Acura Integra Type S : You’re standing at a Honda dealership, keys to a Civic Type R in one hand, checkbook in the other. The salesperson mentions there’s an Acura showroom next door with something called an Integra Type S. The base price difference? About $7,000 more for the Acura. That’s a lot of money for what appears to be the same car with a different badge. But here’s the thing – appearances can be deceiving.
The Same Heart, Different Personalities
Both cars share Honda’s excellent turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, though the Integra Type S squeezes out 320 horsepower compared to the Civic Type R’s 315. Five horsepower doesn’t sound like much on paper, and honestly, you won’t feel the difference. What you will notice is everything else that separates these mechanical twins.
Think of the Civic Type R as that friend who shows up to dinner in ripped jeans and a band t-shirt – fun, energetic, but maybe not the person you’d bring to meet your parents. The Integra Type S is the same friend who cleaned up, put on a nice shirt, and learned some table manners. Same personality underneath, but now they’re someone you’d proudly introduce to anyone.
The Daily Reality Check
Here’s where the Integra Type S starts justifying that price premium. The adaptive dampers are tuned a notch softer than the Type R’s, and there’s no Race setting that would put everything into hyperactive mode. Translation? Your back won’t hate you during your morning commute.
The Civic Type R demands attention everywhere you go. It looks like someone just stuck a gaudy aftermarket wing on a standard Civic. Meanwhile, the Integra Type S flies under the radar with its subtle lip spoiler and understated aggression. One reviewer had friends and relatives approach and ask about the Integra Type S; meanwhile, the Civic Type R just sort of scared people off.
If you’re buying a weekend toy that spends most of its time in the garage, the Civic Type R’s boy-racer aesthetic might be perfect. But if you need something that works Monday through Friday and still brings the thrills on Saturday, the Integra Type S makes more sense.
Interior Comfort: Where Your Money Goes
Step inside both cars and you’ll immediately understand part of the price difference. The Integra has sport leather seats with heating, while the Civic doesn’t offer power adjustability or heating on its front chairs. The Civic Type R has specialized, race-y bucket seats that are great for track work, but kind of weird in any other context.
The Integra Type S doesn’t just throw leather at the problem and call it luxury. It brings heated front seats, a head-up display, a 16-speaker ELS audio system, and a power driver’s seat as standard equipment—all features that aren’t available on the Civic Type R. These aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re daily conveniences that make a difference over thousands of miles.
The Sound of Refinement
You may appreciate the Acura’s extra sound deadening. In the Civic, you hear stones kicked up underneath the car and a lot more driveline noise, most of which disappears in the Integra. This isn’t about making the car boring – it’s about giving you the choice between serenity and excitement.
When you want to hear the engine, the Type S has a modified exhaust, lacking the Type R’s resonator, resulting in a more aggressively tuned exhaust note in Sport+ mode. The difference is that in the Integra, the sound enhancement isn’t digitally piped through speakers – it’s the real thing.
The Performance Reality
Don’t think all this refinement comes at the cost of performance. Running up and down the same road, both cars were superb. But the fact that the Integra could carry a similar pace as the Civic while providing more comfort to the driver made it the superior road car.
The Integra Type S reaches 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, matching the Civic Type R’s performance while delivering a more composed experience. The six-speed manual transmission is excellent in both cars, giving you that direct connection between intention and action that makes driving engaging.
The Target Demographic Dilemma
Age and maturity play a significant role in this decision. As a 48-year-old reviewer noted, the Integra Type S perfectly suits mature drivers who want both a sensible daily driver and a weekend warrior. The car can act mature when needed but unleash its inner teenager when the road gets twisty.
The Civic Type R feels more suited to a younger driver—or at least someone who doesn’t mind sacrificing comfort for raw performance. There’s nothing wrong with that approach, but it’s worth considering how you’ll actually use the car.
Value Proposition: What Are You Really Getting?
It’s hard to look at that price difference and feel you’re getting tangible value for that money; that sort of outlay would typically get you an upgraded powertrain on another vehicle. This is the Integra Type S’s biggest challenge. You’re paying luxury-car money for comfort and refinement improvements, not more power or dramatically better performance.
However, consider the alternatives. A comparable Audi S3 or Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 costs significantly more and comes with the premium maintenance costs that German luxury brands are famous for. Acura offers a longer powertrain warranty than most competitors, with coverage stretching up to six years or 70,000 miles, plus complimentary scheduled maintenance.
Acura Integra Type S vs. Honda Civic Type R
The question isn’t whether the Integra Type S is better than the Civic Type R – they’re both exceptional cars that serve slightly different purposes. The real question is whether the Type S’s refinements are worth $7,000 to you personally.
If you’re looking for a track weapon that occasionally sees street duty, save the money and get the Civic Type R. But if you want a car that can be both a sensible daily driver and a weekend warrior, the Integra Type S justifies its premium through the simple math of daily usability multiplied by years of ownership.
The Type S represents Honda’s engineering excellence wrapped in Acura’s commitment to refinement. Both cars are exceptional sports compacts; owning either is a win. The Integra Type S just happens to be the win that won’t punish you for choosing excitement over practicality.