Compare the2024 Acura IntegraVS 2024 Volkswagen Arteon

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura Integra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Arteon doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Integra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Arteon doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Integra’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Arteon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The Acura Integra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Arteon has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the Integra 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Arteon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Arteon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Integra’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Arteon’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 42 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

The Integra Type S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (320 vs. 300) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 295) than the Arteon’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Integra gets better mileage than the Arteon:

The Integra has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Arteon doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Integra has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Arteon doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Integra Type S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Arteon:

The Integra stops much shorter than the Arteon:

For better traction, the Integra Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Arteon (265/30R19 vs. 245/35R20).

The Integra Type S’ tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Arteon’s 35 series tires.

The Integra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Arteon doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Integra Type S handles at .99 G’s, while the Arteon SEL Premium R-Line pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Integra Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Arteon SEL Premium R-Line (24.7 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Integra’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Arteon’s (38.1 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Acura Integra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 850 pounds less than the Volkswagen Arteon.

The Integra is 5.7 inches shorter than the Arteon, making the Integra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Integra has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Arteon.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 38% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

The Integra A-Spec with Technology Package/Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and warning readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Arteon doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Insurance will cost less for the Integra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Integra will cost $2075 to $5720 less than the Arteon over a five-year period.

The Integra will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Integra will retain 50.41% to 50.54% of its original price after five years, while the Arteon only retains 35.76% to 36.38%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura Integra will be $19027 to $24084 less than for the Volkswagen Arteon.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Acura Integra and the Volkswagen Arteon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Type S was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Arteon has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Integra as the 2023 North American Car of the Year. The Arteon has never been chosen.

The Acura Integra outsold the Volkswagen Arteon by almost 14 to one during 2023.