Worth the Wait, Meet the 2024 Acura Integra Type S

Teia Collier   |  

Jul 16, 2023

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I tried to contain my excitement but it proved impossible. Photo: Teia Collier

We were excited when the Acura Integra returned.

But this version is truly worthy of the Integra name. Built in Marysville, Ohio, the long-awaited 2024 Acura Integra Type S is a sports car for those who love the thrill of the drive and hold happy memories of a bygone era.

Let me explain. 

The Acura Integra Type S. Photo: Teia Collier

Whispers of a Legend

If you ask around, to anyone between the ages of 25-50, chances are they will tell you that they have fond memories of the Acura Integra. Nostalgia, laced with the fun of youth, makes for an enticing combination in this age of instant news and social media overload. The sound, the speed, the handling, and the cool factor of attainable luxury of 20 years ago are part of the draw that brings buyers to the new age of Acura. So, it’s no surprise that when the Integra made its return last year, enthusiasts went gaga and made it one of their best-selling and award-winning vehicles to date. That is also around the same time that whispers of a high-performance variant started emerging.

The question lingered… would it wear the badge and get the title of Type S?

It did, and it does.

If you are the type to skip to the end of the story, just know that for $55k, you can secure a 2024 Acura Integra Type S that delights, handles like a boss, and doesn’t sacrifice safety and comfort for speed. It draws on the DNA of it’s sports car cousin, the Honda Civic Type R, with a powerful 320 horsepower turbo charged engine, manual transmission and race track tuning, an enticing combo that had me searching online for a local dealer. Let me share more of my experience.

Related: We Have a Lot to Say about the 2023 Acura Integra

The Fleet of Acura Integra Type S test vehicles. Photo: Teia Collier

Encountering the Type S

In the leadup to the test drive, I had been stalking Acura’s social media to catch a glimpse of the Integra Type S. I was greeted with image after image of the low-slung sports sedan. In true high-performance form, vibrant shades of gold, blue, red, and white stopped my scroll, as I watched the Integra Type S make fans around the globe for setting records at famous tracks from Nurburgring to COTA. I caught peeks of a sexy red interior and the gleam of burnished metal glistening in the sunlight. It’s a looker and a winner, and I was excited to know what it felt like – firsthand. 

The next morning, clouds thick with water sat heavily on the rolling hills, and after a quick breakfast, it was time to drive. The cars sat lined up like shimmering jewels and pearlescent dominos. The pictures don’t do it justice, but I tried. The sunlight caught the hood and it was dang near breathtaking beside its Acura siblings the NSX, TLX, and MDX.

The red interior on the Acura Integra Type S sets the perfect tone. Photo: Teia Collier

It’s Even More Delightful Inside

Up close and personal, the textures are rich, and decidedly more elegant in their construction than its Honda Civic Type R cousin, and more refined in execution. As you shift from first to second gear, you notice that the cockpit is driver-centric. A head-up display comes standard – yes, please. You’ll get to enjoy a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrasting crosshatch stitching that feels neat beneath your fingers, and a smartly-sized touchscreen multimedia system that’s clear and bright. The sport-inspired seating doesn’t sacrifice comfort for function, cradling your body while you drive, and embossed Type S logos serve as a subtle nod to the sport lineage that you are now part of.

We tested the six-speed manual with the standard Michelin Pilot Sport High-Performance Summer Tires on rather stunning 19’’ copper alloy wheels. The tires, and the suspension designed for winging roads, that gripped the pavement and nimbly handled the drive with great ease, reminding me of the fun that driving allows. Like a daily vacation on wheels, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S would make an excellent daily driver.  

Related: Check out these Sexy Sports Cars

The Integra name under the distinct tail lights. Photo: Teia Collier

Details that (Surprise!) Come Standard

I found that I loved the ELS STUDIO 3D sound system, developed by award-winning producer and engineer Elliot Scheiner. 16 high-fidelity speakers and one cargo-integrated subwoofer provide clean sound that surrounds you and makes any playlist that much better.

Then, with all the buzz about Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in vehicles, I simply want to plug in my phone and go. In the case of the Integra Type S, I was pleasantly surprised to find that wirelessly connecting comes standard.

And the pretty red pop from the Brembo performance brakes pulls double duty of looking fabulous and making stopping a breeze.  

The triple rear tail pipe of the Acura Integra Type S. Photo: Teia Collier

Making the Teenage Version of Me Proud

All in all, the 2024 Integra Type S is an enticing package that brings the best of nostalgia and modern tech together. It’s fun, vibrant and makes you feel alive behind the wheel.  With so many vehicles, falling into that nice, but boring space, it is a delight to find one that delivers necessities such as safety, tech, comfort, and performance and yet, still feels exciting. It is also rather lovely that you can get it all for less than $60k. Our test model came in right at $55,785, including destination and handling.

Our model had a few extras, including premium paint ($600), a carbon fiber tailgate spoiler ($950), and 19-inch copper alloy wheels at $2,000 – which means you can serve up a brilliant daily experience for an even sweeter price if you skip the fancies. 

The red Brembo brakes are eye catching. Photo: Teia Collier

Get It Girl!

The teenage version of me is saying, “Get it!!!” The adult me is saying, “Acura Integra Type S? Game on, sister.” The legend is no longer whispering in my ear, it’s downright screaming. And I love it.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Acura for this test drive. Travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own.

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A luxe interior is standard. Photo: Teia Collier

By Teia Collier

Teia Collier is a mother of three, educator, social journalist, advocate for women’s and children’s issues and lover of... More about Teia Collier