Acura ILX
The Acura ILX was produced in a single generation from the 2013 to 2022 model years. As Acura's smallest sedan, the ILX was a somewhat lackluster entry-level luxury car when it was launched, and by the end of production, it was well behind competitors in both technology and performance. Engine power was provided by a 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine in its early years, and a six-speed manual transmission was available. In later years, all ILX models carried a 2.4-liter engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Explore the evolution of the Acura ILX
Get our expert take on used Acura ILX models, or view year-by-year changes.
First generation Acura ILX
The Acura ILX was introduced for the 2013 model year as an upscale luxury model based on the popular Honda Civic. However, the capabilities of the ILX were not what consumers expected from Acura, and the model was criticized for lackluster performance. It did provide a generous list of standard features and was comfortable.
Acura provided the ILX with a 2.0-liter engine until 2015, and that engine was available with an automatic transmission. The sportier ILX 2.4 came with a 2.4-liter engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Starting in 2016, the 2.4-liter engine was standard (the 2.0-liter was dropped), and it was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All ILX models use front-wheel drive.
Over its 10-year production life, the ILX fell behind in terms of technology and connectivity features, while performance also stagnated. By the end of production in the 2022 model year, the ILX was far off the standards of entry-luxury sedans from other manufacturers.
Model highlights
Available manual transmission (through 2015)
Comfortable interior
Up to 36 mpg highway fuel economy
Seating for five passengers
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2013 - 2022
2022 Acura ILX
2021 Acura ILX
2020 Acura ILX
2019 Acura ILX
Highlights
Midcycle refresh updated interior and exterior design
Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ supported
AcuraWatch™ driver-assistance features became standard
Dual-screen infotainment system revised
Learn more
2018 Acura ILX
2017 Acura ILX
2016 Acura ILX
Highlights
Minor refresh updated interior and exterior styling
2.0-liter engine no longer available
Manual transmission no longer available
Updated driver-assistance features included blind-spot monitoring and a backup
cameraAdaptive cruise control available
Learn more
2015 Acura ILX
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Acura ILX an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Acura ILX 1st out of 25 among Luxury Compact Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Acura ILX is $372, compared to an average of $546 for Luxury Compact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Acura ILX owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.9 times per year, compared to an average of 1.8 times for Luxury Compact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 4% for the Acura ILX, compared to an average of 12% for Luxury Compact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Jeff Zurschmeide has been an automotive journalist for more than 20 years, covering the new car business as well as motorsports and industry news. He lives in Tillamook, Oregon, at the confluence of great roads, nice weather, and plenty of space for a collection of strange old automobiles.
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