2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Acura Integra boasted a cohesive design language that seamlessly fit into its brand's family lineup. Equipped with a pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlight design, and sharply creased character lines, the Integra shared aesthetic bonds with Acura's TLX sedan and the RDX and MDX crossovers. The introduction of the Integra meant Acura was saying goodbye to the ILX compact sedan, largely because compact sedans weren't as popular anymore, and there wasn’t enough market space for two within Acura’s limited lineup.

The Integra distinguished itself with a five-door liftback design instead of the traditional four-door sedan style. This choice harkened back to the third-generation Integra, which ended production in 2001 and morphed into the RSX. For a nostalgic touch, Acura embossed the “Integra” name on the front-left and rear-right corners. A wide track and long wheelbase gave the 2023 Integra a solid, planted look while maintaining compact-car proportions.

The Integra was available in three trims: the base trim (named Integra), A-Spec, and A-Spec with Technology. The base version came with 17-inch alloy wheels, and the A-Spec trim upgraded this to 18-inch Shark Gray wheels. No matter the trim, all models had performance all-season tires. A decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and prominent taillights set off the rear end, giving the Integra a unique appearance.

Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic to keep costs manageable, but it wasn’t simply a reskin. Honeycomb grilles covered the climate control vents but without spanning the whole dashboard width, unlike in the Civic. The HVAC system's physical controls in the Integra were finely finished with knurled metal and offered satisfying tactile feedback.

Our testing in the A-Spec with Technology trim revealed a 9-inch color touchscreen and a thin, satisfying steering wheel much like that in the Civic. The visibility was excellent thanks to thin A-pillars, although rearward visibility was somewhat compromised. The A-Spec trims featured microsuede upholstery, which held drivers in place even if it wasn’t very breathable; unfortunately, the lack of ventilated seats was a downside for a premium vehicle.

The Integra couldn’t quite match the bespoke refinement of higher-tier competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, but it still felt incredibly solid and well-assembled.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic incorporated stealthy styling, reminiscent of early hot hatches like the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI. It adhered to a low-key look with LED headlights, a unique upper grille insert, a gloss-black lip spoiler on the trunk, dual exhausts, and 18-inch matte-black wheels. The Civic Si retained the ‘Si’ badges and came in a mix of vivid and subtle paint colors.

Inside, the Civic Si was sportier with red seat and door panel inserts, matching accents and stitching, and a metal mesh strip of trim concealing the dashboard air vents. Additional gloss black surfaces, polished metal detailing, and clear digital instrumentation accompanied the touchscreen infotainment system. Metal pedal covers and an aluminum shift knob added a high-quality touch.

Overall, the 2024 Civic Si stayed true to its roots by offering more performance than the rest of the Civic lineup without sacrificing subtlety.

The 2023 Acura Integra, for the first time, featured a turbocharged engine. Despite its modest 1.5-liter size, the turbo-four felt lively and paired exceptionally well with the six-speed manual transmission, which was offered exclusively in the A-Spec with Technology trim. Lower trims came with a CVT automatic transmission.

One standout feature was the nearly nonexistent rev hang, which plagued previous-generation Civic models. Short shifter throws and automatic rev-matching technology made gear changes smooth and engaging. This, combined with automatic stop/start and automatic brake hold functions, made the Integra highly drivable.

The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four came with 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, the same powertrain found in the Civic Si. The brakes felt firm and the suspension, while sporty, didn’t compromise comfort. The wide track and long wheelbase helped the Integra remain planted through corners. However, the Integra was only available in front-wheel drive (FWD), which could be a limitation for those driving in snowy conditions.

The Integra’s variable-ratio electric power-steering system adjusted the steering feel depending on how much the wheel was turned, offering a natural highway feel and sharp cornering response. Three driving modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—along with an individual mode allowed for varying levels of steering weight and suspension stiffness.

On the other hand, the 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with an enhanced version of the same 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It came mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature, which was turn-off-able for those who preferred heel-and-toe shifting.

The Civic Si featured a single-mass lightweight flywheel, a helical limited-slip differential for optimal power distribution, larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and an Si-specific variable-ratio steering system. The test car had 18-inch wheels with 235/50 Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires for supreme traction.

Software controlled the Si’s active sound, throttle response, and steering effort, all of which could be adapted via Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes. Urban driving was smooth and the turbocharged engine delivered torque with ease. On highways, the Civic Si was agile but somewhat noisy inside due to its compact nature.

In performance testing on twisty roads like the legendary Mulholland Highway, the Civic Si excelled with exceptional visibility, precise steering, and tenacious grip from its summer tires. However, brake overheating caused some concern when driving hard in mountainous conditions.

In terms of fuel economy, the Civic Si aimed for a combined rating of 31 mpg, achieving an average of 29.5 mpg in real-world testing.

The 2023 Acura Integra’s liftback design granted it practicality for everyday use, with 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the height of the rear end could be an issue for shorter individuals or those with heavy luggage, as the lift-over height made loading cumbersome items a chore.

Inside, the Integra proved comfortable with a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, a tray for a phone, and a decently-sized central console cubby. Back seat passengers had decent legroom provided they weren’t exceptionally tall, though headroom was compromised due to the steeply sloping roofline.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si also combined practicality with its sporty nature. Upfront, the sport-bolstered seats supported drivers during spirited drives, and manual seat height adjustment ensured a good driving position. Entering and exiting was tougher due to the low height, and while the driver’s seat offered good support, more padding and seat-track travel could enhance long-distance comfort.

Standard features included single-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, and a power sunroof. It lacked heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, or rear-seat air conditioning vents, which were notable omissions. Rear passenger legroom was surprisingly generous, allowing taller adults to sit comfortably, and storage space upfront was ample though slightly lacking in the rear.

Cargo capacity measured 14.4 cubic feet, with the practical ability to stow full-size suitcases on their sides. A 60/40-split folding back seat added flexibility for longer items, and hidden storage under the trunk floor provided extra space, although closing the lid could dirty your hands due to the lack of a handle.

All 2023 Integra models came with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and at least one USB-A port. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster was also standard. The Technology package added even more features, such as a 9-inch touchscreen display (upgraded from the standard 7-inch display), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. An additional USB-C port up front and two USB-A ports in the rear enhanced connectivity. The ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers, available only on the Technology package, delivered a superior audio experience.

In comparison, the 2024 Honda Civic Si came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system lacking a native navigation system but including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, text-messaging support, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. Users found the system intuitive, and the included 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio system, developed with early involvement from the audio company, ensured excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a new bar for standard safety equipment in its class, borrowing heavily from the Honda Civic's impressive safety suite. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, rear-seat reminder, hill-start assist, and automatic brake hold. The A-Spec with Technology trim added low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Integra earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Though similar, the 2024 Honda Civic Si’s Honda Sensing suite wasn’t as refined. It included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. In practice, however, the ADAS in the Civic Si proved less effective and even irksome at times, especially on highways.

The Civic sedan received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), albeit with acceptable ratings in two crashworthiness tests where it previously scored better.