Honda had gone from an unknown quantity to household name in less than a decade, and the company was striving for more. It may seem odd from today’s perspective, but the concept of an ‘upscale’ Japanese brand was seen as a gamble back in the mid ’80s, and Car And Driver notes it so. An idea partly due to upcoming import quotas, Honda was the first of Japan’s makes to jump into those risky and profitable waters with the Acura brand.
There isn’t much I can add to this review. The company was on a hot streak throughout the ’80s, and Acura’s launch was one more step in Honda’s unstoppable rise. The Acura line spoke to a new generation of drivers with two new models: the higher end Legend was developed with the help of Rover, and for the Integra, Honda repurposed available premium hardware to add an entry model for the new marque.
In the Integra, the known Honda traits were there: the handling was both responsive and compliant, the 1.6 liter engine revved happily and smoothly, and its cockpit was quiet and comfortable, filled with modern ergonomics. The Integra offered a ‘rational’ style of luxury; devoid of gimmicks, aiming for sober and responsive efficiency. It wasn’t a per se sports car, but rather an all-around well performer that clicked the right boxes for upscale buyers in the ’80s.
DOHC, that’s the main legacy of Acura’s early days. While such engines had already been available in sporty and upper market Europeans, Acura (and Honda) turned DOHC engines into widely known commodities. Soon, VTEC would be offered and even an exotic competitor, the NSX. Everything about Honda/Acura seemed hot.
Many customers took to Honda’s products; a good deal of my college mates owned Civics, and one even bought two CRXs when the model was discontinued. A good number aspired to climb to an Acura, and buy them they did when finally able.
We’ll get to the ‘in hindsight’ murky area now, the company’s decision to hedge their bets at the brand’s launch. With the release of the upper class Legend along the sporty middle class Integra; how upscale was the brand meant to be exactly? Until AI can sort out the ‘what could haves?’ in a convincing way, there’ll be debate on that end for time to come. Lexus and Infinity suffered of the same sin, though none of their lower-end models gained the following the Integra did. How to let go of the lovable runt, even if it saddles your posh intentions?
Of course, there were limits to how high Honda could climb. But those were still a bit further into the future. The most surprising thing for me in this review? The images of a clean Integra. When is the last time you saw one?
I recall reading this article in September 1986. I just started studying illustration and graphic design, and car magazines were a welcomed diversion. The understated luxury and sportiness of the Acura brand, was a refreshing change, being used to so many domestic sporty cars sold on looks, and image.
I always listened to music, while reading car magazines. Why I associate specific cars, with certain songs. lol ‘The Way it Is’ by Bruce Hornsby, and ‘True Colours’ by Cyndi Lauper, being two of the more popular songs in the Fall of ’86.
At the time, I was not enthralled with these. I had a 1985 VW GTI and went with a girlfriend to look at one. She did not want a stick shift, so we looked at one with an automatic, which seemed to me to take away any appeal the car had (at least to me). These were expensive for their size, probably at or even a little above what my GTI had cost (and it was far from cheap then). In the end, she decided it was out of her price range.
In retrospect, I see more to these now than I did then.
I was pretty enthralled with the Integra, but more so with the VW GTI and Mustang GT as to what would be my first new car.
Just to be sure wouldn’t regret not checking one out later, in the event the GTI or Mustang turned out to be a lemon. I thought the Honda product would be the most durable and reliable. So, I drove a slightly used automatic, to get a feel for the car. I liked the GTI more, and that is what I got, in Florida. A black one.
Once I had the GTi for about a week, I found two big unexpected POSITIVE surprises, the supremely comfortable and supportive seats and.. the A/C. The A/C was felt like it could liquify air, and I remembered the comment in the feature road test about the Integra A/C being weak.
There don’t seem to be many 1st Gen Integras left. There are more Mk2 GTIs–and not many of them either.
I too had an ’86 GTi….back in ’86 I spent the most time I ever have (and likely ever will) looking at cars, even going outside my normal choices…for instance I drove a Toyota MR2 and Bertone X1/9, an Alfa Romeo GTV, and a Mitsubishi Gallant. There seemed to be many choices of cars to get excited about, which I miss, I probably should be in the market as my current car (’00 Golf) bought new is pretty aged, but there’s no car that seems to draw me more than my current car…part of the reason though is I’m in denial, my next car needs to be an automatic due to my advancing age and no one in my family drives manual, but that’s not the whole reason, no car seems too compelling to me now.
Back in ’86, for me the runner up was an Accord hatch, I didn’t like that you could only get fuel injection in the LXi which also came with power windows and locks (which I have in my ’00, but in ’86 I didn’t want them). Not sure why I didn’t look at the Integra, but of course it was a bit smaller than the Accord. A co-worker bought a 1st Gen Legend a couple years later, and it was nice, but seemed expensive. Not many hatchbacks offered these days, I’m not yet ready to be hearded into a crossover or SUV in place of a hatchback.
Really liked my A2 GTi, owned it 14 years, though I do wonder how the Accord would have worked out…they stopped making Accord hatchbacks in ’89, that’s a big reason I never bought a Honda, they weren’t as consistent in offering hatchbacks during the windows I was actually looking for another car, whereas until recently VW finally discontinued selling the base Golf in the US. I’m a bit too old for a GTi now, maybe I’ll look for something used instead.
I’m still waiting for the Acura Integra Masturba-edition.
Friend had HONDA with many problems. Finally gave up and traded for 93 LeBaron. 🏆. LeBaron sedan was definitely a big step up. Roomy for size, smooth riding, comfortable, and plush luxury. Would definitely prefer over any Acura.
I owned a Dodge Shadow in the early 1990s. A car that shared much of its content with the LeBaron. The design and content of the Chryslers being heavily influenced by cars like the Ford Taurus, and Honda products.
In fairness to Chrysler, their over a decade-long expertise using K-car parts and technology, was a reliability, and product longevity asset, in the early 1990s.
Going from Honda to Mopar (mo’problems) is like choosing hot dogs over filet mignon steak
A generalisation like yours here is structurally unsound; it’s easily toppled by just one counterexample.
I had to use a search engine to find out what a 1993 Chrysler Lebaron was. There are still quite a few 1993 Hondas faithfully serving their owners.
LeBaron convertibles from this era, had a faithful following. Still see them.
Jon Voight for one owned a leBaron.
Until I got my current vehicle – THIS was my sentimental favorite of my cars that I missed for decades to come.
I loved my ’89 Integra 5 speed. One of my all time favorite cars. Thanks for sharing this article.
I had a friend who was an enthusiastic owner of an Acura Integra LS back when I had an eta-plus BMW over thirty years ago. I didn’t understand his appreciation for the Acura then, but I do now. Hondas were the highest form of automotive enlightenment for decades, but now Toyota stands alone.
I remember garages calling for rear shoes and drums for 1st gen Integra’s and our catalogue only listed disc brakes. We soon figured out Civic parts worked. I guess the low level cars in Canada got drum brakes on the back.