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 with enough unique features to maintain its premium feel. The Elite A-Spec trim level added microsuede inserts, although the lack of ventilated seats was a notable omission.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Prius retained its iconic wedge-shaped profile but introduced more appealing styling with aerodynamically optimized bodywork and attractive 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior remained quirky, with the instrumentation moving in front of the driver, although visibility issues persisted depending on seating position. Hard plastics were prevalent, leading to a less refined feel, but the Prius continued to offer practicality with its XLE and Limited trim levels. Despite these quirks, the Prius maintained its reputation for fuel efficiency and practicality, albeit with some compromises in interior quality and visibility.

The 2023 Acura Integra marked a significant shift with its turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The engine's lively performance was complemented by a six-speed manual transmission, available exclusively on the Elite A-Spec trim. The manual transmission featured automatic rev-matching technology, enhancing the driving experience by ensuring smooth downshifts. The Integra's handling was impressive, with a firm suspension and a variable-ratio electric power-steering system that provided a natural feel on highways and sharp responsiveness in corners. The car's front-wheel-drive setup was surprisingly capable, although all-wheel drive was not an option.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, following its redesign, boasted a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an 83-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. This hybrid system produced a combined output of 196 horsepower, allowing the Prius to accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in seven seconds. The Prius excelled in fuel efficiency, with ratings of 4.8 L/100 km in city driving and 4.7 on the highway. While the Prius offered a plug-in hybrid variant, the standard model focused on delivering a balance of performance and efficiency. However, the driving experience was marred by a video game-like steering feel and a CVT that could be noisy under hard acceleration.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design provided practicality with 688 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the high lift-over height made loading heavy items challenging. The interior offered a comfortable and logical layout, with ample space for front passengers. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, but headroom was limited due to the sloped roofline. Despite these limitations, the Integra's interior was well-appointed, with soft seat cushions and thoughtful storage solutions.

The 2024 Toyota Prius, while stylish on the outside, felt snug inside. 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, though adequate for two passengers. Cargo space was 575 litres, but the cargo cover limited its usability. The Prius innovated with a wireless smartphone charging slot, although it was prone to collecting dirt. An optional digital rearview mirror provided a panoramic view, but it was only available on the Limited trim.

The 2023 Acura Integra came equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. The Elite A-Spec trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity, and a premium ELS Studio 3D audio system with 16 speakers. The technology package was comprehensive, offering a seamless and wireless experience for users.

The 2024 Toyota Prius featured the Toyota Audio Multimedia system with either an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim. It included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim offered an eight-speaker JBL sound system, although it was bass-heavy and left room for improvement. The Prius also provided various connected services, with trial subscriptions for features like cloud-based navigation and digital assistant services.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a high standard for safety with its comprehensive suite of features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Elite A-Spec trim added parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers. The Integra received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, underscoring its commitment to safety.

The 2024 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Prius performed well in crash tests, earning high marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS. However, the adaptive cruise control occasionally braked too hard in traffic, and the lane-centring assist required periodic steering input to remain active.