1994-2001 Acura Integra: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1994-2001 Acura Integra and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Roadholding
- Antilock brakes (LS, GS-R)
- Acceleration (5-speed models)
- Fuel economy
- Steering/handling
Cons
- Acceleration (w/automatic transmission)
- Rear-seat room
- No antilock brakes (RS)
- Tire noise
Vehicle Highlights
Dramatically redesigned for 1994, with dual airbags, the compact Integra 2-door hatchback coupe and 4-door notchback were based on the Honda Civic front-drive platform. Little-changed in dimensions or weight, the 2-door rode a wheelbase nearly two inches shorter than the sedan's, and measured close to six inches shorter overall. Acura's least-expensive model came in three levels: base RS, luxury LS, and sporty GS-R, each available in both body styles. All Integras have 4-wheel disc brakes, but only the LS and GS-R got standard antilock braking.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Acura Integra LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 7 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 4 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 6 | |
| Value within Class | 8 | |
| Total Score: | 55 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1994-2001 Acura Integra. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1994-2001 Acura Integra.
Year to Year Changes
1995 Acura Integra:
A new LS Special Edition arrived for 1995, mixing the base engine with GS-R looks. Leather upholstery was featured, along with 195/55R15 tires on alloy wheels and a thicker stabilizer bar. Special Edition hatchback also got a rear spoiler.
1996 Acura Integra:
Except for minor equipment updates, not much was new for the '96 Integras. The GS-R got new standard 15-inch alloy wheels, while the other two models gained fresh wheel covers.
1997 Acura Integra:
The Integra model lineup was juggled for 1997 and the audio system traded its standard cassette player for an in-dash CD player. Also, new alloy wheels were added to GS and GS-R models. The 4-door RS was discontinued, while the "GS" badge was placed on the former Special Edition model. Except for the RS, all were available in both body styles. As a result, the lineup ascended from RS through LS, GS, and GS-R after the start of the model year. Midyear, however, Acura unveiled a limited-edition Type-R, built off the GS-R but with a 195-horsepower engine.
1998 Acura Integra:
Minor trim revisions marked the change from the 1997 to 1998 model year for the Integra line.
1999 Acura Integra:
The Integra model lineup was trimmed for the '99 model year. Gone were the high-performance Type R and RS hatchback coupe, leaving the LS, GS, and GS-R in 2- and 4-door form. LS models added 15-inch alloy wheels (replacing 14s), plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. GS-Rs replaced cloth upholstery with standard leather.
2000 Acura Integra:
The high-performance Type-R returned to the Integra lineup this year, with newly standard air conditioning and the 195-horsepower engine. All Integras gained a standard antitheft engine immobilizer and 100,000-mile tune-up intervals.
2001 Acura Integra:
No significant changes were made for 2001.
Our road test for the 1994-2001 Acura Integra includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1994-2001 Acura Integra and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1994-2001 Acura Integra is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Integra engines rev like crazy, but lack enough low-end torque to perform with much zest with the automatic transmission. All Integras are swift with the 5-speed. When equipped with the automatic, progress slows considerably and the transmission constantly shifts between gears. Fuel economy is great. Our test LS averaged nearly 25 mpg in city/freeway driving, and a GS-R yielded an even more frugal 28.3 mpg. Both engines generate lots of noise at higher speeds, but cruise quietly. Tire hum is evident on all but mirror-smooth surfaces. Each Integra corners adeptly, with a bit less body lean than before and almost no front-drive "plowing," helped by sharp steering. The ride is slightly smoother than before, and the car's overall "feel" is stouter. However, hatchbacks in particular still tend to bounce and jiggle on freeways, due in part to their shorter wheelbase. If you're fortunate enough to get your hands on a 1997 or '98 "Type-R" Integra, or the revived 2000 edition, you'll be in for the ride of your life. This limited-production model comes equipped with a highly modified 195-horsepower version of the 1.8-liter GS-R engine, sport-tuned suspension, and meaty 195/55VR/15 tires. Expect brisk acceleration, in the mid-6s. Built for performance, the Type-R omits some creature comforts (A/C for instance) and sound insulation to lose weight. Consequently, expect a noisier and bouncier ride than you get in other Integra models. Passenger space in the hatchback models isn't as good as in the Honda Civic hatchback. Medium-size people will fit fine up front, but only preteens are welcome in back. Because of its longer wheelbase, the sedan is roomier and more practical for buyers who often carry more than one passenger. Cargo room in the coupe is unexceptional. The glovebox offers scant space for anything other than the owner's manual. You can expect fine interior ergonomics and gauges in a typical Honda/Acura dashboard.
Value for the Money
Any Integra should be reliable, but high resale value means they're not cheap secondhand. A Honda Civic actually offers many of the Integra's appealing features, at a considerably lower price.
Any Integra should be reliable, but high resale value means they're not cheap secondhand. A Honda Civic actually offers many of the Integra's appealing features, at a considerably lower price.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Acura Integra LS Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 7 | |
| Ride Quality | 4 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 4 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 6 | |
| Value within Class | 8 | |
| Total Score: | 55 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Acura Integra includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Acura Integra .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Air conditioner:
The air conditioner may stop working because the drive belt has come off the pulley. (1994-01)
Trunk latch:
The rear hatch may be hard to close because the rubber stops are too tall. (1994-95)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $530 |
| Alternator | $420 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $895 |
| Brakes | $195 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $580 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $480 |
| Exhaust System | $505 |
| Radiator | $380 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $620 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $255 |
Our price chart for this generation Acura Integra details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2001 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $6,800-7,600 | $6,100-6,800 | $3,200-3,600 |
| Integra LS, GS | $5,800-6,500 | $5,000-5,700 | $2,400-2,700 |
| Type-R Coupe | $10,800-12,000 | $9,700-10,800 | $5,800-6,500 |
| 2000 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $6,200-6,900 | $5,400-6,000 | $2,700-3,000 |
| Integra LS, GS | $5,000-5,700 | $4,300-4,800 | $2,000-2,300 |
| Type-R Coupe | $9,800-10,800 | $8,800-9,700 | $5,100-5,600 |
| 1999 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $5,200-6,000 | $4,400-5,100 | $2,100-2,400 |
| Integra LS, GS | $4,200-4,800 | $3,400-3,900 | $1,400-1,600 |
| 1998 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $4,500-5,100 | $3,700-4,200 | $1,600-1,800 |
| Integra LS, GS | $3,800-4,400 | $3,100-3,600 | $1,200-1,400 |
| Integra RS | $3,500-4,100 | $2,800-3,300 | $900-1,100 |
| Type-R Coupe | $6,300-7,000 | $5,500-6,200 | $2,800-3,100 |
| 1997 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $4,000-4,600 | $3,300-3,800 | $1,300-1,500 |
| Integra LS, GS | $3,300-3,900 | $2,600-3,100 | $800-1,000 |
| Integra RS | $3,000-3,600 | $2,300-2,800 | $700-800 |
| Type-R Coupe | $5,500-6,100 | $4,700-5,200 | $2,300-2,500 |
| 1996 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $3,600-4,200 | $2,900-3,400 | $1,000-1,200 |
| Integra LS, SE | $2,900-3,400 | $2,200-2,600 | $700-800 |
| Integra RS | $2,600-3,100 | $1,900-2,300 | $500-700 |
| 1995 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $3,200-3,700 | $2,500-2,900 | $800-900 |
| Integra LS, SE | $2,500-3,000 | $1,800-2,200 | $500-600 |
| Integra RS | $2,200-2,700 | $1,600-1,900 | $400-500 |
| 1994 | |||
| Integra GS-R | $2,600-3,100 | $1,900-2,300 | $500-700 |
| Integra RS, LS | $1,900-2,400 | $1,300-1,700 | $300-400 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Acura Integra include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door hatchback | 4-door sedan |
| Wheelbase, in. | 101.2 | 103.1 |
| Overall Length, in. | 172.4 | 178.1 |
| Overall Width, in. | 67.3 | 67.3 |
| Overall Height, in. | 52.6 | 53.9 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2529 | 2628 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 13.0 | 11.0 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 13.2 | 13.2 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.7 | 42.2 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 35.0 | 36.0 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 28.1 | 32.7 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Base RS and luxury LS Integras carry a 142-horsepower, 1.8-liter dual-overhead-cam 4-cylinder engine. Essentially the same as that installed in previous-generation Integras, it develops two more horsepower. A new and different dual-cam 1.8-liter engine, similar in size but more potent, powers the GS-R. That one employs Honda's VTEC (variable valve-timing) system and makes 170 horsepower. A 5-speed manual gearbox was standard on all models. All except the GS-R could have an electronic 4-speed automatic transmission instead. In 1997, Acura introduced a highly modified version of the 1.8-liter from the GS-R for its high-performance "Type-R" model. All-new connecting rods are hand-torqued, ports are hand-polished, while a new forged-steel crankshaft comes with counterweights made with special metallurgy techniques to reduce vibration and bending fatigue. The revised engine includes oval intake springs, dual-exhaust valve springs, thin-stemmed valves and lighter die-cast aluminum pistons with molybdenum-coated skirts. Additional oiling passages and new crowns help boost the compression ratio from 10.0:1 to 10.6:1. In addition, a special camshaft gives higher lift and longer overlap to match a bigger-bore exhaust and freer-breathing exhaust manifold, which features a single wide runner per cylinder rather than smaller twin passages. Finally, the crackle-red finish on the engine's cam cover help set it apart visually from the GS-R's engine.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc I4 | 1.8 / 109 | 170 | 128 | 5-speed manual: 25/31 | 5-speed manual: 28.3 |
| dohc I4 | 1.8 / 112 | 142 | 127 | 5-speed manual: 25/31 4-speed automatic: 24/31 |
5-speed manual: 25 4-speed automatic: -- |
| dohc I41 | 1.8 / 110 | 195 | 130 | 5-speed manual: 25/31 | 5-speed manual: 25.7 |
|
1. This highly modified Integra engine is only available on limited-production Type-R models, and comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. No Type-R models were available in 1999. Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
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Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Acura Integra include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1996 Integra |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 3 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1994-2001 Acura Integra directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1994:
Retaining clip at automatic transmission can come off, so position of lever does not match actual transmission gear range.
2001:
Passenger-airbag module may not have been properly welded and may not deploy in a collision.
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