1995 Acura Integra Big performance in a small package By Professional Test Driver, New Car Test Drive .com

Acura, a division of Honda, has three distinct car lines to offer: the luxurious Legend, the compact Integra and the sensational NSX. As different as these three vehicles are, there are some common threads that tie them all together.

Regardless of the intended buyer or price, each Acura delivers something extra in the way of performance and handling. Each shows the benefit of thoughtful, innovative engineering and careful design. And each is built to a quality standard that has more to do with pride than price.

The Integra is a prime example of this. Now in its third generation, this small Acura has matured into a car that will serve a variety of purposes, from luxurious mini-limo to spirited playmobile. It offers, at least in its upscale form, almost every amenity a buyer could wish for as standard equipment. It also comes as close as any front-drive Japanese car ever comes to possessing the blend of flair, fun and functionality that is the hallmark of the best European sport coupes. All this for a lower price, too.

But price might be a sticky issue when you're getting down to considering the Integra. Although its $15,000-plus bottom line might not look too awful to someone comparing it - with some justification - to the BMW 3-Series coupes, that's still a lot of money for a car that also shares market space with contenders such as the Ford Probe, Mitsubishi Eclipse/ Eagle Talon and other equally popular driving machines.

Regardless of the impact of the dollar on your final decision, you're going to have a lot of fun testing the Integra - and its competitors, for that matter. To be sure, we had quite a time with our GS-R coupe, which weighed in at just a hair under $21,000.