The Acura Integra was reintroduced to the U.S. market for the 2023 model year as a 4-door with a practical hatchback trunk design in the rear. Based on the Honda Civic Hatchback, it is a notch higher in the dynamics category compared to some other premium compact cars sold today, and while it can’t hide its Honda bones, it does impress us in three key ways:
1. Available 6-speed Manual Transmission
The Integra is offered in multiple trim levels, all standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). If you select the penultimate A-Spec, however, Acura gives you the option of a 6-speed manual transmission. This is the last man standing in the compact premium-to-luxury sedan segment that lets you row your own gears. If you spring for the canyon-carving 320-horsepower Type S variant, that is actually your only option. In both civilian and hot hatch applications, the shifter is smooth and precise, though it may take time getting acclimated to the somewhat tricky clutch pedal when shifting from first to second gear.
2. Copious Cargo Room
Because the Integra, unlike the Civic, is only offered as a hatchback, it comes standard with a surprisingly cavernous cargo area. Even with the second-row seats in place, the rear-most section is just about as voluminous as the ADX crossover. The sloping roofline and liftback opening mean taller items can slide into the trunk more easily here than in a traditional sedan, though the stylized trunk opening design reduces lift-over functionality slightly.
3. Simplicity Over Sensory Overload
There are arguments to be made that Acura’s lack of daring design or cutting-edge software in the Integra puts it at a disadvantage in the eyes of consumers who lean more toward the innovator category. A counterargument, then, could be that the Integra, like the Civic with which it shares much of its interior, is refreshingly simple. The screens aren’t as big as the one on your laptop, the buttons and knobs are physical and real, and the learning curve is minimal. In 2026, that’s what a lot of people are looking for, and the Integra gives customers who want the reliable Civic experience in a fancier wrapper exactly that.
Read More on the 2026 Acura Integra
Read our full review of the Acura Integra, find this week’s Fair Purchase Price, or see Integra models near you.
