2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Acura Integra

The 2023 Acura Integra showcased a cohesive design language that aligned seamlessly with Acura's larger TLX sedan and the RDX and MDX crossovers. With its pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlight design, and sharply creased character lines, the Integra was a modern addition to the Acura family. The car replaced the ILX compact sedan, which made sense given the declining popularity of sedans. The Integra's five-door liftback design was a significant departure from the traditional four-door sedan style of the ILX. Embossed with the "Integra" name at the front-left and rear-right corners, the car had a wide track and long wheelbase, giving it a solid, planted look.

Acura offered the 2023 Integra in three core trim levels: base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with Technology. The base model came with 17-inch alloy wheels, while the A-Spec trim featured 18-inch Shark Gray wheels. All models were equipped with performance all-season tires. The rear end of the Integra was distinctive, with a decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and large taillights.

Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained enough unique features to avoid feeling like a mere re-skin. The climate control vents were covered with honeycomb grilles, and the HVAC system's physical controls had a satisfying, clicky action. The A-Spec with Technology trim featured a 9-inch color touchscreen, a thin steering wheel, and excellent exterior visibility, although rearward visibility was less impressive. The A-Spec trims also included microsuede upholstery, which was effective at keeping the driver in place but lacked breathability. Despite its premium status, the Integra did not offer ventilated seats. While it didn't match the bespoke refinement of competitors from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the Integra was well-constructed and felt solid.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a sporty version of the VW Golf compact hatchback, was only available as a five-door hatch in the U.S. market. The styling of the current-generation GTI was more expressive than its predecessor, featuring a wide-mouth grille, standard LED headlights, and a light strip on SE and Autobahn models. However, the low placement of these elements gave the car odd proportions when viewed at eye level.

The main design update for 2024 was the 380 special edition package, standard on all manual-transmission models. This package included gloss black 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires, a black roof, and mirror caps. The name "380" came from the current-gen Golf's internal model code. Base GTI S and mid-level SE trims came with 18-inch wheels and all-season tires, while the top GTI Autobahn trim featured 19-inch wheels with a diamond-turned surface and summer tires.

The interior of the GTI blended classic styling touches with modern tech features. It included a digital instrument cluster, a large infotainment screen, and heavily bolstered front seats with the GTI's signature plaid upholstery. The chunky shifter had golf-ball-like dimples, adding a touch of humor, but the steering wheel seemed borrowed from the VW Atlas.

The 2023 Acura Integra featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission in the A-Spec with Technology trim, while lower trims came with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The manual transmission included a limited-slip differential and automatic rev-matching technology, making gear changes smooth and efficient. The Integra's brakes were responsive, and its suspension provided a sporty yet comfortable ride. The car's wide track and long wheelbase contributed to its impressive handling capabilities, despite being front-wheel drive. The variable-ratio electric power-steering system adjusted the steering feel based on wheel position, offering a natural feel on highways and sharp responsiveness in corners. The Integra also featured three drive modes: Comfort, Normal, and Sport, with Sport mode noticeably stiffening the adaptive dampers and adding weight to the steering feel.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It was available with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG). The GTI featured an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential and optional adaptive damping. Built on the MQB architecture, the GTI had a revised body structure for added strength and reduced weight, enhancing its precise handling and stable feel. The GTI's driving experience was smooth and mature, with linear powertrain response and minimal turbo lag. The car's adaptive dampers provided a comfortable ride, making it suitable for daily driving. However, the GTI lacked the excitement of some competitors, such as the Hyundai Elantra N. The GTI's performance was balanced with everyday usability, offering a quiet and comfortable ride.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design provided practicality, with 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the high lift-over height made loading and unloading heavy or bulky items challenging. The front seats featured a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, a phone tray, and a decently sized center console cubby. Rear passengers had decent legroom but limited headroom due to the steeply sloped roofline. The rear seat cushions were soft and comfortable.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI offered 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 34.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it more practical than rival sedans like the Honda Civic Si, Hyundai Elantra N, and Subaru WRX. The GTI had slightly more second-row headroom than its competitors but less first-row headroom. Front-seat legroom was comparable, but rear-seat passengers might feel more cramped. The GTI's interior featured heated front seats, automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient lighting as standard. SE and Autobahn trims added a sunroof, keyless entry, leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a 12-way power driver's seat with memory. However, the haptic controls for temperature and audio volume on SE and Autobahn models were difficult to use while driving and hindered interior functionality.

The 2023 Acura Integra came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The Technology package added a 9-inch color touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, a USB-C port for the front seats, and two USB-A ports for the rear seats. The top-tier trim also featured the ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers, providing an exceptional audio experience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI's base S trim included an 8.25-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, Bluetooth, a six-speaker audio system, and four USB-C ports. SE and Autobahn trims upgraded to a 10-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, voice control, and SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio. The Autobahn trim also included a head-up display. The infotainment system was generally user-friendly, but the instrument cluster's design and functionality were lacking. The default view's large GTI logo and honeycomb background seemed cheesy, and the fuel gauge was difficult to read. The touchscreen was well-executed, but the driver-centric instrument cluster needed improvement.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a high standard for safety equipment, offering automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, a rear-seat reminder, hill-start assist, and automatic brake hold as standard. 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 (NHTSA) awarded the Integra five out of five stars overall in its crash tests.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI had not been fully tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the NHTSA at press time. However, it received top "Good" scores in some tests and "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The GTI also featured Intelligent Crash Response and Emergency Assist on DSG-equipped models. Additional available features included park distance control, park assist, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition.