Compare the2023 Acura IntegraVS 2023 Hyundai Sonata

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura Integra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Sonata doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Acura Integra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Sonata doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Integra and the Sonata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura Integra is safer than the Sonata:

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Integra its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sonata is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 5 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Integra’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (200 vs. 180) than the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder. The Integra’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (200 vs. 191) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (192 vs. 181) than the Sonata’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Integra gets better mileage than the Sonata:

The Integra has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sonata doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Acura Integra higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Sonata (5 to 7). This means the Integra produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sonata every 15,000 miles.

The Integra has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sonata doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Integra’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sonata:

The Integra stops shorter than the Sonata:

For better traction, the Integra has larger standard tires than the Sonata (215/50R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Integra’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sonata SE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Integra has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sonata SE.

The Integra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Sonata doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Integra offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Sonata’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Integra A-Spec Technology handles at .87 G’s, while the Sonata SEL Plus pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Integra is 7.1 inches shorter than the Sonata, making the Integra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Integra’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Sonata’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 40% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The Integra’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sonata’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Integra’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Sonata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Integra’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sonata’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura Integra and the Hyundai Sonata, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Integra as the 2023 North American Car of the Year. The Sonata has never been chosen.