2023 Acura Integra

In 2023, the launch year, every trim uses the 1.5L VTEC turbo four at 200 hp. The 320 hp Type S did not arrive until MY2024, so 200 hp is both the volume and the maximum output, low in the 130–520 hp hatchback band.

The torque plateau is broad and arrives early, but the peak sits in the lower quarter of the hatchback band.

Instrumented tests of the 2023 1.5T fall between about 7.0 and 7.7 seconds. That is respectable for the class but well off hot-hatch pace, held back in part by all-season tires.

Torque from 1,800 rpm makes the 1.5T smooth with little lag, but it is coarse near redline and adequate rather than exciting. Extra sound deadening over the Civic makes it feel a little more upscale.

The volume CVT simulates steps and has paddles, and it is one of the better CVTs, though it drones at full throttle. The 6MT with rev-match and a helical LSD (A-Spec Technology) is a class standout.

Every 2023 Integra is front-wheel drive. No AWD is offered on any trim.

MY2023 offers a single engine, the 1.5L turbo, with a choice of CVT or 6MT. There is no performance variant (the Type S came for 2024) and no hybrid, PHEV or EV.

The A-Spec CVT is the volume configuration. Its 18-inch wheels cost 1 MPG against the base car.

EPA city rating for the volume A-Spec CVT.

EPA highway rating for the volume A-Spec CVT.

Computed from the EPA combined figure and the small 12.4-gallon tank, which keeps range modest despite decent economy.

EPA's annual cost assumes premium fuel, which pushes the Integra's running cost above regular-fuel compacts with similar MPG.

Premium unleaded is recommended for the 1.5T. It is recommended rather than required, but EPA cost figures assume it.

NHTSA tested the 2023 Integra hatchback (FWD), the launch year of the fifth generation, and awarded five stars overall and in every sub-rating.

The 2023 Integra earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ under the 2023 criteria, with Good small-overlap (both sides), original moderate-overlap and updated side results; the later updated moderate-overlap (rear passenger) test, applied retroactively to 2023–26 models, is Acceptable, and seat-belt reminders are Marginal.

AcuraWatch is standard on every 2023 trim (base, A-Spec, A-Spec Technology): AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Jam Assist, lane keeping and road departure mitigation, plus standard blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring. Parking sensors are reserved for the A-Spec Technology Package.

IIHS rates the standard CMBS Superior in vehicle-to-vehicle and Superior for pedestrians in both day and night testing — top marks across every front crash prevention evaluation.

Blind Spot Information and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor are standard on every 2023 trim, but both are alert-only — no active steering or braking intervention and no safe-exit warning.

LKAS and Road Departure Mitigation are standard and work competently, with Traffic Jam Assist adding low-speed centering; reviewers find the Civic-shared system functional but less smooth than class leaders, with some wander in wide lanes.

Adaptive Cruise with Low-Speed Follow (stop-capable with the CVT; the 6-speed manual A-Spec Tech loses stop-and-go) and Traffic Jam Assist are standard; dependable, but no full-speed integrated highway-assist layer beyond LKAS.

No hands-free highway driving system is offered on any 2023 Integra trim.

LED headlights with auto high beams are standard, but IIHS rates them Acceptable — short of the Good rating that earns the top band.

The Civic-based liftback has reasonably slim A-pillars and a good forward view, but the sloped rear glass and thick C-pillars limit rear three-quarter sightlines; only a rearview camera compensates (no surround view), with parking sensors limited to the Tech package.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable: two outboard sets of lower anchors that are usable but not ideal, and a compact rear seat that fits a rear-facing seat with some front-seat compromise; three-across is impractical.

Every 2023 Integra trim seats five; the 4-seat Type S did not arrive until 2024.

Front headroom is middling because the moonroof is standard on every trim.

Front legroom is competitive for a compact.

The sloping liftback roofline trims rear headroom below the class's best.

Rear legroom matches the Civic and is adequate for adults on shorter trips.

The liftback opening gives far more usable space than the ILX sedan it replaced.

Everyday storage is competitive, with a 60/40 split-folding seat and cargo cover, but nothing inventive, and the wireless charging pad needs the Technology Package.

The front seats are supportive, but the volume trim gets only an 8-way power driver's seat with no power lumbar, and the rear cushion sits low.

The ride is firm but well controlled; the volume trim does without the adaptive dampers on Technology trims, which smooth out sharp impacts.

Road noise is higher than the premium badge suggests, and the CVT raises engine revs under load.

Heated front seats are standard, but the volume trim has manual single-zone air conditioning, and no trim offers ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel or rear vents beyond the basics.

The launch-year 2023 Integra opened about $800 below the 2024 car, sitting in the lower-middle of the hatchback band — a premium over the Civic Hatchback it shares hardware with, well under German premium compacts.

The A-Spec with Technology Package is the typically-equipped Integra and the only 2023 trim offering the 6MT, plus the 9-in screen, ELS audio, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and adaptive dampers.

Civic-derived 1.5T and CVT/6MT hardware keep parts and labor costs low and 2 years of included maintenance trims early outlay; published 2023 estimates disagree widely, so a value consistent with the identical 2024 hardware's tighter Edmunds/KBB pair (~$4,700–$4,900) is used.

Actual used-market data for the 2023 shows strong holding — about two-thirds of MSRP after three years — which projects to roughly 54% at five years, aided by Honda-family reliability and manual-transmission enthusiast demand.

A year longer than Honda's 3/36 and typical of premium brands, but short of Hyundai/Kia/Genesis 5/60.

A modest step up from Honda's 5/60 and par for premium brands, but far behind the 10/100 of Hyundai/Kia/Genesis.

2023 buyers get the Acura Maintenance Program for 2 years/24,000 miles (oil/filter, rotations, inspections per Maintenance Minder), plus 24-hour roadside assistance for the 4/50 warranty term and an AcuraLink trial — useful, but short of multi-year plans with broader perks.

$36,895 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (54% retained, or about $19,923) leaves about $16,972 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $21,972 in total.

Consumer Reports rates the 2023 Integra as more reliable than other cars from its model year. J.D. Power puts its Quality & Reliability at 77/100, which it labels 'Average'. Together that is above average, though short of top tier, for the launch year of the new DE generation.

Acura's brand standing is mixed. Consumer Reports places it in the upper half of brands, but in J.D. Power's dependability studies of the period it sits below the industry average, with the gap driven mostly by infotainment and tech complaints. That makes it mid-pack overall.

Two NHTSA campaigns cover the 2023 Integra, and both are shared with other Honda models. 23V430 is a small campaign (386 units) for a VSA modulator ball valve that can leak brake fluid. The more significant one is 24V744, an electric power steering gearbox built with excessive internal friction, which follows a large volume of owner steering complaints. Neither involves the powertrain, but the steering issue is a real recurring defect for this year.

The volume trim uses the L15B7 1.5L turbo with a CVT; a 6-speed manual is available on the A-Spec with Technology. It belongs to the same engine family as the Civic, Civic Si and CR-V, which has a large high-mileage field record. The 2016-2019 oil-dilution concern was mainly a cold-climate CR-V issue and was addressed in later calibrations.

Reviewers find the cabin well assembled, with nicer touchpoints than the Civic, but the Civic origins are obvious and the lower zones use hard plastics at a premium price.

The car is built in Marysville, Ohio, with consistent Honda/Acura assembly. Reviewers report no widespread rattles or panel-gap complaints. As a launch year, its initial quality is average by J.D. Power's measure rather than award-level.

Acura's network of roughly 270 US dealers is thinner than Honda's or Toyota's and concentrated in metro areas. Its service satisfaction is mid-pack among premium brands, and the warranty is competitive at 4yr/50k basic and 6yr/70k powertrain.

Because the mechanicals are shared with the Civic and Civic Si, parts are abundant and there is a large aftermarket. Acura-specific trim and body panels carry a modest premium.

The base trim, which sells the most, has a small 7-inch screen; the 9-inch screen comes only with the Technology Package.

The Civic-derived interface is quick and simple to use, with a real volume knob, but reviewers say the base screen is small for a premium car.

CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but wired-only on the volume trim; wireless projection needs the Technology Package.

There is no built-in navigation, and Alexa Built-In is limited to the Technology trim; base buyers rely on the phone.

The base 8-speaker system is adequate, and the available 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D system is a class standout.

A 10.2-inch fully digital gauge cluster is standard on every trim.

There are no meaningful over-the-air vehicle updates, and connected services are on the Technology trim only.

The volume trim has no AcuraLink, so it gets no app-based remote functions; the Technology trim adds them.

The volume trim has a single front USB-A port; USB-C, rear ports and wireless charging need the Technology Package.

Proximity entry and push-button start are standard, but fob remote start is limited to Technology CVT models and there is no phone-as-key.

A multi-view rear camera is standard, but parking sensors require the Technology Package and no surround-view camera is offered.

A 5.3-inch head-up display is offered, but only on the top Technology trim.

The big liftback swallows a stroller easily, and the rear seat takes child seats, but the low roofline makes loading them awkward.

Top crash ratings, and the full AcuraWatch suite is standard on the base trim families actually buy.

There is plenty of luggage space, but rear amenities are thin on the volume trim: no rear USB ports and manual single-zone climate.

The smooth CVT, standard adaptive cruise with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Jam Assist, and light controls make it easy in traffic; the trade-offs are a firm ride and road noise.

33 MPG combined for the base CVT is good, but premium fuel brings running costs back to average.

It has a compact footprint, but the 38.1 ft turning circle is wide for its size, and parking sensors need the Technology Package.

It has no tow rating and car-height cargo space, so it is not a work vehicle beyond carrying boxes in the hatch.

The Civic platform and 1.5L turbo are proven, but the low clearance and premium trim are not suited to hard use.

There is only a 12V outlet, with no hitch, AC outlet or upfit support.

About 400 miles per tank and standard adaptive cruise and lane keeping help, but road noise and a firm ride limit it on long drives.

It is front-wheel drive only, with low ground clearance, no roof rails and no tow rating, so it stays on pavement.

The 24.3 cu ft liftback with a 60/40 folding rear seat handles bulky gear far better than sedan rivals.

The Civic-based chassis is composed and grippy, among the more engaging cars in the premium compact class.

The steering is precise and naturally weighted, with more feedback than most rivals.

The brakes are adequate and progressive, with ordinary hardware for the class.

The turbo four pulls strongly through the midrange and the CVT simulates shifts well, but revs still rise and fall noticeably on grades.

The engine is inoffensive at a cruise but gets coarse at high revs, and the CVT drones under hard throttle.

Wider than many compact rivals.

The driving position is low and sporty with good adjustment and physical climate controls; rear visibility is average.

It is fun to drive, especially with the manual and limited-slip differential; the CVT volume trim is less involving but still lively.

The $31.9k base car includes AcuraWatch driver aids, moonroof, LED lighting and heated front seats, but the 9-inch screen, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, ELS 16-speaker audio, HUD and adaptive dampers are reserved for the $36.9k A-Spec Tech, so the volume buyer pays up for parity.

Good value against premium compacts (A3, CLA, BMW 2 Gran Coupe) with a hatch and a manual they lack, at launch prices roughly $800 below the 2024 car; still essentially an upscale Civic Si for a few thousand more at similar 200-hp performance.

Launch-year lineup is three closely spaced trims (base, A-Spec, A-Spec Tech) with one 200-hp engine and front-drive only; the 6MT is limited to the top trim and the Type S did not arrive until the 2024 model year.

In its first full year the Integra sold 32,090 units in calendar 2023 and led the luxury entry-compact segment by a wide margin — a strong debut for a niche, though small in absolute terms.

Acura is a respected entry-luxury brand and the revived Integra name carries strong 1990s enthusiast heritage, but the marque lacks the aspirational pull of the German premium brands.

A brand-new, supply-constrained launch during the 2022–23 inventory shortage meant the 2023 Integra mostly traded at or near MSRP (manual A-Spec Techs sometimes above), with only modest APR/lease specials appearing late in the model year.

2023 is the launch year of the fifth generation, built on the 11th-gen Civic platform with current tech — the freshest point in the cycle with no redesign risk.

Named 2023 North American Car of the Year and widely praised for its chassis and slick manual; reviewers ding the CVT base cars, modest 200 hp and price premium over the Civic Si. The Type S accolades (10Best, R&T PCOTY) belong to 2024.