By: Uday Mohan
March 25, 2025
What do you get when you take a perfectly capable, reliable, and well-mannered sedan and drop it into a vat of super serum? Nothing short of extraordinary. The Integra Type S takes an already well-balanced and fun car and dials every setting up to eleven.
So when we had the opportunity to pick it up again—only this time in -25°C weather, with the ground completely covered in snow—we knew it would be a unique test. Thanks to Honda Canada Inc. for facilitating the loan and allowing us the chance to revisit the Type S under such extreme conditions. Considering cars like this are usually sheltered once the weather turns, it felt like the perfect chance to see how capable and usable something built to carve up asphalt could be when that asphalt was buried beneath ice and snow.
The 2025 Integra Type S carries over unchanged from the previous model year, still sporting a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine producing a very respectable 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a short-throw six-speed manual transmission—the only option available, and in our opinion, the only one that should be offered on a car of this nature.
To manage all that power in a front-wheel-drive setup, Acura equips the Type S with a helical limited-slip differential that virtually eliminates wheel spin and hop—yet not to the point of dulling the excitement. The focus here is clear: to put a smile on the driver’s face, and maybe on the faces of those who see it cruising by.
Acura made some bold and tasteful choices with the exterior. The first thing you notice is the menacing widebody kit, accompanied by a vented hood and, of course, the now-signature tri-tip exhaust system that delivers just the right amount of raucous exhaust note to keep you grinning. In our opinion, this kit firmly establishes the Type S as a standout within the Integra lineup—there’s no mistaking it for anything else. There are no subtle cues here; everything is proudly on display.
Inside, the Type S is as you’d expect—not particularly upscale or refined, but familiar and comfortable. Many of the design elements are shared with the rest of the Integra lineup. It features a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is intuitive and easy to navigate. The ELS Studio 3D sound system, with 16 speakers including a punchy subwoofer, handled everything we threw at it during our winter drives with impressive clarity and depth.
Creature comforts include a wireless charging pad, two USB ports, Alexa integration, and SiriusXM (subscription required). However, the digital gauge cluster is where the Type S feels a little outdated. While it provides useful sub-information—like turbo boost, throttle and brake pressure—it lacks the dynamic design we’d expect in a performance-oriented car. A more interactive, modern layout would go a long way in enhancing the driver-focused experience.
As we spent more time with the car, the question naturally came up—why not just buy the alternative offering from the parent company for a little less money? But that thought quickly faded. While the two vehicles may seem similar to most, the subtle refinements in the Type S truly set it apart. One of the biggest standouts is the driving comfort. The seats are well-bolstered yet cushy enough to make long road trips a no-brainer. The sound insulation and suspension setup also feel more grand touring than track-focused, making the car more livable on a daily basis.
Still, we had two small gripes. First, there are no rear air vents—something that’s oddly missing across the entire Integra lineup. Second, while this may look like a five-seater sedan, it really only seats four. The rear center seat is taken up by a fixed cupholder console, making it unusable for passengers.
Now, we know most readers—and potential buyers—are likely aware of the price difference between the Type S and the A-Spec trim. Our press car, as equipped, rang in at around $70,000 CAD (taxes in). At that price point, there are plenty of other options worth considering—and we did, for a moment. But then it hit us: while the Type S might initially appear to be just an Integra with a body kit and some tuning, it’s so much more than that.
It’s everything a practical, everyday car should be—while also having the ability to slip into its “red dress” and raise hell when the time is right. Many other performance cars at this price point come with compromises—two doors, cramped back seats, or barely usable cargo space. With the Type S, there are no such trade-offs. You can take it on family road trips, or do a full Costco run (and we all know how big those can get), all while dealing with -20°C temperatures and snow-covered roads.
