2023 Acura Integra vs. 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Comparison

A luxury subcompact sedan is a great way to dip your toe into the pool of elite premium cars while keeping your expenses reasonable. There’s a huge stable of them to choose from, but each tries to win your affection with a different balance of traits.

For the 2023 model year, Acura has brought back a beloved name from its past – the Integra. Mercedes offers its well-equipped CLA-Class for a similar price. Note that we’re comparing a 2023 Integra to a 2022 CLA-Class because that’s what you’ll find in dealerships right now.

Let’s see what makes each one appealing.

2023 Acura Integra

Acura resurrected the Integra name this year, and it’s exactly what you remember. The 2023 Integra is an attractive 5-door liftback with a turbocharged engine and a 6-speed manual transmission (though you have to pay extra for the stick). A sporty A-Spec model adds extra spice. Pricing starts at $30,800.

Acura Integra Highlights

More affordable: You can get into an Integra for more than $7,000 less than the CLA-Class, more than $4,000 less than an Audi Audi A3, and more than $5,000 less than a 4-door BMW 2 Series. It’s one of the least expensive ways to own a luxury car this year.

Affordable high-performance model: The Integra A-Spec model with the Technology package adds a limited-slip differential and a crisp manual transmission. The combination makes the Integra into a fun driver’s car. Amazingly, it’s only $35,800 – still a bargain in this class.

Do it for the memories: The Integra name means something in the U.S. Yes, in some ways, it’s just a fancy Honda Civic that spent a lot of time in the gym. But that’s what it always was, and Acura loyalists have missed it. If you want an Integra, you’re probably answering a nostalgic call, and nothing else will do.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Acura Integra models for sale near you.

2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Now that Mercedes has announced the end of the A-Class lineup, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class will soon be your first pass into the exclusive club of Mercedes-Benz owners. It offers engaging driving dynamics and one of the most upscale interiors at this price. It’s also available in a pricey-but-extraordinary AMG high-performance model  Prices start at $38,200.

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Highlights

Extraordinary surroundings: Mercs have always been luxurious, but Mercedes designers have outdone themselves in recent years. From its artful turbine-style vents to its built-in voice assistant, the CLA’s cabin feels a grade above anything else in its class.

Available 4Matic all-wheel-drive (AWD): Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD system varies torque between the front and rear wheels to maximize grip. It gives the CLA-Class more secure footing on wet and icy roads, but it adds $2,000 to the purchase price.

Do it for the prestige: The Integra name calls back to the 1990s. The Mercedes name calls back to generations of fine cars. Both are valid forms of stature. But, if the opportunity to own a Mercedes for under $40,000 sounds like a dream, this is how you get there.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Mercedes-Benz A-Class models for sale near you.

Similarities

The Integra and the CLA-Class are both small, front-wheel-drive luxury sedans with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. They’re similar in size, and both strike an emotional chord, though perhaps it’s not the same set of notes.

Conclusion

The Integra and the CLA-Class are both great ways to get into a luxury car for less than $40,000. The Integra has modern cool, echoing some great cars you may remember. The CLA-Class has timeless cool, with the immutable three-pointed star at an affordable price. These are two cars you buy for the way they make you feel. The right choice for you depends on your priorities and how you respond to the thought of owning one.

Specs