Compare the2026 Audi A3VS 2026 Acura Integra

The A3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Integra doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A3 and Integra have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Integra’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi A3 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Acura Integra has not been tested.

The A3 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Integra doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The A3 Premium Plus has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Integra only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the A3 and Integra have rear cross-traffic warning, but the A3 has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Integra’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the A3 and the Integra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The A3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Integra’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the A3 for 2 years and 18000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the Integra (3/30,000 vs. 1/12000).

There are over 11 percent more Audi dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the A3’s warranty.

The Audi A3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Integra’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 1 more horsepower (201 vs. 200) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 192) than the Integra’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi A3 is faster than the Acura Integra 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	A3	Integra
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	11.2 sec	12 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.3 sec	3.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.9 sec

Regenerative brakes improve the A3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Integra doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The A3 has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Integra (14.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi A3 higher (6 out of 10) than the Acura Integra (5 to 6). This means the A3 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Integra every 15,000 miles.

The A3 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Integra doesn’t offer an SMG.

The A3 stops shorter than the Integra:

	A3	Integra
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the A3 has larger tires than the Integra (225/45R17 vs. 215/50R17).

The A3’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 A3 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 A3 Premium Plus handles at .89 G’s, while the Integra A-Spec Technology pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A3 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Integra A-Spec Technology (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the A3’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Integra’s (36.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The A3’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Integra Type S’ (36.5 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The A3 is 8.9 inches shorter than the Integra, making the A3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A3. The Integra doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the A3 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Integra doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The A3 has a 3461 lbs. towing capacity. The Integra has no towing capacity.

The A3 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 power windows standard on both the A3 and the Integra have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the A3 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Integra prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The A3’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.

If the windows are left open on the A3 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Integra can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The A3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Integra’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Integra doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The A3’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.

Both the Audi A3 and Acura Integra offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The A3 offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Integra’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The A3 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Integra A-Spec Technology/Type S.

Both the A3 and the Integra offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A3 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Integra doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the A3 offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Integra doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Acura Integra, the Audi A3 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The A3’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Integra doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi A3 and the Acura Integra, based on reliability, safety and performance.