Compare the2023 Subaru WRXVS 2023 Acura Integra

The WRX has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Integra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The WRX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Integra doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the WRX and the Integra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the WRX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Integra is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 1 place higher in reliability than Acura.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 71 more horsepower (271 vs. 200) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 192) than the Integra’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru WRX is faster than the Acura Integra (manual transmissions tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Integra doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The WRX has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Integra (16.6 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The WRX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Integra are solid, not vented.

The WRX stops much shorter than the Integra:

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the Integra (235/45R17 vs. 215/50R17). The WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Integra (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R18).

The WRX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Integra’s standard 50 series tires.

The WRX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Integra’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the Integra A-Spec Technology pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Integra A-Spec Technology (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Integra’s (36.74 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The WRX has 3.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Integra (98.9 vs. 95.8).

The WRX has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Integra.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the WRX. The Integra doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The WRX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Integra uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Integra. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Integra’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s exterior PIN entry system. The Integra doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 WRX’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Integra’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the WRX Premium/Limited/GT has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Integra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The WRX’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Integra has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

With standard voice command, the WRX offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Integra doesn’t offer a voice control system.

The Subaru WRX outsold the Acura Integra by 43% during 2022.