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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Acura ILX

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2014 Acura ILX

Overview

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2013 Acura ILX Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 7.1

The 2013 Acura ILX sedan has set its sights on tapping into a 4-door luxury-leaning market that sits just below, in price and size, the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 audience. Acura has its entry-level-luxury bets covered with three models – sedate, sporty and hybrid – each with its own style.

You'll Like This Car If...

For the time being, the 2013 Acura ILX has a lock on this little-lux sedan niche, so if you gotta get a diminutive, fine-finished 4-door today, look no further.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you think that for a new car to carry a strong whiff of luxury, it needs to have some stretch-out room and standard leather, the ILX is not your first choice. You'll have to go up a size or wait a year for the 2014 Audi A3 sedan or the rumored 2014 BMW 1 Series sedan.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

7.1
Driving Dynamics

7.2
Comfort & Convenience

7.4
Design: Interior & Exterior

7.2
Value

6.9
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#10

out of 25

MPG

#23

out of 24

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.7 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2013

All-new to Acura, but based on the new-for-2012 Honda Civic architecture, the 2013 ILX sedan isn't full-court luxury, but it's nicer than a really nice Civic.

Driving the ILX

Driving Impressions It would be easy to say that the ILX drives just like a Civic, but truth be told, it doesn't. Although the ILX is small and light like a Civic,...

its interior layout looks far more sophisticated and the cabin is beefed up to drown out the outside noise, which makes for an overall more pleasant driving experience. The steering effort is light and the ride varies from comfortable to firm depending upon the model. We had the chance to sample all three powertrains the ILX has to offer and came away impressed with all them, each in its own way. The base 2.0-liter engine has plenty of power for the everyday drive, although getting up steep hills proved a little challenging. BMW 3 Series, this is not. The hybrid powertrain, while slower than the 2.0, easily netted us a constant 38 mpg in mixed driving conditions. The high-revving 2.4-liter puts a legit sporting face on the ILX.

Favorite Features

2.4-LITER, i-VTEC ENGINE
Taken straight out of the Honda Civic Si, the high-revving 2.4-liter engine offered in the ILX adds a wild side to the car and is enough to awaken anyone's inner boy racer.

TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
The Technology Package is offered in all of Acura's models and we would definitely opt for it in the ILX. We like the sweet sounds of the Acura ELS 10-speaker audio system, as well as the intuitive navigation system with AcuraLink Realtime traffic and weather.

2013 Acura ILX Details

2013 Acura ILX Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2013 ILX interior is roomy in front, claustrophobic in the rear, and well equipped throughout. Comfort and convenience items like keyless entry, dual-zone climate control and a power tilt/slide moonroof are standard, as is modern magic like Bluetooth capability, an iPhone-compatible USB port, text messaging and Pandora radio.

Exterior

We define the Acura ILX's exterior as "subtly elegant." So much so that one could forgive the signature Acura shield-style grille that can be off-putting on other models. But in comparison to other cars in the segment like the Buick Verano or the CT 200h, the ILX treats viewers to a contemporary look, forgoing an overly staid or overtly futuristic approach.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2013 Acura ILX comes with a healthy list of standard features. Some of the more notable ones include a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition and entry, Bluetooth and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, and a 6-speaker audio system with a USB/iPod interface, and Pandora integration. Cloth seating surfaces are standard, as are 16-inch wheels.

Optional Equipment

Two major packages dominate the ILX options roster. For the comfort lover, Premium Package highlights include leather upholstery, a power-adjustable seat for the driver, heated front seats, plus a hotted-up 7-speaker sound system and rearview camera. The Technology Package includes the upgraded audio, navigation and voice recognition, and AcuraLink's satellite communications menu which features Real-Time Traffic, traffic rerouting and weather.

Under the Hood

The three distinct ILX personalities referred to earlier shake out thus:
ILX 2.0L – 150 horsepower with a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic transmission.
ILX 2.4L – 201 horsepower pulling strong through a 6-speed manual transmission.
ILX 1.5L Hybrid – 39 miles per gallon in the city, 38 mpg on the highway.

2.0-liter inline-4
150 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
140 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/35 mpg

2.4-liter inline-4
201 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
170 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg

1.5-liter inline-4 + electric motor
111 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
127 lb-ft of torque @ 1,000-3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 39/38 mpg

Pricing Notes

The 2013 Acura ILX carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) that starts at around $26,000, while checking off the Technology and Premium package boxes will push the price to about $32,000. Both the 2.4-liter and the Hybrid trim levels carry a $30,000 price tag, but adding the Technology package onto the latter will tack on about $5,000 to that price. By comparison, a Buick Verano starts at around $2,000 less than a base ILX and tops out at around the same price, while the Lexus CT 200h and the Audi A3 both start closer to $30,000. We expect the Acura ILX will hold its value over time on par with the Audi and Lexus and better than the Buick Verano.

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2013 Acura ILX Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.7

Out of 10

Based on 7 Ratings for the 2013 - 2014 models.

Review this car

Value

8.7/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.5/10

Performance

8.1/10
Comfort

9.0/10

Styling

9.0/10

ILX 2.0 Base model

By DaveL (MI) on Tuesday, July 16, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,500

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 6/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "reliable, smooth drive, entry level luxury"

Cons: "poor acceleration, poor sound system, overpriced"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"I don't not like this car, and going from a civic to this was nice, but the drive is a little to similar. In fact, I think my civic had a little more oomph when I pressed down on the pedal. I did use to have an RSX and was hoping this would be similar driving wise, which it is not. The standard features are nice, I love having a moonroof and blue tooth, but with a pricetag almost $10k more than my civic and only about $3k less then a BMW 3 or Audi3 it seems a little lacking. I hear that leather seats are included on the 2014 model which is a step in the right direction. Overall I like it enough to not be upset with my 36 month lease, and it looks nice enough that people take a second look, but I will most likely step up to a TSX or go for a BMW when the lease expires."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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Great looks!

By ilovekalifornia (CA) on Friday, July 12, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 250

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Interior, sound system(on Premium Package"

Cons: "Highway sound could be quieter"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 8

"Went from a 2011 VW Golf TDI to 2013 Acura IXL & though I miss my 44+ MPG on the TDI, this was a great choice! Regular drive is ok but when you shift to sport mode it's very nice. over all very firm & somewhat silk drive. Wish it was quieter on the highway"

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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Best looking and efficient hybrid on the market

By Enfresko (CA) on Monday, April 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 9,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Premium Car, Great on Gas, spacious"

Cons: "Not excatly fast, no memory seats"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"We leased this vehicle out last year a month after going on sale. My wife has been driving it about 56 miles to work and back 5 days a week(yes us Californians with our crazy long commutes). I was skeptical with the advertised mileage at 39/38 city/hwy. But after almost a year it's been hitting that number over and over again! I've managed to squeeze 42 combined sometimes but in my opinion your not driving anymore if your trying to get to those numbers. After the MDX this this is SLOW, but after a civic, this feels rich! It's definitely the best looking hybrid for the price and comfort. Its an Acura and residual value is never a concern. I'm sure future revisions of the ILX will only get better!"

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Great Hybrid!

By hightemp13 (DE) on Sunday, April 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Reliability, Comfort, MPG's!, Looks Great!"

Cons: "Low HP, Voice Recog is Bad"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Used to own a Honda Accord 08 and was sick of paying for 22 MPG. Now i've owned my hybrid for about a month now and I've been getting 40+ MPG! Just took a trip to DC and I was getting around 45 MPG! You just need to know how to drive hybrids to get the best gas mileage. If you are interested in driving more aggressively, turn off ECON, then hit the gas. Has great low-end torque so you can get the car moving quickly! It's pretty comfortable inside. Definitely nothing like a Civic. Looks a lot better than its competitors, the CT200h, Verano, and Fusion. Surprisingly spacious. I definitely wanted to stick with the Japanese Car family because of reliability. I know i'll get that with an Acura. Can't be too sure with Buicks or Fords though... Looking really forward to driving this car for many more years!"

4 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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Great price great car

By Awesome ILX (CA) on Monday, March 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 2,400

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Less price, more mileage, Luxury"

Cons: "No passenger power seat, no telescopic steering"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought in January and I love it. Perfect for today's gas price with luxury. Handling and driving is very smooth and quite. Previously I owned G35 power of which I miss the most. But when it comes to filling up the tank I always think I made a smart choice. Hard disk in the vehicle is a very cool feature. I don't have to carry my CD's. I can just load CD's and it will automatically copy to the HDD. Advertised mileage on highway is 35, took a long trip and I actually got 35."

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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Great small luxury sedan

By Zander (CA) on Monday, February 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 250

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"After 9 years owning Audis I traded my last A4 for the ILX. I loved my Audi but the repair cost post warranty is just too high. Comparing the IL X to the entry level offerings from Lexus, infinity, BMW and Volvo made the decision easy. The ILX is better looking than all of them and the price lower. The car is so roomy in the front and the finish of the cabin and exterior is very luxurious. The reviews which criticize rear passenger room make no sense to me since all the compact luxury sedans have cramped rear seats. Driving performance is great, while not as invigorating as the German offerings, but with grater promised reliability and lower costs ( maintenance, regular gas and thousands lower List Price) it fits perfectly with a young professionals lifestyle. In this economy us gen x and y folks want to drive a high end vehicle with style and performance but we don't want to sacrifice saving for the future, paying down the mortgage or going into debt all to carry a huge car payment. The ilx fits the bill perfectly."

17 people out of 17 found this review helpful

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