Are Acura and Integra the same?
No. Acura is the Honda luxury brand, while Integra is a model name that has appeared under that brand over the years. They are not the same thing.
Integra has a storied history as a compact, sporty car name that Honda/Acura has used in several generations, and it has recently been revived as a modern, premium hatchback under the Acura banner. This article breaks down how the brand and the model relate, and what shoppers should know about current and historical context.
What is Acura?
Acura is Honda’s luxury marque in North America, introduced in 1986 to compete with established premium brands. It operates as a distinct brand with its own styling, features, and performance positioning. Acura’s current lineup includes models such as the TLX sedan, RDX and MDX SUVs, and the Integra, which serves as the entry-luxury hatchback for many buyers. The brand has also pursued performance-oriented variants under the Type S name in recent years.
What is Integra?
Integra is a model name with a long lineage. It began in the late 1980s as a compact, sporty hatchback/coupe and was sold in the United States under the Acura banner for many years, spanning multiple generations before a hiatus in the mid-2000s. Acura reintroduced the Integra for the 2023 model year as a modern, premium hatchback that shares engineering with the Honda Civic. A high-performance Integra Type S followed for the 2024 model year, emphasizing sport-focused engineering and, notably, the availability of a manual transmission in some configurations.
Key distinctions between brand and model
Below are some quick facts to differentiate Acura as a brand from the Integra as a model:
- Acura is a brand owned by Honda, used in North America to market premium vehicles.
- Integra is a model name that has appeared under Acura, historically as a compact sport hatchback and, starting in 2023, as a newer generation under the Acura badge.
- The Integra name has been used across multiple generations; the current generation debuted in 2023 and is built on a Civic-based platform.
- There is also a performance variant called the Integra Type S introduced for the 2024 model year.
In short, you should think of Acura as the umbrella brand and Integra as one model within that lineup, albeit with a storied history and a modern revival that has kept the name relevant for a new generation of buyers.
Additional context for shoppers and enthusiasts
To avoid confusion in conversations or listings, remember that "Acura" prefixes the model name on official brochures and badges (for example, Acura Integra). In some non-U.S. markets, Honda may market similar cars under the Honda badge with different naming conventions. The modern Integra aligns with Honda's global small-car strategy, using shared underpinnings with Civics and other compact models, while wearing Acura branding in markets where Acura operates.
For buyers, the practical distinction matters when evaluating options, features, and price. The Integra’s badge signals a performance-oriented, compact hatch experience within Acura’s broader lineup, just as the brand signals the luxury, tech, and dealer experience associated with Acura ownership.
Summary
The relationship between Acura and Integra is brand-to-model: Acura is the premium automaker; Integra is a model name that has existed under Acura and has been revived for a contemporary, performance-focused hatchback lineup. The two are related, but not the same thing, and understanding this helps when researching specifications, trims, and historical context.
