Video: 2023 Honda Civic Type R Vs. 2024 Acura Integra Type S: How Do They Stack Up?

The 2023 Type R capitalized on the benefits of the Civic's excellent new architecture and it also got styling that was a little more subdued, a little less boy racery than the previous generation Type R. Also for 2023, Acura revived its Integra name on an all new four-door compact hatchback based on the basic Civic hatchback architecture with the expected style, performance, and luxury upgrades. And for 2024, Acura introduced the Integra Type S, essentially its high performance version of the Civic Type R. Since we've now driven both the Integra Type S and the Honda Civic Type R, we thought we'd compare their similarities and differences in this video. You can also check out our full reviews of both vehicles at cars.com. Both cars use the same basic turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder engine, albeit with different tuning. The Civic Type R makes 315 horsepower and the Integra Type S makes 320. Acura also says that the throttle map tuning is notably different between the two vehicles and that the Integra has more torque at mid-range throttle. Regardless of the tuning, both engines supply seriously invigorating acceleration. (engine revving) Both cars boast an aggressive high performance look thanks to body components that aid both aerodynamics and cooling. But even though the Integra Type S is intended to be the slightly more urbane of the two cars, in many ways its styling is more aggressive than the Civic Type R's. In fact, if you take away this honking rear wing on the Civic Type R, its styling is actually a little more subdued than the Integra Type S's, at least in my eyes. A nicer interior is one of the main assets that the Integra Type S has over the Civic Type R. You'll get more in the way of comfort and convenience features and cabin ambiance but you'll also give up a little bit of track focus capability in the bargain. Now between the two vehicles there are a lot of similarities. You get a 10.2 inch digital gauge cluster, a nine inch infotainment touchscreen. You'll also notice that a lot of the switchgear is the same between the two vehicles as well. Speaking of performance displays, the Civic type R'S LogR performance data logger system should delight the track rat crowd. It boasts a plethora of digital gauges including a G meter display and turbo boost pressure. Also included are a stopwatch for recording lap times, integrated track maps for notable race courses across the country, and even an auto score function that generates a driver's score based on the smoothness of their acceleration, braking, and steering. One of the biggest ways that the Civic Type R differs from the Integra Type S is the front seats. These are serious track focused buckets in the Civic Type R with pronounced bolsters on both the seat back and seat bottom. These seat bottom bolsters make it a little tricky to get in and out because you've gotta slide over them every time. Also, no power adjustments, no adjustable headrest, and the ultra suede upholstery, while it does a great job of keeping you snug in place in fast corners, it can get a little toasty on hot days. You've also got some pass throughs for four point harnesses in the seat backs if you're really serious about track driving. Meanwhile, the Integra Type S's seats are just tweaked versions of the regular Integra seats with stiffer bolster padding. They've also got adjustable headrest, heat, and the driver's seat is 12 way power adjustable with four way power lumbar adjustments. The Integra Type S's front seats also have ultra suede upholstery, which is nice and grippy but also quite warm on a hot day. In general though, they are more comfortable and less confining in everyday driving than the Civic Type R seats. Now both the Integra Type S and the Civic Type R are true four doors with an actual usable back seat. But in both cases, the back seat sort of feels like an afterthought, especially in the Civic Type R. Not only do we not have the ultra suede upholstery that we do in the front, this is just plain black budget grade cloth dressed up a little bit with contrast stitching. And we don't have a center fold down armrest. The cup holder is just plunked into the middle of the seat cushion. In fact, there are no provisions whatsoever for a middle back seat passenger, which is probably fine 'cause they wouldn't have much space back here anyway. We do get red carpet though, and well, we get red seat belts too so that's something. In addition to their usable back seat, the hatchback layout of both cars gives them excellent cargo versatility. The rear cargo area is almost as big as some compact SUVs and you can fold the rear seat backs down for even more space. A six speed manual is the only transmission available in both the Civic Type R and the Integra Type S, but it is an absolutely lovely gearbox. The shift throws are crisp and have a precise mechanical feel, and the clutch pedal offers great feedback but it's not so stiff as to be tiring in day-to-day traffic. One thing I'm not crazy about with the Civic Type R is the egg shaped shift knob. The Integra Type S has a leather wrapped knob that I find a little bit easier to grip firmly, but the Civic Type R also offers a leather wrapped shift knob as an accessory. One feature that both cars have is an automatic rev matching function that automatically blips the throttle when you downshift for smoother gear changes. You can turn this feature off if you want to do your own heel and toe shifting. Both cars have three drive modes along with a fourth customizable individual mode. There's comfort, sport, and a top sport mode that the Integra Type S calls Sport Plus and the Civic Type R calls Plus R. These modes change things like throttle response, suspension damping, exhaust sound, and even the readout of the digital gauge display. Both cars have an adaptive suspension system but the tuning between the two is quite different. Acura says that the Type S's most aggressive Sport Plus mode is comparable to the Civic Type R's middle sport setting. The Civic Type R's Plus R mode is really best suited for track use only, or if you're lucky enough to live where the streets are pristine and perfectly paved. Otherwise, it's a little too stiff. Neither car offers all-wheel drive. They're both front drive only, but these are among the best handling front wheel drive cars I have ever driven. Choosing the sportier drive modes also firms up the steering response, but in any drive mode, the steering feel is crisp and accurate, and the overall balance feel of these cars in fast corners is really fantastic. A raspy exhaust note is a big part of the personality of both these vehicles, and when you choose the sport modes, the exhaust note gets louder and more pronounced. (engine revving) One feature that the Integra Type S has that the Civic Type R oddly doesn't is a bratty exhaust overrun back cackle snap, crackle, pop exhaust sound in its top sport plus mode. (engine revving) Curious that the supposedly more upscale Integra Type S has this while the more track focused Civic Type R doesn't. It's mostly window dressing, but it does add a lot to the high performance attitude of the car. And finally, one of the biggest differences between these two vehicles is their price tag. The Civic Type R starts at a little under $45,000 while the Integra Type S starts at almost $52,000. Now for that extra $7,000 you're getting a car that's a little more luxurious, a little bit more comfortable in day-to-day driving, but a little less track focused than the Type R. Regardless of which one you choose, for your significant money you are getting a serious performance car. (upbeat music)