2026 Acura Integra vs. 2026 Genesis G70 Comparison

Manufacturers tend to think of compact luxury cars as entry purchases. They hope their compact car is good enough to make you want a larger, more expensive one eventually.

But we find that they’re often a great purchase on their own, and many buyers would be happy sticking with the class. Cars like the Acura Integra and Genesis G70 strike a great balance of performance, comfort, and value. You could easily buy one and feel like you’d found your perfect car.

These are two of our favorites. They each look fantastic, offer some fun behind the wheel, and, incredibly, cost less than what the average new car buyer today tends to pay.

But there are good reasons one might align with your taste more than the other. Let’s compare them.

2026 Acura Integra

Acura is the luxury division of Honda, and the 2026 Acura Integra is built on the bones of one of history’s most successful cars – the Honda Civic. That gives the Integra the athleticism and creature comforts of a luxury car with better reliability and resale value than you can typically expect from a high-end badge. A high-performance Type S trim lets you turn up the fun quotient if you want. Unusually in this class, it’s front-wheel drive (FWD). Prices start at $34,595.

2026 Acura Integra Highlights

Lower Price: We can rarely point out a luxury car less expensive than its Genesis equivalent. But the Integra saves you thousands compared to the G70, despite carrying the bulletproof reputation of a Honda. This is one of the most affordable ways to acquire a luxury car in 2026.

Available manual transmission: Stick shifts have grown rare in 2026. However, for a certain type of shopper, a responsive luxury sports sedan like this is most enjoyable when you can row your own. Acura is one of the last automakers responding to that buyer, and we thank them for it. The short-throw 6-speed stick available on the Integra is fun and forgiving.

Sharp Type S variant: The Integra Type S has a wider track for added stability, an adaptive suspension that adjusts to your driving style, 320 extra horsepower (100 more than other Integra models), and makes fabulous sound from its 3-pipe exhaust. Best of all, since the Integra’s starting price is reasonable, opting for the high-powered version doesn’t push the price to the stratosphere.

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

2026 Genesis G70

Genesis is to Hyundai as Acura is to Honda. The G70 may be our favorite Genesis product. Genesis packs a lot of features into even base models. Even the base G70 offers 300 hp, and there’s an option for a 365-hp V6 engine. The G70 uses the classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout beloved of generations of sport sedans. Pricing starts at $44,845.

2026 Genesis G70 Highlights

10-year powertrain warranty: Luxury cars have more components than mainstream cars. More parts mean more parts that can break. Both Acura and Genesis build high-quality cars with strong reliability scores. But Acura protects buyers with a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Genesis nearly doubles that with a 10-year/100,000-mile plan.

Available all-wheel drive (AWD): Genesis builds the G70 in RWD or all-wheel drive (AWD) form. Selecting AWD adds $2,000 to $2,100 to the sticker price, depending on the trim level. But if you live in the snow belt, it may be worth it.

More power all around: The base Integra uses a 200-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The Integra Type S boosts that to 320 hp model. The base G70 starts close to where the Integra tops out, putting out 300 hp from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Stepping up to the V6 gets you 365 hp. If your idea of luxury includes abundant passing power, the G70 has more of it at every level.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the G70 models for sale near you. 

Similarities

These are both entry-level sports sedans from the luxury arms of respected mainstream automakers. Both use 4-cylinder engines, with an option for more power. Their dimensions are close enough that a driver comfortable in one is likely comfortable in either.

The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2026 Acura Integra vehicles and New 2026 Genesis G70 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.

Specifications

Conclusion

Many buyers would be happy in either of these, but they do reflect different priorities.

The Integra is less expensive and every bit as fun. Its low starting price means you can step up to the Type S without breaking the bank. It’s likely the one we’d pick with our own money, though we admit a bit of nostalgia influences that. If you learned to drive in the 1990s, the Integra name holds sway on your heart.

The G70 is also a strong choice, and a more conventional one, thanks to its RWD layout. We might select it if foul winters were a problem where we lived, but we’d have to be willing to spend more.