2013 Acura ILX

Riding a balance between crisp and fluid, edgy and smooth, the ILX's exterior is a more youthful take on a compact luxury car than you'll find elsewhere in the segment. The general proportions speak of sportiness (perhaps more so than the car's actual performance does), but also of refinement and confidence.

Inside, the ILX's cabin is simliarly youthful, at least in comparison with the competition, with cascading layers of surfaces in varied textures creating a flowing, connected feel across the dash and through the cabin. The driver's perspective is dominated by the focused, easy-to-read instrument and information display in the main panel, while the center stack is set high and forward for better eyes-up visibility.

The base model of the ILX is the 2.0L, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 150 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. It's paired by default with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters mounted on the steering wheel. While the paddles add an element of fun, and even control in a passing situation, the overall demeanor of the 2.0L is relaxed and comfy--it doesn't encourage pushing the limits or exploring the capabilities of the road, much less the drivetrain. That said, it's powerful enough for daily duty, while returning a respectable 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.

The ILX 2.4L is the sportiest variant, with the Civic Si's 2.4-liter, 201-horsepower four-cylinder engine under the hood. There's no automatic transmission option available with the 2.4L--it's a six-speed manual only. Like the new Civic Si, the ILX 2.4L's power is available over a relatively broad range, but it lacks much in the way of character, and even more in the way of low-end or mid-range punch, and consequently feels a bit out of place in the otherwise laid-back ILX's form factor. The suspension is the same in the 2.4L as the rest of the ILX lineup, and it's not as sharp as we'd like in spirited driving with this engine. That said, it does iron out the bumps in a broken road quite nicely, while returning 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.

The front seats are roomy and comfortable, with good sight lines for the driver and plenty of adjustment for occupants both short and tall. The steering wheel, dash, and controls all feel well-made, are laid out in logical places, and respond with a sense of solidity and quality you'd expect from a more expensive car. In the back, it's equally roomy, particularly impressive for a compact car, luxury or not.

There's even a fair amount of trunk space, with the standard models ranging between 12.3 and 12.4 cubic feet, depending on options, and the Hybrid getting 10.0 cubic feet after placing the battery pack behind the rear seats. Fold-down rear seats on non-hybrid models add to the cargo area for larger items.

Standard safety equipment includes: Vehicle Stability Assist (stability and traction control); anti-lock brakes; electronic brake distribution; brake assist; and tire-pressure monitoring systems; plus dual-stage front, front-side, and side-curtain airbags; automatic tensioning seat belts; LATCH car-seat tether system; and design elements intended to mitigate pedestrian injury.

The base specification of the 2013 ILX is fairly generous. It includes: Bluetooth hands-free phone interface; power moonroof; keyless entry with push-button start; rear-view camera; a leather-wrapped steering wheel; cloth-trimmed front seats (2.0L base and Hybrid); dual-zone automatic climate control; and a 12-volt power outlet. Available accessories include larger 17-inch alloy wheels, aerodynamic bodywork, fog lights, a remote engine start, and an engine block heater.

Two primary packages are available to upgrade from the base specification, the Technology Package and the Premium Package.

Just a few years ago, the 2013 Acura ILX range would have been near the leading edge of gas mileage in the entry-luxury segment, but time and technology have marched forward quickly, and despite the ILX's relative light weight and compact size, it comes up a bit short in efficiency, particularly in the 2.4L and Hybrid models.

Though the EPA hasn't yet rated the 2013 ILX, Acura has provided its own projected figures for gas mileage. The base 2.0L model rates a respectable 24 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The sporty 2.4L scores slightly worse at 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The Hybrid tops them both--and outshines Lexus' HS 250h--but its 39 mpg city and 38 mpg highway are less than impressive in light of recent non-hybrid offerings from the likes of Ford, Mazda, and other non-luxury marques.