2023 Acura Integra vs 2024 Toyota Prius

The 2023 Acura Integra was a testament to Acura's cohesive design language, seamlessly fitting into the brand's lineup with its pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlights, and sharply creased character lines. It replaced the ILX compact sedan, offering a more modern five-door liftback design reminiscent of the third-generation Integra. The car's wide track and long wheelbase gave it a solid, planted look, while the embossed "Integra" name added a nostalgic touch. Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained its unique identity with features like honeycomb grilles and a 9-inch color touchscreen. The A-Spec trims offered microsuede upholstery, though the lack of ventilated seats was a drawback.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Prius retained its iconic wedge-shaped profile but introduced more appealing styling with aerodynamically optimized bodywork. The XLE and Limited trims stood out with their 19-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, the Prius remained quirky, with instrumentation moved in front of the driver, though visibility issues arose depending on seating position. The interior featured hard plastics, leading to a less refined feel, but the Prius continued to offer practicality with adequate storage space. The 2024 model carried over unchanged from the previous year, maintaining its trim levels and pricing structure.

The 2023 Acura Integra marked a significant shift with its turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The A-Spec with Technology trim offered a six-speed manual transmission, enhancing the driving experience with features like automatic rev-matching. The Integra's handling was impressive, with a firm suspension and variable-ratio electric power-steering system that provided a natural feel on highways and sharp responsiveness in corners. The car's three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—allowed for a customizable driving experience, though Sport mode was the most distinct.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, following its redesign, boasted a power boost with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The hybrid system produced 194 horsepower with FWD and 196 hp with AWD, achieving 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds and seven seconds flat, respectively. The Prius excelled in fuel efficiency, with the LE trim achieving 57 mpg in combined driving. Despite its improved performance, the Prius's steering felt artificial, and the CVT could be noisy under hard acceleration. The ride quality was also less refined over rough surfaces, and visibility was hindered by the dramatic windshield pillars.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design offered practicality with 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space, though the high lift-over height could be challenging for loading heavy items. The interior was spacious for front passengers, with a logical dashboard layout and convenient storage options. Rear passengers had decent legroom, but headroom was limited due to the sloped roofline. The back seat cushions were notably comfortable.

The 2024 Toyota Prius's interior felt snug, with a low roofline requiring careful entry. The driver’s seat was comfortable, but the 7-inch digital display was too small and often obstructed by the steering wheel. The rear seats were cramped but adequate for two passengers. Cargo space varied by trim, with the XLE and Limited offering 20.3 cubic feet and the LE providing 23.8 cubic feet. The Prius featured a wireless smartphone charging slot, though it was prone to collecting dirt.

The 2023 Acura Integra came equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The Technology package upgraded the touchscreen to a 9-inch unit and added wireless connectivity for CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The ELS Studio 3D premium audio system in the top-tier trim offered an exceptional listening experience with 16 speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim. It included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with various connected services. The Limited trim offered an eight-speaker JBL sound system, though it was bass-heavy and less satisfying. The Prius also provided options like a 360-degree camera system and semi-autonomous parking assistance.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a high standard for safety with features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The A-Spec with Technology trim added low-speed braking control and parking sensors. The Integra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Proactive Driving Assist offered subtle steering and braking support. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating, and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.