November 27, 2024
Alain McKenna
The Acura Integra occupies an important place in Canadian automotive history. She was the one who launched the Acura brand right here in 1986. It quickly became an enthusiast favorite thanks to its very Asian blend of performance, convenience and affordability. And there she is back. Or is she really?
After a long absence, the Integra returned in 2023, and the 2025 model continues to build on its legacy. The big news these days is the A-Spec variant. But with its close ties to the Honda Civic, the question remains: does the Integra offer enough benefits to justify its higher price?
The Integra and Civic Si share the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces a respectable 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Aboard the Integra, this engine is quite lively and responsive. It is worthy of a car from the Honda and Acura brands.
This is especially true when paired with the 6-speed manual transmission, which offers smooth gear changes, but is unfortunately only offered on the most equipped model of the Integra, the Elite A-Spec version. It costs a little over $48,000, instead of the $42,500 of the base model.
For the less fortunate, Acura offers a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which does a good job, but which takes away from the pleasure of driving this car which, we agree, has a certain sporting vocation to respect.
The Civic Si is only available with the manual transmission. It’s a nod that won’t go unnoticed by enthusiasts. Their consumption is comparable, somewhere between 7 and 8 liters per 100 kilometers. Only the Civic Hybrid does better, at something like 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
The Integra’s handling is precise and agile. Its sport suspension is exclusive to Acura. It’s more stable and confident in corners than the Civic Si, although the Civic is no slouch when it comes to handling. The Integra also offers a more refined ride. It absorbs bumps and road imperfections with greater aplomb. There is something luxurious about this behavior.
However, you can notice a little more road noise in the cabin of the Integra than in that of the Civic. Go figure.
The Integra’s exterior styling is sleek and modern, and a bit of a trompe-l’oeil: there’s a rear hatch, but it’s so elongated that you don’t even notice it. That distinguishes this Acura from the Civic.
Inside, its cabin is more or less high-end. The materials are of good quality and their layout is focused on the driver. The digital instrument cluster includes a 10.2-inch screen as standard. A head-up display is available and adds a touch of technological sophistication. But all this is nowhere near as refined as what rival models, like the Mazda3, offer.
Yes yes! A Mazda can do better than an Acura from certain angles.
A Honda too. The Civic’s interior is also well designed, and it looks enough like the Integra that it’s very justifiable to opt for the Honda over the Acura and lose nothing in the process. In terms of convenience, both cars offer spacious and comfortable space for five “small” passengers, as well as decent cargo space.
So, is the 2025 Acura Integra worth buying? A Civic Si offers comparable performance and better handling at a lower price. The Integra wins on comfort and style.
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