2024 Acura Integra Type S

Overview

The hotted-up sibling to the standard Integra, the new-for-2024 Acura Integra Type S exhibits an entirely more engaging personality and delivers the kind of driving experience serious enthusiasts revel in. We’re delighted that Acura made the effort to honor the brand's “Type S” high-performance legacy by stuffing the engine bay with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 320-horsepower, a significant 120 hp increase over the standard Integra. This is virtually the same powerplant the motivates the track-worthy Honda Civic Type R. A slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission—an automatic is not on the menu—furthers Acura’s commitment to driver involvement and makes exploring the engine’s 7000-rpm rev range an instinctual thrill. While the Integra Type S has commonalities with the Civic Type R hot hatchback, it feels less edgy and more mature when the pace is dialed back, thanks partly to the Type S-specific tuning of its standard adaptive dampers. That duality is one of the qualities that helped earn it a 2024 10Best award. The Type S seamlessly blends performance and practicality with a decent-sized cargo area and adequate room for four, making it a solid value proposition and a great all-around choice for people who love to drive.

What's New for 2024?

The Acura Integra Type S high-performance model is new for 2024. It joins the standard Acura Integra (reviewed separately), which debuted in the 2023 model year after a nearly two-decade absence from the North American market.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The price of the 2024 Acura Integra Type S starts at $52.999.

Though the Integra Type S commands an approximately $7000 premium over its mechanically similar Honda Civic Type R cousin, it does bring heated front seats, a head-up display, a 16-speaker ELS audio system, and a power driver's seat as standard equipment—all features that aren't available on the Civic Type R. Plus, the Integra Type S has a negligible five additional horsepower, just enough to preserve the corporate pecking order. More than that, it offers a more refined daily-driving persona than the edgy Type R, which makes it different enough from its Honda cousin to represent a significantly different alternative. Engine, Transmission, and Performance

A 320-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 310 pound-feet of torque is sole engine for the Integra Type S. Like the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S routes the power exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential. Shifter action is wonderfully light and precise—this is one of the best manual shifters in the business—and clutch take-up is smooth and intuitive; with all 310 pound-feet of torque available at 2600 rpm, you could skip a shift or two without worry, but it'd be a shame to miss out on all the fun. In our hands, the Type S hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, nearly two seconds quicker than the 7.0-second time we posted with the standard Integra six-speed and just 0.2 behind the last Civic Type R we tested. The quarter-mile consumed just 13.7 seconds; Acura claims a 167 mph top speed. Road holding and braking match the Civic Type R, the Integra Type S pulling 1.02 g on the skidpad and stopping from 70 mph in just 153 feet. Equally as impressive, the Integra Type S knows how to chill in less demanding situations, slipping into calm, basic transportation mode quickly when desired. All Type S models come with 19-inch wheels with summer tires, larger Brembo brakes, and a unique exhaust system with three center-mounted exhaust pipes.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Integra Type S is EPA-rated for 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. That's off the mark set by the standard Integra's 30/37 numbers, but a fair price for the additional performance its larger, more powerful engine brings. The Audi S3 is slightly more efficient, earning EPA estimates of 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, and the BMW M235i Gran Coupe adds one more mpg in each metric. It’s worth noting the Type S returned an impressive 31 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel- economy test, three miles per gallon better than its EPA rating. For more information about the Integra's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Acura plays the long game with the Type S’s interior, favoring proven designs and quality materials over outright flash. There's plenty of parts sharing with the Honda Civic under the skin, but Acura pulls styling elements from the TLX sedan and RDX SUV to the familial vibe. Distinctive features include mildly-bolstered sport seats upholstered with perforated, faux-suede fabric, “Type S” embossed headrests, and subtle touches including a Type S shift knob, boot, and steering wheel emblem. Front seats are heated, and the driver’s features 12-way power adjustment; a pair of individual rear bucket seats and a small center console armrest replace the standard Integra’s rear bench. There’s room for two in back, but the lack of features such as rear air vents and seat heaters are notable omissions in a supposedly premium car. Thanks to its Civic roots, the Integra Type S offers the same 24 cubic feet of cargo room accessed via the large hatchback.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Type S gets the same 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster as the rest of the Integra lineup but includes the head-up display as standard. The larger 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard (the base unit is 7.0 inches), as is a wireless smartphone charging pad, a 5.3-inch head-up display, and a pair of USB ports (a USB-A and a USB-C charge only). The top-tier 16-speaker, 530-watt ELS Studio 3D premium audio system is also standard kit.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Acura offers a longer powertrain warranty than most of its competitors, with coverage stretching up to six years or 70,000 miles, but buyers of the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe will enjoy an extra year of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 miles.