2017 Acura ILX Review - All You Need To Know About Acura ILX

When it debuted in 2013 the Acura ILX didn't exactly set the entry luxury world of fire maybe it looked to playing maybe it's Honda civic roots held it back either way the ILX needed help that's where a mid-cycle refresh comes into play where an accurate extensively reworked the ILX is exterior and the suspension made a 2.4 liter 201 horsepower engine standard pair that with a standard eight speed dual clutch transmission and fancied up the interior origin stories are fine but the real trick is whether the ILX is a true competitor for the latest breed of luxury compact cars let's start outside where edge your faces standard LED tails and jus light LED headlights give the ILX striking appearance Mercedes-Benz CLA still gets the nod were evocative design is concerned that the Merc is also much pricier inside we certainly appreciate expanded use of soft materials the layout could be more visually daring dimensionally front occupants have plenty of space the rear seat headroom favor shorter passengers especially in the middle position strangely the rear seat back is a one-piece unit requiring empty back seats you want to carry along items speaking of seeds for some reason there's no seat back pocket on the driver's side while a lack of adjustable lumbar support into the ILX is frugal roots a brighter note the rear floor is flat facilitating improved free passenger leg space another interesting interior element is an optional infotainment system with separate touch and display screens split presentation is our favorite and deserting which icons are actually selectable is tricky since they all have blanked out with sufficient familiarity system works well enough ok the cabin might be a mixed bag but the real test is how the ILX drives while it's tempting to describe the ILX as the most refined Honda Civic on the planet let's just say it drives like a proper accurate the steering has a fluidic smooth - - its steering effort or light but there's a sense of connectedness to the front tires which is always a nice thing meanwhile the suspension absorbed road imperfections with the ease of a Krav Maga instructor it's almost like driving a luxury car into sport just the hint adding to the luxurious aura in the ILX is a notable lack of wind and road noise very quiet in here not only will the tedious sounds of diesel engines industrial equipment and other people not intrude but the horrible sounds of you singing along with Alabama Shakes will not get out congratulations Oh one interesting detail when driving the ILX is the transmission is an eight speed dual clutch but it's not like other HP dual clutches kind of like Michael Jackson is not like other guys it has a torque converter which means when you come to a stop like I'm doing right now and you leave from that stop how smooth that is it's just like driving a regular automatic sometimes dual clutches can't pull that trick off this one can also your changes are Swift and incredibly smooth it's a nice dual clutch with its eight-speed transmission four-cylinder engine combination the Acura ILX both if not class-leading at least healthy fuel efficiency so any savings at the pump are partially offset by a thirst for premium fuel pricing for the Acura ILX start slightly less than twenty nine thousand dollars including destination which considering the standard equipment list is pretty competitive base level amenities include a multi-angle rear view camera dual zone climate control keyless entry with push button start heated front seats and an 8 way power driver seat moving up to the premium model adds leather in blind spot warning while a two-thousand-dollar a spec package tax on 18-inch wheels a trunk spoiler and various styling flourishes but no real performance games and the safety front a thirteen hundred dollar Acura watch package adds Lane Keeping Assist collision alert and adaptive cruise control for a value-priced semi luxury alternative the 22 thousand dollar Buick Verano might be worth a look but from an equipment and brand perspective the Acura ILX is better aligned with these subjective Mercedes-Benz CLA250 the sophisticated Audi A3 and these sporty but less practical to door BMW 2-series a trio that might trump the ILX for style driving thrills and intangible desirability our concern which the Acura undercuts by up to four thousand dollars clouding the value picture ever so slightly are projected ILX resale values that trail the Audi and Mercedes Benz if you look at the Acura ILX and think fancied up Honda civic that's not totally untrue but it's also missing the point the Honda civic is a great car yes the ILX might lack the luxury halo glow of a German mark but what it lacks in that stuff it makes up for in value efficiency and dependability and for some luxury buyers that stuff matters more than a badge.