2013 Acura ILX Test Drive

On Sale Date: May 25, 2012

Price: $26,795

Competitors: Audi A3, BMW 1-series, Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC

Powertrains: 2.0-liter I-4, 150 hp, 140 lb-ft; 1.5-liter I-4 with electric hybrid assist, 111 hp, 127 lb-ft; 2.4-liter I-4, 201 hp, 170 lb-ft; 5-speed auto, 6-speed manual, or CVT; FWD

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 22 to 39/31 to 38

What?s New: The ILX is a new member of the Acura lineup, a compact sedan conceived to straddle the murky border between luxury and premium market segments. However, while its sheet metal is all new, its styling is strongly reminiscent of that of other Acura sedans?the slightly larger TSX in particular. There?s familiarity beneath the skin as well. The foundations are adapted from the latest Honda Civic, including identical chassis dimensions (wheelbase and track), and the three powertrains are derived from the Honda inventory. This includes the Civic?s gasoline?electric hybrid system, a first for the Acura division.

Tech Tidbit: Like its Honda counterpart, the ILX hybrid has a multifunction display that tracks battery status, mpg, and system function and posts an Eco Score. Unlike the Civic, there?s an Econ switch, altering electronic mapping to reduce consumption even more. An Econ switch for an econ system may be a hybrid first.

Driving Character: The ILX shares much with the Civic, but its slightly firmer suspension tuning adds a bit more character. The basic 150-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivers more power than the Civic?s standard 1.8-liter, but that?s mitigated by the Acura?s heavier curb weight. Mated to a five-speed automatic (its only transmission option), the 2.0 delivers acceleration that?s tepid at best. The hybrid?s forward progress is even more deliberate, but the pace picks up with the 201-hp 2.4-liter engine. It lends more urgency, with a whiskey-tenor exhaust note adding aural pleasure as rpm soars, and its crisp six-speed manual transmission enhances the sense of driver engagement.

Favorite Detail: Even in base trim, the ILX interior conveys a sense of quality and attention to detail, to the eye and to the touch. Upscale materials and quiet operation justify its edge-of-luxury status.

Driver?s Grievance: Acura has had some success with electric-assist power steering, but not here. Tactile information is absent, particularly on-center road feel. Also, responses of the Select Shift automatic could be a little more vigorous.

Bottom Line: Although they share components, the ILX is more than a rebadged Honda Civic. The two cars have no interchangeable sheet metal, and the Acura offers no hint of the interior cost cutting that afflicts the latest Civics. The ILX body shell is more rigid and a little bigger than its Honda cousin?s, and there?s room in the rear seat for two adults to ride comfortably without too much compromise by those up front. The dashboard, the instruments, and the center stack controls are similar to those in the TSX, festooned with a platoon of buttons and switches, but the seats are comfortable, the materials upscale, and the list of standard features impressive.

It?s hard to perceive the ILX as pretty. The short rear deck and substantial front overhang yield awkward proportions. Also, Acura has made some curious powertrain choices. The basic 2.0-liter ILX, for example, is automatic only, and that automatic is a five-speed, while competitors offer six-speeds. The hybrid?s powertrain management has been tuned for a little more zip around town, at the expense of fuel economy, and the hotter 2.4-liter edition has no automatic transmission option. Still, the ILX is quiet and refined, with good road manners.

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