OJAI, California — Acura turns the dial up to 11 with the 2024 Integra Type S, the top version of its award-winning compact sport sedan. Example: Type S horsepower increases 60% to 320 hp, torque rises 61% to 310 pound-feet, but curb weight increases a measly 4.7% to 3,219 pounds.
The Type S is unadulterated pleasure, the most powerful Integra ever and a high-water mark for what’s arguably the most beloved model from Honda’s luxury brand.
I drove a new Type S through the vineyards, rolling hills and twisting roads of California’s central coast, finishing with a long fast run down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
The details of my test drive
What is it? 2024 Acura Integra Type S compact sport sedan
Which model did I drive? Integra Type S with 19-inch copper wheels, carbon fiber spoiler, premium blue paint and carpet mats.
What’s new? Engine, suspension, brakes, bodywork, trim.
I wish: My iPhone didn’t keep losing contact with the wireless charger.
How much? Base price $50,800. $54,590 as tested. All prices exclude $1,195 destination charge.
EPA rating: 21 mpg city/28 highway/24 combined (estimated). Premium gasoline.
Where is it built? Marysville, Ohio
When can you buy one? On sale June 19
Immediately recognizable
The Type S stands out even before the engine starts. Big 19-inch wheels house enlarged brakes, red Brembo front calipers and wider front and rear tracks to put the extra power down and maintain stability. The front track — the distance between the center of the tires — grew a whopping 3.5 inches. Rear track increased 1.9.
A six-speed manual transmission with short throws, a tight shift pattern and light clutch is the only Type S gearbox, a nod to the car’s performance-minded audience, and the fact that the base Integra’s continuously variable automatic couldn’t be adapted to handle 320 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque.
In addition to new grille, hood and fenders, the front end uses air ducts in the nose that cool the brakes and create an “air curtain” around the front wheels to reduce drag.
Key new features
- 320-hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine
- Brembo front brake calipers
- 19-inch Michelin Sport Pilot summer tires
- Unique fenders, grille, hood
- 2.8-inch wider body
- Wider front and rear tracks
- Three-outlet central exhaust
- Active exhaust tuning
- 530-watt, 16-speaker ELS audio
Driving impressions
Clever aerodynamics are just the beginning of what engineers engineers gave the Integra S’s precise, sporty dynamics. A limited-slip differential minimizes wheel spin, while grippy Michelin Pilot Sport summer tires grip the road. Adaptive dampers keep the car level under acceleration, braking and in fast corners. The front suspension positions the tires for control and grip while aluminum suspension parts reduce weight.
A unique, three-pipe center exhaust delivers a satisfying but unintrusive rumble with sporty snorts.
The engine delivers immediate power from a stop, pulling through curves or on the highway.
What does it compete with?
(2023 models and base prices)
Audi S3 $45,900
BMW M235 Gran Coupe xDrive $46,400
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 35 4Matic $49,500
Source: Edmunds
Interior design and features
The cabin is roomy, comfortable and well-equipped. Acura deleted the sunroof to reduce weight and lower the car’s center of gravity. The gauges are clear, legible and simple: big projections of round speedometer and tachometer dominate the instrument cluster.
My iPhone — in a hard rubber BodyGuardz case — kept sliding out of contact with the wireless charging pad.
The 530-watt, 16-speaker ELS audio system provides a delightful counterpart to the carefully curated exhaust notes.
Why get one?
The Integra S delivers power, performance and features at an attractive price compared to similarly equipped luxury compacts.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.