How the 2023 Acura Integra and 2023 Honda Civic Compare

2023 Acura Integra and 2023 Honda Civic, How do you choose when the possibilities are so fantastic? We look at each person’s traits, benefits, drawbacks, technical information, and performance. The reintroduction of the Integra nameplate to the Acura lineup sparked a lot of debate. Is this a genuine Integra? Can it carry on the tradition of its forefathers? How does it compare to the Honda Civic that it is based on, which is perhaps the most important?

In order to give an answer, we decided to evaluate the specifications, features, and results of our many tests between the 2023 Integra and 2022 Civic. Although their mechanical elements are identical, they differ greatly in terms of price, configuration, and market positioning.

Engine and transmission

The Integra’s lone engine option is a 1.5-liter inline-four turbocharger. While the Civic’s 2.0-liter inline-four is normally aspirated as standard, the EX, Touring, Sport Touring, and Si trim levels all come with the Integra’s turbo engine. The engines in both the Acura and the Si have the identical calibration, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.

The Integra and Civic have distinct transmission choices, which is where they vary. Both cars feature a six-speed manual transmission, but only the Acura has a continuously variable automatic transmission and the 200-hp engine. The Civic Si sedan is exclusively available with manual transmission. The automatic transmission is standard on the Integra, however selecting the manual requires the A-Spec and Technology upgrades. Only the Sport and Sport Touring versions of the non-Si Civic hatchback are available with a manual transmission.

Performance

The Integra and Civic performed equally in each of our performance tests, as one would expect from two cars that are essentially identical. The Civic Si hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the Civic Sport Touring hatchback manual took 7.3 seconds. The manual Integra hit the same speed in 7.0 seconds.

However, the Civic Si’s optional summer tires helped it stand out from the Acura in our skidpad test. It possessed 0.94 g of traction on all-season tires, compared to the Integra A-0.88 Spec’s g. The Civic Si stopped from 70 mph in 160 feet, compared to the Acura’s 178 feet, demonstrating that its braking performance was considerably better than the Integra’s.

MPG

According to the EPA, the Civic and Integra models equipped with the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and continuously variable automatic transmission are the most fuel-efficient variants of both vehicles. The Integra has a combined fuel economy rating of up to 33 mpg, whereas the Civic has a combined fuel economy rating of up to 36 mpg. Choosing the manual transmission reduces those figures by a few mpg.

Features

The lower trim levels of the Integra and the higher trim levels of the Civic feature similar equipment lists. The Acura does, however, have a few features that the Civic does not, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot, an ELS premium audio system, and a head-up display. They are all included in the technological package. Mechanically, the Integra boasts adaptive dampers, which the Civic does not have; they enable for more suspension adjustment while switching between driving modes.

Price

The price in base price between the Civic ($23,645) and the Integra ($31,895) is $8250. However, at that low starting price, you get an LX sedan with a basic 158-hp engine and few options. The Civic EX-L hatchback, which has the same turbo engine as the Integra and starts at $28,345, is the more comparable car.

The Civic hatchback costs $31,145 in its fully equipped Sport Touring trim level, whether you choose the manual or automatic transmission. To get the six-speed manual transmission, you must add the $2000 A-Spec option or the $3000 Technology package to the Integra’s basic price of $36,895.