Acura ILX
Acura's newest offering, the entry-level premium ILX sedan, offers enough luxury, performance and eco-friendly options to make the car appealing to anyone shopping the segment.
Although based on the Honda Civic compact sedan platform, the new ILX is 100 percent Acura and comes clad in sleek, aggressive sheetmetal, while the sharp front fascia bears the familiar Acura face. Acura calls this styling theme "Keen Edge Dynamics."
Four-wheel disc brakes are standard and handling is thanks to MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link setup in the rear, with stabilizer bars over both ends as well. Paired with the car's unit body construction, the effect is an athletic, exciting ride.
Three trim levels are available--base, Premium and Technology Package--and all come powered by a variety of i-VTEC 4-cylinder engines. Base ILXs come standard with a 150-horsepower 2.0L. That engine powers a Premium model and the ILX Technology Package model as well. Premium models can also be specified with the sporty 201-horsepower 2.4L. The 110-horsepower, 1.5L ILX hybrid model is available in base trim and hybrid tech package, which tops the range at $34,400.
All ILX 2.0L engines are paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission with Sequential SportShift and paddle shifters. The 2.4L ILX Premium utilizes a quick, exciting short-throw 6-speed transmission, while Hybrids are outfitted with a continuously variable transmission.
In addition to goodies such as power windows, locks and mirrors, base ILX models offer 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth sport seats with a fold-down rear seatback, a 6-speaker stereo, steering wheel-mounted audio, cruise and Bluetooth hands-free controls and automatic climate control.
Premium models add 17-inch alloy wheels and Xenon HID headlights, with heated leather-trimmed seating and 10-way power driver controls, a 360-watt, 7-speaker sound system, a 5-inch display with rear camera and remote entry. Premium-trim ILXs with the 2.4L engine also feature contrast seat stitching, stainless steel pedals and red gauge lighting.
The ILX Technology Package steps things up inside the car with Acura navigation, real-time traffic and weather, a 10-speaker, 415-watt sound system with hard-drive storage, XM satellite radio, and more.
All ILXs come loaded with standard safety features like anti-lock brakes, stability control, and six airbags.