2023 Acura Integra vs 2023 Chrysler 300

The 2023 Acura Integra was a modern embodiment of Acura's cohesive design language, featuring a pentagonal grille, JewelEye headlights, and sharply creased character lines. It seamlessly fit into the Acura family alongside the TLX sedan and RDX and MDX crossovers. With the Integra's introduction, Acura retired the ILX compact sedan, acknowledging the market's shift away from traditional sedans. The Integra distinguished itself with a five-door liftback design, embossed nameplates, and a wide track that gave it a solid, planted appearance. Available in three trims—base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with Technology—the Integra offered a distinctive rear design with a decklid spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and large taillights. Inside, it shared some similarities with the Honda Civic but maintained its unique identity with features like honeycomb climate control vents and a 9-inch color touchscreen in the A-Spec with Technology trim. The interior was well-crafted, though it lacked the bespoke refinement of its German competitors.

The 2023 Chrysler 300, introduced in 2005, was often compared to a Bentley due to its round headlights, bold grille, and stately proportions. Over the years, it underwent updates, but its design lineage remained evident. The 300 aged gracefully, maintaining its appeal with blacked-out appearances and large 20-inch wheels. In its final production year, the 300 was available in Touring, Touring L, 300S, and 300C trims. The 300C, limited to 2,000 units, featured a powerful V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. Despite rising vehicle prices, the 300 remained relatively affordable, with the 300C offering significant performance enhancements at a higher price point. Inside, the 300C boasted carbon-fiber trim, premium Laguna leather upholstery, and cowhide-covered surfaces, though the interior quality didn't fully match its luxurious exterior promise.

The 2023 Acura Integra marked a first with its turbocharged engine, a lively 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It paired beautifully with a six-speed manual transmission, available only in the A-Spec with Technology trim. The manual transmission featured automatic rev-matching, making downshifting smooth and effortless. The Integra's handling was impressive, with a firm suspension providing a sporty ride and a wide track and long wheelbase ensuring stability through corners. Despite being front-wheel drive, it handled exceptionally well. The variable-ratio electric power-steering system offered a natural feel on highways and sharp responsiveness in corners. The Integra also featured three drive modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—plus an individual mode, with Sport mode noticeably enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Chrysler 300C revived the spirit of the 300 SRT with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. This power was channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode and paddle shifters. The 300C could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 mph. It featured an adaptive damping suspension, Brembo brakes, and performance tires on exclusive lightweight forged aluminum wheels. Driving modes allowed customization of drivetrain response, steering effort, suspension firmness, and exhaust sound. The 300C's performance was thrilling, though it required careful throttle control to maintain traction. The car's platform, derived from mid-1990s Mercedes-Benz components, provided a nostalgic Germanic feel in its ride and handling. However, the 300C's performance came at the cost of cabin noise and fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined.

The 2023 Acura Integra's liftback design enhanced its practicality, offering 24.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, the high lift-over height made loading heavy or bulky items challenging. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with a logical dashboard layout, smartly placed cupholders, and a decently sized center console cubby. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, though headroom was limited due to the steeply sloped roofline. The back seat cushions were notably soft, providing comfort for passengers.

The 2023 Chrysler 300, while technically a full-size car, felt spacious only in the front seats. The 300C's front seats offered power adjustments, premium Laguna leather, heating, and ventilation. The back seat was less accommodating, with hard plastic front seatbacks reducing legroom and a rear backrest angle that encouraged slouching. Storage space was limited, lacking modern conveniences like a smartphone slot or wireless charging. The trunk, accessible via remote keyless entry, offered a generous 16.3 cubic feet of cargo space with enclosed lid hinges to protect belongings.

The 2023 Acura Integra came equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. The Technology package upgraded the 7-inch touchscreen to a 9-inch unit, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. The A-Spec with Technology trim added 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, surpassing the standard 8-speaker system.

The 2023 Chrysler 300 featured the previous-generation Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. While easy to use, the system showed its age with dated graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB data port, and the 300C included SiriusXM satellite radio, Guardian connected services, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Dashboard allowed customization of driving modes and performance tracking. The Harman Kardon 19-speaker audio system delivered bass-heavy sound, and the dual-zone automatic climate controls were separate from the touchscreen. However, accessing seat heating and ventilation required navigating virtual menu buttons. A speed warning feature was helpful, though difficult to hear over cabin noise. The 300C lacked a surround-view camera system, relying on standard front and rear parking sensors.

The 2023 Acura Integra set a new standard for safety equipment, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) as standard across all trims. These included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, 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 safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Chrysler 300 offered limited standard safety features, with most advanced systems available only as part of the optional Safety Tec Plus Group. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-keeping assist system was effective without being intrusive, but the adaptive cruise control lacked sophistication. The 300's crash-test ratings were outdated, with a Marginal rating in the moderate-overlap frontal-impact test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The car's headlight performance was rated Poor by the IIHS.