2026 Acura Integra A-Spec First Drive: More Tech, Same Great Manual

When Acura revived the Integra nameplate in 2023, the company brought back more than a beloved model. It helped to bolster a flagging segment, that being a momentum-loving, lightweight (ish), manually shifted sports sedan.

For the 2026 freshening of the car, Acura has wisely left the Integra A-Spec’s best traits alone and focused on overall refinement. There’s a new look, some new hues, and – as I saw climbing the switchbacks along the Southern Californian coast – the very same smile-inducing driving experience.

So What’s New About The New 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec?

The truth is that Acura is following a tried-and-true formula for the midcycle update of a popular model. The exterior of the car has been updated with a new nose, new body kit, and some new colors, while the interior gets more standard technology and a few revised colorways.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Three new exterior color options: Double Apex Blue Pearl, Urban Gray Pearl, and Solar Silver Metallic.
• Double Apex Blue and Performance Red cars get a color-matched grille as standard.
• That grille design has been revised, along with a new body kit for A-Spec models and a new 18-inch wheel.
• Orchid (white) interiors now get blue stitching and inserts, while Ebony (black) gets the same accents in yellow.
• Every Integra now comes standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging.

I’m not a designer, nor am I employed for my keen sense of fashion, but I’m mostly onboard with the visual updates here. I dig the very dynamic, intricately laced lines of the front grille, though I find the body-color-matched versions somewhat overwrought. Thankfully, the black grille can always be had as an option.

The interior still looks tidy, and I really love how much room this cabin offers for guys as big as I am (6-foot-5 and 240 pounds). I’m not sure I would’ve noticed the new stitching had it not been pointed out to me, but overall, this is still an attractive place to spend the day driving.

Adding screen real estate is likely to be popular, though I’ve heard many a reader and fellow journalist complain about this kind of placement: kind of stacked on top of the center dash. In my experience, the screen didn’t impede my view of the road – it seems basically level with the top of the instrument cluster – though shorter drivers may disagree. Certainly, the addition of wireless functionality is all upside.

So You’re Telling Me It’s Just A Nicer Version Of The Same Driver-Focused Car?

Yep, that’s right. Climbing from the coast to the highlands around Rancho Palos Verdes, south of Los Angeles, one is quickly reminded of the Integra’s innate handling abilities. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder may not sound like much, but the relatively low curb weight and superb balance can turn curvy roads into slalom courses (my kind of driving).

Steering response is rapid and nicely weighted (especially with the driving mode set to Sport), so on switchback climbs up and down steep grades, the Acura really begs to be driven hard. The feelings of precision and smoothness in quick transitions of direction are common to Honda-family performance products, while completely unique amongst the competitive set.

Now, you can certainly argue that the is the driver’s car in the Acura lineup, but the A-Spec with the 6MT shouldn’t be ignored. The aforementioned steering and handling chops let the ‘Teg shine as a kind of modern “momentum car,” at least, even if lacking the more visceral thrills of some straight-line rockets. And the limited-slip diff ensures that, even on 235-section tires, grip out of corners is quite good.

Exterior Dimensions

Part and parcel to that idea are the car’s very effective brakes. Despite modest 12.3-inch discs up front (11.1-inch rear), with single-piston calipers, I found the brakes to be really sharp and easy to modulate.

Is The A-Spec The Sweet Spot Or Blind Spot Of Honda And Acura’s Portfolio?

Interior Dimensions

If you look at the Honda Civic Si and the as the two poles on a continuum of this platform’s performance, the A-Spec lands right in the middle.

You have to jump from the base Integra ($33,000) to the “A-Spec w/Technology 6MT” trim ($38,000) to get a manual transmission, but it’s about the best five grand you can spend on new car options. Far from novel at this point, the six-speed nevertheless brings light, positive action, short throws, and one of the best shift knobs in business. Plus, with a feather-light clutch pedal, the do-it-yourself gear changer isn’t punishing in high-traffic driving.

Of course, that sublime manual can be had in the same two cars that haunt the Integra A-Spec: the quicker Type S and the cheaper Civic Si.

The Honda offers the same powertrain in a slightly less posh package (admittedly with no heated seat option for this northern boy), for about $6k less than the manual Integra. I prefer the Acura’s hatchback form and exterior styling to that of the Si, but if I were on a strict budget, the added cost would be hard to justify.

And, if my budget were more generous, the 320-horsepower Type S would be awfully tempting, too. Ultimately, while I love the purity of the A-Spec 6MT, I might love the Type S a little bit more.

Which One Should Most People Buy (And Which Other Cars Should They Consider)?

Performance Specifications

There are, of course, plenty of buyers who’ll appreciate Acura’s no-nonsense luxury vibes, in a sporty-feeling car, without any handwringing at all about the most optimal performance bargain.

To wit, there are four trim levels of Integra below the range-topping Type S: base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with the tech back in both CVT and 6MT flavors. I’ve found the car far less compelling with the CVT equipped, in previous experiences, and don’t expect that to change for the ‘26 model year update.

So, while the ultimate A-Spec to me would be painted in Double Apex Blue, with the black grille, a stick shift, and the new white/blue interior colorway, your mileage may vary.

At around $41k as-tested, there are compelling luxury competitors to the Integra; the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 spring immediately to mind. And while both may have an advantage in a few areas (especially torque), they’re far less engaging overall in places like the hills and canyon roads found in SoCal. One might also kick around the idea of a rear-drive, more powerful BMW 228 Gran Coupe, but only if they’re ok with an automatic transmission.

The Integra relaunch has been successful, at least in part, because the company understands that there’s still a passionate community willing to invest in a practical car that connects emotionally. With this revised A-Spec, that’s a community that will continue to be well-served.