Used 2018 Acura ILX

Sporty, luxurious and packed with technology, the new 2018 Acura ILX is the luxury brand’s smallest and most affordable sedan. With prices starting well under $30,000, the Acura also undercuts the prices of the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA. And its standard 201-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine is strong for the class, offering more standard horsepower than the turbocharged Audi. Acura offers the ILX in seven trim levels, including the sporty A-Spec, the luxurious Premium and the top-of-the-line ILX Tech. Prices top out around $36,000. All models use an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Although the new Acura ILX is based on the previous-generation Honda Civic, you’d never know it, as the ILX feels like a premium automobile and drives with the vigor we expect from an Acura.

Around town the 2018 Acura ILX strikes an appreciated balance between sport and luxury. It’s comfortable, with well-shaped seats and a proper seating position worthy of a sports sedan. The interior is also quieter than you might expect, especially if you’ve driven or ridden in the earlier versions of the ILX. It’s also fun to drive with good steering feel and an athletic well-tuned suspension, although some may find the ride overly firm. The sedan’s handling certainly is up to Acura’s reputation for performance, especially with the optional 18-inch wheels and tires, and the 201-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine provides plenty of go. Acura’s 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is one of the best. Leave it in Drive and go to the grocery store, and you’ll never notice a thing. Shift it into Sport and use the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and you’ll find a sport transmission that’s quick and crisp, but never jarring.

The new Acura ILX seats four adults comfortably and five in pinch. Interior materials are high-quality, with only a few hard plastic touches as reminders that you bought on a budget. Seating is comfortable, and the driving position is perfect. Most controls are easy to use, but the Acura’s dual-screen infotainment and navigation system takes a little getting used to. Don’t let it scare you; its functions are actually quite intuitive. Thanks to an active noise-cancelation system, the Acura’s interior is also much quieter than it was before. Trunk space is about average for the class at 12.3 cubic feet, and the ILX’s rear seat folds flat to expand the space.

With a strong resemblance to Acura’s larger sedans, the TLX and the RLX, the design of 2018 ILX is simple, youthful and understated. Its most distinctive features are LED headlights with multiple lenses. Acura calls the treatment "Jewel Eye" and it gives the ILX just enough visual candy along with a separate bar of LED running lights. The character line that runs the length of the car kicks up dramatically around the rear door handles, and the brightwork around the Acura’s greenhouse is a premium touch. A-Spec models dial up the cool factor with larger uniquely styled 18-inch wheels, fog lights, side sill moldings and a small rear spoiler.

ACTIVE SOUND CONTROL
Previous iterations of the Acura ILX were criticized for having noisy interiors, which just didn’t suit the vehicle’s premium image or the expectations of its buyers. That’s ancient history. The 2018 Acura ILX has an active noise-cancelation system that listens to ambient engine and wind noise, and produces an equal but reverse sound through the audio system. The two sounds cancel each other out for a much quieter ride.

COLLISION-MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM
This smart safety system is part of a suite of advanced driver aids available on every ILX trim level. This system detects objects in the sedan’s path and monitors the vehicle’s speed. If it determines an impact is possible, it will warn the driver. If you don’t react, it will then begin braking for you.

All 2018 Acura ILX models come standard with the 2.4-liter engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. They also come fairly well loaded with other features, including a rearview camera with multiple views, automatic headlights, dual-zone GPS-linked climate control, passive entry with push-button start, and an 8-way-power driver’s seat. Even base models get heated front seats, and part of the ILX’s quiet is thanks to noise-abating wheels and active noise cancelation. The new Acura ILX also comes standard with Siri Eyes Free, which allows access to the iPhone’s digital assistant with the push of a button on the steering wheel.

AcuraWatch is a suite of safety systems that includes adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and other high-tech features. Elsewhere, ILX Premium models add leather seats, blind-spot warning with a cross-traffic monitor, the iPhone navigation connectivity mentioned earlier, and an audio upgrade. The top-line Technology Plus models get AcuraWatch standard, as well as an even better audio system and built-in navigation. The A-Spec package adds 18-inch wheels, fog lights, a rear spoiler, perforated suede upholstery with contrasting stitching, a black headliner, red-lighted gauges and aluminum pedals.

The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine in the new 2018 Acura ILX is ubiquitous across the board, and its 201 horsepower is more than adequate for a car this size. The 8-speed automatic is one of our favorite things about the car; smooth shifting in Drive and quick when using the paddle shifters. The 8-speed is a dual-clutch setup, meaning it’s designed like a computer-operated manual transmission, but Acura also added a torque converter in the system for better power delivery and a more familiar feel. The high-tech engine uses advanced fuel injection that enhances power and fuel economy, but it also requires premium fuel. Luckily, you won’t use a lot of it, thanks to 25-mpg city and 35-mpg highway EPA estimates. Every ILX is front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is not offered.

2.4-liter inline-4
201 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/35 mpg