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 WantedSM 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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Great car - 1991 Acura Integra
By Sean Devlin - December 18 - 2:00 amI got it as my first car last month, ive put quite a few miles on it, and its great. The clutch seems to last forever, and its really forgiving. The original owner learned how to drive stick on the same clutch, as i did, only 100,000 miles ago...great car.
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Mine has been great. - 1999 Acura Integra
By Doak - December 12 - 2:00 amMy experience with my GSR Sedan has been great, I love everything about this car. I never thought Id want to sell it, but the draw of the M series of BMWs is strong. I should be selling my car soon, and Im pretty sad to see it go. But, Im seeking something with around 250hp. Reliability has been great, I havent had any problems with it. The visibility is great, and the engine has plenty of power.
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Doesnt get better than this - 1993 Acura Integra
By lexus_driver - December 12 - 2:00 amI owned my 93 LS for 2 years and only got rid of it because I wanted a bigger, more comfortable car. But it was hard letting go. Despite the fairly low power rating, it seemed to go fast due to the light weight of the car. And oh, could it handle. It had a surprising amount of leg room considering the overall size. The only problem I had was a leaky head gasket, but I got rid of the car before I had to fix that.
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GREAT - 1999 Acura Integra
By Shallon - December 11 - 2:00 amLOVE IT would not trade it for anything in the world. :0) Yeah
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wow - 1994 Acura Integra
By weggie - December 9 - 2:00 amthis car has it all nothing more
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Keeps Going and Going! - 1991 Acura Integra
By gbb - December 9 - 2:00 amWhen my wife approached me in 1993 about purchasing a used 91 GS, I told her why waste money on an overpriced honda.....9 years and 223K miles later she cannot keep me out of it...In the family, we still have the 91 as well as a 98 3.0 CL and a 99 GSR..smile smile smile
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Great car! - 1990 Acura Integra
By db88 - December 8 - 2:00 amI had my Integra for 8 years and when I sold it it was just as good as when the I bought it. I put over 170,000 miles on my Itegra it ran great to the day I sold it. It only broke down on me once. After I sold the Integra I bought a 1993 Honda Prelude also a wonderful car. Sadly thought I only had it for about 3 Months and somebody ran into the passenger side and bent the frame and toltaled the car.
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awesome car!!!!!!! - 1997 Acura Integra
By m3boarder57 - December 6 - 2:00 amincredible car to own
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Great Car - 1999 Acura Integra
By Jorge L - December 2 - 2:00 amFun to drive, fast , great handling, the most reliable car Ive owned.
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All Around Great Car - 1992 Acura Integra
By Mrs. A - December 2 - 2:00 amI bought my integra used in 1998 and have been throughly pleased with it since. This car has been fun, reliable, and easy to maintain. My car has 165000 miles and is still driving just like it did 4 years ago. The up keep on the car has been fairly reasonable and except for replacing the master cylinder I have had no major repairs. I would strongly recommend this car to anyone especially those that tend to be rougher on their cars as I tend to be.
