2023 Acura Integra vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over its sleek, modern look into 2022. Its exterior resembled a downsized Altima, featuring a low-slung, coupe-like design that was a significant improvement over its pre-2020 predecessors. The Sentra's design was a refined execution of Nissan's current design language, available in bold colors like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," with options for a contrasting black roof. Inside, the Sentra boasted a modern yet simple layout, with easy-to-use controls and a touchscreen that served as the visual centerpiece of the front cabin.

The 2023 Acura Integra, with its pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlights, and sharply creased character lines, seamlessly fit into Acura's lineup alongside the TLX sedan and RDX and MDX crossovers. Replacing the ILX compact sedan, the Integra featured a five-door liftback design, a wide track, and a long wheelbase, giving it a solid, planted look. The interior shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained a distinct Acura feel, with honeycomb grilles covering the climate control vents and a 9-inch color touchscreen in the A-Spec with Technology trim. The Integra's thin steering wheel and outstanding exterior visibility added to its appeal, though rearward visibility was less impressive.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). While the engine wasn't outstanding, the CVT managed power well, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road bumps decently, making the Sentra a great choice for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2023 Acura Integra introduced a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The A-Spec with Technology trim offered a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching technology, making gear changes smooth and enjoyable. The Integra's brakes felt great, and its suspension provided a sporty yet comfortable ride. The variable-ratio electric power-steering system adjusted the steering feel based on wheel position, offering a natural feel on highways and sharp handling in corners. The Integra's three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—allowed for a customizable driving experience.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. However, the rear bench created a ledge, making it harder to slide larger items through. The trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a button on the dash. The Sentra's two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom in the front, with decent legroom and headroom in the rear. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, along with plenty of cupholders and trays in the center console.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design provided 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space, though the high lift-over height could be a challenge for shorter shoppers or those with heavy luggage. The front seats benefited from a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, a phone tray, and a decently sized center console cubby. Rear passengers had decent legroom but limited headroom due to the steeply sloped roofline. The rear seat cushions were incredibly soft, adding to passenger comfort.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. The system's menu navigation was easy to follow, with conventional hard buttons and volume and tuning dials. However, the graphics could use updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback.

The 2023 Acura Integra included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-A port for the front seats. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster was standard. The Technology package upgraded the 7-inch 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 featured a wireless charging pad, a USB-C port for the front seats, and two USB-A ports for the rear seats. The ELS Studio 3D premium audio system with 16 speakers provided an exceptional audio experience.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features on our test model included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Acura Integra set a new bar for standard safety equipment, including 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. The A-Spec with Technology trim added low-speed braking control, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Integra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.