Acura Integra vs Toyota Camry

The 2025 Toyota Camry presented a refined and cohesive design, particularly noticeable from the front with its "hammerhead front face" that echoed the new Prius and Lexus spindle grille. Standard LED headlights and daytime running lights enhanced its modern appearance. The Camry's profile remained largely unchanged, but the extended rear window surround emphasized its coupe-like roofline. The hood's forward extension met the grille's vertical line, giving the Camry a more assertive stance. Wheel options varied by trim, with the base LE featuring 16-inch alloy wheels, while the SE and XLE sported black 18-inch wheels, and the XSE boasted 19-inch wheels in black and Smoke Gray. Sporty elements like front air ducts and rear diffusers were exclusive to the SE and XSE trims. The XSE also offered a two-tone paint option, including the new Ocean Gem color.

Inside, the Camry's interior marked a departure from its predecessor with a new dash layout. The center touchscreen's housing flowed across the passenger side, camouflaging the vents. However, the quilted Dinamica microfiber in the XLE test car was a concern due to its light gray color and placement in high-contact areas. The base LE trim featured fabric seating, while the SE had SofTex synthetic leather, and the XSE offered perforated leather seats in Cockpit red or black with blue lining.

The 2026 Acura Integra distinguished itself with exclusive design and powertrain details, despite sharing its foundation with the Honda Civic. The A-Spec with Technology test car featured a six-speed manual transmission and Double Apex Blue Pearl paint, priced at $40,995. The Integra's design included Acura's "diamond pentagon" grille, "jewel eye" LED headlights, and sculpted bodywork. It shared its wheelbase with the Civic Hatchback but was longer, wider, and slightly shorter, resulting in a more balanced look. A-Spec models sported a new exterior body kit with gloss-black detailing and black-painted 18-inch wheels. New paint colors included Solar Silver, Urban Gray Pearl, and Double Apex Blue. The interior featured revised trim, ambient lighting, and new microfiber trim options.

The Integra's interior exuded quality and subtle luxury, with a slightly smaller cabin than the Civic Hatchback. The controls and displays were straightforward, with elegant detailing like diamond-mesh air vent trim and metallic knobs. The A-Spec models included sporty stainless steel pedal covers and red gauge needles. While the Integra shared some features with the Honda Accord and Civic, it maintained its distinct identity.

The 2025 Toyota Camry transitioned to an all-hybrid lineup, featuring Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system. This system combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motors, producing 225 horsepower for front-wheel-drive models and 232 horsepower for all-wheel-drive versions. The electronic all-wheel-drive system provided extra traction with minimal impact on fuel economy, achieving an estimated 50 mpg combined for AWD models and 51 mpg for FWD. The Camry offered two suspension tunings, with the XLE and LE focused on comfort. The hybrid system seamlessly switched between gas and electric power, though engine noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The braking system felt normal, akin to a traditional gas-only sedan, with an EV mode available for low-speed driving.

The 2026 Acura Integra Type S delivered thrilling performance with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The rest of the Integra lineup featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT by default. The A-Spec with Technology offered a six-speed manual gearbox with automatic downshift rev-matching and a helical limited-slip front differential. The Integra lacked all-wheel drive and a hybrid powertrain, unlike the Honda Civic Hatchback. The A-Spec trim included a thicker rear stabilizer bar, quicker steering, and larger wheels. The adaptive damping suspension and Active Sound Control system enhanced the driving experience. However, the Integra's performance fell short of expectations, with a softer ride and lower fuel economy than anticipated.

The 2025 Toyota Camry's XLE test car featured a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone climate control. Heated and ventilated front seats were optional for the XLE and XSE trims. A panoramic moonroof was available on the top trims. While Toyota hadn't published interior dimensions for the 2025 model, they were expected to be similar to the 2024 version, with front-row legroom comparable to the Honda Accord Hybrid. Trunk space was estimated to remain around 15.1 cubic feet.

The 2026 Acura Integra offered a comfortable and practical interior, despite being slightly smaller than the Civic Hatchback. The Technology package-equipped test car had a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger's seat. Heated front seats were standard, but ventilated seats and rear air conditioning vents were unavailable. Rear legroom and foot space were decent, though a fifth passenger would be cramped. Interior storage was commendable, but rear cupholders were shallow. The liftback provided a 24.3 cubic-foot cargo area, with a high liftover height and a 60/40-split rear seat for added room.

The 2025 Toyota Camry came standard with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen running the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad and five USB ports were also standard. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a fully digital driver information display. A 10-inch head-up display and a nine-speaker JBL Premium Audio system were available for XLE and XSE trims. Subscription offerings included 4G Wi-Fi connectivity and Drive Connect with an Intelligent Assistant voice-recognition system.

The 2026 Acura Integra featured a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display and a 9-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The A-Spec with Technology model added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD radio, Alexa Built-in, and AcuraLink connected services. An ELS Studio 3D surround-sound system with 16 speakers and a 5.3-inch head-up display were also included. While the Integra lacked a more sophisticated infotainment system, it offered easy pairing and streaming capabilities. However, display legibility was an issue in certain lighting conditions.

The 2025 Toyota Camry came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, lane-departure alert, and road-sign assist. The Premium Plus Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, parking assist, and a panoramic view monitor. The Camry was too new for crash testing, but it was expected to perform well based on Toyota's reputation and previous Camry models.

The 2026 Acura Integra featured the AcuraWatch collection of driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The A-Spec Technology added parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. The Integra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and received a mix of "Good" and "Acceptable" ratings from the IIHS.