2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Nissan Sentra

The 2023 Acura Integra impressed with its cohesive design language that integrated seamlessly with Acura's existing lineup, including the TLX sedan and RDX and MDX crossovers. Its distinctive pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlight design, and sharply creased character lines set it apart. The Integra's five-door liftback design was a significant departure from the traditional four-door sedan style of its predecessor, the ILX. This gave the 2023 Integra a modern, sporty look, further accentuated by its wide track and long wheelbase.

Acura offered three core trim levels for the Integra: base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with Technology. The base trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the A-Spec version boasted 18-inch Shark Gray wheels. A decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and large taillights contributed to the Integra's distinctive rear-end appearance.

Inside, the Integra was a clever blend of Acura style and Honda Civic practicality, ensuring a balance between premium feel and cost efficiency. Notable interior features included honeycomb grilles covering the climate control vents and outstanding physical controls for the HVAC system. The A-Spec with Technology trim added a 9-inch color touchscreen, but rearward visibility was somewhat compromised due to the car’s design. The A-Spec trims featured microsuede upholstery, enhancing passenger stability during spirited driving, though the material was less breathable on hot days.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, updated for the new model year, sported a wider grille that blended with the headlights and included chrome trimming. Its exterior design also incorporated vertical elements that mimicked air vents, giving the Sentra an appearance of greater width. The sedan had pronounced shoulders on its rear-quarter panels and was available with features like a black roof, adding flair compared to its segment rivals.

The Sentra's trim lineup remained S, SV, and SR, with the latter available with model-specific styling elements and an optional black roof paired with vibrant colors. The SR trim had 18-inch wheels and subtle styling tweaks, while the base S trim came with 16-inch steel wheels.

Inside, the Sentra’s dashboard took inspiration from Nissan’s Z sports car, featuring large round air vents and a plunging shape framing the central touchscreen. The SR model included red-orange stitching and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The material quality was typical for an entry-level sedan but was enhanced by various unique design touches.

The 2023 Acura Integra excited enthusiasts by featuring a turbocharged engine for the first time in the model’s history. Its 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, with 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, provided an exhilarating driving experience. The top A-Spec with Technology trim could be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, complete with rev-matching technology and a limited-slip differential. Lower trims came with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

The Integra charmed with a smooth manual gear change, short throws, and a wide rev band that maximized driving enjoyment. Its automatic stop/start and automatic brake hold features added practical convenience, while the suspension balanced sporty handling with everyday comfort. The Integra's steering system combined a natural highway feel with sharp cornering responsiveness, and its three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—allowed drivers to tailor the car's dynamics to their preferences.

Conversely, the 2024 Nissan Sentra was not geared toward performance enthusiasts. It featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with a continuously variable transmission. Nissan re-engineered the CVT for 2024 to enhance fuel efficiency and smoothness, adding an engine start-stop system to improve mpg further.

While the Sentra lacked the high-performance versions present in its past, it still offered a pleasant driving experience. The steering provided good feedback and precision, and the suspension was tuned more for comfort than aggressive cornering. However, an issue with the CVT causing a surge of acceleration at around 45 mph was noted during testing, albeit with a pre-production model.

The 2023 Acura Integra shone in terms of practicality, especially with its liftback design. It provided an impressive 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, although the lift-over height could make loading heavy items a bit challenging. The liftback's substantial height might have been a drawback for shorter individuals or those with heavy baggage. Nevertheless, its cargo capacity made it versatile, with enough room to fit larger items like a mountain bike when the rear seats were folded.

Inside, the Integra was comfortable and well-thought-out. The front seats featured a well-organized dashboard, convenient cupholders, and a decent center console cubby. Rear passengers enjoyed sufficient legroom, but headroom was slightly constrained due to the car's sloped roofline, making it a tighter fit for taller occupants.

In comparison, the 2024 Nissan Sentra provided ample interior space, notably in the front row, where headroom was comparable to rivals like the Kia Forte and Mazda 3. The Sentra boasted more front-seat legroom than competitors but lagged in rear-seat legroom. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats in the front row were among the most comfortable in the segment, and the dashboard's design ensured excellent forward visibility.

The Sentra's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, surpassing the Mazda 3 and slightly edging out the Hyundai Elantra but falling short of the Kia Forte and Honda Civic. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat added flexibility for accommodating longer items. Storage solutions included generously-sized cupholders, a phone slot, and a small change slot between the front seats.

In terms of technology, the 2023 Acura Integra was well-equipped. All models came with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The inclusion of the Technology package added a 9-inch color touchscreen, a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and additional USB ports. The standout feature was the ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers, providing an exceptional auditory experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Sentra's tech offerings felt a bit dated. The base Sentra S featured a 7-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a single front USB port with a four-speaker audio system. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, along with a six-speaker audio system, SiriusXM radio compatibility, and additional USB ports. The SR trim offered a Premium Package, which included an eight-speaker Bose audio system and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, Nissan's infotainment graphics appeared outdated, and it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are becoming standard in the segment.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a high standard for safety with an impressive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across all trim levels. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and a rear-seat reminder. The A-Spec with Technology trim added low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Integra five out of five stars overall in crash tests.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra offered a comparable array of driver-assistance technologies via the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, which included forward collision warning, front and rear automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The SV and SR models added adaptive cruise control and an optional 360-degree camera system. However, the Sentra received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with some tests returning less favorable results compared to its peers.