One of the most significant drawbacks to Acura’s new Integra—and there are many—is its lack of speed. But are speed and power that important these days? That’s rather subjective, though, but reasonable assertions can be made, like 200 horsepower in a luxury car just not being enough. Unfortunately, the 2023 Acura Integra misses the mark as a desirable pick in an era of performance-inspired lavishness.

Is the Acura Integra a luxury car?

That’s what Acura says, at least. First, it has all the aggressive exterior lines one would expect to sell in a market obsessed with performance. Despite the Integra being a five-door liftback, Acura did away with the boy-racer look for distinguished, coupe-like styling. There are no wacky lighting signatures, excessive exhaust tips, or downforce-providing scoops and wings—the Integra sensible wealth compared to the Civic’s more nouveau riche approach.

Although the previous Integra of the 2000s was based on its corporate cousin Honda Civic, the interiors were distinctive. But Honda has been right on the money for offering the Civic with an outstanding cabin. Choosing the cheap and cheerful version of the company’s vehicle platform makes one look smart. That isn’t to say the 2023 Acura Integra has a terrible interior, it has the Civic’s, but it could have employed more to stand out.

Is the 2023 Acura Integra a fast car?

Yes, it is—by 1990s standards. Its 1.5-liter turbo-four will put down 200 horsepower and 192 pounds-feet of torque. And that peak torque comes in at 1,800 rpm, Acura says, so highway acceleration probably won’t be a problem. But Car and Driver’s 7-second 0-60 mph time is.

Again, the Honda civic is to blame; rather, Acura for not separating the two in any meaningful mechanical way. It has 20 more horsepower than the Civic, but the Integra weighs 120 pounds more. In fact, the biggest difference is that the base Civic is available with a six-speed manual. The Integra can be had with stick-shift, but it’s only available in the top-spec. You can’t even get an all-wheel drive Integra, a near necessity for today’s luxury sedans.

How much will the 2023 Acura Integra cost?

The base MSRP for the 2023 Acura Integra will set potential buyers back $32,495, which includes destination and fees. The A-Spec and A-Spec Technology packages are $34,495 and $37,495, respectively, including the six-speed option in the highest-priced variant. But there aren’t any available power upgrades.

While the figures are on the lower side for the luxury sedan segment, it’s really not equipped like a luxury car. Whether it’s speed, power, the interior, or just the effort put into it, it’s not enough.

Which Acura Integra is best?

Yes, the 320-horsepower elephant in the room. If pachyderm power could be measured, even Dumbo would likely be quicker than the base Integra. But not if you’re counting the spicy Type-S bulldozing its way into the conversation. This summer, the 2023 Acura Integra is available in the configuration it should have only come in.

Although it’s the same engine featured in the Civic Type-R, five more horsepower and the same 310 pounds-feet of torque are a welcome sight. It also has a broader, more aggressive-looking body, bigger wheels and tires, and a rear spoiler. Much like the Type-R, the Integra Type-S is only offered with a manually-shifting six-speed gearbox. Given the sub-five-second 0-60 mph time of the hot Civic, the Integra’s similar speed is what enthusiasts wanted in the original car.

So, if the Integra Type-S is the optimal choice, why bother looking at the slower variants? Why did Acura even bother making them? The 2023 Acura Integra Type-S is an impressive pick in the luxury sedan segment, competing well with German-branded four-door family cars. It does have the power to match the expectations, but that version has yet to hit dealerships.