The Acura ILX is supposed to be a luxury compact sedan, but it seems to be missing the mark in multiple areas. Critics and drivers are rating the Acura ILX poorly for having a lackluster ride, low-class interior, and more. So, let’s see why it ranks so poorly. 

Is the Acura ILX a Good Car? 

The Acura ILX starts around $25k, making it one of the lowest-priced luxury sedan options available. But cheaper might not always mean better. You could pay more for a sportier and more comfortable ride. 

Under the hood of the 2020 Acura ILX, you’ll find a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that provides up to 201 horsepower and 189 lb-ft of torque. The Acura ILX can accelerate from 9 to 60 in 6.8 seconds, which isn’t fast enough. 

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You can enjoy smooth shifts with the Acura ILX 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, though. The Mazda Miata MX-5 is available for about the same price and can go from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.8 seconds. 

The luxury performance offered by the Acura ILX isn’t very fun or sporty. The steering and suspension feel stiff. The Acura ILX also isn’t offered in all-wheel-drive, so forget it if you need to drive in snow. The MacPherson front suspension also isn’t well known for providing a smooth or quiet ride. The amplitude reactive dampers may help absorb some impacts, though.

Should I buy the Acura ILX? 

One of the biggest complaints about the Acura ILX is that it doesn’t have a luxurious interior. Despite trying to compete against the Kia Stinger, the Acura ILX seems to have a lot of cheap quality materials and plastic materials in the dash. 

Plus, the base model comes with a tiny 5-inch infotainment center. You can upgrade to a 7-inch or 8-inch infotainment center with higher trim models. Drivers are disappointed with the basic infotainment center that feels it’s outdated even though it can connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The AcuraLink app can connect to your smartphone, allowing you to start the engine, lock the doors, and more. Also, the dual automatic climate zone control will keep you and your passengers comfortable. However, the Acura ILX isn’t recommended for taller people. They may feel cramped in the rear seats. 

Is the Acura ILX Safe?

The Acura ILX includes a variety of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic collision avoidance, lane departure warning, and more. However, you do have to pay more to add rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot warning. It does have a five-star safety rating from NHTSA, but the 2020 model hasn’t been tested by IIHS yet. 

It scored well in said and front-impact tests and got four-stars for the rollover test. However, it did get a poor rating for the headlight’s abilities to light up the road at night. In terms of safety, the Acura ILX is just OK. It’s also just OK in every other area with subpar tech, a sluggish acceleration for a luxury vehicle, and more. We recommend passing on it for more luxurious options.