3 Reasons Why the Acura Integra Type S Beats the Civic Type R (and 1 Key Reason It Doesn’t)

Acura built my long-awaited Civic Type R for adults … and it’s brilliant.

Published November 20, 2023

·

Updated November 20, 2023

The Honda Civic Type R is a front-wheel-drive performance icon. But it’s a hard car to own as a card-carrying adult (at least, an adult who isn’t a masochistic car journalist). The Civic Type R’s aesthetics skew too far into boy racer-dom, and the same mods that help it dance around a track in skillful hands make it a loud, bumpy handful to drive every day.

One of the great automotive what-ifs, however, has long been the idea of Honda building a toned-down Civic Type R for grownups. Keep the lively powertrain and the manual; swap in a more sophisticated design, a quieter, higher-quality interior and a more comfortable ride. Well, dreams do come true, because that’s what Acura delivered with the Integra Type S.

I drove the Honda Civic Type R on its launch, and have driven both the Acura Integra Type S and the Civic Type R on loans around my home in Michigan, so I’ve logged ample seat time at this point. After all those spins behind the wheel, I think there are three compelling reasons you should buy the Integra Type S … and one not-so-insignificant one to stick with the Civic Type R.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

a blue car parked in a parking lot — The Integra Type S is the long-awaited Civic Type R for adults.

The Acura Integra Type S is dramatically better-looking

Honda listened to critics of the last-gen Civic Type R’s looks a bit too much. It went from unnecessarily angry and cartoonish to being bland and normcore. One could call it admirable restraint. I’d call it boring and discordant with the giant spoiler Honda added to the back. The Civic Type R looks like someone just stuck a gaudy aftermarket wing on a standard Civic.

The Acura Integra Type S is — at least in my opinion — a clear upgrade. It swaps out the wing for a more fitting and low-key lip spoiler. Dramatic creases and flared fenders offer a dash of still-tasteful menace. I had friends and relatives approach and ask about the Integra Type S; meanwhile, the Civic Type R, even in Championship White, just sort of scared people off. Not one person commented on it or asked me about it over a week.

the front of a blue acura integra type s — The Integra Type S looks like a luxury sports car.

The Acura Integra Type S is nicer to drive

Honda tuned the Civic Type R to 11. It shaves off some time on track, sure, but the ride is very stiff — even in comfort mode. It gets super-loud in the cabin when you eclipse 60 mph on the highway. Driving it around mountain roads for two and a half hours was exhausting, and porting my kids around on Michigan roads had them asking why it was so bumpy.

The Integra Type S — even though it technically has five more horsepower — felt like it dialed things back to 10. You still get most of what’s brilliant about the Civic Type R, but the steering feels a tad lighter, the suspension feels a touch more compliant and the drive modes seem a hair less aggressive. Acura’s take on the car just takes the edge off.

a blue car parked on the side of a road — The Integra Type S kept all the things I loved about the Civic Type R and eliminated the few things that annoyed me.

Acura made two key improvements to the Civic Type R’s interior

Both the Integra Type S and Civic Type R have surprisingly practical, spacious interiors. The Integra Type S uses nicer materials, sure — but the primary factor in the Integra Type S interior’s favor is actually that it eliminates some of the Type R’s annoying quirks.

a car trunk with luggage in it — Both the Civic Type R and the Integra offer a surprising amount of trunk space.

The Integra Type S dramatically improved the driving touchpoints. The Civic Type R shift knob is smooth, oblong and metal — and almost looks like it was designed for a different type of adult recreational use. The steering wheel is smooth as well. Both require extra effort to grip if you’re not wearing a pair of driving gloves, and that can create hand fatigue. The Integra Type S uses easier-to-handle leather for both the wheel and the shifter.

civic type r manual shift knob — The Civic Type R shifter is smooth, shiny and hard to grip with your bare hand.

The Integra Type S seats are also much nicer. The Civic Type R has specialized, race-y bucket seats; they’re great for track work, but kind of weird in any other context. (It sort of feels like the car is spooning you.) The Integra Type S has more traditional, comfy yet still supportive leather seats.

a hand holding the shfit knob in the integra type s — The Integra Type S shifter is far easier to grip with your bare hands.

But there is one reason you still may want to go with the Civic Type R…

Price.

Both the Acura Integra Type S and the Honda Civic Type R use pretty much the same raw material. But the Integra Type S, starting at $50,500, is $6,705 more expensive. And while I think the Integra Type S provides a more palatable experience. 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.

If you’re using the car as a daily driver, bumping up to the Integra Type S might be worth that expenditure. But if the goal is just some weekend corner carving or adding to a collection of sports cars, saving some cash on the Civic Type R may be the better play.