2024 Acura Integra Type S: Honda Provides a Mature Civic Type R
The rather annoying badge-engineered rebirth period of the Acura Integra is now over. Debuting slight improvements for the 2024 model year, Acura—as can be expected—is relying heavily on the Honda Civic. But this time, that’s a good thing. The luxury car marque is borrowing all the parts enthusiasts wanted in the first place to create the 2024 Acura Integra Type S sports sedan.
Is the Type S interior the Type R interior?
The interior of the four-seater, five-door liftback is a nice place to be, but that’s thanks to Honda. Acura’s Integra Type S features the same nine-inch infotainment touchscreen and general tech as the Type R. However, whereas the spicy Honda has a 12-speaker Bose stereo, the Type S has a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D sound system. Nevertheless, it’s a carryover from the 2023 model year’s A-Spec with Technology package.
With the Integra Type S, potential buyers can step into something called the Acura Precision Cockpit. Interestingly enough, it’s different from the Civic. Behind the steering wheel, the 10.2-inch digital display is crisp, but if you want to focus on driving, Acura has you covered. Also a carryover, a 5.3-inch head-up display projects pertinent performance information onto the windshield.
One thing Civic drivers don’t get, but Integra drivers do, is heated seats. They are markedly less sporty than the ones featured in the Civic, but Acura asserts their car has “firmer” seat bolsters.
2024 Acura Integra Type S power and performance
One of the biggest complaints about the 2023 Integra was its drivetrain. The Civic similarities were a drawback, with just 200 horsepower and even less in torque. And its 7-second 0 to 60 mph made it even slower than some plug-in hybrids. Despite the same K20C four-cylinder as the Type R, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S finally has a grunt to match the aggressive looks.
The Integra’s turbocharged 2.0-liter will provide 320 horsepower and 310 pounds-feet of torque through the front wheels. That’s five more horsepower than the comparable Civic Type R, even though the Integra redlines at 6,500 rpm and the Civic at 7,000. Acura indicates this may be down to a new “high-flow” exhaust system, but that’s speculation. Regardless, beefed-up underpinnings like bigger Brembo front brakes, a dual-axis front suspension, wider Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and active dampers are real, track-inspired upgrades.
Although some may laud the company and others may shun it, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S is manual transmission only. The six-speed will make the pops and bangs of downshifts and upshifts a bit more engaging in its “Sport+” driving mode. Yet, that does alienate a significant portion of the customer base.
How much is the 2024 Acura Integra Type S?
Acura hasn’t released pricing details on the new hot Integra yet. Currently, the mechanically-similar Honda Civic Type R has a starting MSRP of $43,295. Given the Integra’s spot in the luxury sedan segment, it should probably sit right around the $50,000 mark, near the Audi A4. Acura says the Type S should go on sale this June, with production in Marysville, Ohio, already underway.
Is the Integra Type S worth it?
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S finally provides the performance metrics needed in a modern luxury sedan to compete with Audi, BMW, and Lexus. While it doesn’t exceed expectations, it wears its wider haunches well while still appearing distinguished. Moreover, it does include a few more welcome amenities that the Civic Type R doesn’t. Unfortunately, all-wheel drive still isn’t one of them.
If potential buyers want revered Honda engineering but don’t want a car that looks like it was styled by testosterone itself, the Integra is for you. The Type S is a button-down Oxford to the Type R T-shirt. So, drivers can zoom about but still look like adults; sorry, John Cena.