of, well, tech.

To start things off, the standard 7-inch colour touchscreen display gets bumped up to a 9-inch unit. It’s a colour display but, ironically, much of Honda’s native infotainment technology shows in black and white. You’ll need to get into Sirius XM satellite radio channels or hop over to CarPlay or Android Auto to really see the bright colours on this system. A head-up display is also included. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are, naturally, still present, but with the Elite A-Spec, they operate wirelessly. Paired with this trim’s wireless charging pad, it’s a complete sans-wires affair. That may sound trivial, but once we started testing cars with wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay, we never wanted to go back.

In addition to the larger display, the top-tier trim level also adds a USB-C to the front seats and two USB-A ports to the rear seats. And audiophiles will appreciate Acura’s incredible ELS Studio 3D premium audio system. Playing over 16 speakers (including multiple headliner-mounted ones), the top-level stereo blows the standard 8-speaker system out of the water.

In base Integra and A-Spec models, this sport compact offers enough technology to score well in this segment. Add the Elite A-Spec into the conversation, and the 2023 Integra starts looking like a technological home run.

Many vehicles in the luxury marketplace still require shoppers to check options boxes in order to get advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). That’s not the case with the Acura Integra. Undoubtedly due to its close relationship with the Honda Civic (which comes standard with many of these features, courtesy of the Honda Sensing suite), the Acura Integra sets a new bar for standard safety equipment.

Shoppers at any trim level will appreciate automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise-control with low-speed follow (unless the 6-speed manual transmission is equipped), lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, a rear-seat reminder, hill-start assist, and the aforementioned automatic brake hold. The Elite A-Spec trim level adds relatively few features: low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and a pair of rain-sensing windshield wipers.

It's worth noting specifically that Acura manages to include nearly all of these features despite offering the Integra with a manual transmission. When we reviewed the 2022 Subaru WRX, we were dismayed to find that many of the brand’s EyeSight safety systems were available only on CVT-equipped vehicles. Not so with the Integra.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2023 Acura Integra a Top Safety Pick+ designation, its highest rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded it five out of five stars overall in its crash tests.

On paper, the Acura Integra represents an incredible value. With a starting MSRP in Canada of $34,350 (not including just over $2,700 in destination and other fees), it significantly undercuts the price tags affixed to its primary entry-level luxury competition: the Audi A3, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. And, particularly with regards to safety features, the Integra comes better equipped than base models of those other cars, too.

However, for shoppers looking to relive their experience with the last Integra, it’s disappointing to see that the manual transmission is available on only the top-level trim. Granted, at $45,279 (including destination and fees) the Elite A-Spec is still a veritable bargain, considering its long list of features.

Natural Resources Canada estimates that a CVT-equipped Integra should provide fuel economy of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 7.2 combined, and 8.1/6.5/7.4 in Integra A-Spec guise. Swap in the manual transmission, and the numbers increase to 8.9/6.5/7.8. Disconcertingly, we barely managed 10.2 L/100 km in our city-environment testing.

There are a few vehicles that look like they provide even more bang for the buck than the Integra. Specifically, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI comes in one trim level but offers more performance at a comparable price point. The Mazda3 comes in seemingly endless configurations, from FWD sedans to AWD hatchbacks, but at its best, it delivers sumptuous interior appointments and a brilliantly powerful turbocharged engine. And, of course, there’s the Honda Civic Si—a natural comparison due to its similarities with the Integra, and it’s a vehicle that starts at thousands of dollars less.

But none of those competitors provide the cache of a premium or luxury badge. And for shoppers who value the Acura name, this new Integra manages to live up to its legacy while representing a strong value in the premium-car marketplace.

Note: Images show a US model.