In the premium compact car segment, buyers that want a vehicle that goes beyond being an appliance. The mindset of this niche is as follows: “I want a grin on my face every time I get behind the wheel without sacrificing my sanity.” The 2025 Acura Integra Type S is a perfect example of this, striking a good balance between everyday usability, sportiness, and pseudo-luxo touches without being too hard-edged like the Honda Civic Type R it’s based on. The Integra Type S gives you not just a usable hatchback, enough modern tech, and good creature comforts; it offers a lively engine, rigid chassis, and a manual transmission that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.
What’s under the hood?
The Integra Type S is the performance-oriented version of the Integra hatchback. Unlike the regular Integra, the Type S is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder making 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a six-speed manual with auto rev-matching — the only transmission option, and yes, you can turn off auto rev-matching — it puts the power down to the front-wheels via a helical limited-slip differential. Brembo front brakes, electronic adaptive suspension, and a much more aggressive body kit differentiate the Type S further from the rest of the Integra lineup. These mechanical bones make the Type S a proper driver’s car rather than just a sporty appearance package.
First impressions
From afar, the Type S looks purpose-built. The wide front and rear fenders, vented hood, and a front bumper with large air ducts hint at what’s underneath. With the hatchback profile and distinct visual elements, it emits the visual drama of a performance car without sacrificing practicality. It’s tidy overall and more buttoned-down compared to the Civic Type R, but still conveys a sporting intent with the centre-mounted triple-exit exhaust, aggressive rear diffuser, and larger 19-inch wheels.
Inside, it’s a familiar place to those who have been around any current-generation Civic and Integra. It’s well put-together, well laid-out, and has physical controls and switchgear that feels good to interact with. For the Type S, Acura didn’t theme the cabin to be a track-oriented cockpit, but instead went for sporty with a hint of sophistication. You get bolstered seating with suede inserts, a nicely bolstered three-spoke steering wheel, an aluminum shift knob accented with perforated leather, and aluminum pedals. The cherry on top is the interior colourway of our tester; this Orchid Leatherette and Black Ultrasuede gives the Type S an upscale yet purposeful feel while contrasting nicely against the Apex Blue exterior paint.
Interior impressions
The seats are comfortable enough for long highway drives and just like on the “regular” Civic and Integra, it accommodates tall and long-legged drivers nicely as the driver’s seat can go really low. Rear seat accommodation is to be expected of a compact sedan with a sloping roof — it’s snug. Having fixed cup holders in the centre, the rear seats can only occupy two passengers, making this sedan more of a two-plus-two. One weird omission is the lack of heated rear seats, which comes standard on the Civic Touring but not here on the Type S.
In terms of cargo capacity, the hatchback configuration allows the Integra to swallow a good amount of cargo — 688 litres, to be exact. That’s enough for a heavy Costco run and plenty for a weekend road trip. The rear seats also fold in a 60/40 configuration to expand utility when needed, especially for the track-day bros who want to carry a full set of tires, racing gear and then some. [Don’t forget the folding chairs! —Ed.]
The Integra Type S’ safety suite has most of the features of fully loaded Hondas and Acuras, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist, just to name a few. The infotainment experience is the same as in any Civic or Integra; straightforward to use with physical shortcuts around the screen. If you’re extremely picky about screen graphics and back-up camera resolution, the Integra Type S is not it. Just like the Civic Touring I reviewed, looking at this backup camera is akin to staring at CCTV footage; low resolution optimism. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work well, with some glitches happening if you decide to pair a new phone into the system. Once it’s set up, the car will connect to it right away and without much fuss.
Driving impressions
This is where the Integra Type S really shines. This 2.0L turbo-four is more than eager, especially the mid-range between three-and-five-thousand RPM. Once the turbos spool up and you take off, onlookers in their CVT Civics with Type-R wings will be envious. The gearbox in terms of feel is in-between a precise Mazda MX-5 shifter and a rubbery BMW ZF-manual box, though it still provides an engaging experience between shift gates. It’s also a gearbox you can comfortably skip-shift while downshifting; perfect for going from sixth to fourth, fifth to third, or fourth to second while approaching those tight bends. The helical limited-slip differential helps the front wheels translate the abundance of power into forward motion with less drama on those tight bends, pulling you out with confidence. Go into a corner too hot, however, and you’ll suffer typical front-wheel-drive understeer and the stability control still kicking in, even with all the electronic nannies showing they’re turned off.
Steering is quick and provides really good feedback for an electronically assisted steering rack. With Sport or Sport+ mode, the steering weight is not too artificially heavy. In Comfort mode, it lightens up but still provides enough feedback to keep you informed of what the front tires are doing. Brakes are strong and confidence-inspiring; good for a few laps around the track, an autocross session, or aggressive backroad run. The adaptive suspension also changes based on the modes, with Sport+ being the most direct but most harsh-feeling while Comfort optimizes smoothness and forgiveness over road imperfections.
I personally found Sport mode to be a nice middle ground — firm enough to control roll and reward quick direction changes, but not so harsh that daily-driving comfort is sacrificed. All told, the Integra Type S can be driven briskly on weekends and politely on weekdays. If you’re chasing lap times, the Civic Type R might still be the sharper tool, but the Integra’s strength is how it balances performance and civility.
Performance always comes with a trade-off, and fuel consumption is the obvious one. The Type S carries official ratings of 11.1 L/100 km city, 8.3 highway, and 9.9 combined. Our stint with this Type S presser returned a thirstier 12.0 L/100 km, to be expected of a car that likes to be driven at a brisk pace or run away at the sight of tailgating Hondas that want to egg you on.
Is it worth it?
In terms of value, this is where the Type S will unfortunately deter people especially from a performance per dollar perspective. Expect a starting price of $57,100 before additional fees and add-ons. For context, $55,750 gets you into an Audi S3, $54,180 into a Volkswagen Golf R, and $47,915 into a Toyota GR Corolla. And for good measure, the 2025 Honda Civic Type R is four grand less than the Integra, at $53,100.
The S3 and Golf R come standard with all-wheel-drive, making them a lot more appealing for all-year-round capability in Canada, especially in places that face a healthy amount of snow and ice. The Integra Type S and Civic Type R, on the other hand, make do with front-wheel-drive aided by a limited-slip differential, though it will still get you out of most snowy urban situations so long as you’re on a good set of winter tires. Although in a slightly different vehicle segment, the GR Corolla also offers the all-weather traction and capability at a much lower entry price out of all the vehicles mentioned.
The Integra Type S is one of those rare cars that doesn’t ask you to sacrifice practicality for performance. It’s a proper performance car that still works as a daily driver; it’s roomy enough for errands, comfortable enough for long trips, and fun enough to make spirited drives a genuine highlight of your week. If you want something that engages you while remaining somewhat sensible for Canadian life, the 2025 Acura Integra Type S delivers a perfect mix of intoxicating fun and everyday practicality. It’s a rare total-package in today’s market — a compact yet practical sports sedan with real character and the performance chops to back it up, so long as you’re okay with the low-res back-up camera and the price tag.
