Acura ILX History
The Acura ILX is the brand's smallest sedan, and a new entry for 2013. It's designed to bring a more youthful audience to the Acura fold, while other models are pushing the brand up-market at the same time.
For a more detailed look at the ILX, including trim levels and pricing, see our full review of the 2013 Acura ILX.
The Acura ILX is closely related to the Honda Civic, but it has entirely different sheetmetal, a great deal more equipment, and a much-upgraded interior, both in design and materials.
The three models of the Acura ILX offer surprising different personalities, though. All are front-wheel drive, and the most popular is likely to be the base model, powered by a 150-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The sportiest offering carries a 201-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder, available only with a six-speed manual. Then there's the ILX Hybrid, which is slower but greener, using the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder and an integrated hybrid drive system as the equivalent Civic model. Its total output is just 111 horsepower, but it's rated at an EPA estimated 38 mpg highway.
The standard ILX 2.0L rates an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The sportier ILX 2.4L, not suprisingly, doesn't do that well. It's rated at 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, while the fuel-sipping ILX Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 39 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.With comfortable ride quality, a still-somewhat-sporty demeanor in the turns, and the performance-oriented ILX 2.4L, the newest Acura offers a taste of sport-sedan in the entry-luxury arena. If you choose the 2.0L model, you'll get a relatively efficient commuter, while the Hybrid ekes out better-than-average fuel economy, though it's short on both power (against other small luxury cars) and gas mileage (against the most efficient among hybrids).The 2013 Acura ILX has been given a five-star overall score from the federal government, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given it 'good' ratings in all categories, and Top Safety Pick status.
Rather than focusing on any one of these aspects, the ILX seeks to deliver a balance of luxury, performance, style, and efficiency that appeals to the younger professional. There are three main trim specs for the ILX: the base model, the Premium Package, and the Technology Package. The standard ILX specification includes cloth seats with leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth hands-free calling, a power moonroof, keyless entry with pushbutton start, rear-view camera, and more.
The Premium Package adds leather seating, eight-way adjustable power driver's seat, heated front seats, a multi-view rear camera, and a premium sound system. The Technology Package (not available on the 2.4-liter model) adds navigation with voice recognition and real-time traffic and weather, the premium sound system, and AcuraLink satellite communication services.
