Luxury compact sports sedans offer the best of both worlds, giving you everyday practicality while being nearly uncompromising when it comes to performance. If you’re looking for one of these banging machines from Japan and don’t want to spend an absurd amount of money, there is but one option.
There is really no replacement for a luxury compact sedan. You can wake up in the morning, climb behind the wheel, put it in Comfort and be off, coddled by a plethora of high-tech features. Then, when you’re feeling saucy, you can put it in Sport mode and tear up some back roads.
The Japanese sports compact that we highlight in this article easily ticks all the right boxes, being comfortable and fun to drive. It is an enthusiast’s car that offers a more upscale experience to its mainstream cousin. We look at what helps it stand out in its segment, from its spacious interior to its fantastic manual transmission.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed, the EPA, the NHTSA, and the IIHS.
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Acura’s Integra Type S Is One Of The Most Affordable Options In Its Class
The world of affordable sports cars has really opened up in the last couple of years, with a ton of working-class heroes rising up to deliver exceptional performance at a low price. However, if you’re looking for a more refined driving experience and a classier cabin, the Integra Type S may just be the best choice.
2025 Trims and Pricing
Model
Starting MSRP
Integra Type S
$52,900
The Integra is based on the Honda Civic Si, offering a similarly tuned chassis and the same engine but with a more upscale interior and better ride quality. Thus, it makes sense that the Type S offers similar upgrades over the racuous and widely loved Honda Civic Type R hot hatchback.
The Honda Civic Type R starts at $45,895, making it the cheaper option, but the Integra Type S justifies its steeper price tag in a number of different ways. Compared to other luxury sports compacts, like the Audi RS3 and the BMW M2, the Integra is also a lot more affordable. It may not be as outright plush, but its performance is hard to argue with.
Integra Type S Versus Honda Civic Type R
There is pretty close to a $7,000 difference between Honda’s hot hatchback and Acura’s luxury version. Besides their contrasting exterior styling and a different badge slapped on the front, there is a lot of extra kit offered as standard in the Integra that makes it easier to live with day-to-day.
In terms of standard equipment, the Acura comes fitted with heated front seats, with the driver’s seat being power-adjustable. It also features a premium ELS sound system and a heads-up display. The Type R also features a pretty stiff ride, while the Integra Type S is more refined and much quieter at highway speeds.
Warranty and Maintenance
Limited Warranty – Four Years or 50,000 Miles
Powertrain Warranty – Six Years or 70,000 Miles
Complimentary Maintenance – Two Years or 24,000 Miles
Acura adds plenty of value to your purchase with a powertrain warranty that is longer than most of its competitors. Its limited warranty is pretty standard for this segment. You also get your first two maintenance visits on the house, which you don’t get with the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 or the Audi S3/RS3. BMW does offer another year of maintenance, though.
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Not The Quickest, But Loads Of Fun Anyways
Acura
There are a number of cars out there that prove that zero to 60 times aren’t everything. In fact, moving into the electric age has made these drag racing statistics near irrelevant. What is much more important in a sports sedan is how enjoyable it is to drive, and in this area the Integra Type S is nearly perfect.
Performance Specifications
Engine
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four
Transmission
6-Speed Manual
Horsepower
320 HP
Torque
310 LB-FT
Driveline
FWD
0-60 MPH
5.1 Seconds
Top Speed
167 MPH
The original Integra Type S was one of the most impressive front-wheel drive cars ever built, proving that the layout could be used in hard-edged sporting cars. The modern version lives up to this legacy in just about every way. Another thing that proves that the Acura is built specifically for enthusiasts is the fact that there is no automatic option. Instead, you only get one of the best six-speed manuals ever made.
The Integra isn’t as quick to 60 miles per hour as some of the other cars in its class, but we don’t think it needs to be. Acura offers a very raw and pure driving experience in their compact sports sedan, one that is really hard to come by nowadays. It gets all 310 pound-feet of the torque on offer at 2,600 RPM, and it comes standard with a limited-slip differential. Summer tires, big Brembo brakes, and a tri-tipped exhaust are also all standard kit.
When you’re done having fun, though, the Integra is much better at becoming a quiet and comfortable cruiser than the Civic Type R. Its adaptive damper system allows it to seamlessly shift between drive modes, from Comfort to Sport+.
Fuel Economy
Model
City
Highway
Combined
Integra Type S
21 MPG
28 MPG
24 MPG
Compared to the regular Integra, the Type S is a much thirstier machine. However, the price you pay for the additional performance is pretty fair in our eyes. Compared to some of its rivals, though, the Integra falls behind a little bit. The Audi S3 and the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 are reasonably more efficient.
Safety and Driver Assists
Collision Mitigation Braking System
Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
Lane Keeping Assist System
Traffic Sign Recognition
Auto High-Beam Assist
Acura’s Integra Type S comes loaded with plenty of modern driver assists and safety features, helping to make your commute more comfortable and effortless. This includes semi-autonomous driving, with the car combining adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to maneuver itself in low-speed environments.
It is an exceptionally safe sedan, with the NHTSA awarding it five stars out of five for safety. The IIHS also gave the sedan its Top Safety Pick+ award.
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The 2025 Integra Type S May Not Be Flashy, But It Is Comfortable
Acura
When it comes to interior design, Acura has never been a brand that opts for flashy cabins. Most of their vehicles prioritize utility pretty highly. The Integra Type S definitely demonstrates this. However, while it may not be the prettiest interior in its segment, it is well put together and loaded with high-end features.
Interior Dimensions and Comfort
Front Row Headroom
38.6 Inches
Front Row Legroom
42.3 Inches
Second Row Headroom
36.4 Inches
Second Row Legroom
37.4 Inches
Cargo Capacity
24.3 Cubic Feet
The interior of the Integra Type S feels like a mish-mash of Honda and Acura products, with it sharing plenty of elements with the Civic Type R and styling from the rest of the Acura family. The standard Ultrasuede upholstered sports seats are super comfortable, particularly thanks to standard heating and 12-way power adjustability for the driver. In the back, passengers get individual bucket seats rather than a bench, meaning you can fit a total of four people into the Acura.
There is a ton of space in the Integra, with those in the front and back having plenty of room to stretch their legs. The only disappointment is the lack of comfort features for those in the back, such as air vents or heating. Cargo-wise, the hatch in the back means you can fit a ton of bags in the trunk.
Infotainment and Technology
Where standard Integras come equipped with seven-inch infotainment screens, the Type S instead gets a nine-inch unit from the word go. It also comes with a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and a 5.3-inch heads-up display. You can connect to the system wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Plenty of other convenient features are included at no additional cost, including a wireless smartphone charging pad, a pair of USB ports, and automatic climate control are all standard. As menioned earlier, the compact sports sedan also comes fitted with an impressive 16-speaker ELS sound system.
AloJapan.com