Honda gave birth to its upstart, stand-alone Acura luxury brand back in 1986 with compact Integra and mid-size Legend sedans. Toyota and Nissan followed up soon thereafter, introducing posh Lexus and Infiniti brands respectively.
Acura's current model lineup utilizes tri-alpha designates (a conveyance of three strung together consonants) to define and differentiate its current core crop; a marketing effort begun in 2000. This week's tester, the entry-luxury ILX sedan undergoes a mid-cycle refresh and an early curtain call for the 2016 model year. As its most diminutive offering,
Acura labels ILX the "gateway to the Acura sedan lineup," sharing size and some underpinnings with Honda's long-serving compact Civic four-door.
If ILX represents the gateway, the highly anticipated return of Acura's NSX mid-engined supercar qualifies as the ultimate getaway. The first generation NSX prototype debuted at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show with a production run from 1991-2005. The updated 2016 NSX two-seat halo vehicle, due in dealers this fall, promises a twin-turbo hybrid V-6 and aluminum-fiberglass body compounds.
All ILX models come standard with front-wheel drive. Rear or all-wheel drive is not available. Acura debuted the production-spec ILX during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show (a closely matching 'concept' version piqued curiosities at the Detroit Auto Show a month earlier). Assembly commenced a few months later in time for the 2013 model year.
Speaking of assembly, production of the 2016 ILX moved to Honda's expansive Marysville, Ohio campus near the state capital of Columbus. Prior ILX production (2013-2015) took place in Greensburg, Indiana tucked in the southeast portion of the Hoosier State. Of Acura's total 110,546 U.S. sales in the 2014 calendar year, 17,854 were accountable to ILX.
All ILXs come standard with items one would expect from an upscale vehicle including dual temperature zone settings, push-button start (with eye-catching bright red hue), multi-purpose display screen, power moon roof, heated side-view mirrors and eight-way power driver's seat. Available options center around high-tech safety efforts and exterior dressing.
While Acura's tri-alpha naming scheme for vehicles takes time to digest, 2016 pricing structure and trim level designates remain relatively straight forward. A well-equipped ILX base model starts at $27,900. From there, option packages add to the base structure: Base ILX with AcuraWatch (lane departure warning, forward collision warning), Base ILX with a Premium Package (rear cross traffic alert, satellite radio), and Base ILX with Technology Plus Package.
The Technology Plus Package bundles most AcuraWatch and Premium package together with an upgraded in-dash navigation featuring real-time traffic. Finally, for those desiring ultimate interior and exterior bling, an A-SPEC (fog lights, rear spoiler, perforated suede-like seating materials, red instrument panel illumination) may be ponied to Premium and Technology Plus packages.
Our fully-loaded ILX tester included the Technology Plus and A-SPEC Package included a bottom line of $35,785 with $895 destination charge; the most opulent ILX in the lot.
One four-cylinder engine powers ILX, a change from 2015 when two four bangers were available. Under the hood in 2016, a 2.4-liter 16-valve double overhead cam design delivers 201 horses. Estimated fuel economy ranges from 25 miles per gallon city to 36 mpg highway utilizing recommended 91-octane premium fuel. Dropped in 2016; a 2.0-liter four cylinder.
Also changed in 2016 is the transmission. Mated to the four-cylinder is an advanced dual-clutch design with eight-speed transmission combining the fuel economy of a traditional manual transmission with the convenience and ease-of-shifting found in traditional automatics. Just shift into drive and go.
From a performance standpoint, dual-clutch transmission remains miles ahead of another available technology, the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT design cycles through an infinite range of forward gear ratios rather than searching for five or six planetary ones. While smooth and quiet, CVT often lacks credible response time in zero-to 60 competition.
Last model year, a conventional five-speed automatic transmission worked in tandem with the now retired, noticeably underpowered 2.0-liter engine while a six-speed manual teamed with the more potent 2.4-liter. Since manual transmissions have limited appeal with mass audiences, many former ILX shoppers compromised with the less-than-enthusiastic 2.0 liter choice. In fact, this year's dual clutch transmission gets better highway gas mileage when teamed with the 2.4-liter (36 mpg) than last year's 2.4-liter/six-speed manual combo (35 mpg).
After 2014, Acura dropped a gas-electric hybrid version of ILX in the U.S. market. The slow-selling ILX hybrid served only in 2013 and 2014 model years. With 38 miles of city/highway combined fuel economy, the ILX hybrid fell short of rival gas-electric fuel numbers (and high-mileage diesel alternatives) although provided posher interior surroundings. Classified as a 'mild' gas-electric hybrid, cost and vehicle weight were less than what's found in a 'full' hybrid. Full hybrids include the ability to propel forward solely in electric mode with no assistance from the conventional gas engine. Mild hybrids utilize electric motors as a gas engine assist.
Diminutive "jewel eye" LED headlamps, a staple of other Acura models including RDX compact five-door crossover, MDX mid-size crossover and TLX mid-size sedan, now don ILX. Five bejeweled small, in-row diodes adorn each side of the extended nose front grille, replacing a projector beam design. These LED headlamps also grace the next-generation NSX supercar. Tail lamps also boast the new LED theme. A bold bottom, thick rear 'C' pillar joins up with a very diminutive deck lid while thin chrome-like striping frame side door windows.
Shotgun passengers position in front of a concaved inward dash housing a large, single bin glove box. The driver's dash concaves slightly inward as well. The easy-view, three-dimensional instrument panel includes medium-sized, round analog gauges (left-side tachometer, right-side speedometer) flanked by vertical, half-moon gauges (fuel gauge to the right). The three-spoke steering wheel face includes standard cruise control functions at 3 o'clock and secondary audio buttons at 9 'o clock. Ventilation functions, below the lower touch screen, feature two twist dials monitoring two temperature zones and push buttons for fan direction and speed.
Our tester with optional Technology and Premium packages included two multi-function four-color screens. A lower center column seven-inch on-demand multi-use display touch screen primarily works in concert with sound system technologies (flash drives, iPods, Bluetooth, radio). An eight-inch display-only window (non-touch) tucked inside the upper reaches of the center column serves as the rear-view backup camera feed, optional navigation display and detailed audio information.
As with its Honda Civic distant cousin, expect a relatively spacious rear seat when compared with compacts in general. Optional A-SPEC includes comfortable and supportive perforated suede seat inserts within a leatherette seating surfaces and black dash with brushed aluminum highlights. A trunk-located pull tab unlocks the single-unit seatback, which folds down when extra cargo carrying needs arise.
Acura's mid-cycle updates, including upgraded dual-clutch transmission and welcome retirement of a sluggish 2.0-liter four-cylinder, point ILX in a more sporty direction in its quest to counter longer established entry luxury competitors from Germany including Audi's A3 and BMW's 3-Series.
At a Glance
2016 Acura ILXPrice as tested: $35,785
Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
Length: 181.9 inches
Width: 70.6 inches
Height: 55.6 inches
Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder
Horsepower: 201
Powertrain Warranty: Six year/70,000 miles
City/Highway economy: 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway
Assembly: Marysville, Ohio