The Honda Civic Si has long been a benchmark for affordable performance, delivering sharp handling, strong value, and everyday usability. But as prices continue to climb, it’s no longer the automatic choice it once was. For buyers willing to explore the used market, there’s now an alternative that offers the same engaging driving experience, while adding a more premium edge.
This lightly used option builds on the same fundamentals that make the Civic Si so enjoyable, but wraps them in a more refined package. Think improved cabin materials, additional tech features, and a slightly more upscale feel without sacrificing the responsiveness and balance enthusiasts expect. Because it shares much of its underlying engineering, it delivers familiar performance with a noticeable step up in comfort and design.
For drivers who want fun behind the wheel without stretching their budget, that combination is hard to ignore. It proves you don’t have to settle for a new mainstream model to get the full experience, sometimes the smarter buy is just one step up, slightly used, and significantly better equipped.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including the EPA.
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A 2023 Acura Integra is thousands cheaper than a new Honda Civic Si
Lightly used, but higher quality
If you’re looking for something fun, affordable, and practical, then the Honda Civic Si is one of the best choices there is on the market right now. It is easily one of the most engaging new cars on the road, and it starts at $31,495. However, if you’re willing to get something lightly used, you can get the Civic Si’s luxurious cousin at a lower price, netting yourself sleek looks, a plush cabin, and the same driving engagement for less money.
2023 Acura Integra average used price
|
Model |
Starting MSRP |
|---|---|
|
Acura Integra |
$27,176 |
Acura brought the Integra nameplate back from the dead with the 2023 model year, reviving a 90s icon. Like the old model, the new one is very closely related to the Honda Civic. In fact, it shares quite a lot of its mechanical components with the beloved Civic Si. The Integra simply packages these mechanical bits and bobs in a sleeker, more upscale package, with higher levels of refinement and comfort on the inside.
A new Honda Civic Si would set you back $31,495 and a new Integra starts at a pretty reasonable $33,400, but a used 2023 model undercuts both of those options by thousands of dollars.
Which model you should get
The 2023 Integra comes in three different trim levels. You get the base model, the A-Spec, and the A-Spec with Technology. We would personally go with the A-Spec with Technology model. These models are a little more expensive, listing for an average price of $28,328, but they are well worth the premium.
This trim level gets you a plethora of high-end features, but you’ll still manage to find good examples for less than $30,000. It gets things like a premium sound system, an adaptive suspension system, and upgraded infotainment tech. More importantly, though, this trim could be had with a manual transmission. If you’re a driving enthusiast, and comparing the Integra with a Civic Si, this trim is essentially the only option you should be considering.
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The Integra delivers the same connected driving experience as the Civic Si
A perky turbocharged engine and a dream
The Honda Civic Si is praised as one of the most entertaining cars out there right now. It may not be exceptionally quick, but it is a ton of fun to drive. It is essentially a four-door Mazda Miata. The Integra takes that same quirky, fun-loving energy and adds in a good does of luxury. While the plush features add some weight, you are still rewarded for driving the Integra hard, and it begs to be pushed to its limits.
2023 Acura Integra performance and efficiency
- Base Trim Engine
-
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
200 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
192 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
30/37 MPG
- Make
-
Acura
- Model
-
Integra Sedan
- Segment
-
Subcompact Luxury Sedan
Just like the Civic Si, every Integra is powered by a perky little 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. This four-pot sends all of its power to the front wheels. While every Civic Si comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission, most Integras get a CVT instead. This is why we suggest looking for an A-Spec with Technology model, as those trims can come with a stick shift instead.
The Integra isn’t going to be setting any sprint records, with a zero-to-60 time hovering around the seven-second mark, but it is quick enough to still feel fun. More importantly, the steering is well weighted, the chassis feels tight and controlled, and everything feels tuned to connect you with the road. Another benefit of the top trim Integra is the adaptive dampers, allowing you to cruise gently or dial things in and tighten up the suspension with the press of a switch.
Like the Civic Si, a big benefit to the Integra is that you’re not sacrificing everyday usability for fun. Its turbocharged engine is actually impressively light on fuel, with CVT models getting up to 33 miles per gallon combined and manual modes being rated for 30 miles per gallon combined.
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The Integra has always been positioned as a Honda Civic with a plusher cabin, and the newest iteration of the nameplate is no exception. It is pretty obvious that the two cars are closely related, but Acura has done a good job of adding enough to the cabin to make it feel like a nicer and more comfortable place to be. Considering you’re paying less than $30,000 for a 2023 model, it also comes better equipped than you might expect.
2023 Acura integra interior comfort and dimensions
|
Front row headroom |
37.6 inches |
|---|---|
|
Front row legroom |
42.3 inches |
|
Second row headroom |
36.4 inches |
|
Second row legroom |
37.4 inches |
|
Cargo capacity |
24.3 cubic feet |
Room inside the Integra is actually fairly generous. Headroom is slightly below average, both up front and in the back, but there is plenty of legroom, meaning you could comfortably fit four adults inside. While the Civic Si is a sedan, the Integra is a hatchback, meaning that there is quite a lot more cargo space on offer here as well.
There is no getting around the fact that the Integra shares a lot of parts with the Honda Civic, with their interiors being very similarly designed. Acura has brought things more upmarket, though, with some slight tweaks and nicer materials throughout. Standard features on the Integra are also much better, with things like heated leather sports seats offered on even the most affordable models.
Infotainment and technology
There is plenty of tech on offer in the 2023 Integra. A 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster is standard, as is a seven-inch touchscreen which sits on top of the dashboard. Higher trim levels get a nine-inch infotainment screen instead, though. Either way, we appreciate that there is no touchpad here, and that Acura have included some physical buttons on the infotainment bezel, as well as a physical volume dial.
Opting for the higher trim levels is definitely the way to go here, as you get tons of additional tech. This includes things like a wireless smartphone charging pad, extra USB-C ports, and a 5.3-inch heads-up display. Every model is capable of smartphone mirroring, but only Technology trims and up get wireless capability. An eight-speaker sound system is standard, but audiophiles will want to look for a model with the optional 16-speaker ELS sound system instead.
A more luxurious Honda Civic Si for less than $30K
Some people are a little weary of getting used cars, but if you do things right you can get yourself an absolute bargain. With Acura’s reputation for reliability, a lot of the risk is absorbed here, meaning that the 2023 Integra is definitely a deal. You get all the same mechanical components that make the Civic Si such a successful sports sedan, without having to sacrifice any creature comforts, and you do it all while saving yourself thousands of dollars.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
