Compare the2024 Acura IntegraVS 2023 Audi A3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Integra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Integra offers an optional Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Integra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Integra has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A3.

The Integra’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Integra and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

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 A3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the Integra 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the Integra for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A3.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Integra’s reliability 20 points higher than the A3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Audi.

The Integra Type S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 119 more horsepower (320 vs. 201) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Integra gets better mileage than the A3:

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 A3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 A3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Integra’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

The Integra stops shorter than the A3:

For better traction, the Integra Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (265/30R19 vs. 225/45R17).

The Integra Type S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A3’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Integra Type S has standard 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 A3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Integra’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the A3 (107.7 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Integra is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A3.

The Integra A-Spec Technology handles at .92 G’s, while the A3 Premium Plus Quattro pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Acura Integra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Audi A3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Integra a Large car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Integra has 8.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (95.8 vs. 87).

The Integra has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 6% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The Integra A-Spec CVT with Technology Package has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Integra’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Integra A-Spec with Technology Package/Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and warning readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The A3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Consumer Reports rated the Integra’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Integra’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Insurance will cost less for the Integra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Integra will cost $150 to $2180 less than the A3 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura Integra will be $4216 to $5382 less than for the Audi A3.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura Integra and the Audi A3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its June 2023 issue and the Acura Integra A-Spec Technology won out over the Audi A3 Premium Plus Quattro.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Integra as the 2023 North American Car of the Year. The A3 has never been chosen.

The Acura Integra outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by 33% during 2022.