Compare the2024 Acura IntegraVS 2023 Infiniti Q50

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 Infiniti Q50 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Integra and the Q50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning 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 Q50 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

There are over 33 percent more Acura dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Integra’s warranty.

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 Infiniti vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Infiniti.

The Integra Type S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (320 vs. 300) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 295) than the Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Integra gets better mileage than the Q50:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Integra (except Type S)’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Q50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura Integra uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Q50 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 Q50 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 Infiniti Q50 (3). This means the Integra produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q50 every 15,000 miles.

The Integra offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Q50 doesn’t offer a manual 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 Q50 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the Integra Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q50 (265/30R19 vs. 245/40R19).

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 Q50 Red Sport 400’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

The Integra offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Integra is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the average track on the Q50.

The Acura Integra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 800 pounds less than the Infiniti Q50.

The Integra is 3.8 inches shorter than the Q50, making the Integra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Integra a Large car, while the Q50 is rated a Mid-size.

The Integra has 1.1 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the Q50.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 9% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

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 Q50 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Integra’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Q50’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Integra’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Q50’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Acura Integra A-Spec with Technology Package/Type S has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Q50 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura Integra and the Infiniti Q50, 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 Q50 has never been chosen.

The Acura Integra outsold the Infiniti Q50 by almost three to one during 2022.