Can The New 2024 Civic Type R And Integra Type S Take On The Original NSX And S2000 CR?

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Honda, and by extension Acura, were on top of the enthusiast world in the ’90s and ’00s. At the time, they had something for everybody, from the relatively sensible Integra Type R, to the fun-in-the-sun S2000, to the all-business supercar, the NSX.

Now, the automaker is reviving one of its best remembered names, the Integra, and has come out with the latest generation of its legend, the Civic Type R, to win enthusiasts’ hearts once again. So, has it worked? Can its new sporty compact cars live up to the legends of its past?

Jason Cammisa has decided to find out with a new video for Hagerty, which first pits the automaker’s classics against one another, and then sends the winner to battle against Honda’s latest creations on the drag strip.

Read: Watch Five Generations Of Honda Civic Type R Go Toe-To-Toe In A Drag Race

To begin, the 195 hp (145 kW/197 PS) 2001 Acura Integra Type R is the lowest on power, but the lowest on weight, too, tipping the scales at 2,560 lbs (1,161 kg). Surprisingly, the two-seat 2009 Honda S200 CR weighs a little more at 2,790 lbs (1,265 kg), but also makes quite a bit more power, thanks to its 237 hp (177 kW/240 PS) 2.2-liter inline-four.

Finally, the 1991 Acura NSX ups the ante with a 3.0-liter V-TEC V6 that makes 270 hp (201 kW/274 PS). Despite being the heaviest of the three at 3,030 lbs (1,374 kg), its mid-engine layout and its high power make it the fastest through the quarter-mile, with a time of 13.5 seconds at 104 mph (167 km/h).

It is therefore sent into battle again to represent Honda’s classics against the new 2024 Acura Integra Type S and Honda Civic Type R. It may not come as a shock to discover that the two cars have pretty similar performance, since their differences are almost entirely skin deep.

Both are powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline-four, and both have a six-speed manual transmission. However, whereas the Acura makes 320 hp (239 kW/324 PS), the Honda has to make do with 315 hp (235 kW/319 PS). Despite that, it has a little less weight to lug around, tipping the scales at 3,183 lbs (1,444 kg), as compares to the more luxurious Acura’s 3,212 lb (1,457 kg) curb weight.

Do those minor differences amount to anything on the drag strip? Not really. In both the standing quarter-mile and a roll race, both cars perform almost identically. What’s astounding is that their 13.5 second quarter-mile time is almost indistinguishable from the NSX’s, which is 30-odd years older. It’s an impressive result for three impressive cars.