2024 Acura Integra Type S test drive review

Acura’s 2024 Integra Type S is yet another piece of evidence that we’re living in one of the great golden ages of cars. A lot of praise has already been heaped on this hot hatch, and our experience finds it well warranted. Let’s cut to the chase: This car is excellent and you should take a trip to your closest Acura dealer and buy one. We drive a lot of cars and it’s rare to experience something so special, rewarding and well-executed. The Type S is a true jack-of-all-trades and does most everything exceptionally well. Shop 2024 Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Price and value 

The MSRP range for the 2024 Acura Integra is $32,695-$51,995. It is available in four trim levels, with a suite of standard features that includes front-wheel drive, Jewel Eye LED headlights and a blind spot information system. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. 

• Base: $31,500 See listings

Continuously variable transmission

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

200 horsepower

• A-Spec: $33,500 See listings

Gloss black decklid spoiler 

18-inch shark gray wheels 

LED fog lights

• A-Spec Technology: $36,500 See listings

Adaptive Damper System

ELS Studio 3D premium audio

Available 6-speed manual transmission

• Type S: $36,500 See listings 

320 horsepower

Type S sport appearance package

19-inch lightweight shark gray wheels

With an as-tested price of $52,595, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S is a good value. It’s luxurious, very fun to drive, practical, safe —- everything. That’s a price we would happily pay for this experience.

Acura’s warranty is one of the best in the business. They offer four years or 50,000 miles of limited coverage and six years or 70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Complimentary maintenance is also included for two years or 24,000 miles.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Performance 

The Integra Type S has a special way of making even novice drivers feel like professionals. The power is addicting and so fun to tap into, whether you’re merging with traffic or just going to the grocery store. The suspension is likewise heavenly, as is the transmission. It’s a true driver’s car that’s always welcoming and grounded. It goads you to go harder and trust us, you’ll want to. 

This is a car that always has your back, and rewards you for wanting to have a little fun. The Type S is all about day-to-day shenanigans, and it’s endlessly enjoyable and entertaining in that regard. Find 2024 Acura Integra listings

Engine 

The little 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is a marvel. Sure, it doesn’t rev to the VTEC heights of 20 years ago, but its 7,000 rpm redline is nothing to sneeze at. Power comes on low, too, with 310-pound feet of torque at your disposal from 2,600 rpm.

It produces 320 horsepower, and while that may not sound like much in the days of Hellcats and electric vehicles, it’s perfectly suited to the car’s fun attitude — as evidenced by its best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. It’s a blast to rip to redline, and there’s always usable torque, no matter where or when you need it.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Another huge bonus the Type S brings is its exhaust, especially its deep tone, pops and bangs in Sport+ mode. We love it. Part of the Type S’s appeal is its customizable drive modes, in which you can program things such as suspension firmness, engine responsiveness and exhaust volume. Our advice? Leave the exhaust in Sport+ mode. It sounds awesome and adds a ton of character to an already charismatic car.

Fuel efficiency

One of the few negatives for the Type S is its fuel economy. We averaged about 22 mpg in our week of testing, with a decent amount spent on highway commuting. Blame it on our heavy foot or eagerness to leave the engine response setting in Sport+ mode, but that 22 mpg is only 1 mpg better than the 21 mpg estimated city mpg rating.

Combined with a relatively small, 12.4 gallon fuel tank and you can probably expect to be filling up well short of 300 miles. It’s one of the few cars we’ve had to fill up before our week of testing was completed. But hey, we considered the trade-off in driving fun to be well worth it. Shop Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Drivetrain 

We could wax poetic for pages on the Integra Type S’s drivetrain, but we’ll restrain ourselves. In short, it’s excellent. The 6-speed manual transmission is ultra satisfying and may just be one of the best — if not the best — manual transmission on the market. Clutch pick up and pedal placement are likewise perfect. It’s so good, even amateur manual transmission drivers will get the hang of it without much trouble.

Honda, like few others, understands the joy that can only be had from rowing your own gears, and it has pushed that to the max with the Type S, especially with its excellent rev-matching system. Throw in a lightweight flywheel and a trick limited-slip differential, and the experience gets even better.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

As is the tradition with many of Acura’s products, the Integra Type S is only offered with front-wheel drive — and it is a thing of wizardry. Truly, even when flogging it hard around corners, the Integra Type S feels like it's all-wheel drive. It’s an engineering marvel.

That said, we wish all-wheel drive were an option. We question how it will perform in snowy Utah winters. Maybe the front-wheel drive setup will be fine, but to have Acura’s super handling all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000 or so would be an option we would happily pay for. It would make this car practically perfect. 

A note: The tires on the Type S are for summer only, and they wear very quickly. Plan on replacing tires every 10,000 miles or less and buying winter tires if you want to enjoy this car year-round.

Acceleration and handling 

The Integra Type S positively rips. It may not be supercar levels of fast, but few cars are as satisfying to push around. Car and Driver clocked it from 0-60 mpg in 5.1 seconds — plenty quick for daily driving. But as fun as the power and drivetrain are, it’s the handling that is truly jaw-dropping. 

The chassis is superb, firmly planted and confidence-inspiring. Front-wheel drive or not, this thing is amazing. The Type S is lower, wider and a touch longer than the standard Integra and boy, it makes a difference — especially with the 9.5-inch wide Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires tucked underneath all that flared bodywork. 

While the competition might be faster in a straight line, the Integra is ready to dance. Seriously, forget drag racing and let’s get to the party that Acura’s throwing. Search Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Braking

Anytime you get Brembo brakes on your car, you know you’re going to have incredible stopping power. The Integra Type S is treated to four-piston front Brembo calipers, 13.8-inch front rotors and 12-inch rear rotors, and they’re easy to modulate. It’s not all performance, either, as the Type S comes fitted with a collision mitigation braking system, including automatic emergency braking and automatic brake hold.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Interior comfort and convenience 

The Integra Type S excellence is carried over into the interior, making for a place worth its near $53,000 price tag. It’s ergonomically and pragmatically perfect, with buttons, controls and a seating position expertly and logically placed. There’s tons of front and best-in-class rear leg and shoulder room, although rear headroom is diminished thanks to the sloping roofline. 

Our tester’s interior was finished in red and black leather. Depending on the exterior paint color, interior color options include orchid and black or black without any contrast. Shop KSL Cars for 2024 Acura Integra listings

The interior of the Integra further pushes its argument to be your only car — to which we think it succeeds — with its usable and practical hatchback versatility. The Integra, like the Civic, only seats four, but we consider it a worthy trade-off for the space and comfort four grown passengers will enjoy.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Seats 

The seats in the Type S strike a good balance between sporty and casual driving, although leaning more toward casual than sporty. The Type S employs extended Ultrasuede inserts, firmer side bolsters, contrast stitching, embossed headrests and 12-way adjustability with lumbar. The front seats are heated; no ventilated option is offered.

The rear seats are not heated or ventilated. There are cupholders in the bottom seat cushion of what would be the middle seat. The seats are closely related to the standard Integra seats in other trims, Type S flourishes notwithstanding. Overall, they are comfortable and offer good support for daily driving. The rear seat offers a 60/40 split, allowing for excellent cargo versatility extended from the hatch space.

Climate control 

One thing we’ve enjoyed across the Integra and Civic lineup is the dash layout, including the buttons and knobs. Everything is logically laid out, easy to use and read, with a nice, well-constructed feel. The HVAC worked well on warm and cold days. Sadly, there are no rear air vents, a strange misfire in an otherwise excellent interior. A heated steering wheel is optional — a must-have in Utah. Shop all Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Cargo space and cabin storage 

As is the tradition with Acura and Honda, cabin and cargo storage space are excellent. There are a decent number of cubbies, including a wireless charging pad and a large center console under the nicely padded armrest. The hatch offers an accommodating 24.3 cubic feet of storage with the seats up, and even more with the seat down.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Infotainment system 

We’re big fans of the current Acura infotainment systems, and the brand has truly outdone itself in the Integra Type S. In front of the driver, you’re treated to the 10.2-inch Acura precision cockpit digital instrument cluster that displays various bits of information, including boost pressure, brake force and a G-meter. 

It also changes appearance depending on the driving mode you’re in. Switch to Sport+ mode and the needles change to yellow, an homage to the JDM DC2 Integra Type R. In addition to the digital display, the Type S offers a 5.3-inch head-up display.

The center stack sees the familiar 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in. It’s nicely integrated into the dash, giving your fingers a welcome place to perch. There’s also a physical volume knob and other large buttons that are easy to reach. Find Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Lastly, the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio stereo is the stuff of record books. The 16-speaker, 530-watt, 12-channel surround 3D system is amazing. Seriously, if you’re an audiophile, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better audio system anywhere near this price point.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Exterior appearance and functionality 

The exterior styling of the Integra Type S is quite striking and boldly sets itself apart from the standard Integra. Specifically, the Type S has:

• A 2.8-inch wider body

• Larger, open-surface diamond pentagon grille

• Larger front lower air intakes

• An aluminum hood

• Wide-body fender flares

• Aggressive lower side sill

• Wider wheels and tires

• A gloss black diffuser

• Large, triple outlet exhaust

• Type S badging

From the A-pillars forward, every body panel is unique to the Type S, altogether contributing to a sporty, aggressive yet mature appearance. All of these touches also contribute to some serious aerodynamic improvements, including several points front to back that greatly reduce lift and drag for greater performance. Shop all Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Our tester was finished in Platinum White paint. It’s an OK color, but the Integra begs for something bolder like Tiger Eye, Apex Blue or Performance Red. Other color options include Lunar Silver, Liquid Carbon and Majestic Black.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Wheels

The wheels for the Type S are special. They measure 19-by-9.5 inches and are 6.5% lighter than the Integra A-Spec wheels. They are finished in shark gray, but copper is available as an option.

The 265/30Z R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are incredibly sticky — as long as the temperature stays above 40 degrees. Winter tires will be a must for Utahns. They also generate a bit of road noise due, in part, to their width, but also from all the road debris that sticks to them and gets flung onto the undercarriage.

Lights and turn signals

The lights on the Integra are elegant and bright. Acura’s “Jewel Eye” LED headlight design is incredible and one of the more uniquely beautiful designs on the market. Other features like automatic high beams are standard.

Cameras and side mirrors

The multi-view rear camera was clear and useful, especially when backing into parking spots. The side mirrors provided clear views down the sides and behind the car.

Front and rear windshield 

The view out the front and sides is excellent, thanks to a large windshield and fairly large side windows. The view out the rear is surprisingly good, given the slope of the window and large C pillars.

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Safety 

Not only is the Acura Integra Type S one of the most fun cars you can buy, but it’s also one of the safest. With a host of standard safety features and top-tier crash test ratings, the Type S is hard to pass up. Shop all Acura Integra listings on KSL Cars

Features 

The Integra Type S comes packed with all of Acura’s best safety features from their Acurawatch advanced safety and driver-assistance suite. Some of these include:

• Hill start assist

• Advanced front and side airbags

• Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor

• Collision mitigation braking system with low-speed braking control

• Forward collision warning

• Lane keeping assist system

• Lane departure warning

Find the full list of safety features here.

Awards and ratings

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S has been a major award winner. Here are just a few it has received as of this writing: 

• Five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

• Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

• Car and Driver’s 10Best Cars for 2023

• North American Car of the Year

• Detroit Free Press Car of the Year

• Money’s Best Autos Car award

• Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems award

• Motorweek 2023 Driver’s Choice Award

Photo by Acura Newsroom

Final impression 

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is a stunner. It’s so well executed, it’s shocking how high it sets the bar. It didn’t have to be this good, but it is and it’s honestly life-changing. The Type S is a car everyone needs to experience, just so they can know how good a car can be — especially near the $50,000 price point. It’s a true jack-of-all-trades and does almost everything exceptionally well. We want one.

Shop for a 2024 Acura Integra on KSL Cars

Highs: 

• Exceptional motor, suspension and handling dynamics

• Bold, athletic styling

• Luxurious, practical, roomy and comfortable interior

• Customizable drive mode settings

• Hilariously entertaining exhaust note 

• One of the best manual transmissions in the world

• Excellent safety ratings

• Extremely satisfying and fun driving experience

Lows:

• No all-wheel drive option

• Rear seat headroom is slim

• Tires will need frequent replacement and like to collect gravel

• Mediocre fuel economy, small fuel tank

FAQs 

Who should buy the Integra Type S? 

If you’re someone who wants a performance-oriented do-it-all daily driver and has about $53,000 to spend, look no further than this car.

Is the Integra Type S good for families? 

Yes and no. The back seat is accommodating, even for kids in child seats; the rear hatch has a lot of space for strollers and gear. However, there are no rear air vents and the backseat only seats two. As a whole, the Integra Type S is probably one of the most practical sport sedans/hatchbacks you can buy. 

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com