Acura Integra A-Spec (Manual): Better Than a Civic Si?

Let’s test drive and review the new, manual 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec! And thanks ‪@XPELinc‬ for sponsoring this video! This is the Acura Integra A-Spec, which starts at $39,200 in America and comes with 200 horsepower, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a lot of comfort features. The Acura Integra is as old as Acura. The brand launched in the U.S. market in 1986 as a performance-luxury brand with two models: the Legend and the Integra. The original run of the Integra had four generations, including the American-named RSX in the fourth gen. Throughout this time, the Integra was all over the map. It won racing championships, and it was on the big screen in the Fast and the Furious. The Integra became a legend, then Acura discontinued it long-term. The Integra was gone for about 15 years. Then, in late 2021, a bright-yellow Integra prototype debuted with a turbocharger and a manual transmission (an automatic too, if you so desire). The modern Acura Integra is a sport-compact that slots in under the more expensive Acura TLX, but also looks a lot like it. Acura’s modern front-end styling is great, but it also means those two models look similar. (I drove the TLX Type S about a year ago, and it’s on the channel.) The Integra starts at $33,400 in America, and that base model has 200 horsepower and a continuously variable transmission. The cheapest version with the 6-speed manual is a fancier spec than the base model, and it starts at $39,200 but keeps that same 200-horsepower engine. The options on the Integra are similar to other Acuras: You can get the A-Spec styling package, the Technology Package, the Type S, and more. The big step up is the Integra Type S, which starts at $53,900. It has a turbocharged, 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine that makes 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. That power goes through a 6-speed manual transmission to the front wheels, because every current Integra is front-wheel drive (FWD), not all-wheel drive (AWD). You’ll have to get the automatic-only TLX if you want to be an AWD Acura sedan owner. I didn’t expect the new Integra to be a huge seller, but I didn’t give Acura, or American car enthusiasts, enough credit. In 2024, American Honda sold 24,398 Integras. Sure, it’s no Honda Civic — American Honda sold 240,000 of those last year, including the Type R and Si sport models — but that’s about half of the sales tallies for each of Acura’s two mainstream SUVs, the MDX and RDX. Driving the Integra, you’ll learn a few things: It’s a great daily driver its suspension isn’t as harsh as something like the Honda Civic Type R. Acura also didn’t extensively modify the inside of the car from the standard Civic; they look, sound, drive, and feel very similar inside. In this video, we’ll do a full walk-around of the Integra A-Spec and its specs. We’ll talk about paint colors, like the Double Apex Blue Pearl on this car. You can also get Performance Red Pearl, but you can’t get a red interior on it. (You also can’t get a red interior on the blue. You can get black or Orchid, like in this car.) We’ll also ask important questions, like: Is buying the Integra Type S worth it? What about the Integra A-Spec vs. Honda Civic Si? Or the Integra Type S vs. Civic Type R? What’s going to be the best ownership experience for you, depending on what you value? Let’s find out! Thanks for watching my YouTube channel. Enjoy the drive (and the video)! #cars #automotive #carreview #carreviews #alanisking #acura #acuraintegra #integra #integraaspec #acuratintegraaspec #integratypes #acuratypes #aspec #hondacivicsi #civicsi #hondacivictyper #civictyper #typer #sportscar #sportscars #manualtransmission #savethemanuals #acuraintegratypes #hatchback #hatch #hothatch FOLLOW ME: Twitter:   / alanisnking   Instagram:   / alanisnking   Threads: https://www.threads.net/@alanisnking Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alanisnking.... TikTok:   / alanisnking   Website: alanisnking.com USE PARTNER CODE ALANIS20 FOR 20% OFF TONS OF XPEL CAR-CARE PRODUCTS: https://www.xpel.com/shop/c/care-deta... CHECK OUT OUR PARTNER HOMEFIELD APPAREL: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/ USE PARTNER CODE ALANIS FOR 15% OFF YOUR APEX COFFEE ORDER: https://www.apexcoffeeroasters.com CHECK OUT MY SHORTS CHANNEL:    / @alaniskingshorts   WORK WITH ME: [email protected]