Whatever the other reviewer discovered about his transmission may have been an anomaly. I have driven this car over 12 months, albeit sparingly due to disability. However the one thing that impressed me was the smooth powerful shifts in the mid-range. The car takes off like a rocket between 35 and 75. The 9 forward gears make certain the sweet spot remains in effect throughout this power curve. On another issue, the car can drive itself given well defined lines, such as on well manicured interstates. By drive I mean no hands on the steering wheel. What I don't mean is it reads traffic posted speeds like a Tesla. It does have cross traffic warnings, such as when you back out of a parking spot with two huge vans on either side of you.
This car has all the features I wanted. It's a beautiful car that is also fun and easy to drive. My drive is all city and get an average of 18mpg, but on the hwy it's up in the 30s. I went in not really knowing what I was looking for and found a car I still find perfect for me.
It would depend on what my friend was looking for, but the ILX is a so-far reliable car with all the necessary creature comforts (I switched from an Audi and don't feel I've compromised at all on the luxury side), decent on gas mileage, and comfortable as a daily driver. For me, it's an ideal city car.
This price does not include tax, title, and tags. Additional fees may also apply depending on the state of purchase.