To start I really like my new Integra but I would like to share a few things that Acura design has missed the market and needs improvement.

1. No option for any Homelink garage access. (Guess low end luxury only parks outside on the curb)
2. Rear window (no Auto-up/down) - At least there seems to be low buffeting noise with only front windows down.
3. Heated steering wheel option is a giant box mounted to the bottom of the steering wheel. (A simple button install would be nice and factory install is Way better than any dealership install options)

This is my list of complaints so far but overall this car is still fun to drive and interior quality is worth the extra money compared to its brother the Civic Si

Let me know your thoughts on this new design

 

At least you get a heated steering wheel. In the US it’s not available (though to be fair I’ve never used it even on cars thst had it).

No Homelink is a big head scratcher. The other miss that I’m a little annoyed about is not having keyless entry for the rear doors. Come on Acura, even an entry level Lexus from 15 years ago had those standard…

 

I can give a pass for Heated Steering wheel as it depends where you live and the need for it. But No homelink and the rear window auto are a shame that Acura did not include. I am totally with you. I think when any brand of cars that call themselves premium or luxury should have these basic features.

 

The title of this thread is misleading. "Initial Quality" has more to do with assembly issues and reliability, no? The listed complaints are more like issues with design decisions.

So not even the Civic SI has Homelink as an option?!!!

 

Nope, only available on the Touring trim (sedan) and Sport Touring (hatchback).

 

We pick up our ASpec/Tech 6MT Tuesday (after a 6 month wait for a Red Pearl/Orchid variant). The one obvious omission to me when we tested a car back in late May was the missing HomeLink. Is it a chip issue? Who knows. But it should be there, and I'm thinking the next model year will have it, at least on the ASpec/Tech versions.

 

No Navi is a head scratcher for me too. People may argue that AA/CP is a better alternative but I like Honda's in dash system (and the one in the new Accord looks even better) and I take a lot of short trips and hate fumbling with my phone and connecting.

 

Gotta remember who the car is aimed at: young people. They have no patience for a clunky GPS system when the ones available through CarPlay is superior. It takes seconds to punch in or load up an address into the map app of your choice; it takes significantly longer to input it into a nav system. And with wireless CP/AA there’s no fumbling to connect necessary.

 

Honda's nav may be ok but the one in the current Acura's are pretty painful:

1) No preview image of entry/exit ramps (Garmin/Magellan perfected this back in the day and everyone should have followed suit).

2) Tiny font size that'll have you staring at the screen much longer than intended (invalidating the whole point of the TrueTouch interface!).

3) No speed limit info...and don't get me started on the atrocious speed limit sign recognition "feature".


Integra owners aren't missing much if we're being honest!

 

I've used AA in a couple of rental cars, and (especially when wired-connected) it works and displays pretty well. Now, it even gives you some of the display features that the Acura in-car system has always had, like showing you in advance the exact lane you need to be in at a complex, multi-lane, highway interchange. After 10+ years of owning my TL I'm finally finding ways to expedite location entry on the built-in navi unit! Not its strong suit, but otherwise it performs and displays well. No complaints.

The only downside I've noticed with AA is on wireless versions (in three different makes of car) the app shuts down and has to be restarted/reconnected periodically, which evidently is true in the Integra too for some users.

We'll see. I'll provide some first impressions after we have driven our new Integra for a few days.

 

Is this car really aimed at that demographic, though? And if it is than why does the Civic still have Navi, which I would argue is aimed at younger folks than the Integra (and yes keeping in mind that the Civic also has a broad appeal)? It's just strange to have a premium vehicle lacking such a basic feature and that is just a given with many cars these days.

For me I make a lot of really quick trips and don't want to fumble with my phone in any way and it's nice just to have it always ready. A deal breaker? Probably not, but I would need to try that in practice.

But since the Integra's infotainment is Honda-based I would assume it would have their Navi function over Acura's. But yes with what you describe that doesn't seem as useful as AA/CP.

Outside of the basic graphics in comparison to what you see these days my TSX's Navi is still coming through for me.

 

Yes it is, according to their marketing dept:
https://www.autonews.com/marketing/h...e-us-consumers

The Civic like you said is meant to have broad appeal. It's supposed to appeal to both young people and old people; anyone who wants basic, sensible transportation. It can do that because it sells on volume. In contrast, the Integra is meant to bring in buyers who will then age/grow into a TLX or RDX or MDX. As a gateway car, it's meant to develop a pipeline of future buyers for the higher profit cars in the lineup. The customer lifetime value of an older buyer for this particular segment is quite low because they may never buy another car again.

Again, with wireless CP/AA there's no fumbling. I leave my phone firmly in my pocket. The benefit of something like CP/AA is that your Maps app is much smarter, faster, and reliable than the built-in GPS. Have an appointment on your calendar? It instantly pulls your address so you don't have to time in anything. Have a location you go to frequently? Boom is shows ups on the main dropdown. Want to type in the address of the new restaurant that just opened? All you need is the name of the place; everything is always up-to-date without having to install map updates all the time.

The only benefit of a built-in GPS is in the situation where you have no cell reception.

 

Sure that is what the marketing says, but in practice is it really? I see their target demographic going for the Civic before the Integra and if they are going to go Acura I see them going for something else in the lineup...the Integra may be a little more niche than they think (and hence why it is piling up on the lots).

A fair point but that's a part of the issue and A) I have yet to meet any wireless connection that hasn't randomly disconnected B) I do have dead zones around me due to the terrain (offline maps are an option in this case, though). There are definitely a lot of benefits but I just view it as for this kind of money and what Acura tries to be it should be a given, sprinkled in with a bit of my old habits can die hard.

 

We picked up our Performance Red/Orchid 6MT early last week, and have driven it about 100 miles, so this is very obviously a first, first impression report on the car.

We (it's my wife's primary car) loved the red/orchid combo. It was sitting in bright sun the day of delivery, and that red paint really pops. From initial appearances, paint quality and both exterior/interior fit and finish are flawless. We really liked the looks of the car when we test drove an Apex Blue/Orchid version in late May, and that was reaffirmed when we saw our PRP.

After just a few driving sessions, including suburban roads, freeway and my little, local "handling course" (twisties with some elevation changes -- average speed about 40 mph), I'm very impressed first and foremost with the car's handling. No FWD car has any business feeling this good on a curvy road. Turn in is very responsive, ride is flat and controlled without any choppiness, and the car is just a joy to drive. The engine is very responsive and certainly quick enough for our purposes. If I had to use a word to describe the motor (with only 100 miles on it and definitely in break-in mode) it would be "eager." Transmission and clutch are light and smooth, as you'd expect in a Honda/Acura MT. The clutch take up is a little different from my TL AWD, so that will take some learning/adjustment on my part. Even with it sitting around idling as the techs did the PDI setup and our getting a 20 minute tutorial on how the car's systems and controls work, it is sitting at 30 mpg combined at the moment.

The ELS system sounds great. We're OG so we miss the CD player for high quality sound, but XM, streaming music and HD radio sound really, really good. Can't wait to get some favorite music loaded onto a flash drive.

We both were able to dial in very comfortable driving positions on the left seat, and passenger's seat is quite comfortable too. (Would love to have seen lumbar and seat cushion up/down adjustments on it).

Our second newest car is a '13 Accord EX so we have some learning to do on the tech and getting our phones working optimally with the car's system, but so far we're pretty pleased with how it all works. Need to disable a few of the safety nannies, but so far that's it.

Some have noted excessive road noise or some rattles, but so far ours is very quiet and seems screwed down quite tightly. Not a rattle or squeak to be heard.

I'll update after we live with the car for a while, but so far we really like it. If anything, it has exceeded our expectations. Quite a difference from our '90 and '91 LS coupes, which we loved at the time, but the same driving feeling/spirit is still there.

 

i am very impressed by your first impression. You're coming from a big car with lots of premium material. Thanks for your honest opinion and I am sure Acura did their homework to bring back the Integra.

 

I still have (and love) my 6MT TL, but this little car is impressive. Dare I say it, bump compliance seems better in the Integra than in my TL.

 

Got mine in NY at MSRP. Dealer included the heated steering wheel to sweeten the deal when I sounded reluctant.

 

Oh I just realized it’s a dealer installed accessory.