Car enthusiasts sometimes whine that there aren't enough affordable sports cars on the market -- particularly ones with manual transmissions and the utility to be a reasonable daily driver. This car has four doors, a rear seat that can accommodate adults and hatchback utility. So what if it feels a skoosh underpowered or if its a gussied-up version of the Honda Civic Si? The Si, by the way, has a trunk instead of a hatch.
Yes, there's an argument to be made that the Si is the better choice on value -- it costs less, at least in terms of MSRP (dealer markup is sometimes a concern with these cars). But that comes down to one's budget -- and one's needs and desires. Sure, get the Si if you can't afford the Acura and/or don't care about having a hatchback. I love the Si. If I were buying a car tomorrow, it might end up in my driveway. But if I could stretch my dollar to get the Acura and its entry-luxury features -- not to mention access to its dealer network, since luxury brands tend to treat their customers better -- I'd probably do so. That's not a knock on the Si as much as it is an admission that the Integra A-Spec is worth the extra dough.
Think of it like this -- the Civic Si is the base, the A-Spec is the medium, and the Integra Type S is the premium version of this platform.
Torque News Says The Integra Is A Great Back-road Dance Partner
On the twisty, curvy, wooded roads outside of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec proved a willing dance partner. Turn-in is sharp and accurate -- the car simply goes where it's pointed, with no drama. It helps, too, that the steering is perfectly weighted and any artificial feeling is tamped down.
The manual adds to the fun -- the shifter is calibrated nearly perfectly for both spirited driving and gentler commuting. The only letdown is the clutch -- the take-up point is a little high and that makes for some awkwardness during more sedate low-speed maneuvering. It is, however, light and responsive enough for quick shifts when blasting through the tree-lined two lanes.
When it's time to slow it all down, the binders are up to the task.
Complaints about the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder are fair -- it does only make 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, and you do need to keep it in the upper rev band to get the most out of it. But those critiques miss the point -- not every sporty car needs Ford Mustang muscle. Choose the right tool for the job, and all that.
Want to win at the dragstrip? Fine, go ahead and find a torquey muscle car. Want something that's fun on a curvy mountain road or a technical racetrack that lacks in straightaway space? This Acura works.
Maybe on a fast racetrack like Road America, the relative lack of power could be an issue. But that use case seems limited.
Driving fun is the point here, but most of us are stuck trawling through traffic most of the time. Here, the Integra also shines. Drive it gently and the car has no trouble puttering around -- it doesn't strain at the leash the way, say, the Honda Civic Type R does. It rides comfortably without ever being soft.
Credit a MacPherson front suspension and multilink rear suspension.
Going on a dinner date? The Acura will get you there calmly, with very little hint of what it can do when unleashed.
Torque News Says There's More Than Performance Here
While the Integra may share its bones with the Civic -- and some interior bits look the same -- the cabin feels nicer. It's not ultra luxury here, but the materials look and feel nicer and generally justify the extra cost.
Performance need not punish at the pump -- the fuel economy numbers are solid at 26 mpg city/36 highway/30 mpg combined.
Available features include collision-mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, blind-spot information system, rear cross-traffic monitor, keyless entry and starting, hill-start assist, premium audio, Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless cell-phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The starting price for an A-Spec with Technology package -- which gives you the six-speed manual transmission -- is just under $40,000.
When it comes to inexpensive performance that requires little in the way of sacrifice, Honda and its Acura luxury arm have you covered. The Civic Si is the budget buy, the Type R is the mission-focused racer, and the Integra Type S is the best blend of luxury and power. The Integra A-Spec, meanwhile, sits in the Golidlocks middle. It's more affordable that the Type S, a better commuter than the Si and Type R, more luxurious than the Si and Type R, and offers hatchback utility.
Yes, it could use more oomph. But if that's the only issue, that's a good problem to have. If you're looking for a sporty car that's near-perfect at play and lets you live in relaxed comfort the rest of the time, few others do it this well.
Images: Acura
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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