2024 Acura TLX vs 2023 Acura Integra

The 2023 Acura Integra was designed with a cohesive aesthetic that aligned with Acura's broader design language, featuring a pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlights, and sharply creased character lines. This design allowed it to fit seamlessly with the larger TLX sedan and other Acura models. The Integra replaced the ILX compact sedan, offering a five-door liftback design reminiscent of the third-generation Integra. Its wide track and long wheelbase gave it a solid, planted look, while the embossed "Integra" name on the car's corners paid homage to its heritage. In Canada, the Integra was available in three trims: base, A-Spec, and Elite A-Spec, each with distinct wheel designs and performance all-season tires. The rear end featured a decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and large taillights, giving it a distinctive appearance.

Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic, maintaining cost-effectiveness without feeling like a mere re-skin. The interior featured honeycomb grilles over the climate control vents, a 9-inch colour touchscreen, and a thin steering wheel that offered excellent exterior visibility. The Elite A-Spec trim included microsuede inserts in the upholstery, although it lacked ventilated seats. While the Integra didn't match the bespoke refinement of German competitors, it was well-constructed and offered a satisfying driving experience.

The 2024 Acura TLX, redesigned for the 2021 model year, received a subtle update that included a frameless grille and the removal of the large radar emitter, resulting in a more elegant look. The TLX featured Jewel Eye LED headlights, gaping air intakes, and restrained character lines along its sides. The A-Spec trim came with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the Type S model boasted 20-inch Berlina black split-spoke rims with Pirelli Cinturato P7 all-season tires. The TLX's exterior design was further enhanced by a gloss black front splitter, rear diffuser, and quad exhaust finishers.

Inside, the TLX exuded luxury with leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. A new 12.3-inch centre infotainment screen and a busy centre stack with physical buttons for climate control were notable features. The Type S model featured red leather upholstery and Iconic Drive interior ambient lighting, emphasizing its performance-oriented nature. The TLX Type S delivered a true performance experience, with adaptive dampers, robust stabilizers, and Brembo brake calipers, providing a thrilling driving experience.

The 2023 Acura Integra marked a significant departure from its predecessors by introducing a turbocharged engine for the first time. The 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, offering lively performance. The Elite A-Spec trim was the only one available with a six-speed manual transmission, while lower trims featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The manual transmission was complemented by a limited-slip differential and automatic rev-matching technology, making gear changes smooth and effortless. The Integra's handling was impressive, with a firm suspension, wide track, and long wheelbase providing a planted feel through corners. The variable-ratio electric power-steering system offered a natural steering feel, and the car featured three drive modes: Comfort, Normal, and Sport, with Sport mode enhancing the car's performance characteristics.

The 2024 Acura TLX A-Spec was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, optimized for performance on the road. The TLX Type S, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, resulting in blistering acceleration. The Type S could accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in approximately five seconds. The TLX offered multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, each providing distinct performance characteristics. The Type S benefited from adaptive dampers, robust stabilizers, and Brembo brake calipers, delivering a thrilling driving experience.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design enhanced its practicality as a day-to-day vehicle, offering 688 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the lift-over height posed a challenge for loading and unloading heavy or bulky items. The interior provided ample space for the driver and passengers, with a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, and a decently sized centre console cubby. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, although headroom was limited due to the steeply sloped roofline. The seat cushions in the back were notably soft, providing comfort for passengers.

The 2024 Acura TLX's dimensions placed it between compact and midsize sedans, with a length of 4,942 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,870 mm. The front seats offered ample space, while the rear seats fell short of midsize sedan standards, with only 886 mm of legroom. The trunk provided 382 litres of cargo space, comparable to a compact sedan. The TLX's long hood contributed to its visual presence but affected its maneuverability in tight urban areas. The front seats were supportive and comfortable, with easy-to-reach cupholders and a well-designed steering wheel.

The 2023 Acura Integra came equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster as standard features. The Elite A-Spec package added a 9-inch colour touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. The top-tier trim also included a USB-C port for the front seats and two USB-A ports for the rear seats. The ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, with 16 speakers, provided an exceptional audio experience, surpassing the standard 8-speaker system.

The 2024 Acura TLX featured a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad as standard infotainment features. The TLX also included Amazon Alexa built-in, offering voice assistant capabilities. The dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the driver's digital instrument cluster and one for the centre infotainment screen, provided crisp graphics and fast response times. However, the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) for the centre screen posed challenges, particularly with phone projection systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring multiple swipes to access desired features.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a new standard for safety equipment, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard across all trim levels. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, a rear-seat reminder, hill-start assist, and automatic brake hold. The Elite A-Spec trim added low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Integra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Acura TLX also offered an impressive array of ADAS as standard equipment, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, road-departure mitigation, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. The TLX received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and achieved "Good" scores in all IIHS tests, although it had not yet been awarded a Top Safety Pick+ designation for the 2024 model year.