2024 Acura Integra vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's long-standing tradition in the family car segment, building on a legacy that included the Datsun 510 and Nissan Stanza. With the Maxima's impending discontinuation, the Altima aimed to fill the gap with its updated front styling, featuring a revised grille and new wheel designs. The higher trim levels, equipped with 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima's visual appeal, although the wheels' flush design made them susceptible to damage. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and it stood out as the only mid-size sedan offering standard all-wheel drive. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. The interior, while visually appealing with new double-stitched seams, still had an abundance of hard plastic, reminding drivers of its mainstream sedan status.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S distinguished itself with a widebody appearance and aggressive detailing, sharing hardware upgrades with the Honda Civic Type R. The redesigned front end accommodated a 7.8 cm increase in front track width, 19-inch alloy wheels, and aerodynamic aids. The rear track was also wider by 4.8 cm, with a lower body kit and rear fender flares enhancing its sporty look. The Type S was available in a single specification level, with options for trendy bronze wheels and carbon fibre accessories. The interior closely resembled the Integra A-Spec, with Type S emblems and Ultrasuede seat inserts. However, the quality of materials was not always up to par for a vehicle of its price. Despite this, the Integra Type S offered a thrilling driving experience, with a focus on performance and a unique exhaust system that added to its sporty character.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), producing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. The standard all-wheel-drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added driver engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim, with slightly higher figures for the SR, SR Premium, and Platinum trims. The Altima's performance was adequate, but the ride was firm, and road noise was noticeable at highway speeds. Rear visibility was poor, and the brakes showed signs of heating up easily. Overall, the Altima was more of an automotive appliance, lacking dynamic engagement.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S shared its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC engine with the Honda Civic Type R, producing 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It featured a six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev matching and a helical-type front limited-slip differential. The suspension was tuned for a softer ride compared to the Civic Type R, and the Integra Type S offered four driving modes. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, the Integra Type S handled well, with minimal torque steer and impressive grip from its Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The car's performance was showcased on California's scenic roads, where it delivered a thrilling driving experience. However, road noise was a concern, and the small fuel tank limited its range. The Integra Type S was a fantastic sport compact car for driving enthusiasts.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and user-friendly, with controls laid out logically and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima offered dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit challenging. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but the seatbelt buckle anchor caused discomfort for some passengers. Interior storage was reasonable, though the design of the floor mats was problematic. The Altima's trunk offered 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors, and lacked a handle for easy closing.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S featured front sport seats with aggressive lower bolsters, though they lacked upper bolstering. The driver's seat had 12-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat lacked power adjustment. Rear-seat passengers had decent legroom, but the bottom cushion lacked thigh support. The Integra Type S's sportback body style provided a 688-litre cargo area, which could be expanded by folding the rear seats. This offered the utility of a small liftback crossover SUV with the driving character of a sports car.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SR Premium and Platinum trims featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with a navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on higher trims, though its performance varied. The new infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S was equipped with a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display and a 9-inch infotainment screen. The system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D surround-sound system was standard. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the wireless charging pad was unreliable. The Acura/ELS audio system struggled with sound quality due to the car's loud interior. A 5.3-inch head-up display was also available, providing useful information to the driver.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist was available on higher trims, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S came with AcuraWatch, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The car had ten airbags and was built with Acura's Advanced Compatibility Engineering architecture. While AcuraWatch operated as intended, it wasn't as smooth as some rival systems. The standard Integra received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, suggesting the Type S would perform well in crash tests.