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Folks, I am at Acura dealer today for routine service on my SUV... the new Integra is here and it looks... well, like an updated ILX with a splash of Civic thrown in. Having had two Integras in the past, I'm a bit underwhelmed but I'll stop short of crucifying Acura for their effort as I haven't driven the car yet. I'm sure it is a decent drive. My bigger concern is how this car was released from the factory with panel gaps and warped seams the way it was. I sure hope this is an early production example and not an example of what to expect for the typical production run with this car. Holy smokes - even GM is doing better than this. Acura, you should be ashamed. Driver side hood seam - closer than passenger side. Passenger side hood seam - wider than driver side. Driver side - hood seam very narrow and bumper seam meeting quarter panel is not flush. Passenger side - hood seam very wide compared to opposite side, bumper seam meeting quarter panel WAY off. Passenger side rear hatch seam where it meets rear quarter panel - mostly flush Driver side rear hatch seam where it meets rear quarter panel - not even close to being flush Driver side - closeup where front bumper cover meets quarter panel... how can this leave the factory??? ! Passenger side - closeup where front bumper cover meets quarter panel... how can this leave the factory??? ! Driver side - Another closeup where front bumper cover meets quarter panel... how can this leave the factory??? ! Passenger side - another closeup where front bumper cover meets quarter panel... how can this leave the factory??? !
Last edited by TheDatanator; Jun 15, 2022 at 10:33 AM.
Reason: typos
Acura's been like this for at least the past decade it seems. Fit and finish is not befitting of a premium brand, and honestly I'd be disappointed to see this type of attention to detail (or lack thereof) on a Honda product. Either this was missed by QC, or it is within the acceptable tolerances; regardless, both is worrisome.
The one I posted photos of had a slightly misaligned hatch and a bad fit on the passenger side upper front bumper. Let’s call it barely acceptable assuming the figment with the bumper could be corrected. After having a barely correctable alignment issue with the rear hatch of my 2019 RDX I’ve gotten in the habit of carefully looking at all the panels on any Acura I’m viewing. I strongly suggest that any potential purchaser do the same. I really can’t understand how the vehicle fiatlux posted was released by the factory then accepted by the dealer.
This is not what customers should expect/accept, and my guess is they'll get better as they build more. That said, all of these should be correctable, but many buyers are clueless and won't even notice.
We've never had an issue like this on any of the 8 Honda/Acura products we've owned. Our Integra will not get here until late summer/early fall -- I hope they've ironed out production anomalies like this by then. FWIW, the Apex Blue/Orchid demo that we drove seemed impeccably assembled (yes, I did take the time to run my fingers down the panel seams).
I have to respectfully disagree with the OP's conclusions that the Integra is an updated ILX. There is no virtually no similarity except for the current Acura design cues on the front/sides. Powertrain is completely different, lift-back versus sedan, etc. The car has a nice look and the interior is well-designed and looks considerably more upmarket compared to the ILX. That latter is not a bad car at all, but the interior has always left me thinking "this is a car built to a price." I don't get that feeling inside the Integra, especially when you're on the road in it. In fact, it feels/sounds very similar to the two 2G Integra LSs we owned, with allowances made for modern amenities, manufacturing advances and, of course, technology. I don't think you can do much better in a sporty car (not SUV) for the price.
I also don’t think it looks anything like the ILX. I can’t imagine anyone really does. When someone does say that I attribute it to their referencing the spot the car holds in the Acura lineup and not the car itself.
I had a Liquid Carbon Metallic A-Spec cut right in front of me in NJ yesterday, looked like the dealer was having some fun with it. I was excited to see it in motion and was able to get next to it and ahead of it as it was turning so I got to see it from many angles. It's not as nice in person as I thought that it would be and looked kind of cheap in spots. Not a bad looking car by any means, but I can agree that it looks its best in pics and wasn't as unique looking in person.
I think it's good for what it is BUT price will be the determining factor and with a markup it will quickly become not worth it.
Thank you Datanator. I just joined and reviewing threads because I'm getting my Integra in a couple weeks.:-) I'm happy you posted this (even if it looks super shiity) but I will be sure to not just stare at the overall car when I see it for the first time with love in my eyes, and will definitely take a close look at all the panels and everything fitting properly before I sign anything! I'm pretty sure I would have noticed a couple of these on my own but will def have eagle eyes on my walk around now. Thanks!
