2021 Acura ILX

History/Overview

It’s another year of no notable changes for Acura’s entry-level sedan, the ILX. This sporty compact has been around since 2013 and was refreshed in 2016 and 2019. Underneath, the ILX is based on the ninth-generation Honda Civic, making this car’s underpinnings a decade old.

Available Trims

Acura offers the ILX in base, Premium, Premium A-Spec and Tech A-Spec trim levels. All use a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive.

Standard Features

All trims are fitted with a suite of driver safety assists comprising forward collision detection and mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Inside, the ILX starts with a 10-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, leather-trimmed steering wheel/shifter, a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker stereo, and ambient cabin lighting.

Exterior kit includes LED headlights/taillights/daytime running lights, auto on/off headlights, 17-inch wheels, and passive keyless entry.

Premium trim adds a power front passenger seat, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic monitoring, a seven-speaker stereo, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Premium A-Spec gets Ultrasuede/leather seating, 18-inch wheels, and LED fog lights.

Tech A-Spec adds navigation, a 10-speaker sound system, a garage door remote, and rain-sensing wipers.

Fuel Economy

Acura’s fuel consumption estimates for the ILX are 9.9/7.0 L/100 km (city/highway).

Competition

The aging ILX competes against the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, the Audi A3, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, the Subaru WRX, the Mazda3 GT, and the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.