Acura Integra vs Honda Accord

The 2023 Honda Accord underwent a significant redesign, with Honda opting to make the hybrid powertrain standard on most trim levels, except for the base EX variant in Canada, which retained a gas-only engine. This shift marked a departure from previous models where the hybrid was an optional upgrade. The Accord's new look was more technical and modern, shedding the shiny chrome of its predecessors for a conservative appearance. The EX model featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord EX boasted durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and a stylish metal mesh dashboard trim, integrating the air conditioning vents seamlessly. The digital instrumentation and touchscreen infotainment system reflected Honda's attention to detail and refinement, making the Accord EX a well-outfitted choice for its price and class.

In contrast, the 2024 Acura Integra Type S stood out with its widebody appearance and aggressive detailing, sharing performance components with the Honda Civic Type R. The Type S featured a redesigned front end to accommodate its increased track width and 19-inch alloy wheels. The rear track was also wider, with a lower body kit and rear fender flares enhancing its sporty look. The triple-outlet exhaust system added a raucous soundtrack in Sport+ mode. Acura offered the Type S 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 similar to the standard Integra, which was disappointing given the Type S's price. Rear-seat passengers might question the value, but the Integra Type S's coupe-like sportback body style offered a large cargo area, providing utility alongside its sporty character.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), powered the front wheels. The Accord's suspension system, featuring a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, managed its 59:41 front-to-rear weight distribution effectively. The Accord's steering was responsive, and its brakes performed well even under duress. However, the Michelin Energy tires were a weak link, squealing and feeling squishy during spirited driving. The Accord's fuel economy was rated at 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, though our test car returned 8.2 L/100 km due to high temperatures and continuous air conditioning use. Despite some CVT drone during acceleration, the Accord was enjoyable to drive, especially on winding roads.

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 at 6,500 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque between 2,600 rpm and 4,000 rpm. The six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev matching and helical-type front limited-slip differential contributed to its performance prowess. The Integra Type S featured adaptive dampers, dual-pinion variable-ratio steering, and Brembo brakes, providing excellent handling and stopping power. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, the Integra Type S exhibited minimal torque steer and understeer. However, it was loud on the highway, and the steering could be sharper. The Integra Type S's fuel economy was rated at 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres, with a real-world range of around 435 kilometres. Overall, the Integra Type S delivered a thrilling driving experience, especially on twisty roads.

The 2023 Honda Accord offered a spacious interior with heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the Accord EX lacked a power-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The driver's seat needed more seat-track travel for taller individuals, and the hard plastic lining the centre console was uncomfortable. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom and easy access, though they missed air conditioning vents and charging ports. The Accord's 473-litre trunk was generous, with easy loading and unloading.

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

The 2023 Honda Accord EX came with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The system included Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. However, it lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The Accord's infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical controls for the stereo and main functions. The voice recognition system worked well with Apple’s digital assistant, but the tuning knob was misleading.

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S featured 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, though it struggled with sound quality due to the car's noise levels. The Integra Type S also offered a 5.3-inch head-up display, which could be customized to show various information. The wireless charging pad was unreliable, and the infotainment system took longer to boot up than expected.

The 2023 Honda Accord was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Accord's ADAS performed with accuracy and refinement, though the lane-centring system could waver near highway off-ramps. The Accord earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 Acura Integra Type S came with AcuraWatch, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the manual transmission limited some features, such as stop-and-go capabilities. The Integra Type S had ten airbags and was built with Acura's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) architecture. While AcuraWatch operated as intended, it wasn't as smooth as some rival systems. The standard Integra received top safety ratings, which boded well for the Type S.