The heart
Looks aside, the heart of the model is the 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine we know from ... the Honda Civic Si. You guessed it. With 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, there's no complaining about performance. The delivery of that performance is, however, open to criticism.
And that’s because Acura offers three trim levels with its new model: Integra, A-Spec and Elite A-Spec. Only in the last of those is a manual transmission version offered in addition to the automatic. At $45,040 (same price despite the transmission), it's the most expensive Integra. It's a far cry from the days when manual transmission versions weren’t just fun but more affordable. Now, you have to pay extra to have fun.
And yes, with this stick shift, you can have fun behind the wheel. Just like with a Honda Civic Si.
It's the only way to get the Civic Si, in fact. With the Integra, the other models come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). That's a no-no. A sporty car with a traditional automatic transmission is fine, but with a CVT, not so much. It's like Subaru's WRX with a CVT. C’mon, man.
Here’s another fun fact: the last Acura RSX models (the RSX being what the Integra became in the early 2000s) were more powerful than the new Integra. Well, now...
On the road
That said, at the wheel, things are pretty good. But we knew that beforehand. The Civic's chassis is solid and the Integra takes full advantage of it. The only difference is that the latter has adaptive shocks (Elite A-Spec versions) to match its drive modes. Otherwise, the performance of the manual gearbox (featured in our tester), the steering and the mechanics give us the experience of a Civic Si.
In fact, to find out what else the Integra offers, you have to analyze the composition of the Elite A-Spec variants. There, we notice the presence of a head-up display, premium ELS audio system and wireless Internet access. Otherwise, the equipment remains very similar.
The only other distinction Acura offers is the mechanics of a Civic Si WITH a hatchback. The Civic Si is only available in sedan format.
Yes, it's complicated, and for no apparent reason we can discern.
Conclusion
Leaving aside all the heated debating over nomenclature since the introduction of the new Integra, what about the model itself? That's the second question we asked at the start.
In all objectivity, the Integra is still an excellent car, but unless you absolutely want the mechanical configuration it offers with a hatchback, or the few features the Civic Si lacks, I don't see the point in paying the extra money for this car.
A Civic Si is more than adequate.
The Integra would be interesting if you felt like you were driving something other than a Civic Si. However, this is not the case.
We like
An engaging driving experience
Reliable and flexible mechanics
Build quality
We like less
Paying an extra $10,000 for a Honda Civic Si with fancier upholstery
No manual transmission with the base versions
Too much like a Honda Civic Si
The competition
BMW 228i Gran Coupe
Honda Civic Si
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Subaru BRZ
Toyota GR 86
Volkswagen Golf GTI - Golf R