Quick Take: 2023 Acura Integra
Small premium sport sedans with a manual transmission have become a rarity these days. Acura wishes to change that with the 2023 Integra, available with a 6-speed transmission with the sport-oriented A-Spec trim. The first manual transmission-equipped Acura in a long time, the new Integra is designed to appeal to car enthusiasts looking for something both fun and practical while delivering plenty of value. We managed to sample the Integra A-Spec for ourselves (yes, it was equipped with the manual) and savored our time behind the wheel.
Notably, the 6-speed manual transmission is available in the highest level version of the Integra, the A-Spec with Technology package. As a result, our test car came with plenty of upscale equipment such as the Jewel Eye LED headlights, a moonroof, ambient lighting, stainless steel sport pedals, and a 12-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support. Tech features included a 16-speaker ELS STUDIO 3D audio system (the sounds from it were excellent), a head-up display, Siri Eyes Free, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, and a 9-inch display for the infotainment system.
We drove the Integra in the hills of Malibu, which has many winding roads on which we could sample the car’s handling characteristics. The steering feel and grip were spot-on (likely helped by the limited-slip differential, an ever-decreasing rarity in this class) and we enjoyed rowing through the gears of the 6-speed manual. Ride quality was very good for a sport sedan, a trait that can probably be attributed to the adaptive damper system and the supportive driver’s seat. All Integras come with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 200 horsepower which provides more than enough brawn when traveling up steep grades or when powering out of very slow corners.
In the end, the Integra feels much more than the sum of its parts. Impressively for a small sport sedan, it delivers a high amount of performance with very good ride quality to the extent that no passengers feel any compromises. Efficiency is also a plus too, being rated at 30 miles per gallon combined. (Getting the automatic transmission increases that to 32 mpg combined.) We think the Integra should have no trouble ending up in driveways across America, especially after being cross-shopped against other luxury nameplates.
