Used 2008 Lexus LS

As the gateway car into Honda’s luxury brand, the 2020 Acura ILX has a pretty big mission. It must compete against newer and more sophisticated European luxury cars like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3, but also maintain enough of a price advantage to persuade younger buyers to make the switch.

Based on the old Honda Civic platform, the ILX is a surprisingly good luxury vehicle, with a comfortable cabin, numerous luxury and safety features and responsive handling. Its 2.4-liter engine isn’t the most inspiring performer, but it does the job and returns acceptable fuel economy in the process.

The ILX also holds its value well and offers one of the lowest ownership costs of any car in the segment.

Looking around the field, you’ll notice most of the 2020 Acura ILX’s rivals are powered by small-displacement turbocharged engines. Acura, on the other hand, has chosen to stick with its tried and true 2.4-liter normally aspirated 4-cylinder. Producing 201 horsepower, the ILX’s engine out-muscles most of its competition, at least at the base-engine level, and its slick twin-clutch 8-speed automatic is also a cut above the rest.

The ILX feels quick off the line, with plenty of power for sprinting across busy intersections. On the highway, however, the ILX’s power doesn’t come on with gusto until you get the tach needle well past the 4,000-rpm mark. The ILX’s 180 lb-ft of torque is the culprit here. That figure is near the bottom of the competition set, and you’ll definitely notice it when trying to pass at high speeds.

We like the ILX’s responsive handling, snug seats and good brakes, but we did notice a bit more road noise inside the cabin than we expected, especially when traversing uneven or rough pavement. We also like the ILX’s 34-mpg highway fuel-economy figure.

The ILX’s 5-passenger interior is mostly impressive for its price. High points include comfortable and well-bolstered front seats, a good driving position, and snazzy color choices that include Ebony, Espresso, and Ebony-and-Red on sporty ILX A-Spec variants. But there’s no denying the dated look of its available navigation system and some of the plastic bits around the center storage area. Base models have only a small, 5-inch central screen.

You’re better off stepping up just one trim to the Premium model, which brings a twin-screen setup in which the upper 8-inch screen is ready to connect to your Apple or Android phone while the bottom unit facilitates climate settings, audio info and other data. The ILX’s rear seats are on the stingier side space-wise, no big surprise given this car’s small dimensions. Unfortunately, even top trims lack rear air vents. Standard folding-rear seats help improve the flexibility of the trunk’s smallish 12.4 cubic feet of cargo room.

The 2020 ILX sports the familiar Diamond Pentagon grille, becoming the last member of the Acura family to get the treatment. Last year’s makeover saw more than just a front fascia update but also the ILX’s hood and front were reworked from the A-pillars forward. The rear of this compact-premium sedan also got a nip and tuck, with the license-plate holder moving from the center down to the bumper to give the whole setup a lower, sportier feel.

The changes work well, and make the ILX appear like the rightful smaller brother of the TLX that it is. A-Spec models aim for a sportier feel with exclusive 18-inch wheels, dark chrome grille, gloss-black decklid spoiler, and darkened exterior bits like the headlights and taillights.

STANDARD ACURAWATCH
Standard on every 2020 Acura ILX compact-luxury sedan, the AcuraWatch system includes a suite of driver assists so necessary in today’s world of congested highways and distracted drivers. Included in the bundle are lane-departure warning and assist, adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning with emergency braking.

8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Unusual in a car at this price point, the ILX’s 8-speed automatic transmission helps with both performance and fuel economy. The dual-clutch transmission was developed with help from Acura’s racing division and provides manual control via steering-wheel paddle shifters.

The 2020 Acura ILX is offered in three main trims: base, Premium and Technology. In its least expensive form, the ILX comes with a power moonroof, 10-way-power driver’s seat, keyless entry and push-button start, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Also included is the AcuraWatch suite of safety and driver-assist systems (see Favorite Features).

For just $1,750 more, we highly recommend stepping up to at least the Premium trim. That adds features you’ll want, like the robust, twin-screen infotainment system that is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, leather-trimmed sport seats, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, 4-way-power passenger seat, satellite and HD Radio, and HomeLink universal garage remote.

Stepping up from the Premium trim is the Technology package, which adds navigation with real-time traffic info, multi-view rearview camera, AcuraLink smartphone app integration, and a sweet-sounding 10-speaker ELS Studio audio system. The A-Spec package can be added to ILX models with the Premium or Technology packages. ILX A-Spec variants bring no extra power, but they do add sporty flair with larger wheels and unique exterior and interior aesthetics.

Acura’s ILX compact-luxury sedan uses a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder connected to an 8-speed twin-clutch transmission. The setup stands out from competitors such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, which use smaller turbo engines and 7-speed transmissions. We like the ILX’s combination for its refinement and immediate power delivery.

Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters come standard and allow you to initiate shifts at the whim. Unlike its Audi and Mercedes-Benz rivals, the ILX is offered only with front-wheel drive. At up to 34 mpg, the ILX is an efficient operator, but note that Acura recommends using the pricier premium unleaded 91-octane gasoline.

2.4-liter inline-4
201 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/34 mpg