The Acura Integra was recently reintroduced for the 2024 model year to the delight of enthusiasts with fond memories of earlier models. The new Integra lives up to its name, striking a nice balance of engaging performance, everyday practicality, and a thrilling high-performance Type S variant. It even has some retro design cues like the “Integra” name stamped into its bumpers.

The Acura Integra is a well-rounded and competitively priced entry-level luxury sedan. However, there’s one big reason luxury car shoppers might want to look elsewhere.

The 2024 Acura Integra isn’t as luxurious as rivals

Some experts in the automotive press say the Acura Integra isn’t as luxurious inside as most of its more expensive rivals. For example, Car and Driver says the Integra’s “lack of features such as rear air vents and seat heaters are notable omissions in a supposedly premium car.”

In addition to the lack of rear air vents, other options unavailable in the Integra include an onboard navigation system and a configurable digital gauge cluster. It does have an available digital gauge cluster, but it isn’t nearly as customizable as the ones in the Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA.

While the interior materials and available features are decidedly more luxurious than the Honda Civic on which the Integra is based, this Acura isn’t as luxurious as some of its competitors. Even on the more affordable side of this class, the Cadillac CT4 can be had with the Super Cruise hands-free driving system, and the Lexus IS is available with more luxurious interior trim options.

The luxury car trade-off

We’d rather spend a long highway drive behind the wheel of an Audi A3 than a 2024 Acura Integra. However, there’s a trade-off that comes with the relative lack of luxury. The Integra has the lowest starting price in its class. If you’re willing to sacrifice some luxury for a starting price of only $31,500, then the Integra is an excellent value.

It also comes with the many other virtues of the Acura brand, like good build quality and low ownership costs. The Integra is also good on gas with the base powertrain. It gets 30 city/37 highway/33 combined mpg. Even though premium gas is recommended, it has pretty low fuel costs for an entry-level luxury car.

The value proposition of the Integra extends to the outstanding Type S model. The Acura Integra Type S is a high-performance luxury car based on the Honda Civic Type R. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Also, it comes exclusively with a manual transmission.

Pricing for the Integra Type S starts at $50,800. That might sound high for a compact Acura sedan. But compare that to the Lexus IS 500 ($58,870), Cadillac CT4 V Blackwing ($60,995), and Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 ($57,800). Those rivals may have more power, but the Integra Type S still presents a more affordable and value-conscious alternative to more expensive sport sedans.

You have many excellent options to choose from in entry-level luxury cars. For shoppers looking for value in this segment, the Integra is a must-test-drive in its class.