A souped up version of a fan-favorite, the Type S trim on the Integra gives it a slew of new toys to play with– and it works
The Integra caused quite the stir when it was first introduced back into Acura’s lineup just a year ago. In fact, we can hear the qualms come from afar now. “It’s not a real Integra,” someone in Acura’s Instagram comments says. Or the classic, “it’s just a souped up Civic,” completely missing the point of what the vehicle is supposed to be.
No, it’s not exactly the Integra of the past– nor should it be. Instead, it takes on a whole new persona under the Type S nameplate.
Acura has been on somewhat of a brand schism lately. Bringing back the Type S lineup and applying it in a modern day sense to not just its sedan selection, but its SUVs as well. While other manufacturers have axed the four-door sedan completely from their catalogs, Acura has leaned into them, even introducing a new one in the Integra. The brand wishes to reinvigorate excitement and sway consumers from seeing them as the car your 80-year old grandma drives to the high performance luxury manufacturer they were not too long ago.
The Integra Type S Puts the Fun Back in Driving
Enter in the Integra Type S. Acura’s latest development in order to woo buyers over. Some see it as just a souped-up Civic Type R, an argument to which we don’t have a rebuttal. However, while the Type R sits as a toy in some eyes, the Integra is the classier variant of it. An argument to which we also cannot refute.
Now look, the Integra takes nearly all of its parts from the Type R, a vehicle which has been renowned for its charm and performance despite only being offered in front-wheel drive. The Type S builds on that, retaining the 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four and the FWD setup. However, the Integra begins to differentiate itself from the Civic with a bonus five horsepower thanks to its unique exhaust setup mimicking the Type R’s with triple exhaust tips situated in the center of the rear bumper.
Yet, it wouldn’t take Einstein to figure out that the times on both would be clocked similarly due to the Civic’s luxury counterpart being nearly 30 pounds heavier. The extra baggage wasn’t noticeable when we got behind the wheel, feeling much more maneuverable than the Type R. The steering felt pinhole tight, and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’ felt glued to the ground. While tossing the S around we immediately felt the Acura impact. Driving felt refined, not over the top and boy-racer when we drove the Type R.
The Tale of Two Cars
Acura went to great lengths to make sure that there was serious distinction between the Type R and the Integra Type S. While the Type R has much more of a conspicuous appearance thanks to its gargantuan rear wing, flared body kit, and obnoxiously loud vents, the Integra approaches the equation with a mature mindset.
You won’t find a tabletop wing here, instead, more subdued looks give way to a sloped rear roof line, a fastback-esque body style, and an optional rear carbon fiber spoiler that sits atop the trunk in order to give the Type S with a more aggressive look than the regular Integra. Bodes well for the vehicle that Acura wants to maintain as a flagship sports car, holstering a classy yet sporty look.
Some Further Homework on the Integra
In terms of power, the Type S receives a hefty boost over the conventional Integra. Harnessing 320 horsepower from the regular Integra’s and Type R’s inline-four, the amount of horses seems more than adequate to put the Teggy in any sort of performance situation. This isn’t a Hellcat, nor should be regarded as such. However, it sure as hell handles a lot better than one. While the Integra isn’t rear-wheel drive, it makes up for its woes by way of Honda’s artful front-based limited-slip differential and dual-axis strut front suspension completely washing way any torque steer and the usual pitfalls of sending power to the front wheels.
The Acura Integra Takes the High Road
The Integra takes a different path than the competitors in its class. Trying to appeal mostly to enthusiasts with a little bit more cash in the bank, the Type S takes direct aim at vehicles such as the Golf R and the Audi S3. On a lower scale, it indirectly faces off with much less premium offerings such as the Hyundai Elantra N, another FWD car at nearly half the cost. Whereas Deutschland foes focus mainly on speed, with dual-clutch transmissions and all-wheel drive– the Integra hones in on driving feel.
Corroborated by the fact that the Integra isn’t exactly a drag strip demon, a 5.1 second 0-60 time and a quarter mile time slower than a 2001 Corvette (13.5 seconds), the Integra’s sole purpose isn’t to lay down rubber at TX2K, instead it’s for spirited street driving. The mandatory six-speed manual is a fresh opinion by Acura, brandishing the fact that manuals are still alive– albeit barely. It feels tight and tidy, but could be improved by an aftermarket short shifter.
A Boy Racer All Grown Up
Overall, the Type S takes a relatively muted approach compared to the brash attitude set forth by the Civic Type R. Yet, the Type S itself comes with some cocksure elements that are sure to set it aside compared to other vehicles that even come close to it. The styling adds some flared fenders and a brand new body kit to the Integra. Likewise, the Type S has a 120 horsepower bump over the regular Integra, all while featuring powerful Brembo front brakes and lightweight 19-inch wheels wrapped in sticky 265/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S high-performance summer tires to complete the dynamic package.
Due to being based on the Type R platform, the Type S keeps the Civic’s iconic triple exhaust setup in back. The Integra comes from the factory with bangs and pops standard, something we found only similar to the Elantra N barring its Honda cousin.
At the end of the day, the Type S was a blast, and puts the fun back in driving. As a lot of the Integra’s components die off such as the manual transmission, internal combustion engine, and the sports sedan style, it’s good to know Acura has stayed committed to keeping it alive. Honda is one of the few brands to not have released a heavy scale EV yet, and who knows… this might be their way at combatting the electric vehicle push.
The Integra Type S starts at $51,995 barring any dealer markups, which is sure to be a chore to find. But we’d try any way, because this is too good of a car to pass up.
