Acura has revived the “Integra” name, last used in 2001, for a new entry-level luxury four-door hatchback to replace the lackluster ILX within Honda’s luxury-brand lineup. Just like two decades ago, the Integra serves as an upscale version of the Honda Civic. We found the new Integra to be a capable and fun car to drive, with good fuel-efficiency and easy-to-use controls. But it’s short on refinement, comfort, and flair for a sporty model from a premium brand.
The front-wheel-drive Integra comes with a 200-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine shared with the sporty Civic Si. It’s paired with either a continuously variable transmission (CVT), or an extra-cost-option slick-shifting six-speed manual (a rarity these days). The Integra trails some rivals in terms of instrumented acceleration numbers, posting a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.7 seconds, but we found that it works just fine during normal driving. We don’t like that the CVT causes engine revs to constantly rise and fall on long uphills, with just slight changes in throttle position, a trait which gets exacerbated when the car is pushed hard. At least fuel economy is respectable, at 31 mpg overall in our testing.
Handling is responsive and the Integra achieved a higher speed through our avoidance maneuver (a test which simulates swerving quickly to avoid a vehicle or an obstacle on the road) than most of its rivals, including the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, although it doesn’t feel as sharp or eager to tackle turns as those two sedans out on the road. More significantly, the ride is stiff and choppy, causing occupants to buck uncomfortably over bumps. There’s also more road and engine noise than you’d expect in this luxury segment.
We like the Integra’s straightforward controls, which are ripped almost directly from the Civic. But, the lack of a standard dual-zone automatic climate system is a glaring omission, and you have to opt for the most expensive Integra trim (the A-Spec with the Technology package) in order to get it, and the same goes for a wireless phone charger and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. Further, although the seats are covered with attractive red leatherette on our tested A-Spec, the front seats lose support quickly, and the driver’s seat doesn’t come with adjustable lumbar support unless you get the top trim. The rear seat has good legroom for a compact car, but headroom is very limited—even shorter adults noted that their head came in contact with the roof.
The Integra’s hatchback design is a boon to versatility, allowing for the carrying of bulky cargo when the rear seats are folded down. Unfortunately, the Integra is a very low-slung car that requires significant ducking to get into, and a knee-bending exercise when getting back out.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, lane centering assistance, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams come standard.