The ILX appeals mostly for its luxury car badge and a sub-$30,000 price tag.
Spend a little more—and it may not be a lot more if you’re leasing or financing—and the Audi A3 is a highly compelling choice with plenty of tech and available all-wheel drive.
The BMW 2-Series is stylish and sporty, though it can get expensive fast.
So too the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but there’s something to be said about parking a car with the three-pointed star in your garage.
Don’t bypass the Honda Civic—the latest model is leaps and bounds ahead of the ILX, and it’s less expensive.
Mazda’s 3 splits the difference between mainstream and luxury, and the sporty sedan and hatchback should be on every shopping list.
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 2021 Acura ILX#31 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 BMW 2-SeriesGet Your Price |  2021 Honda Civic#4 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Mazda MAZDA3#4 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2021 Mercedes-Benz A Class#6 in Luxury Small Sedans Get Your Price |  2020 Audi A3#5 in Luxury Small Sedans |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2021 Acura ILX is cheap for a luxury badge, but it’s not especially luxurious. |
No matter the flavor, the 2021 BMW 2-Series lineup offers plenty of appeal—if not so much back-seat room. |
The 2021 Honda Civic doesn’t let social responsibility get in the way of a good time. |
The 2021 Mazda 3 straddles the mainstream and upscale markets with a quality cabin, power that ranges from pedestrian to plentiful, and available all-wheel drive. |
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a cheap way to get into the three-pointed star’s lineup, but it doesn’t skimp on much. |
The 2020 Audi A3 is a well-equipped entry-level compact sedan that delivers more substance than flash. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $26,100 | $35,700 | $21,250 | $20,650 | $33,650 | $33,300 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 24 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Large Cars | Compact Cars | Subcompact Cars | Subcompact Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| Sedan | 228i Gran Coupe | LX CVT | 2.0 FWD | A 220 Sedan | Premium 40 TFSI |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Hatchback | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Auto-Shift Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2021 Acura ILX vs. 2021 BMW 2-Series | 2021 Acura ILX vs. 2021 Honda Civic | 2021 Acura ILX vs. 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 | 2021 Acura ILX vs. 2021 Mercedes-Benz A Class | 2021 Acura ILX vs. 2020 Audi A3 | |
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