2019 Acura ILX

But what allows this car to be so affordable is a stingy underlying truth. The car is based on the last generation Honda Civic. This a slight letdown when the car gets a complete redesign. Also, the interiors don’t feel up to the mark and there are noticeable cabin noises as well. The ILX is tuned primarily to maximize your comfort, not to provide you with a special performance. Nevertheless, with a decent 2.0L Premium Inline-4 engine, it catches up to its closest rivals like the 2019 Audi A3, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, and the 2019 Volvo S60.

There are four trim levels on offer for the Acura ILX: the Base, Premium Package, Technology Package, and the A-Spec trim. The trims are offered are upgrade packages that refine and improve the car’s features and interiors. Pricing starts at $26,895 and goes up to $31,550 for the top trim. The topmost trim, the A-Spec, comes in two different options, making it a total of five. There is a lot of differentiation between the trims when it comes to features, even then the base model comes with a ton of features. Nonetheless, all trim levels come with many standard features, such as 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and taillamps, power sunroof, leather-wrapped seats, Apple Carplay & Android Auto, navigation, a big display screen, etc. Below is a table with the details of each trim and its unique features.

There are no optional features or other optional packages offered on the 2019 Acura ILX sedan.

Which Trim Should You Buy?

The Acura ILX Technology comes with plenty of modern features and its price is aggressive, making it the most desirable trim level in its lineup. Atperiod$ 29,550, you get features like navigation, upgraded AcuraLink Connected Services, 10 premium speakers, and all the other features of the first two trims. The Technology trim costs approximately $2,000 more than the Premium trim, but providing some important features like navigation that are vital for a daily commute, this trim is an excellent buy for those searching for a luxury sedan within the $30k price range.

The 2019 Acura ILX comes with only one engine choice. All trims rely on the same powertrain, which is a 2.4L I-4 direct-injected engine that can generate 201 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. Power is transferred to the front wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and has a responsive feel. The transmission is basically a torque converter and also gets Sequential Sport Shift paddle shifters. The Acura ILX comes with an FWD drivetrain as standard, and there are no available options to upgrade it to an AWD system.

The car takes 6.4 seconds to hit the 0-60 mph mark and 15 seconds for the quarter-mile. It has a top speed of 130 mph. The acceleration of this vehicle is adequate, but not very impressive. In normal driving mode, the ILX feels just as average, but Sport mode makes the engine more responsive and improves the gear shifts as well. In summary, ILX delivers an acceptable level of performance considering its price range, but as we said, it is not as good as its closest competitors in this segment.

The Audi A3 is the only car that makes less power than the Acura ILX. Even then, it’s quicker than the Acura by 0.3 seconds in the 60 mph run. The Acura ILX doesn't have a Turbocharged engine like its counterparts, so we can't expect it to accelerate as fast as its competitors. The Volvo S60 is a superb performer in terms of speed and acceleration and wins this segment easily. It runs from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds, a second quicker than the competition. The Volvo also has the best quarter-mile time at 14.3 seconds.

How well does the 2019 Acura ILX handle?

 As a sports sedan, it does not provide the desired handling, however, in general, it is excellent for keeping things moving. Despite its lightweight steering and good feedback, its closest German rivals handle much better in this instance. Again, the transmission is flawless and you will enjoy speeding around the highway. Around corners, the car is planted and pretty stable.

It is pretty easy for anyone to adjust to the seating and steering wheel arrangement since they are positioned perfectly. This sedan's only notable downside is that its body stability on bumpy surfaces is not as good as it could be on bumpy surfaces. The strut and multi-link suspension set-up of the Acura ILX are slightly on the firmer side. It would be nice if this sedan had an AWD system but unfortunately, that won't be available.

Braking performance

The brakes on the ILX are impressive, and the availability of big rotors measuring 12.3 inches at the front and 11.11 inches at the rear allows it to come to a complete stop very quickly without stepping off the road. Furthermore, there are features like four-wheel antilock brakes and emergency braking systems that will help you a lot when braking. Considering its various features, perfectly sized rotors, and intuitive brake pedal response, this vehicle is among the best sedans in terms of braking.

The Volvo S60 has the biggest rotors on both wheels and takes 127 feet to stop from 60 mph. The Mercedes CLA 250 is lighter than the Volvo S60 and comes to a complete stop from 60 miles per hour much faster than any other sedan here, at 121 feet. The Audi A3 stops from 60 mph in 123 feet. As of now, we do not have the stopping figures for the ILX, but we expect it to be far superior to the competition.

In both city and highway conditions, the Acura ILX achieves good fuel economy ratings, but some of its rivals outperform it in both scenarios. The fuel tank of this vehicle contains approximately 13.2 gallons, which prevents you from filling up frequently. The vehicle is rated at 28 mpg for its combined fuel efficiency, and returns 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Overall, the Acura ILX’s fuel economy is pretty on par with the rest in this segment.

The Mercedes-Benz CLA has the highest economy ratings at 24 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Combined with the 14.8 gallons fuel tank, the CLA offers a highway range of 547 miles, the most among these cars. The Volvo S60 offers the second-best range at 420 miles combined. The best city range is also offered by the S60 at 377 miles. The Audi offers a range of 382 miles, but has the best fuel economy after the CLA. The Acura offers a better economy on the highway but a lower economy in the city compared to the Volvo S60. The Acura also has the least range among these four.

The Acura ILX provides good quality, as it utilizes soft-touch materials on all the frequent contact points and in the seats. There are a ton of places and parts that use plastic, which feels low quality and reduces the luxury feel. Its 8-way power-adjustable driver's seats, as well as the 4-way adjustable passenger’s seats, provide maximum comfort and convenience. There are many standard features inside the base trim, but higher trims have a lot more to offer when it comes to features. All trims feature dual-zone automatic climate control, which works perfectly. Having inadequate cabin insulation is another major downside of the ILX, as it allows some unwanted noises into the cabin while you're cruising.

The front row is fairly spacious, so a person of any size will feel quite comfortable. However, the back seats may feel a bit cramped for long-legged adults, as there is not much legroom and headroom. The ILX is again not a great choice for front visibility, which can obstruct your field of vision during sharp turns. There is a decent amount of trunk space inside this sedan, which can easily handle the luggage for five passengers. It is quite good in comparison to other competitions in its class, but it is not the best when it comes to boot space.

Although overall proportions are similar, there a few parts where one does better than the rest. With much bigger legroom of 42.3 inches, the Acura ILX is better than all of its competitors in the front row. However, the ILX lacks space in the rear compared to its rivals, except for the Mercedes CLA 250. The Volvo offers the best-in-class legroom at 36.9 inches and the most headroom at 37.4 inches. Behind the seats, everything is on CLA 250's side, as it offers 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space that is unbeatable in its class. The Acura ILX offers 12.4 cu-ft only. Some features of this car’s interior are mentioned below.

• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Dual-zone climate control
• Power Rear Windows
• Leather-wrapped Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel
• Adaptive cruise control
• Heated front seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

In comparison to other rivals in its class, the ILX lacks an intuitive infotainment system. There are two displays on top of each other, which may not be to the liking of many buyers out there, who prefer something simple yet modern. In the base model, the screen measures 8.0 inches, while the top trim comes with a 10.0-inch screen. There are 10 speakers in the music department to keep you entertained on the way. Apart from that, you won't find many modern features on it, but some standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Acura Navigation with 3D views, Siri hands-free, SMS and email capabilities, and Bluetooth. Some infotainment features of this car are mentioned below:

• 10 stereo speakers
• 8.0-inch touchscreen display
• Apple Carplay
• Android Auto
• Siri hands-free
• Acura Navigation
• Sirius XM

This year, there have been several changes on the exterior of the Acura ILX following its complete redesign inside and out. A noticeable change this year is its front grille, which has been changed to look more aggressive now. In addition to a new lower diffuser with a silver glitter finish, the car has got 17.0-inch alloy wheels with a silver glitter finish and a single chrome exhaust tip has also been added this year. All trims come with a power moonroof that allows you to see the skyline above you from the cabin. In contrast to all the other trim levels in this lineup, the A-Spec trim of the ILX follows a sportier stance to match its rivals. The ILX looks dapper and is well worth the money in terms of style, so there isn't much to criticize.

The four cars sit very close to each other in terms of dimensions. The Audi A3 is noticeably shorter than the rest, and also has the tightest wheelbase. As compared to the competing models, the 2019 Acura ILX has the lightest weight at 3095 lbs. The ground clearance of the ILX is 5.3 inches, which seems adequate, but since there is no information on the rivals, we cannot decide who is better. The ILX's wheelbase is short compared to some of its counterparts, but it still manages to provide good space inside. The Volvo offers a huge wheelbase of 112.4 inches. Some exterior features of this car are:

• Chrome Exhaust Tips
• Power Moonroof
• LED Headlights with Auto On/Off Function
• Rear Diffuser
• Heated Side Mirrors
• LED Fog Lamps

In addition to earning an overall high rating of ‘Good’ from IIHS, the 2019 Acura ILX also earned a 5-star rating from NHTSA. The car also performed well in independent crash tests. However, only its headlights earned a poor rating due to the glare they projected and the difficulty they might pose for opposing traffic. To ensure utmost safety inside its cabin, the ILX is equipped with a host of advanced safety features. Also standard for this year is the AcuraWatch safety system, which makes its cabin more secure than before. Some standout safety features of this car include-

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• BlindSpot Monitoring System
• Emergency Braking Assist
• Rear Cross Traffic Monitor

2019 Acura ILX vs 2019 Audi A3

 There are certain things about Acura ILX that are inferior to Audi A3 when compared directly. Even though the A3 is a little more expensive, the A3's performance, fuel economy, infotainment system, luxury, and state-of-the-art safety tech still are unmatched by the ILX. Accordingly, the A3 is a much better sedan compared to the ILX.

2019 Acura ILX vs 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250

 Except for spacing, the Mercedes CLA 250 is superior to the ILX in every way. A lot of the specs and performance of the Acura ILX mirror those of the CLA 250, despite being almost $2,000 cheaper. Therefore, if you are looking for a good car at a good price then the ILX makes sense. However, if you want that extra bit of performance along with very good fuel economy then the CLA 250 comes out to be a much better option.

2019 Acura ILX vs 2019 Volvo S60 

 Although the Volvo S60 is significantly more expensive than the Acura ILX, its standard safety features, handling, and excellent interior quality make it a better choice. It is a cost-effective choice and gives a better return on investment, so if you don't mind the additional cost, you might consider the Volvo S60 at extra cost.

The Acura ILX sells for $31,500, which is very reasonable when it comes to its specifications and performance. Its rivals, however, which are known for their handling, luxury, performance, and many other features, are better alternatives if you pay a little extra. So, if budget is not your factor, then all of its competitors are much better than Acura ILX. Nevertheless, if you are okay with Acura ILX's specifications at a much lower price, you can easily opt for it without any second thought.