Starting to think about selling my GTI after 7 years / 85k miles of ownership, and look to something a bit different. One car that has attention is the last generation Acura ILX, from 2016-18. Anyone here have any experience with one they’d care to pass along?
There has only ever been one generation of the ILX, it has just been facelifted twice.
The ILX is pretty much a 9th gen Civic in a nicer wrapper. The Civic has moved on but the ILX remains on the old platform. Much less compelling than the TSX it sort-of replaced.
They are the cheapest thing you can buy with an Acura badge, aside from that not a whole lot to recommend them.
Civic without the weird two deck gauges. Stay away from the first year cars. Lots of little interior trim bits weren’t well put together. There’s a reason they moved the production line. I never saw the appeal. Rear seat legroom sucks. If you have feet getting in and out of the back doors is a gymnastic treat. Driveline is a civic si (with the manual) so nothing surprising there. It’s a solid “meh” from me. Nothing great but nothing bad. I’m sure it’d be a fine a-b grocery getter
I’d buy a slightly older TSX / TL, either of which is a lot more car.
SWMBO has a 2018 as her commuter DD. It is what it is - a Civic in a more upscale set of clothes. It’s small but maneuverable, large trunk, good mileage. We have enough rock hard suspended, no AC, questionably reliable cars that this one fits its purpose. Leased for $200/mo, will gladly turn the keys in and walk away at the end. It’s a nice car, just not too sporty or fun.
It's also important to note the ILX does NOT have the LSD that the 9th gen SI comes with.
If I were going to buy one, I'd get a '19. Better styling after the refresh, plus now it has a 8-speed DCT.
Are you dead set on a totted up Civic? Get a Civic Si instead, save some cash and enjoy having the LSD and a more spritely suspension setup.
I test drove one along with the TLX, they seem to be around the same price used. I wouldn't have purchased either as the ILX was loud/buzzy in comparison and I didn't really like the always shifting of the 8 speed in the TLX. I was shopping for a fairly basic commuter at the time, ultimately I purchased nothing.
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