2024 Acura Integra Sort S performs nicely with children and adults

Caught behind a dump truck going 14 mph by one of many cities that dot Hwy 154 in Southern California, I can’t assist however suppose Acura is promoting the 2024 Integra Sort S quick on this primary drive program. I shouldn’t be annoyed by slowpokes. I needs to be negotiating the corkscrew at Laguna Seca

Not all of this route is so tame—it opens up into some enjoyable canyon roads later—however this can be a road drive as an alternative of a monitor drive as a result of Acura is touting the Integra Sort S as a extra mature road automotive than the associated Honda Civic Sort R, which is billed as a monitor machine. The Civic Sort R could also be barely sharper, however the Integra Sort S is not any much less succesful and extra inviting in addition.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

Acura Integra Sort S: Rowdy energy

The Integra Sort S and Civic Sort R share a primary construction, a powertrain, and suspension. Even the tires are the identical proper right down to the dimensions and model.

The engine is the one factor of the Integra Sort S that has a sharper edge than the Civic Sort R, however solely barely. It’s the identical 2.0-liter turbo-4 with the identical 25.2 psi of increase that provides it unimaginable energy. Right here, it makes 320 hp at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque from 2,600-4,000 rpm. That beats the Civic Sort R by 5 hp, however Acura says the Integra Sort S can be programmed for higher mid-range torque.

The Integra Sort S can launch from 0-60 mph in a tad over 5 seconds, and right here it’s chomping on the bit to run free and unfettered from visitors. It’s a torque-rich engine with robust responses from a cease. It’s additionally responsive within the mid-range and all the best way as much as its 7,000-rpm redline, although any distinction between the Sort S and Sort R would require back-to-back drives that aren’t out there right here.

Just like the Civic Sort R, getting the Integra Sort S to launch exhausting is hard, as energy goes solely by a 6-speed guide transmission to the entrance wheels and Acura supplies no launch management perform.

I attempt a few exhausting begins and discover it’s finest to launch at about 2,000 rpm with about three-quarter throttle. Revving a lot larger than that causes the wheels to spin if you come off the clutch, and Acura has an rpm cut-off at 3,400 rpm that retards the facility. The entrance finish reacts admirably, too, giving solely the trace of torque steer with out a exhausting pull to 1 facet or the opposite. Acura limits torque steer with equal-length half shafts, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and a dual-axis MacPherson strut entrance suspension that separates the knuckles and dampers.

The engine is even chattier than within the Sort R, no less than from the surface of the automotive. It has primarily the identical exhaust system because the Honda with a single exhaust valve and three center-mounted 4.3-inch shops, but it surely lacks the Honda’s entrance resonator and thus the louder sound. That sound is available in two phases, because the valve opens at larger rpm with the automotive within the Consolation drive mode, decrease rpm in Sport mode, and at all times stays open in Sport Plus. Sport Plus additionally triggers some pops and bangs from the exhaust on downshifts, upshifts, deceleration, or when revving the engine.

From the driving force seat, the engine definitely makes its indignant beehive noises heard, however they don’t intrude with dialog as a result of the Integra has extra sound deadener than the Civic. I didn’t even discover the pops and bangs, or the sound of the blow-off valve, till I rolled down the home windows.

The guide transmission is a typical Honda/Acura delight, with quick throws, constructive engagement, and an important really feel by its metallic and leather-based shift knob. My solely criticism is a light-weight clutch with a excessive engagement level that requires a couple of shifts to get used to.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

Acura Integra Sort S: Entrance-drive marvel

The Integra Sort S’s front-wheel-drive format additionally isn’t preferrred for dealing with, however you wouldn’t understand it by driving the automotive. It takes its place with the Civic Sort R as the most effective dealing with front-wheel-drive automobiles available on the market.

Acura upgrades the usual Integra to get there. In becoming the completely different suspension elements from the Civic Sort R underneath the Integra, Acura engineers widened the entrance monitor 3.5 inches and the rear monitor 1.9 inches. The tubular entrance stabilizer bar is 2 mm wider at 29 mm, and the stable rear bar is 2 mm wider than the one on the A-Spec Integra at 20.5 mm. The multilink rear suspension additionally has high-rigidity knuckles and distinctive bushings constituted of a fabric Acura wouldn’t disclose. All of it reacts by a sport-tuned model of the Integra’s three-way adjustable dampers. The physique construction hasn’t modified, however Acura provides extra bonding materials.

The suspension makes room for larger wheels and tires because the Sort S rolls on 265/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ss mounted on 19×9.5-inch wheels at every nook. The wheels could also be larger than the A-Spec mannequin’s 18s, however they’re 6.5% lighter.

Whereas the variable steering ratio is definitely barely slower than on different Integras, it’s nonetheless very fast with a ratio that ranges from 11.62:1 at full lock to 14.9:1 on heart. The brakes additionally develop 1.5 inches up entrance to 13.8 inches with Brembo 4-piston calipers and 0.9 inch within the rear to 12.0 inches with single-slot calipers.

With energy despatched solely by the entrance wheels, these Michelins must handle the acceleration and steering, and carry many of the braking pressure, they usually do all of it nicely.

The open canyon roads I expertise later within the day reveal a lot however not the entire hatchback’s dealing with prowess.

Like different Integras, the Sort S has weighty, direct steering that companies up much more at freeway speeds to enhance high-speed stability. The automotive turns in to corners shortly, and the rear finish follows alongside dutifully. It waterbugs by ess turns, and places its energy down effectively when accelerating out of corners due to the broad tires and limited-slip diff.  

These tires can solely accomplish that a lot, although, so balancing the load for turning, accelerating, and braking is vital. When an excessive amount of velocity makes it push in a nook, letting off the throttle or a small dab of brake tucks the nostril in properly to carve by the flip. When exiting a nook too quick, it should run broad, however rather less throttle will get it again on monitor.

That is all simple to really feel due to a bit of little bit of physique lean, irrespective of the damper setting, by the well-tuned suspension. In every of the three damper modes—Consolation, Sport, and Sport+—the Integra Sort S is a half step softer than the Civic Sort R’s suspension, which we discovered created a too-busy journey on damaged pavement. Consolation supplies an on a regular basis comfy journey high quality, Sport+ borders on exhausting over bumps, and Sport is the candy spot for twisty roads.

Total, the Sort S feels prefer it has all of the efficiency of the Sort R. It could most likely put up about the identical time round a monitor like Laguna Seca, but it surely’s extra comfy on the road. That matches with the automotive’s extra grown-up character, which can be mirrored in its appears and tools.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

Acura Integra Sort S: The grown-up alternative

The Integra Sort S sports activities quite a lot of exterior modifications to enhance efficiency.

Up entrance, it wears a bigger, extra open grille with a diamond-pattern mesh and 170% extra airflow than different Integras. This air cools the engine and flows by a vent within the aluminum hood for raise discount. The decrease fascia has bigger air intakes with areas for brake cooling and canards that assist create air curtains across the entrance wheels.

Wider decrease sills match wheel flares that make the automotive 2.8 inches wider than different Integras, and the rear finish has an built-in lip spoiler and a gloss-black diffuser with triple center-exit exhaust finishers.

The modifications give the Integra Sort S a purposeful stance that doesn’t stray too far into boy racer territory thanks principally to the dearth of a Civic Sort R-like rear wing. Which will imply the Acura has barely much less downforce on a monitor than the Honda, but it surely’s a good value to pay to drive a automotive with a design that workout routines clever restraint.

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

2024 Acura Integra Sort S

The inside modifications a lot much less. The seats have the identical design as in different Integras however they get firmer bolsters, artificial suede inserts, and distinction stitching. Heated and with 8-way energy changes and 4-way energy lumbar changes, they’re sporty and cozy seats, however they aren’t as aggressive because the Recaros and extra excessive sport seats provided by different producers. Larger of us will respect that, however smaller individuals might not; I like them. The rear seat is formed for 2 passengers as an alternative of the usual three of different Integras.

The inside additionally incorporates a perforated leather-based steering wheel and shift knob, an artificial suede shift boot with coloured stitching, and a decrease sprint that’s color-matched to the customer’s alternative of Purple, Ebony, or Orchid inside colours.

Acura additionally outfits the Sort S with luxurious automotive ranges of normal tools, together with a ten.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9.0-inch touchscreen, a head-up show, 16-speaker ELS audio, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wi-fi smartphone charging.

Customary security options include blind-spot displays, rear cross-traffic alerts, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lively lane management, adaptive cruise management, entrance and rear parking sensors, and visitors signal recognition.

This all comes for a value of $51,995 together with an $1,195 vacation spot charge. That’s about $10,000 greater than the Civic Sort R, which gained the Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2023 award. Nevertheless, the Integra Sort S is extra civil than the Civic and higher outfitted. It may possibly additionally probably carry out simply as nicely so long as a slow-moving dump trunk isn’t blocking the best way. We’ll goal to make that occur throughout our Motor Authority Finest Automotive To Purchase 2024 testing later this 12 months.

Acura paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to carry you this firsthand report.