Is the Acura RSX a Honda Integra?
The Acura RSX is essentially the North American version of Honda’s Integra, built on the same DC5 platform and sharing most of its mechanicals. In the United States and Canada it wore the Acura RSX badge, while other regions used the Honda Integra name.
A shared platform and regional branding
The RSX and the Honda Integra DC5 are the same underlying model, differentiated primarily by branding and regional market positioning. When Acura launched the RSX in North America in 2002, it represented the continuation of the Integra lineage under a different badge for the U.S. and Canadian markets. In other parts of the world, the car was sold as Honda Integra, often with similar performance variants. The DC5 chassis code ties both versions together.
Market naming and regional strategy help explain the question: the RSX is not a distinct vehicle from the Integra—it's the same car wearing different badges depending on where it was sold.
- North America: Acura RSX (produced 2002–2006)
- Japan and other markets: Honda Integra (DC5) with Integra Type S/Type R variants
Concluded, the RSX and Integra are the same fundamental model, with branding and trim tuned to fit regional markets rather than representing separate vehicles.
Technical highlights and variants
Key mechanical details center on two main variants offered in North America, which mirror the broader Integra lineup in other regions:
- Base RSX: 2.0L i-VTEC K20A3 engine, approximately 155 horsepower
- RSX Type-S: 2.0L i-VTEC K20A2 engine, approximately 210 horsepower
- Transmissions: Base RSX commonly paired with a 5-speed manual (with a 4-speed automatic option in some years); RSX Type-S featured a 6-speed manual
- Drive and chassis: Front-engine, front-wheel drive with a DC5 platform and double-wishbone suspension
These specifications illustrate how the RSX aligned with the Integra’s performance variants, reinforcing that branding—not engineering—defined market presentation.
Current status and legacy
The Acura RSX was produced for the North American market from 2002 to 2006 and was not directly continued in Acura’s lineup afterward. The Honda Integra name persisted in other regions with similar DC5-based models, and in recent years Honda revived the Integra badge in some markets for a different, Civic-based hatchback—an approach that uses the name but is not a direct continuation of the RSX/Integra DC5 lineage.
Summary
In short, the Acura RSX is the North American version of Honda’s Integra, sharing the same DC5 platform and core mechanics but branded differently for regional markets. The RSX name captured the U.S. market identity, while the Integra name persisted elsewhere. The model itself ended production in the mid-2000s, with later uses of the Integra badge serving separate purposes in modern Honda lineups.
Are Acura and Integra the same?
In North America, the Integra was sold under the Acura nameplate. Acura offered three trim levels (RS, LS and GS) for 1990 and 1991 model years and added a fourth trim level (GS-R) beginning in May 1992. Model choices consisted of a 3-door liftback and a new 4-door sedan.
Are the RSX and Integra the same?
Yes, the Acura RSX was essentially the 2002-2006 North American version of the fourth-generation Honda Integra. The RSX was a rebadged Integra sold in the United States and Canada as part of Acura's effort to move to alphabetical branding. The main differences between the two were the badges, and the Japanese-market Integra was also sold as a right-hand-drive vehicle, while the RSX was left-hand-drive.
- Vehicle lineage: The RSX is considered the successor to the Integra in North America, and the fourth-generation car was sold as the Integra in other markets.
- Branding change: Acura changed the nameplate from the well-known "Integra" to the alphanumeric "RSX" to build brand recognition for Acura itself.
- Minor differences: While the core car was the same, there were slight differences, such as some minor detuning of the engine in some versions and different trim levels. Parts from both cars are often interchangeable.
- Newer models: The Integra nameplate has since been revived by Acura for a new model, which is a separate vehicle from the older RSX.
What is the Honda version of the Acura RSX?
Honda Integra
| Acura RSX | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Also called | Honda Integra (2001–2006) |
| Production | July 2001 – August 2006 2026 (to commence) |
| Model years | 2002–2006 2027 |
What is the RSX based on?
The RSX is based on a shared EV architecture developed between Honda and Acura, but with the unique Acura look and feel that fits neatly within the Acura models lineup.
