Acura Integra Beaten by All-New Prius Prime in 0-60 MPH Race
The new Acura Integra and the completely redesigned Toyota Prius Prime couldn’t be further apart. Obviously, one is a luxury sedan, and the other is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Interestingly, both shocked the car world in 2023 for their speed figures. The Prime has remarkably unexpected straight-line performance, whereas the Integra, as many have heard by now, is rather slow.
How fast is the 2023 Acura Integra?
Under the hood, like much of the Integra itself, it’s all Honda. The drivetrain is lifted straight out of the Civic hatchback. This is good because that means the Integra is available with a six-speed manual. However, it indicates the Acura sedan is far down in performance compared to other luxury cars.
The Integra’s turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder will put down 200 horsepower and 192 pounds-feet of torque. Those power figures are good for 1980s class standards but are subpar at best in 2023. Subsequently, the Acura Integra has ‘an 80s-like straight-line performance. Car and Driver’s test showed a rather poor 7-second 0 to 60 mph time with the six-speed manual—not counting a 0.4-second rollout.
For those who want to let the standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) do the shifting, acceleration is even slower. The Acura Integra’s CVT-equipped A-Spec variant takes 0.1 seconds longer to hit 60 mph. Luckily, the Integra’s lively handling makes up for somewhat lazy and relatively noisy get-up-and-go.
How fast is the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
It’s tough to find the brightest part of the all-new Toyota Prius Prime. The complete redesign has upped the ante with the tried-and-true PHEV. Not only does the Prime have jaw-dropping looks, but potential buyers will also be similarly surprised by its performance.
The old hybrid system is gone; that 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated with a 90-kW electric motor. Before, the Prius Prime had a measly 121 horsepower and 105 pounds-feet of torque. Now, however, it has the power to compete with models outside the traditionally sluggish PHEV class. The electric motor has been enlarged to 120 kW, and now there’s a full 2.0-liter engine under the hood creating 220 horsepower and 150 pounds-feet of torque.
According to Toyota, the 2023 Prius Prime has a blistering 0 to 60 mph time of 6.6 seconds. For the quarter-mile dash, the Integra and the Prime are neck-and-neck, both setting a 15.3-second time.
How much are the Acura Integra and Prius Prime?
Base Acura Integras begin at $31,300, which is the lowest in the luxury sedan segment. The A-Spec and A-Spec with Technology packages are $33,300 and $36,000, respectively, without accounting for destination and other fees. While each trim level comes standard with a CVT, the stick-shift is a no-cost option in the highest-priced package. Therefore, getting that 0 to 60 mph time down by 0.1 seconds will cost a pretty penny.
The Prime’s starting MSRP will set potential buyers back $32,350. The mid-range XSE will fetch $35,600, and the range-topping XSE Premium is $39,170—all without destination fees. Fortunately, there are no performance enhancements between the trim levels, so even the base Prime will blitz the top-spec Integra.
