Acura Integra (modern) DE4
Base car is a posher Civic Si. Type S is the Civic Type R wearing a tie. Both are good, neither is the original DC2.
Base trims (A-Spec, A-Spec Tech) use the L15CA 1.5-litre turbo four making 200 hp and 192 lb-ft, paired with either a CVT or a six-speed manual. The Type S, launched mid-2023 as a 2024 model, uses the K20C1 from the FL5 Civic Type R — the same physical engine, retuned with Acura-specific intake and exhaust to make 320 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft at 2,600 rpm. Six-speed manual only on Type S, with rev-matching, helical LSD, adaptive dampers, 19-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, four-piston Brembos up front. Type S 0-60 is 5.1 seconds (Car and Driver tested), top speed 167 mph claimed. The chassis is shared with FL5 Civic Type R — same wheelbase, similar suspension geometry — but the Acura is tuned slightly softer for daily-driver duty. Built at Marysville, Ohio, on the same line as the TLX.
Strengths
- Type S is genuinely fast — 5.1-second 0-60, three pedals, real character
- Base car has adaptive dampers (a feature the Civic Si dropped for 2022)
- Liftback bodystyle is more practical than a sedan
- Honda reliability with Acura interior trim
- Type S has helical LSD and rev-matching standard
Weaknesses
- Base car is hard to differentiate from the cheaper Civic Si
- Type S at $52k bumps into proper sports cars (M240i, Golf R, A-Spec Q3)
- Hatchback rear has limited headroom for adults
- Front-wheel drive only — Type S could use AWD at this price
- Heavy: Type S is 3,217 lb (heavier than a Civic Type R)
Notable tech
- K20C1 turbo from Civic Type R, retuned to 320 hp on Type S
- Helical LSD and rev-match downshifts standard on Type S
- Adaptive damper system across the range
- Triple-exit exhaust on Type S
- ELS Studio 3D 16-speaker audio on Type S
- 9-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto
Common issues
- Too new to have meaningful long-term issue data — early reports good
- Some early Type S owners report turbo whine on cold start (Honda investigating)
- Premium tire wear on Type S — Pilot Sport 4S won't last past ~25k miles driven hard
- Infotainment occasionally laggy on cold boot
Used-market budget
$35,000
Base A-Spec Tech examples around $30-35k used. Type S still trades near MSRP — $48-55k for low-mile cars, with new ones around $52k base.
