Used 2013 Acura ILX

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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