2015 Acura ILX

2015 Acura ILX

With many luxury brands now dipping into the accessible end of the entry-level premium market, can Acura compete with a vehicle that is both affordable and desirable? That’s exactly what the 2015 Acura ILX aims to do–attract hip retirees and up-and-coming young professionals–with its somewhat sporty, fuel-efficient small sedan. And, it comes with the service you’d expect from a luxury brand, too.

• Interior / Exterior »

The 2015 Acura ILX is formed with many of the internal bits and pieces of the Honda Civic, but you’d never know it from the appearance of this significantly more attractive sedan. It never looks econo-car, but it all fits in with the aesthetic of luxury done with an eye on price.



Going by the exterior look, the ILX carries no sign of the Civic. With its low and wide proportions, long hood, and short rear deck, the ILX already sets itself aside. Add in the aerodynamic character lines and Acura’s signature front-end look and this is a sedan that has nice proportions and lots of crisp detail and more nuance to the sheetmetal.
Inside, the center stack is placed high for good eyes-up visibility, while there are focused, easy-to-read instrument and information displays carrying across the main panel. The rear-seat area is more plainly finished, but nonetheless feels part of the overall cabin.
Overall, the ILX’s cabin is youthful and nicely detailed, at least in comparison with the competition, with cascading layers of surfaces in varied textures that create a flowing, connected feel across the dash and through the cabin.

• Performance »

The ILX Hybrid has been discontinued for 2015, due to slow sales. That leaves two different powertrains, both of which are pinned on balanced, lightweight platforms, offering a nice blend of comfort and sport. Don’t count the ILX as a sport sedan, though. It’s not.

As the sportiest variant, the ILX 2.4L packs the Civic Si’s 2.4-liter, 201-horsepower four-cylinder engine under the hood, as well as a six-speed manual gearbox only (there’s no automatic available, which to some will limit its appeal). While this engine makes its power and torque over a relatively broad range, it lacks much in the way of character, and its punchy driving feel seems a bit at odds with the ILX’s driving character.
What’s disappointing is that the suspension in the 2.4L is essentially the same as the rest of the ILX lineup, and it’s not as sharp as we’d like in spirited driving. Across the lineup, you get handling that’s crisp and responsive, but nothing approaching the driving experience of, say, Acura’s half-size-larger TSX sport sedan.

The most affordable ILX is the 2.0L model. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 150 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, and only offered with a five-speed automatic transmission. It’s powerful enough for daily duty, while returning a respectable 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Steering-wheel paddle-shifters do add an element of fun, and perhaps better control on mountain roads, but the overall personality of this model is relaxed and comfy, not edgy or performance-themed.
The 2015 Acura ILX is barely a luxury car if you go by its sticker price. And for that reason we don’t hold it against the brand that they’re not offering some of the higher-end items you’ll find in slightly more expensive sedans, such as radar-adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and heads-up displays. Granted, the brand is making big steps to head up-market with its RLX flagship sedan and future NSX super car, but there’s still room for the ILX, which no only offers the slow-selling Hybrid model for 2015. With that in mind, the ILX holds its own as a well-equipped, pleasant-driving, and comfortable compact sedan.
Balancing between crisp and fluid, edgy and smooth, the ILX’s exterior is a more youthful take on a compact luxury car than you’ll find elsewhere in the segment. The fenders swell gently from the sides, there are character lines to accent its shape, and the greenhouse arches gracefully ove the passenger compartment. On the whole it’s a handsome, if not lust-inducing, sedan. Inside, it’s a pleasant place to travel, looking like a typical Acura: edgy curves, contoured surfaces, and easy-to-read gauges.
There are two versions of the ILX available, named for their drivetrains: the 2.0 and the 2.4L. The 2.0L offers a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine rated at 150 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic with paddle shifters is standard. It scores an EPA-estimated gas mileage rating of 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
The 2.4L is the sporty model, with what is essentially the Civic Si’s 201-horsepower, 170-pound-foot 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed manual transmission–no automatic is offered with this model. What’s disappointing is that the suspension in the 2.4L is essentially the same as the rest of the ILX lineup, and it’s not as sharp as we’d like in spirited driving. Across the lineup, you get handling that’s crisp and responsive, but nothing approaching the driving experience of, say, Acura’s outgoing, half-size-larger TSX sport sedan.

Inside, the cabin is comfortable and spacious–surprisingly so in the rear seats, with enough room even for taller adults to fit comfortably. Ergonomically, things are laid out very well, with all controls easy to identify and use without taking one’s eyes from the road. Fit and finish is also very good, with solid-feeling construction and quality materials (plastic, rubber, and leather) in all touch-points. Cabin noise is low, though not quite mausoleum-quiet like you’ll find in some luxury cars a bit farther up the ladder, including Acura’s own. For 2015 Acura has made Active Noise Cancellation standard on all models in this lineup. It can actively ‘mop up’ smaller but bothersome noises from the powertrain or road, using the sound system’s speakers, a cabin microphone, and a sophisticated processing algorithm.
As of last year, leather upholstery and active noise cancellation are among the new features added to all models of the ILX. An eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera system have also all been added as standard. Two primary packages are available to upgrade from the base specification, the Technology Package and the Premium Package. Add the Technology Package and you get premium audio with USB and Pandora integration, a navigation system with voice recognition, a rear-view camera system, and real-time traffic and weather info. With the Premium Package you get leather seating surfaces; eight-way power adjustable driver seat; two-way heated front seats; an auto-dimming rearview mirror; a multi-view rear camera; a premium sound system with Bluetooth, USB, and Pandora functionality.
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