2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback

In the past, the 2023 Acura Integra had been designed to integrate seamlessly into the Acura family, bearing a strong resemblance to its siblings like the TLX sedan and the RDX and MDX crossovers. The Integra adopted Acura’s signature design elements such as the pentagonal grille and the JewelEye headlights. It also featured embossed “Integra” names as a callback to its historical lineage, unlike its predecessor ILX. The five-door liftback design provided a modern outlook and a solid, planted appearance due to its wide track. Conversely, the 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback's attractiveness varied greatly depending on its configuration. Our test vehicle, the Sport Touring trim, presented itself much more appealingly with its attractive Boost Blue paint and well-designed 18-inch wheels. Despite its somewhat stubby rear end, the Civic Sport Touring offered a more universally sporty and sophisticated look, appealing to a broader audience.

The Acura Integra featured a lively 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, which it shared with the Honda Civic Si. The engine delivered a robust 200 horsepower, and with its precise six-speed manual transmission and automatic rev-matching, it enhanced the driving experience by managing power efficiently. The Integra felt sporty yet practical, adapting seamlessly through corners thanks to its dynamic steering system and adaptive dampers, especially in its Sport mode. On the other hand, the Civic Hatchback's performance varied across trims. Lower trims came with a less powerful 2.0-liter engine producing 158 horsepower, while higher trims like the Sport Touring used the same turbocharged 1.5-liter engine as the Integra, albeit with a slightly lower output of 180 horsepower. The Civic felt light and nimble, particularly with its Sport Touring configuration which included a CVT that leveraged the engine's torque effectively despite some power delivery issues at higher RPMs.

The Integra's interior was both stylish and functional. It featured a cargo space of 24.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, though its high lift-over height could be challenging for loading large items. Passenger space was comfortable, unless one was particularly tall, in which case the sloping roofline could restrict headroom in the back seats. The Civic Hatchback offered slightly more cargo space at 24.5 cubic feet and provided a generally more accommodating space for passengers and luggage. The rear seats were notably roomy and the presence of quick-charge USB ports added an extra layer of convenience, although it lacked rear air conditioning vents.

Both the Integra and the Civic showcased strong technology offerings at their higher trim levels. The Integra’s Technology package featured a 9-inch touchscreen and an upscale 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D sound system, along with advanced connectivity options like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Civic Hatchback Sport Touring came comparably equipped, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen and an excellent 12-speaker Bose sound system, also supporting wireless smartphone integrations which matched the Integra’s offerings in user-friendliness and connectivity.

The Integra and Civic both included comprehensive suites of advanced driver assistance systems. Acura provided a full array of safety features even in its base models, which was commendable. The Civic, while also well-equipped, reserved some features like the blind-spot warning for higher trims, which could be a drawback for buyers opting for lower models.