2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Acura Integra

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 embossed "Integra" name on the car's corners and its wide track gave it a solid, planted look. 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. Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained its unique identity with features like honeycomb grilles and high-quality HVAC controls. The Elite A-Spec trim added microsuede inserts, though it lacked ventilated seats, a feature expected in premium cars.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, meanwhile, was a sporty version of the VW Golf, available only as a five-door hatchback in North America. Its styling was more expressive than its predecessor, with a wide-mouth grille, LED headlights, and a light strip on certain models. The 380 special edition package marked the end of the manual GTI, featuring gloss black 19-inch wheels. The GTI's interior combined classic styling with modern tech, including a digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen. The signature plaid upholstery and golf-ball-like shifter added a touch of humour, while the steering wheel design was borrowed from the VW Atlas. The GTI's interior was a blend of practicality and style, though some design choices, like the haptic controls, were less user-friendly.

The 2023 Acura Integra introduced a turbocharged engine for the first time, a lively 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It was available with a six-speed manual transmission on the Elite A-Spec trim, while lower trims featured a CVT. The manual transmission was enhanced by automatic rev-matching technology, making downshifting smooth and easy. The Integra's handling was impressive, with a firm suspension and a wide track that provided a sporty ride. It featured a variable-ratio electric power-steering system that adjusted the steering feel based on wheel position. The Integra offered three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—plus an individual mode, with Sport mode noticeably enhancing the car's dynamics.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI was powered by VW's EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It offered a six-speed manual transmission and a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GTI's chassis featured an electronically controlled limited-slip differential and optional adaptive damping, providing precise handling and a stable feel. The driving experience was smooth and mature, with linear power delivery and minimal turbo lag. The GTI excelled as a daily driver, offering comfort and quietness, especially with adaptive dampers. While it lacked the excitement of some competitors, it was a well-rounded performer.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design offered practicality with 688 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the high lift-over height made loading heavy items challenging. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with a logical dashboard layout and smart storage solutions. Rear passengers had decent legroom, but headroom was limited due to the sloped roofline. The back seat cushions were notably soft.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI's hatchback body style provided 563 litres of cargo space, expandable to 977 litres with the rear seats folded. It offered more practicality than rival sedans, though passenger space was comparable. The GTI featured standard heated front seats, automatic climate control, and ambient lighting. Higher trims added features like leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a sunroof. However, the haptic controls for temperature and audio volume were less intuitive, detracting from interior functionality.

The 2023 Acura Integra came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The Elite A-Spec trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display, and a wireless charging pad. The ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers was a highlight, offering superior sound quality.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims had a 10-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity, a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a head-up display. The infotainment system was generally user-friendly, though the instrument cluster's design was less effective at conveying information. The touchscreen was well-executed, but the driver-centric instrument cluster needed improvement.

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 Elite A-Spec trim added low-speed braking control and parking sensors. The Integra received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI had standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control and Emergency Assist. The GTI received "Good" scores in some IIHS tests, but headlights were rated "Acceptable" or "Marginal." NHTSA ratings were not available at press time.