To the soothing strains of The Sex Pistols, Acura fully revealed the second-gen ILX at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show [UPDATE – 12:05 p.m. Pacific, 11/20/2014: Live photos now available – CA].
The entry-level luxury sedan’s powertrain is a standard 2.4-liter four sending 201 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission — with torque converter for smooth launches to the office park — to the front wheels. A retuned suspension and added sound-deadening help keep things quiet and stable.
Trim levels are also doubled for the 2016 model, with six to select from the catalog. Additionally, one can select the A-SPEC package — which can be combined with the Premium and Technology packages for maximum luxury — to bestow upon the ILX a trunk spoiler, front fog lights, 18-inch alloys, red instrument illumination et al.
Technology-wise, ILX shoppers can use the sedan’s AcuraLink nav system to connect their smartphone to the car for mapping out the best routes to Applebee’s, while AcuraWatch keeps all safe with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, lane departure and collision mitigation.
Help me out here. Is this supposed to look more or less like a Honda Civic than the last one?
Acura can’t win.
They slap on the beak… it’s ugly.
They remove the beak… it’s a Honda.
Sure they could. Fix the front. For a modern car the side view and back are quite restrained, even elegant. The Front is simply boring.
Make a convertible out of it and not sell the equivalent as a Civic.
And the worst part, James2, is that both responses are accurate.
– The exterior refresh makes it look more like a Civic, not less. The previous front air dam was elegant and restrained, this one has the same aesthetic shortcomings as the one used on the Civic coupe
– Torque is up 10 f-lb. Seems like an achievable tweak with the current engine. That’s pretty close to the DI TLX engine. No mention of DI for the ILX. If it’s just a tweaked version of the old engine, on wonders if they could have just rationalized the engine across the two lines.
– DCT is a given. This will probably make the outgoing 2.4 6-speeds something special to remember in the coming years.
It will be remembered as the last stick shift Acura. But really, there was nothing at all special about it.
Its not mentioned here on TTAC but Acura has said it is the direct injection 2.4L that is in the TLX.
Nice Honda, I guess
Put this drive line into a rebaged HRV and you will have an even better Honda. Like you suggested, HDX for the win!
All Acuras are nice Hondas, that’s the problem with them. Hondas are really good as is, paying extra for more ugly makes no sense.
I actually like this. If it had a “big motor” option it would definitely have challenged the Verano.
The 2.4 is the big motor option, for better or worse. Your other choices were the 150hp Civic engine or the dead-slow hybrid. I believe the 2.4 ILX posted very similar acceleration numbers as the turbo Verano, although I’m sure the power delivery is quite different in normal driving.
It’s got the 2.4 from the new TLX, not the Civic. The engine power band is much wider and will do better than the previous 2.4’s 0-60 in 6.4.
Much better looking than the Buick, but why does Acura hide the exhausts?
Honda has a bigger motor than the 2.4………………
What would make more sense though would be the upcoming CTR’s 2.0T
I have nothing against the Honda 2.4L I4, I just really wanted ~250hp, tq>hp, and a wide lazy power band, and the GM 2.0T delivers in spades.
Also, I have read that the ILX creates its frankly impressive acceleration through very short gearing, which makes it noisy on the highway. I do a ton of highway and the Verano has impeccable cruising manners. It spins about 2200rpm at 75 mph, is whisper quiet, and hauls itself upgrades with a slight turbo whistle.
I have always liked the ILX looks wise, I don’t find the derisive Civic comparisons worthwhile. The Verano looks good from the A-Pillar back, but the ILX absolutely wins the front end looks crown. Interior wise, I prefer the Verano, but I certainly wish Buick would have included some premium features like the HIDS that are available on the ILX.
I dunno, with an 8-speed box, the last cog or two can still be geared super tall for relaxed highway cruising…
@PJ,
True, but I was comparing the 6MT versions of the existing models. The 8 speed will likely improve on the cruising aspect of the newer ILX.
The old ILX 2.4 beat the Verano Turbo in acceleration.
@MBella,
Yeah, according to MT they both come in around 6.4 seconds. The Verano is about 500 lbs heavier, which I am guessing is mostly sound deadening, given the rough parity in size but also how quiet the Verano is.
As I mentioned in my above post, I find the ILX acceleration numbers impressive, but I think the Verano is the more comfortable cruiser, and the broader torque curve makes merging akin to surfing a torque swell.
(Please note, I’m really trying to be objective here, I obviously own a Verano but like the ILX too.)
Dave-
I don’t know if you’d like that hidden exhaust.
Dual Exhaust >>>>> Hidden Exhaust > lopsided, totally visible single exhaust.
Quad exhaust!!!
Dual outlet locations with two pipes each, you mean? Yeah, I totally dig that.
My old Mazda 6
http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx140/dave_bernardin/Mazda%206/IMG_3510_zpseaf0c7fb.jpg
Yes indeed. It’s not common, and for that reason I find it desirable.
I’d prefer the single pipe to some of the hidden exhausts out there. The Focus turned down exhaust pipe is egregious. I hate it so much that I’d rather have a chrome tipped single pipe.
The added sound-deadening was highly needed. I hope it’s enough. The worst problem with the ILX (even more than the 2.slow) is that it sounds like a Civic, not a premium car, inside.
I would say the saga of Super-Saiyan Accords and Civics continue, but that would be an insult to Super-Saiyans…
I persoanlly have never been too impressed with this car. It’s uninspiring and in my opinion, just a lateral move from an Accord versus an upscale product.
I’m actually a little surrpised by the interior. Can they fit any more buttons on that steering wheel? Rather sparse and well…boring. Oh well, we’ll see if the refresh creates any more energy for this car because it sure needs it.
“Can they fit any more buttons on that steering wheel?”
I have roughly the same wheel in my TSX, and it’s great. Your 5 stereo buttons upper left (Mode, channel + volume Up/Down), cruise on the right, then trip computer (between the gauges) on the lower right and phone/voice commands lower left.
And the well-thought-out steering wheel controls are why I never got the “OMG so many buttons” or “OMG dual screens” or whatever criticism of the rest of the dash. I almost never push any buttons on the dash (except climate control, temp up/down and defrosters) because everything I need is on the wheel.
If you like it that’s great. Seriously. I think it’s distracting and adding buttons in my opinion correspondingly takes away efficiency. My wife’s previous car was an Acura and it followed the same logic of adding as many functions and buttons as possible to the steering wheel. My wife hated it and stopped using most of them. I’m guessing most consumers are the same.
How does adding buttons where your hands are take away efficiency? I’ll tell you this, my Acura and my wife’s Jeep Liberty both have/had steering wheel buttons. Our biggest gripe about our Jetta? No steering wheel buttons.
Once you have steering wheel buttons, you cannot go back. I am offended by cars that do not have them (sports cars and work trucks are exempt).
This is true bball, I don’t mind them lacking on my Sat but I sorely miss them on the Volvo.
If I find myself driving a car without steering wheel buttons and cruise, I end up poking at the steering wheel when I want to change something without thinking.
I also reach for the center console to shift, even if it’s on the column.
My wife was driving an MKC last week and she was so irritated with the push button shifter. It works fine, she was just perplexed as to what was wrong with the old way. Since it was a rental, it also did not have a power liftgate. That made her furious.
“Can’t they fit more buttons on the steering wheel”
I’m thinking of a touch screen instead!
E-f***ing-nough of the touch screens!!! No tactile feedback, no doing things by touch. You need to take your eyes off the road to fumble through multiple menus to do simple actions. The car is not an iPad. You don’t (or shouldn’t)use an iPad while travelling 80 miles and hour.
I like you because, you get it.
Well said.
Too bad those Millennial’s can’t seem to get this!
Hey, some of us get it. I am 29, love my tech, but I think iPad wanna be cars can sit on a cactus.
Analog gauges, buttons, knobs, and clear, easy to read displays (where they exist) please.
Also a fan of knobs on a stove/oven. Hate pushing a button 20 times to set the oven to 450 F.
You had a bday! Happy birthday.
Sorry Corey, I was just typing fast and hit submit before I proof read my comment.
I’ll be 30 in April.
Thanks for paying attention to my comments though!
@davefromcalgary
Happy past and future bday, 30 is when it all starts to go downhill ;)
I’m 28 and agree with everything Dave said. I don’t think it’s the preference for touch screens by millenials, but the perception from automakers that that’s what all young people want. Look at the tablet inspired screens as proof.
Can they fit any more buttons on that steering wheel?
Yes they can http://www.wired.com/2014/05/formula-1-steering-wheels/
Yes Fred, I’m fully aware of those. I’ve been up close and personal with Indy and other race series stering wheels. Not sure sometimes how those guys drive as efficently as they do, but I sure do respect it.
Could be because they are A) trained, professional drivers and B) are not distracted with texting and makeup and conversations and Kim Kardashian’s new pics while driving.
Plus, hitting cross traffic isn’t their fault, no kids by the side if the road, a large team of track workers just waiting to warn of a bit of debris, and a full on team of mechanics and engineers monitoring data feeds, watching from stratification views… It’s a different activity than driving in public.
Apologies if my iPost ever shows up here for repeat/paraphrasing it. C) hitting cross traffic isn’t their fault. D) No kids playing by the side of the track. E) Team of mechanics, engineers and spotters. D) Track workers just waiting to warn them of debris, slow traffic, etc. F) skilz of the GODS!
side
sorry for the excess posts verifying to my stubborn self that the character string s – i – d – e is indeed verboten.
So they apparently fixed the worst problem (NVH) but then took away the manual? Sigh.
They added sound deadening. To what effect we don’t yet know. NVH may still be an issue.
Word.
Were you going to actually pay money for one if they left in the manual?
That’s why it’s not there.
Well, Buick will be very happy to take the 5 new manual or bust near luxury compact car buyers that will show up in their showrooms in 2015.
Except they discontinued the manual Verano and non-GS manual Regal. Their only manual is on the GS which is in another price class up.
Premium manual shoppers who can’t plunk down $37k have just one option left: the stripper 320i with vinyl, 180 hp, and no toys.
They did not discontinue the manual Verano. That has been covered here many times.
The Acura manual was top drawer. The Buick manual is dire.
#Claps profusely
But they’ve still got the GS with a manual.
Great. The sun will still rise tomorrow.
For $37K, you can have $4K in options on a 320i, which should give you a few toys. Do Euro Delivery, and you can have $7K of options for that price. For only $500 more you can have a stripper 328i with 240hp.
The vinyl is preferable to leather in every way except color choice anyway. And on the 320i your leather choices are black, oyster, or beige. Blah, blah, and blah.
well the truth is there are still a lot of Honda Models that have stick shift. Honda is one of the most stick-shift friendly automakers out there still. The fact that the 2014 ILX is the last Acura with a stick shift is indeed symbolic. Acura after all did once have Integra, Legend, and the TL Type S in it’s lineup. That time has passed however, as all those models are now history.
The ILX looked like a good replacement for my RSX, but since the new model is stick shift only, I guess i’ll opt for a Honda or Nissan.
@Sigvald
I would cheerfully pay what automatics used to cost to have a manual in a car I wanted. As I have said on here before, lack of a manual is 1/2 of the reason I don’t have an F31 BMW in my garage right now. If I can’t get what I want when spending $50K plus, I will just keep the one I have. It’s also a reason that the MB CLK 250, a car I otherwise really, really like, is off the shopping list for my next purchase in favor of a 228i.
Hopefully, if legislation harmonization ever happens, some of these niche configurations will be possible here, as they are elsewhere.
Which Mercedes are you referring too? An SLK 250 is available with a manual transmission, although it’s a 2 seat roadster. A front wheel drive CLA 250 can’t be purchased with a manual here in the states. I’m thinking you aren’t referring to that car. The CLK is now an E class coupe, and only comes as a 400 and 550, automatic only. The C class is available as a 250, but no manual on any of them.
Sorry, had my nomenclature wrong – I meant the C250 Coupe. Exactly the issue – no manual. So no sale to me.
The 2.4 and dct make sense. Its a luxury opted Si. That is OK. Some folks will prefer a smaller car, just like the Golf vs A3 vs Passat.I hope it has DI, that engine is torquey.
This interior looks nearly identical to the TSX they sold in 2009.
I thought this as well, just scaled down.
I will say that this is the first Acura in recent memory with what I would cons*der an almost attractive front end.
IMHO, the 2.0l engine was really the ILX’s fatal flaw. Now that it’s got Honda’s best engine under the hood in all trims + additional NVH reduction, it should be good to go.
The B&B may not be willing to acknowledge this, but some people just don’t want a car the size of an Accord (myself included), but they do want a nicely appointed Honda product. This will do the trick. At an attractive price, I’m a buyer. This would make a good looong term keeper.
Yup. If they can keep it under $30k ($32k with tech) this will be an appealing option for younger people a few years out of college who want a more premium name and have no use for the size of an Accord. It’s never going to sell 100k units/yr but for the minor amount of incremental cash it cost Honda, it will be a nice little car for them to move 25k a year or something.
I agree. This seems like a very attractive option. If I drove more, I would probably get one when my lease is up in March. I’m looking at buying a Miata right now, and will likely buy an old Mercedes ML beater for the rare time I need something bigger.
I like toys on a car, one of the reasons I bought my Accord Touring with ACC in 2013. This car has all the safety stuff (plus ACC, lane-keep assist, etc.) available, and unlike many Acuras, RECOMMENDS premium fuel, so that I could hopefully get away with 91-octane.
If Honda drops the V6 in favor of some forced-induction nonsense for the top-line Accord by the time I’m ready to trade up, I might check this one out, since I don’t necessarily need all the space.
NO MORE BEAK!
you tube dot com / watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c
So handsome from the front, nice clean interior.
But oh Acura, it looks a lot like the Civic from the side and the rear clip just screams Civic.
Oh please, please, please, say this is the end of the beak.
No more beak!
No more beak!
Look at that…oh man, I looked at the pictures, the back clip screams Civic.
These look like the right updates. The original ILX looked like an “alternative body style” of the Civic, rather than an actual premium product.
I can’t see Sid or Nancy driving a blinged out civic.
It STILL has a darned crease in the center! Single ugliest design detail in a car exterior ever. Maybe that’s just my opinion because I’ve done a bunch of 3d modelling and to me it looks like they modeled the car with reflection turned on (as would make sense) and then couldn’t be bothered to smooth out the join in the center.
Anyone else notice Acura’s latest cost cutting trend of eliminating exhaust pipe tips through or out the rear bumper?
I first spotted it on the TLX and just noticed it here again… I’m definitely not a fan especially when they remove items like threshold plates, rear door interior lamps, etc. that you know belong there…
Although my health is a bit off today, I have to applaud Honda on implementing a suggestion we all made by dropping the lo-po standard 150hp Civic motor in their pseudo-luxury Acura Civic:
“The entry-level luxury sedan’s powertrain is a standard 2.4-liter four sending 201 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission — with torque converter for smooth launches to the office park — to the front. A retuned suspension and added sound-deadening help keep things quiet and stable.”
Still looks like a Civic from the side, but that’s what happens when you Xerox as there is only so much the engineers can do to differentiate them.
I’m a little underwhelmed. For some reason I was expecting a bigger departure from the Civic… maybe a debut of the 10th gen?
Still, the 2.4 + DCT is a good look. However, now it looks like Honda is back to the overlap problem it had with the TSX/TL in their last years. Not as bad though as there’s a much bigger size gulf with the ILX and TLX.
As good as the stickshift was I don’t think it will be missed.
You’re right; I cringed when I read the discontinuation of the MT, but the market really wants a sporty and expensive-feeling car. As such, Honda/Acura did the right thing with the ILX. It needed to feel significantly more upscale than a Civic, and it may have finally accomplished that.
Glad Honda made the larger 2.4L engine the standard engine for the ILX. Both simplifies manufacturing and helps the ILX distinguish itself from the Civic. Underpowered AND overpriced wasn’t a successful strategy. I’m not that impressed with the styling, but at least it isn’t hideous. Will be interesting to see pricing for the redesigned ILX.
And for 2016, Acura will introduce…the 2003 Mazda6 sedan.
Please, J.A. Pan & Company…just hire some German or Italian stylists – ?
Don’t even need to spend that money, just make all the Honda 80’s and 90’s car catalogs required reading for everybody working in design and then use that as reference.
Haha, I also totally saw my old 2004 Mazda 6 in the front end view at the top of the page.
Glad I wasn’t the only one.
This is actually a good move in my books, as the 04 Mazda 6 is one of my favorite cars to look at of the last while.
I was thinking Mazdaspeed6 the moment I saw the main pic.
http://www.mazdasnw.com/garage_attachment.php?id=902
But I only really see it in that one pic. It doesn’t look nearly as good as any first-gen Mazda6 in the others.
A nice upgrade over the too-basic original I’ll. Now this leaves the RDX looking somewhat “down market” without the upgraded headlights, gauge cluster and dual screen infotainment system. I hope an RDX refresh is coming before my lease is up in July or I’m going to have to jump off the Acura ship…
Hey all is not lost… they left the handbrake in :)
How’s that for at least one redeeming quality?
Do we really wanna call this a new generation when it’s more of a mid-cycle refresh? The ILX only came out in 2013, for Bob’s sake.
Every refresh is now called “all-new” by the manufacturers.
Just like “Model Year 2015” is actually a car made in 2014.
The advertising tactics allowed by the US government are staggering.
Whoa whoa whoa…since when did I mention anything about the government? Or even that it was being called “all-new”? If anything, I was commenting on how TTAC seems to be the only ones calling it the “second-gen.” Every other site seems to have just called it “new” or “refreshed”.
Civic?, looks like a tarted up old Kia.
This looks like a nice enough car. I’d like to have a go in it, sample the DCT. If it obeys the shift commands properly, it could be tasty. Not sure I like the giant wheels with small rotors, but perhaps I can find some upgrades that Civic people support.
Hey, this is a Honda…now you want REAL brakes on it?
I agree, it doesn’t look bad. It might make a good commuter car, if it’s quiet enough. And my oldest turns 16 in ’16, so I’ll need a new car for myself. I wonder what the mpg will be?
SO I guess every post I make will just disappears…
FYi: This car’s target demographic – people who drive an ILX for six hours while their MDX is serviced – do not care about the lack of a manual. Nor do the twelve people who maybe would consider a third-hand ILX w/structural damage and 107k miles on Craigslist in the year 2022
Poor Acura, they are practically the Japanese Lincoln at this point. Rebadged product all over the place, no real image to speak of anymore, and management that feels completely out of touch with the realities of the luxury marketplace.
I am sure it is a nice driving FWD car, but the competition is pretty fierce in this space with VW and Mazda etc. And not to mention the CLA etc. invading the Integra’s old market from above with about 1000 times the brand equity.
I’d say it looks a lot better, even if it does now more-closely resemble the Civic. Still, I don’t understand Acura’s obsession with hiding the tailpipes.
Wow, that looks like a basically respectable car! I like it!
Basically respectable cars haven’t been popular since the mid-1990s. I miss it.
I have absolutely no need for a sedan, especially one with a conventional gasoline engine, but I’m glad that it exists. Hopefully it’ll look the same way in person, and I’ll see a lot of them.
This kind of understated-but-nice design language is what Toyota should be doing, instead of those predator-grilles and stuff.
I don’t really get all the vitriol surrounding this thing. It looks completely ok, the powerplant sounds acceptable, and its priced competitively with the Buick Verano. I think the biggest problem is that Acura (and Buick, for that matter) still lumps itself in with the luxury crowd when its really more of a nicer “normal people” car.
This car won’t steer most people from a Mercedes or BMW, but it probably will convince a few who otherwise would’ve bought a loaded Camry or a used 328i. Too bad there’s no label for the niche of new cars that compete with used luxury cars, cause Acura would dominate that segment.
“Too bad there’s no label for the niche of new cars that compete with used luxury cars”
Brand-X? Just-As-Good? Imperial Margarine?
You’re probably too young for that last one.
The Verano 2.0T smokes the ILX by seconds from 30-120 mph. No comparison.
All while producing gasoline at a rate of 2.4 gallons per mile traveled!
I get this car even less now. It has the TLX drivetrain, but in a smaller package with worse handling and rear seat legroom? Wait, I think I do get it – it’s the stripper-model Acura for people who want, but can’t afford, a TLX.
Which also implies the TLX is going to be put up directly against the 3-series and A4, price-wise. Good luck with that.
Worse handling is debatable. And not everyone wants a midsize car. I don’t. My Z and my wife’s Rabbit have been revelations size wise. ILX will probably weigh ~500lbs less than the TLX 2.4 and by extension will be faster and handle better.
And competing in price doesn’t mean competing. Is a Lexus ES a 3 fighter?
“et al” is really for referring to other *people*, all you needed here was ye olde “etc”
That’s one zippy luxo Civic!
2016 Acura introduces the 2013 Civic refresh! Uh, no, wait…