The Honda Civic Kind R is an excellent scorching hatchback, however not everybody has the craving to drive a automobile with vibrant crimson racing seats and a outstanding wing on the again. That is the place the 2024 Acura Integra Kind S is available in. Constructed on the Civic platform, as each Integra earlier than it, this new fifth-generation Integra acquired a hailstorm of undeserved criticism from fans when it was first revealed.
Commenters on DrivingOnRoad‘s story about its launch referred to as it an “egregiously rebadged Civic,” an “ILX with the fallacious badge,” and “not the Integra fans grew up with.” Additionally they complained that it wasn’t a two-door just like the third-generation Integra Kind R. Acura partially quieted the haters by saying the extra highly effective Kind S variant, a extra mature model of the Civic Kind R. And now, after driving the brand new Integra Kind S round California’s stupendous mountain roads, we predict the trolls who take a drive in it themselves shall be silenced for good.
The Kind S takes the two.0-liter turbocharged VTEC engine from the Kind R and dials the horsepower up by 5 for 320 hp in whole. It additionally fixes one among our gripes with the kind R… the cruel sound. The ensuing system within the Integra Kind S is as close to to the right scorching hatchback as we have ever pushed. Sure, we predict it is that good.
Exterior: Hitting The Fitness center
Sorry dreamers, that two-door Integra rendering you noticed on Instagram isn’t what Acura determined to construct. Acura really wished to promote some vehicles, therefore why the Integra is a five-door hatchback. Wish to write a proper grievance? Deal with the letter to your self for not buying a Civic or Accord Coupe after they have been nonetheless on sale. With that rant out of the way in which, we genuinely assume the Kind S is a great-looking automobile. It is imply with out being over-the-top.
All of it begins with a extra chiseled entrance finish with physique panels which can be distinctive to the Kind S from the A-pillars ahead. Each new element, from the diamond pentagon grille to the vented aluminum hood, is there in service of cooling the engine. Actually, these modifications enhance airflow by 170% in comparison with the usual automobile, and should not simply added to the automobile merely for aesthetic functions. On the again, the bottom automobile’s dual-exit exhaust has been changed by tri-tips, just like the Kind R, however with a particular sound profile reserved for the Kind S.
The Kind S is 2.8 inches wider than the bottom Integra, thanks solely to muscular fender flares that home wider 265-section wheels and tires. This Integra didn’t skip leg day on the gymnasium. The 19-inch grey wheels are an inch bigger than the bottom mannequin’s wheels and could be completed in bronze for a $2,000 charge. They give the impression of being nice, however that is fairly dear for less than a coloration change, in our opinion. A black spoiler comes commonplace, however clients can even go for an adjunct carbon fiber one which’s extra aggressive; it is a pretty affordable $950 choice.
Acura’s coloration palette has one thing for everybody, together with Efficiency Crimson Pearl, Apex Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Majestic Black Pearl, Liquid Carbon Metallic, and the Kind S-exclusive Tiger Eye Pearl. We’re a fan of the brighter colours, particularly crimson, blue, and Tiger Eye.
Inside: A Premium Civic
If there’s one criticism one might stage pretty on the Integra Kind S, it is that the inside seems to be an excessive amount of like a Honda Civic. Wanting ahead from the driving force seat, the dashboard structure, switchgear, and multimedia are all copy-paste from the Civic Kind R, albeit in a extra mature taste. The Kind R’s vibrant crimson racing seats are gone, as is the brilliant crimson carpet. Of their place are extra comfy Kind S seats with a mixture of leather-based and Ultrasuede. Patrons can select from three coloration mixtures, together with all black, crimson/black, and white/black. The entrance seats are heated, an choice that’s not out there on the Kind R, and the driving force seat is powered.
Each the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the ten.2-inch Acura Precision Cockpit are borrowed from Civic, however the latter lacks the Kind R’s shift lights and tach-focused gauge mode. We hope Acura will think about including them in a software program replace. The Kind S does get a head-up show, not like the Kind R, but it surely would not have the choice to show the RPMs. The know-how is simple to make use of and options wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Acura additionally will get entry to a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system, which sounds far superior to our ears than the unit within the Kind R.
Powertrain: Kind R + Extra
Very like previous Integra fashions, the brand new Kind S shares its powertrain with the Civic Kind R. A 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC (however not the old-school form of VTEC) four-cylinder engine delivers 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque – a modest bump over the Kind R. Acura achieved the extra energy with a brand new exhaust system, which we’ll assess in higher element within the subsequent part. Drive goes out to the entrance wheels solely by way of a six-speed handbook transmission with a light-weight flywheel, limited-slip differential, and auto rev-matching. As with the Kind R, it is the slickest handbook ‘field this facet of six figures.
Acura doesn’t quote 0-60 mph occasions as a result of the Integra Kind S wasn’t designed with this particular metric in thoughts. The automobile might have been faster with all-wheel-drive and a dual-clutch transmission, however it could have been heavier and misplaced a lot of its purity.
Driving Impressions: The Mature Athlete
It is uncommon, however each infrequently, we drive a automobile that is so entertaining it makes us grin the second we ground the accelerator. The Integra Kind S is such a automobile. From the second you set off, you’ll immediately discover the Kind S-specific energetic high-flow exhaust system. Not solely does it enhance the facility output, but it surely sounds epic.
Kind R homeowners may lament the sound in the event that they get overtaken by a Kind S, showered by crackles and pops. Acura achieved this throatier exhaust be aware by eradicating the entrance resonator together with new engine tuning to realize the pops and bangs. It is much less obnoxious than a Hyundai Elantra N, however an enormous enchancment over the Kind R. The crackles do not occur each time you raise off the throttle, that means they really feel like extra of a reward while you nail an ideal shift.
The subsequent factor you’ll discover is the excellent DNA inherited from the Kind R. That is among the many most interesting front-wheel-drive automobiles we have ever pushed. The communication from the steering to the entrance wheels is sports-car sharp, that means the driving force can detect the precise second when the entrance wheels hook up to allow them to apply extra throttle.
For those who test-drove a Kind R and thought it was too stiff for every day duties, the Kind S is perhaps extra your velocity. The adaptive dampers are tuned a bit softer in all settings, that means even the Sport+ mode will not beat occupants up an excessive amount of. That being mentioned, we arrange the Particular person mode for Sport+ on all settings besides the suspension, which we left in Consolation. There is a little bit of physique roll left in – simply sufficient to have enjoyable with the chassis – however not sufficient that we might describe the Kind S as tender. This automobile begs to be pushed sooner with every communication level to the driving force (the steering, clutch, shift linkage, and powertrain), culminating in a pure, thrilling expertise.
On California’s tight mountain roads, we didn’t miss AWD within the slightest. The Kind S weighs round 200 kilos greater than the A-Spec at 3,219 lbs, that means it is simply 30-odd kilos heavier than the Kind R. AWD might have yielded faster acceleration occasions, however we consider it could have sullied the general expertise and made the automobile heavier.
Practicality: A Excellent Every day
Fans who had a poster of the Integra Kind R on their wall may protest, however we consider Acura’s determination to construct a five-door hatchback was an excellent transfer. The rear seats are fairly spacious, with a class-leading 37.4 inches of legroom. Sadly, that rear seat solely suits two passengers for the reason that cupholders stay the place a center seat needs to be. It additionally lacks rear air vents, a characteristic we would need on a car with this price ticket.
It might be barely restricted as a folks provider, however the Integra (just like the RSX earlier than it) excels as a cargo hauler. The hatchback physique model allows higher cargo capability than any of its rivals, with 24.3 cubic ft of cargo house behind the rear seats. Acura doesn’t quote cargo quantity with the seats down, however we will inform you it is cavernous and would swallow up an above-average Costco run. We reckon you possibly can even squeeze a mountain bike again there.
Pricing: Is A Premium Worth Tag Justified?
$50,800. That is the worth you’ll pay for the 2024 Integra Kind S. Properly, really, it is $51,995 with vacation spot, and if the Civic Kind R is any indicator, the dealerships is not going to let this automobile go with out an absurd markup. Assuming you possibly can get one at sticker value, the Integra Kind S continues to be not a cut price. It is costlier than a base Audi S3, the BMW M235i Gran Coupe, and Mercedes-AMG CLA 35. These are vehicles with all-wheel-drive and extra prestigious badges, however they lack a handbook transmission or a hatchback trunk. They can even enormously exceed the Integra’s value when geared up equally.
This is the most important query: is the Integra Kind S definitely worth the value improve over a Kind R? Assuming each vehicles have been out there at MSRP, the Acura is $7,000 greater than the Honda. For that value, you get mature styling, softer suspension, much less aggressive seats, a head-up show, a better output engine, and a better-sounding exhaust. Not everybody will agree that these modifications are definitely worth the value, however the suitable purchaser will desire the superior livability supplied within the Kind S. Once you decide up the youngsters from college within the Integra, the opposite mother and father will not provide the facet eye for driving a bombastic race automobile on the varsity run. The Kind S takes every thing we love concerning the Kind R and bundles it in a extra mature package deal. This author thinks that is definitely worth the value.