Overview & Reviews

In 1986, Honda launched the Acura brand to create a separate luxury brand to appeal to upmarket buyers. Its first model, the Acura Integra, was a sporty hatchback that emphasized Acura's focus on engineering excellence and build quality. The Integra's balance of reliability and performance made it an instant hit, especially for those buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to German imports.

Through the years, the Integra developed a large following of consumers. Some were interested in a basic commuter car while others were looking for a solid base for modification with performance parts. The Integra was able to satisfy all. Using its knowledge gained from Formula 1 racing to innovate new technologies for its passenger cars, Acura introduced its VTEC variable valve timing system to the Integra in the early '90s. The Integra was the first car after the exotic NSX to receive it, and the system helped the car squeeze every drop of power out of its small 4-cylinder engine while maintaining an admirable amount of fuel efficiency.

More importantly, the Integra showed that Acura (and the Japanese manufacturers as a whole, for that matter) was able to compete with the global luxury car manufacturers in terms of design, quality and creature comforts inside the cabin. As Acura solidified its place in the near-luxury market, however, the company altered its marketing strategies. It did away with model names, opting for alphanumeric designations instead. In 2001, Acura renamed its entry model the RSX, effectively killing the Integra in America.

Most Recent Acura Integra

The third and final generation of the Acura Integra spanned from 1994 through 2001. It was one of the best front-wheel-drive cars in its class as it was exciting to drive and had a sporty silhouette that seemed designed to cut through the wind.

Acura offered two body styles, a two-door hatchback and a four-door sedan, across all trim levels, including the GS-R performance trim. At first, Acura offered two lower trims, the base RS and LS. Through the years, Acura updated the lineup by adding a GS trim in 1998 and removing the RS in 2000. Except for the GS-R, no matter which Integra you got, it came with the same 142-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard. A four-speed automatic was optional.

The performance-oriented GS-R featured a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that was equipped with VTEC. The GS-R came exclusively with a special close-ratio five-speed manual. In road tests of the '98 Acura Integra GS-R, our editors found it to be well balanced in terms of being fun to drive and easy to use on a daily basis.

In 1997, the limited-edition Acura Integra Type R debuted. Available only as a coupe and in a single color (Championship White), the Type R focused purely on performance and featured a high-revving 195-hp version of the 1.8-liter engine. Lighter parts and body panels lowered the Type R's weight by nearly 100 pounds. It came with a tuned suspension system, better brakes, a limited-slip differential and a specially designed close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. In order to further reduce the vehicle's weight, Acura even made the air-conditioning system optional.

Acura produced the Type R in 1998 and again in 2000. The final time around, the Type R wasn't nearly as exclusive and raw. Weight reduction was limited to 33 pounds and this time, Acura provided two colors, yellow and black.

In 2001, the Acura Integra Type R won an Edmunds.com Editors' Most Wanted_SM award for Best Sports Coupe (FWD/AWD) Under $30,000. Today, these-third generation Integras are still highly regarded as used vehicles. Though certainly reliable, they have become quite popular with young enthusiasts wanting to modify their cars with aftermarket parts. As such, finding an unmolested car, particularly in GS-R trim, can be somewhat of a challenge.

Past Acura Integra Models

The original and first-generation Acura Integra debuted in 1986 and came as a two-door or four-door hatchback. Both styles were available in a base RS or more luxurious LS trim and were powered by a 113-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a four-speed automatic was available as an option. In 1988, Acura increased engine output to 118 hp, but most of its power was still too high in the rev band to match the lower torque curves of its sports coupe competition.

In 1990, Acura remedied the problem when it released the second-generation Integra. Again offered in two body styles (this time with a four-door sedan), this Integra was more sophisticated and was powered by a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder that made 130 hp. In addition to the RS and LS trims, Acura added a GS trim. It was a "top of the line" trim with added standard equipment, such as antilock brakes and an upgraded interior. All models came standard with a five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic being optional.

In 1992, Acura bumped power output up to 140 hp. That same year, Acura introduced the Integra GS-R, a performance-oriented trim that was powered by an all-new 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine making 160 hp. It also was the first time Acura applied its variable valve timing system (VTEC) in a car other than the NSX. The GS-R was designated a pure driver's car and came exclusively with a close ratio five-speed manual transmission. It was also equipped with a good deal of standard equipment, such as antilock brakes, a moonroof and power locks and windows.

User Reviews:

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  my acura - 1998 Acura Integra
  By bobby j - July 25 - 2:00 am

  very dependable with no maintenance except oil changes and tires. best car ive ever owned and im 51 yrs old.

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  GREAT COUPE - 1990 Acura Integra
  By FOTITO - July 24 - 2:00 am

  IT IS BY FAR THE BEST COUPE IN TODAYS MARKET

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  Nice - 1997 Acura Integra
  By Sugeicee - July 23 - 2:00 am

  Best car ever. I love it, and I would buy another after another if they still made it. I wish Acura never replaced it with the RSX, but that is awesome too. The Integra is the best import car ever for your money.

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  A Practical Sports Car - 1996 Acura Integra
  By Robert Sheridan - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 1996 LS when my wife changed careers and needed our 1999 Civic coupe as a daily driver. Plus, we needed a car to haul around our 65- pound Siberian Husky. I never thought Id own a car that was more fun to drive than my old 88 Prelude, but the Integra beats the Prelude hands-down. The Integra hugs the twisties like a Porsche, possesses a zippy high-revving engine (I routinely redline the tach), is virtually maintenance-free, and has tons of cargo room.

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  Where are the 2003s??? - 2000 Acura Integra
  By chiq - July 15 - 2:00 am

  It is a great car. After 3 years, Ive had no problems whatsoever. Its attractive, has good acceleration and has been very reliable. It is much better than my Civic I had previously. The quality is much better and it feels heavier and safer on the road. I highly recommend these cars. I am very disappointed that Acura has discontinued them.

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  Acura Integra is fun and reliable - 1997 Acura Integra
  By Kathi - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I love my car and am having a hard time accepting that I have to sell it. I bought it brand new in 1997, and I have not had any major problems with it at all, only regular maintenance checkups. The gas mileage is excellent, especially for highway driving. The car is peppy and agile, which makes it fun to drive (I recommend manual transmission for the most fun). Also, you dont need a VTEC engine to get good pickup. Composed of Honda parts, the Integra is also extremely reliable. If I werent moving to Europe, I would choose to drive my car until the wheels fell off. No kidding!

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  Great Car! - 1997 Acura Integra
  By Nick Ayles - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Great car I would perfer nothing less. I have wanted one of these for quite sometime and funally I have gotten my baby!

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  Integras last long time - 1991 Acura Integra
  By hinomura - July 7 - 2:00 am

  This is the first car Ive owned and Ive been miserly with maintenance. Oil changes every 6K miles and timing belt changes every 75K miles. The only improvements I made were the K&N filters (air and oil) and this car runs like the day I bought it-- it scoots. It doesnt ask for much, but it delivers reliability and performance better than BMW or Mustang.

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  LOVE MY TEG! - 1991 Acura Integra
  By JOHN MAI - July 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car from my mom in 2000 after I talked her into buying a 2000 TL (great car). She had never had a single major problem with it and now Im enjoying the reliability of this wonderful machine. Ive done quite a few mods and am very impressed with the "unharnessed" power of this DOHC B18 engine. Im giving the car to my fiance because I dont have the heart to sell it. The best car Ive ever owned - hands down!

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  my 98 Teg - 1998 Acura Integra
  By spdracerchic - July 7 - 2:00 am

  i bought my 98 teg in dec. of 2000. i was in a total front in collsion, but the guy i got it from did a wonderful job redoing it. you cant even tell it was in a wreck. it does have a type R front bumper.the only thing about the car is the values starting ticking around 70k miles. and the insurance is high for a 20yr.old, but besides that it is a awesome car. i do race mine and it has alot of mods.