by Aiden Eksteen
As a premium marque, Acura produces cars that are meant to compete with luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi but that bear prices more comparable to those of more mainstream brands. In that light, the 2021 Acura ILX, as a premium compact sedan, has a the look and feel that fits the likes of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, and the Audi A3 Sedan, but pricing that has it slot in amongst sedans like the Hyundai Sonata, Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and Subaru WRX Sedan.
The Acura ILX sedan is a suave vehicle that offers plenty of value for the money. It really does offer premium levels of specification and features, but at far more affordable prices than its German contemporaries. There are various compromises Acura had to employ to achieve this appealing idiosyncrasy, however, such as using an outmoded 201-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine instead of a more modern turbocharcharged, low-displacement unit. It's also ill-fated by its old-generation Honda Civic platform and low-quality cabin. Is the Acura ILX's value-rich appeal enough to obscure its dotage and quality compromises?
The ILX received a comprehensive overhaul going into the 2019 model year and, as such, gets no significant upgrades or alterations for 2021.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base |
2.4L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$26,100 |
| Premium Package |
2.4L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$28,100 |
| Premium & A-Spec Package |
2.4L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$30,100 |
| Technology & A-Spec Package |
2.4L Inline-4 Gas
|
8-Speed Automatic
|
Front-Wheel Drive
|
$32,000 |
At first glance, the 2021 Acura ILX is a handsome-looking sedan and it does come very nicely outfitted with creature comforts and conveniences and is also backed by impressive safety and reliability standards. Both the NHTSA and the IIHS subjected the 2021 Acura ILX to review for its crashworthiness and each scored the 4-door sedan with a fairly good safety rating.
Unfortunately, Acura's cost-cutting measures implemented in the ILX undermine its high-value appeal and, arguably, expected safety and reliability qualities. Its outmoded 2.4-liter engine and ancient Civic platform really detract from its driving character, having it elicit lackluster or just unrefined responses during urban and suburban driving conditions. The cabin is also flooded with engine and road noise at higher speeds because of the low-grade cabin-build, making long- distance road trips nearly unbearable.
The 2021 Acura ILX is far too outdated for any sane person to appreciate. It still forms part of the first-generation ILX line introduced all the way back in 2013. The current Honda Civic in the USA is a far more sensible choice that's better in just about every way and more affordable, too. Acura has, however, announced an all-new ILX for the 2023 model year that will be based on the latest Civic's platform. If you're keen on the ILX sedan, we'd hold off until then.
Acura offers the ILX as a single model that can be outfitted with a selection of packages that then define its specification position. The sticker price of the 2021 Acura ILX sedan starts off at $26,100, which includes a pretty attractive consignment of creature comforts and conveniences. LED headlights, a power moonroof, an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and loads of advanced driver assists are all standard. We'd suggest throwing in the Premium Package, however, as it adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, perforated leather seating upholstery, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert to the mix.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Acura ILX:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo