The 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec continues to be an amazing and fun performance luxury car, especially if you grab one with the manual transmission.

Acura took a chance that drivers would want the Integra with some performance chops, and they were right. The Integra has been a huge success during its return to the market and is rated as the best subcompact luxury sedan by MotorTrend. While it’s technically a hatchback, it’s an enthusiastic car with everything you love from Honda’s luxury arm wrapped up in one amazing package.

What does this Acura sports sedan bring to the table?

Acura didn’t mess with a good thing when updating the 2026 Integra A-Spec. The main changes? A bigger 9-inch touchscreen that actually responds faster, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and three fresh paint colors, including that eye-catching Double Apex Blue Pearl. The A-Spec also picks up a sharper aero kit and new 18-inch black wheels. But here’s what matters: that brilliant six-speed manual is still one of the best shifters you can buy in 2026, the handling stays sharp and playful, and the 1.5-liter turbo four keeps delivering 200 horses with solid fuel economy.

The 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec splits the difference

It won’t win any drag races at 7.4 seconds to 60 mph, but this car is about carving corners and enjoying the drive. It sits right between the budget-friendly Honda Civic Si and the wild 320-hp Integra Type S, offering premium touches and that rare manual option for drivers who actually care about rowing their own gears. The Integra hatchback design gives you way more cargo space than a typical sedan, and the price starts around $40,395 for the A-Spec with the Technology package. Acura basically gave the Integra a refresh without killing what made people fall for it in the first place.

The latest Integra A-Spec review reveals better performance

Although the 2026 Integra specs are the same as before in terms of power generated from the engine, the latest version can finish the sprint to 60 MPH in 0.2 seconds faster than the 2023 model. That means you can jump off the line a little faster than before, but still won’t compete with some of the sportier compacts on the road. Still, the Integra A-Spec is a lot of fun for a premium compact car and can easily be one of the most engaging cars you drive, especially if you toss it around through the curves and turns on a winding road.

The Acura Integra manual transmission is excellent

Among the top reasons to drive and experience the 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec, the manual transmission has to be number one. The manual is crisp and clean, has a subtle rev-matching system that can be disabled if you desire, and the pedals are positioned right for heel-toe action. The clutch pedal is soft enough for you to experience some quick shifting and amazing fun while driving. If you’re looking for an active and fun luxury sports sedan, the Integra A-Spec has everything you need.

The 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec is the Type S light

Much like the Civic Si is a light version of the Type R, the Integra A-Spec is the light version of the Type S. This car isn’t as stout or heavily damped as the system used in the more hardcore Integra, but it works extremely well with the engine and setup offered. You’ll have a car with a small engine that brings a ton of character to your driving experience, using a VTEC system that sounds great and makes driving fun. The A-Spec is an Integra that you simply have to experience to appreciate what it brings to the table.

It might not be the car you take to the track

Testing the Integra A-Spec at the track showed its flaws, including a set of tires that turn gummy after a few laps. This sporty little hatchback wasn’t made for track-day fun and hard acceleration over long periods of time. It’s made for some fun on open roads, and it’s priced that way. The fun is baked into how well it handles the curves and turns on a lined road, not the tarmac of a track.

If you’re looking for a car that makes your daily driving experience more fun, the 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec could be the perfect car for you to drive and experience every day. The hatchback build gives you more cargo space than most sports cars, and the active feeling brings the fun you want around the corners.

Will you make the 2026 Acura Integra A-Spec the sporty, fun, manual-transmission hatchback that you drive every day?