2021 Acura ILX Review

　　

2021 Acura ILX Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The ILX is a small entry-level luxury sedan from Acura. The least expensive vehicle in the automaker's lineup, the ILX offers a luxury badge at an affordable price. As you'd probably expect from a luxury brand, the ILX comes with lots of standard safety features, but there are some missing elements. Unlike rival sedans from BMW and Mercedes, the 2021 Acura ILX doesn't feel as modern or as special as it should. It also doesn't feel as refined as it should. To find out more about the ILX and how it stacks up against competitors, read the full Expert Rating below.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Acura ILX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$166/mo  for ILX Base

　　ILX Base

　　4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) - $25,950 MSRP4dr Sedan w/Premium Package (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) (Most Popular) - $27,950 MSRP4dr Sedan w/Premium and A-Spec Packages (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) - $29,950 MSRP4dr Sedan w/Technology Package (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) - $30,000 MSRP4dr Sedan w/Technology and A-Spec Packages (2.4L 4cyl 8AM) - $31,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.0/10

　　How does the ILX drive? Overall, the ILX is underwhelming to drive. Acceleration is sluggish, and you really have to dip into the gas before it picks up. Passing on the highway and accelerating on an on-ramp are fine but a step or two behind what you experience in the class leaders. Performance from the brakes and steering are equally lackluster. Emergency braking distances are also longer than average.

　　The ILX improves when experienced at a higher pace, with relatively agile handling. There's a moderate amount of body roll, but the ILX works with it and feels mostly composed. Better tires could go a long way since the standard all-season rubber doesn't match what the ILX feels like it could deliver. The dual-clutch transmission is a high point, with quick, smooth shifts and none of the low-speed lurching you'll find in less refined transmissions.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the ILX? The ILX doesn't meet our standards for how comfortable a luxury car should be. The driver's seat is comfortable enough, with decent bolstering and soft cushions, but it lacks the same level of adjustment you'll find in competitors. The cushions only go so far to smooth out the ILX's less-than-stellar ride. It feels a bit too firm all the time. While that quality helps the car feel sporty and nimble, it also means the ILX crashes over bumps.

　　The cabin is also just too loud. The idle is rough, and the buzzy engine's exhaust note never goes away. There's also a good bit of wind and road noise, especially at highway speeds. You just don't get the same level of isolation you do in other cars in this class.

　　

Interior

6.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Acura's two-screen infotainment system is disappointing. It's unclear what information gets sent to which display without pulling out the menu, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay appear on the top non-touchscreen display. The menus aren't intuitive to navigate, and overall it's several steps behind the class leaders. Controls not linked to the infotainment system are much better. They're easy to read and reach, and most major systems have dedicated buttons.

　　The relatively roomy interior is let down by a driver's seat that won't go down far enough. On more than one occasion, one of our test drivers hit his head on the roof when driving over large bumps. Otherwise, there is ample legroom and shoulder room, and backseat passengers won't feel confined or compressed. The view out of the ILX is also fine, with large windows and relatively thin windshield pillars.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The ILX is way behind the times in terms of tech. The infotainment system is the same one you found in Honda and Acura products five or so years ago and hasn't been updated since. The two-screen setup is frustrating to use. The audio quality is fine for audiobooks and podcasts but lacks pop when playing music.

　　Likewise, the ILX's driver aids feel a generation behind the leaders. The system is cautious and unrefined, sending up false readings on multiple occasions. The adaptive cruise control leaves large gaps and doesn't work below 20 mph, a major knock since that's when these systems are often most useful.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The ILX's storage is a mixed bag. Most modern small sedans have places to hold a phone and door pockets large enough to store a bottle of water or two. The ILX does not. The center console is a decent size, but the bin in front of the shifter is small and the front door pockets are narrow. The rear lacks pockets altogether. The 12.4-cubic-foot trunk is a nice size and roomier than the trunks of cars such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but the trunk hinge design cuts into overall storage.

　　Things are a bit more sunny when it comes to installing child safety seats. The rear doors open relatively wide, and there's a decent amount of space. Larger rear-facing seats might be a tight fit, but that's not unusual for vehicles in this class. The outboard rear seats both have car seat anchors that are relatively easy to access.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the Acura ILX gets 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving. We managed an impressive 33.3 mpg on our evaluation route. That's as good as or better than just about every other entry-level luxury sedan.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the ILX a good value? The ILX is priced significantly less than its rivals. It's not lacking features either. There's also a decent suite of standard driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. In interior quality, it isn't quite as premium as other luxury sedans, but it's a step up from what you'll find in most cars at this price point.

　　The warranty coverage is typical. Acura offers a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. You also get four years/50,000 miles of roadside assistance, though there's no included maintenance as you'll find with some rivals.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　The ILX looks sharp. The design is handsome without feeling overdone, and there are obvious connections to Acura's other models, including the NSX. The interior too looks pretty good, though it's not quite as good-looking as the exterior.

　　Unfortunately, it's not quite as good to drive as it looks. The ILX shares some mechanical bits with the old Honda Civic Si, including the 201-horsepower 2.4-liter engine. The issue is that the power is all at the top end, so you really have to work to get peak performance. And while the chassis feels pretty nimble, the lifeless steering dampens much of the fun.

　　

Which ILX does zzdcar recommend?

While the base ILX comes with a number of standard safety features, we recommend upgrading a bit by going with the optional Premium package. It adds smartphone integration along with an upgraded stereo and some improved interior materials. Plus, the Premium adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert — one of the few safety features that doesn't come standard on the ILX.

　　

2021 Acura ILX models

The Acura ILX starts with a reasonably well-equipped base trim level and offers three major upgrade packages: Premium, A-Spec and Technology. All trim levels use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (201 horsepower, 180 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The ILX is front-wheel-drive only.

　　Base

　　Standard features on the base ILX include:

　　LED headlights Sunroof Simulated leather upholstery Dual-zone automatic climate control Heated front seats Bluetooth streaming audio and a six-speaker sound systemStandard safety equipment includes:

　　Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Collision mitigation braking (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Acura and the car in front)Premium

　　The first of the ILX's available packages, the Premium adds:

　　Sport seats with leather upholstery Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability Seven-speaker sound system with satellite and HD radio Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)A-Spec

　　Gives the ILX a bit of cosmetic flair by adding:

　　18-inch wheels and high-performance tires LED foglights Unique front grille and black bumper accents Rear spoiler Exclusive paint color options Perforated leather upholstery and contrasting interior stitching Stainless steel sport pedalsTechnology

　　Has the features from the Premium and A-Spec, plus:

　　Navigation 10-speaker sound system Acura's connected services

　　

2021 ILX Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$25,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$166/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles