The ILX is Acura's littlest product in several years, but beneath, it's really equivalent to the Civic. The three separate ILX powertrain choices match those accessible in the Civic variety. And it's assembled in the U.S. at a Civic manufacturing plant to boot.
The Environmental protection agency rates the 2013 ILX Hybrid at 38 mpg combined, vs the 44-mpg rating of the lighter Civic Hybrid that shares the same powertrain. There are also two more powerful models, one with a 1.8-liter four and the other with a 2.4-liter--which we'll test later on.
The main challenge with the ILX Hybrid is its notable lack of power under some driving circumstances. It's decent off the line, with the mild-hybrid system restarting the engine fast enough to provide a manageable lag away from a stop. But the ILX Hybrid falls down badly on power for acceleration in the critical 45-to-75-mph window. Whether it's accelerating to make a light that's about to change, or merging onto a fast-flowing freeway, the car simply doesn't provide the acceleration that a $35,000 near-luxury sport sedan ought to.
The styling of the ILX is modern and hits the latest Acura design themes. But critics are not entirely convinced by the rising accent line on the sides, but overall, the Acura ILX is handsome without being particularly distinctive.
The interior is a pleasant place to spend time, with a far nicer interior than the widely criticized 2012 Civic interior. It has soft-touch materials on most surfaces, and our test car came with a fetching two-tone interior and leather upholstery that felt luxurious for the size of the car.
The seats were comfortable and rear-seat legroom is adequate with a bit of horse-trading between front and rear passengers. Trunk space is good, albeit through a relatively short opening.
