Japanese automakers appear to be on a roll, with many intriguing models set to debut in 2023. Among them is the 2023 Acura Integra, which devotees have been waiting for. While Acura bills itself as a premium performance brand, the 2017 Integra was a letdown. This is because everyone anticipated a two-door coupe powered by a Type-R engine rather than a rebodied Honda Civic. With this in mind, another Japanese model, the Mazda 3, is already available in the compact premium market, and here's what you need to know about both of these vehicles before picking which one to buy.
Comparison- 2023 Mazda Mazda3 vs 2023 Acura Integra
2023 Mazda Mazda3
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Upscale interior | Cramped rear row |
| Peppy acceleration | Limited cargo space |
| Easy-to-use infotainment system | |
| Athletic handling |
The 2023 Mazda3 is a fun-to-drive small car with a striking exterior design and a refined interior. It’s one of the most entertaining vehicles in this class, with all-wheel-drive (AWD), a powerful turbocharged engine choice, and modern driver assistance technologies like Traffic Jam Assist. The inside is first-rate, with high-quality materials and an easy-to-use entertainment system. The Mazda3's minor drawbacks include undersized rear seats that are unsuitable for adults and luggage capacity that is below average in sedan variants. The 2023 Mazda3 hatchback begins at $22,550 and is also available in sedan form.
Main Features
A Plethora of Infotainment Features: The 2023 Mazda3 includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, G Vectoring Control Plus cornering assistance, and adaptive cruise control with stop/go.
Luxurious Interior Materials: The 2023 Mazda3’s interior materials are exceptional, rivaling real luxury brands in terms of appearance and feel. The fit and quality are also good, and the cabin is quiet, spacious, and well-designed. Despite the sporty handling, it's also very pleasant to drive.
AWD Addition and Turbo Power: The 2023 Carbon Edition is the entry point of the Mazda3’s available AWD, bringing it with a range of look changes like Polymetal Gray paint, red leather upholstery in the cabin, and black 18-inch alloy wheels. Separately, a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque is offered.
2023 Acura Integra
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Thrilling handling | Not as luxurious as some competitors |
| Composed ride | |
| User-friendly infotainment system | |
| Fuel-efficient engine |
The 2023 Acura Integra is the comeback of a classic marque that was once recognized for its combination of performance and affordable elegance. Today's Integra returns with the same mission: to provide a striking new design, a joyful driving experience, and reasonably priced luxury. It is enjoyable to drive on curving roads, and it remains stable over most road bumps. It has some of the highest estimated fuel efficiency in this class, as well as a long list of standard active safety systems. Integra isn’t as luxurious as some of its competitors, even though there's a large cargo area and straightforward features inside the cabin, but it does have a lower starting price. The Acura Integra 2023 begins at $30,800.
Main Features
Eye-Catching Design: Inside and out, the design is appealing. The reintroduction of the Integra is significant for those who remember and adore prior incarnations. Fortunately, the new Integra's design does an excellent job of conjuring a similar attitude, although it is entirely contemporary and distinct from prior Integra models. The cabin, too, looks and feels nice, and the use of a liftback instead of a trunk is convenient.
Athletic Feel: The 2023 Integra shares its engine with the sporty Honda Civic Si, and while it’s not overpowered, the balanced, capable chassis allows the driver to extract every bit of the engine’s performance, thanks to the sport-tuned suspension and standard-variable-ratio steering.
Available Manual Transmission: For even more performance, choose the A-spec package, which includes a 6-speed manual transmission, and then tick the Technology Package box, which includes an adaptive suspension as well as upgraded power seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, and more.
Similarities
The Mazda3 and Integra both have sporty driving characteristics, luxury materials, elegant styling, manual gearboxes, and seating for five people.
Verdict
The 2023 Mazda 3 is about as powerful as the Integra in standard form, or more powerful with the optional turbocharged engine, has AWD, and is nearly as big on the interior, save for a couple of inches of rear-seat legroom and some baggage space. The Mazda 3 does not have a legendary reputation or performance credentials, despite the fact that the package is nearly flawless. If you want a less expensive alternative to the Integra, the Mazda3 is a wonderful choice. The 2023 Acura Integra, on the other hand, gets slightly higher gas mileage, has more luggage, and has a longer warranty.
The Mazda3 is a comfortable luxury automobile with some performance elements, but the Acura is a performance car that has been raised to luxury status. If you can get beyond the Integra's lesser power and nature as a reskinned Civic, the Mazda3 is a more powerful, competent, and unique car, and if you can go past its poor practicality, it's a more practical, better-handling vehicle. In the end, as with most of these comparisons, either option is a fine one, and the ultimate decision is largely dependent on your wants as an owner.
