Often, a truly exceptional driver’s car reveals itself within the first few hundred feet behind the wheel.
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is exactly this kind of car. In fact, it doesn’t require much road to make its mark; so much of its driving magic can be felt even while standing still in the driveway.
Running through the six speed manual transmission while stationary, it’s immediately clear why Honda sets the standard for manual gear boxes. It’s a fusion of the natural flow through the gear pattern, both up and down shifting feel intuitive as your hand guides the compact shifter, and the mechanical assurance you sense with each shift.
The sheer satisfaction derived from each gear change is enough to elate any manual enthusiast.
Well Balanced and Lively
The excitement kicks in as you depress the well-balanced clutch, and the lively 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder engine roars to life. It sends vibrations coursing through the car and into your body, deliberately omitting balance shafts for a more visceral experience. While smaller turbocharged engines tend to lack character, the Type S’s engine feels alive and brimming with energy even at idle. Before you begin to explore the rev range, it’s evident that this engine was crafted for performance.
As you gently release the clutch for the first time, setting the robust 265 wide tires in motion, promptly revealing the perfectly calibrated steering rack, signaling the seriousness of this chassis. The view ahead is breathtaking, thanks to slender A pillars.
The exhaust produces an exhilarating staccato on the overrun as I approach the first stop sign, a gentle touch to the accelerator pedal is all it takes to bring this hatchback to a halt.
It takes just a few hundred feet to realize that this Type S is precisely what I anticipated: a Honda Civic Type R in different attire. The comparison is inevitable, and the Honda community may spend the next five decades debating which one reigns supreme — trust me, a definitive answer will never emerge. However, it’s undeniably wonderful that we have the privilege of choosing between these two similar driving powerhouses. Fortunately, no matter which one you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Sitting Comfortably
The initial night of testing the Type S is a brisk one, but my stubbornness prevails as I keep the windows down to savor every last bang and pop from the Integra’s distinctive exhaust. To counter the cool breeze, I activate the standard heated seats in the Type S. If the test car were equipped with them, I could even engage the optional heated steering wheel.
This isn’t an option in the Type R, which features unheated bucket seats and an unheated steering wheel.
However, the Integra’s leather seats are bound to get considerably warmer in summer. Without a ventilated seat option, the cloth-covered Type R seats might end up being the more comfortable choice. In terms of performance, the Type R’s seats reign supreme in both support and comfort. The power-adjustable seats in the Integra are a welcome luxury, but why aren’t they equipped with memory support? Half the pleasure of power seats lies in the ability to switch between drivers effortlessly.
If someone else takes the wheel of your Type S, you’ll have to readjust the seat to your ideal position all over again, much like your friend in a Type R. At least the Type S boasts power lumbar support, a feature the Civic lacks a response to.
Road Holding:
Acura’s distinct damper tuning for the Type S is another driving element that the Civic can’t match. The Civic Type R is undeniably firm-riding; there’s no getting around that. The Type S is no different, but the added compliance in the Integra’s ride is a blessing on the Midwest’s dreadful roads. Rather than settling for something bearable in the Civic, the Type S offers a ride that can border on enjoyable when you have the dampers set to Comfort mode.
If you frequently navigate rough roads or simply prefer a less jarring commute, the Type S’s ride quality may be its most compelling selling point. Acura’s designation of the Type S as a street performance car couldn’t be more accurate, as the street is where this hot hatch flaunts its Acura supremacy most convincingly. Of course, throw both onto a racetrack, and it’s nearly a given that the Type R would be the preferred weapon.
Both are undeniably driving powerhouses, however. The limited slip differential distributing power to the Integra’s front wheels is the most remarkable ingredient of all, alongside the Dual Axis torque steer quelling suspension design and unflappable chassis.
With the Type S, every facet of how it drives earns a gold star. It embodies confidence, grip, and sheer performance encapsulated in a front wheel drive hot hatch.
Engine and Performance:
The 320 hp — 5 more ponies than the Civic are pushing the boundaries of what a front wheel drive car can handle. Spinning those front wheels occurs instinctively in first gear, and the surge of acceleration really kicks in from second gear onward.
Weighing in at only 1460kg, the 320 horses are remarkably effective for sustained acceleration, even well beyond highway speeds. And unlike the high-strung, VTEC equipped Hondas of yesteryear, the Type S wields serious pulling power at highway speeds, thanks to the hearty, turbo-propelled torque band. Even though Honda is providing you with ample low-end torque, it doesn’t compromise the top-end of this 2.0 liter turbo. Revving it out to the 7,000 rpm redline is imperative.
Turbo lag is quite noticeable when you roll into the throttle off boost and from a standstill, but the engine’s revving is natural and astonishingly exhilarating for its disposition.
Features and Functions:
The Type R’s lack of exhaust theatrics is eradicated with the Integra, and that was the beginning and end of my gripes about the Civic. Depending on the roads you frequent, the Integra’s damping could be a boon for shrugging off the worst bumps and potholes, but both cars excel at this as long as you keep them in Comfort damper mode. While I genuinely have nothing negative to say about how the Integra Type S drives, it’s still not the perfect car. Odd remnants from the Type R carry over and make it a less refined luxury car. For instance, you can’t opt for a moonroof as an accessory, even though it’s available on the standard Integra. Also, unlike the standard Integra, the Type S is a four seater, adopting the Type R’s strange cup holder laden section where a middle seat might otherwise be on the rear bench.
Is There Anything Missing
For those who might want to track their Integra Type S, the absence of Honda’s LogR software is another setback. The same can be said for the Integra’s digital instrument cluster, which is notably less captivating than the Type R’s, offering more vibrant gauges and an impressive, horizontal tachometer option. There are no shift lights, nor does it feature the shift beep present on the Type R, further affirming that the Type R is the superior track companion.
It’s also worth noting the piano black shifter surround that is bound to look like a scratched up mess in just a few years’ time. The swooping soft touch dash design does a respectable job of elevating the cabin’s feel, but Honda elevated the Type R’s interior to such an extent that the only way to outclass it with the Acura is by introducing features like the head-up display and ELS Studio audio system.
The Acura Integra Type S 2024 is certainly a winning formula, would you choose this over the Civic Type R? let us know your thoughts in the comments.