2001 Acura Integra

Most Acuras are more luxurious and higher-priced versions of vehicles made by Honda, its parent company, similar to Lexus and Toyota or Infiniti and Nissan. In Acura’s case, the formula usually works well. Its sedans and SUVs have earned Consumer Reports’ recommendations for cabin comfort, handling, above-average reliability, and engines with smooth power delivery. Like Honda, Acura’s lineup is mainly SUVs, but includes some sedans. The Integra is an upgraded version of the Honda Civic, and competes with the most affordable vehicles from manufacturers like Audi and BMW. The TLX is similar, but slightly larger and more expensive. Acura’s SUVs range from midsized and three-row down to compact and two-row. Across the lineup, fuel economy is usually average. Despite Honda’s success with the technology, Acura sells no hybrids. For both new and used, reliability can vary between models, but the better options often near the top of our rankings.

Though this is basically a sound car, the current Integra is a bit old. And, if you're a driving enthusiast, LS and GS versions of this model may prove disappointing. Emergency handling is sloppy, and braking is just adequate in the LS version. The 140-hp four-cylinder provides brisk acceleration, and the five-speed manual transmission shifts crisply. The sporty GS-R version, with a 170-hp Four, is faster and handles better. We found the front seats too low, however. True driving enthusiasts should consider the more powerful but hard-riding Type R. Nevertheless, it's a quiet, comfortable car. It was replaced by the RSX starting in 2002.