Is the 2023 Acura Integra a Good Car? 4 Pros and 3 Cons

With the launch of the Integra compact sports sedan for 2023, Acura brought back a nameplate that will resonate with enthusiasts who have fond memories of the original. The resurrection also marks the end of the line for the widely unloved ILX, a thinly disguised and more expensive version of the Honda Civic that replaced the old Integra.

Related: 2023 Acura Integra Review: The Honda Civic Si for Grown-Ups

With its sharp reflexes and engaging feel from behind the wheel, the new Integra goes a long way to reestablish Acura’s cred in the category. And while it still shares its platform with the Civic, the 2023 Integra is more closely related to the sporty Si than to lesser Civic trims aimed more at commuters and those seeking an affordable, practical small sedan. At the same time, the Integra offers a greater measure of refinement and sophistication than the Si.

Our Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman set out to determine not only what the new Integra brings to the table to justify its higher price tag versus the Civic Si, but how it stacks up against competing upscale sports sedans from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Click the link above to read Bragman’s complete expert review. For a quicker look, read on for four things we like about the 2023 Acura Integra and three things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. Good Bones

The new Integra shares a lot with the Civic Si, including the same platform and turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. That’s not a bad place to start. To help distinguish it from the Civic, the Integra gets completely different styling and sheet metal, a hatchback instead of a trunk, and its own interior with decent front and rear room.

2. Adaptive Suspension

An adaptive suspension is no longer available with the Civic Si but thankfully is part of the package with the new Integra. A choice of three settings include both Comfort and Normal modes, which provide a more civilized ride than the stiff Si. Sport mode is more aggressive, but not nearly as jarring as the Si’s nonadjustable suspension.

3. Shift or Don’t

Many enthusiast drivers prefer to shift gears for themselves, and the Integra is one of the shrinking number of new vehicles that lets them do just that with its six-speed manual transmission. But the availability of a continuously variable automatic broadens the Integra’s appeal to a wider audience, where the Civic Si is only offered with a manual transmission.

4. Competitive Cost of Entry

Particularly when ordered in A-Spec trim, the Integra goes up against some formidable competition, including the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz CLA250. All of these offer more luxurious interiors, more horsepower and quicker acceleration than the Integra. But with a starting price just over $32,000 including destination, the Acura is roughly $4,000 to $8,000 less than any of the others.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. Powertrain Shortcomings

Equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, our test Integra felt engaging and enjoyable to drive, though not especially quick compared to its German competitors. The turbo spools up quickly, which helps with low-end grunt, but the powertrain peters out at higher rpm and doesn’t have much in reserve for highway passing or more aggressive driving. A power increase would help make the Integra feel more like a proper sports sedan.

2. Cacophonous Cabin

A sporty exhaust note adds to the Acura’s enthusiast appeal and can be adjusted to suit driver preferences. Less appealing is a considerable amount of road and wind noise working its way into the cabin, lending a decidedly nonupscale feel. The Integra is lighter than some of its competitors, which isn’t a bad thing for a sedan with sporty intentions, but a bit more sound deadening might be a worthwhile trade-off to help reduce the din.

3. Inferior Interior

One area where the relatively affordable price of the Acura reflects some cost savings compared to competitors is in the cabin, where both materials quality and features are simply outclassed by German competitors. The Integra’s interior is a step up from the Civic, which in itself isn’t too shabby. However, it would be hard to describe the Integra’s interior as luxurious, as it lacks the sophisticated electronics, upscale materials and even basic features like rear-seat air vents expected in the category.

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