2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2023 Acura Integra

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Initially criticized for its lack of originality and quality, Hyundai gradually improved the Sonata by learning from its competitors. By the seventh generation, redesigned for the 2020 model year, the Sonata showcased a distinctive wide grille, rounded front fascia, and sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five, featuring clearly marked gauges and average material quality. The Limited trim boasted comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. For those seeking a sportier look, the Sonata N Line added aggressive styling elements and unique interior touches, transforming the car's appearance and personality.

The 2023 Acura Integra, with its pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlights, and sharply creased character lines, seamlessly fit into Acura's modern design language. Replacing the ILX compact sedan, the Integra featured a five-door liftback design, a wide track, and a long wheelbase, giving it a solid and planted look. Available in three core trim levels—base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with Technology—the Integra offered various wheel sizes and performance all-season tires. Inside, the Integra shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained its unique identity. The A-Spec trims featured microsuede upholstery, though it lacked breathability, and the overall interior design provided a comfortable and practical driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of performance options, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, standard on SE and SEL trims. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters standard on the 1.6-liter turbo. The Sonata N Line stood out with its 290-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, sport suspension, and tuned exhaust. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the car offered a smooth ride, competent handling, and a quiet cabin.

The 2023 Acura Integra introduced a turbocharged engine for the first time, a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The A-Spec with Technology trim offered a six-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip differential, while lower trims came with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The Integra's manual transmission featured automatic rev-matching technology, making downshifting smooth and easy. The car's brakes and suspension provided a sporty yet comfortable ride, and its wide track and long wheelbase contributed to its impressive handling. The Integra's variable-ratio electric power-steering system adjusted the steering feel based on wheel position, enhancing both highway and cornering performance. The car also offered three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—plus an individual mode for personalized settings.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The Sonata's 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Limited trim featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing the car to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob, making tight parking spots more manageable.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design provided practicality with 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the lift-over height made loading and unloading heavy or bulky items challenging. The front seats offered a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, a phone tray, and a decently sized center console cubby. Rear-seat legroom was decent, but headroom was limited for taller passengers due to the steeply sloped roofline. The rear seat cushions were notably soft, providing comfort for passengers.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim level. The base SE featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, a 12-volt outlet, and a rearview camera. The SEL added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The SEL trim also included features like Highway Driving Assist, LED interior lights, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2023 Acura Integra came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The Technology package upgraded the standard 7-inch color touchscreen to a 9-inch unit, added a head-up display, and enabled wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The A-Spec with Technology trim also included a wireless charging pad, a USB-C port for the front seats, two USB-A ports for the rear seats, and the ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers. The base and A-Spec models offered sufficient technology, but the A-Spec with Technology trim provided a more comprehensive tech experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview monitor, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering assistance, and Safe Exit Assist. The Limited trim featured a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the 2021 Sonata top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a new standard for safety equipment, offering automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, a rear-seat reminder, hill-start assist, and automatic brake hold as standard features. The A-Spec with Technology trim added low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The NHTSA awarded the Integra five stars overall in its crash tests, while the IIHS had yet to test the 2023 model.