Compare the2024 Acura IntegraVS 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura Integra is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Integra	Sonata
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	231	514
Neck Compression	19 lbs.	33 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	328	346
Neck Injury Risk	27%	33%
Neck Compression	73 lbs.	189 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Integra is much safer than the Sonata:

	Integra	Sonata
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	517/382 pounds	652/674 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Compression L/R	22/45 pounds	315/67 pounds

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura Integra is safer than the Hyundai Sonata:

	Integra	Sonata
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	145	163
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	226 lbs.	305 lbs.
Hip Force	301 lbs.	498 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	301
Spine Acceleration	60 G’s	72 G’s
Hip Force	531 lbs.	539 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	20 inches
HIC	236	288

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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:

	Integra	Sonata
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	160	195
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.14 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	959 lbs.	982 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	312 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Acura Integra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Sonata was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 11th.

Engine

The Integra has more powerful engines than the Sonata:

	Horsepower
Integra 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder	200 HP
Integra Type S 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	320 HP
Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder	180 HP
Sonata 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	191 HP
Sonata N Line 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder	290 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the Acura Integra 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	Integra	Sonata
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12 sec	13.2 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.4 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	87.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Integra
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/37 hwy
		A-Spec 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
Sonata
	Auto	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
		SEL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy

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.

Environmental Friendliness

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.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Integra	Integra Type S	Sonata	Sonata N Line
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	13.8 inches	12 inches	13.6 inches

The Integra stops much shorter than the Sonata:

	Integra	Sonata
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	100 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Integra has larger standard tires than the Sonata (215/50R17 vs. 205/65R16). The Integra Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sonata (265/30R19 vs. 245/40R19).

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. The Integra Type S’ tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Sonata SEL Plus/N Line’s 40 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.

Suspension and Handling

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 Type S handles at 1.02 G’s, while the Sonata SEL Plus pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Integra Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Sonata SEL Plus (24.7 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

Chassis

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

Cargo Capacity

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. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Sonata’s useful trunk space.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

The Integra has a standard Keyless Access System that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line offers a Proximity Key.

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

Recommendations

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

The Type S was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Sonata has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

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.

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