Normally, I jump into my car reviews with some catchy remark or observation. But this week, I’m going to tell you something about myself, which will all tie into the review of the 2013 Acura ILX. So please hang with me, and it will all make sense.
I’m an auto reviewer who can’t drive a manual transmission. It’s not that I don’t know how, or never learned, it’s that I CAN’T. I was born with a genetic defect called spina
bifida.
Normally people with this birth defect never get to walk. So the fact that I’ve done so for 39 years is a great thing. But, as a result of that birth defect, I have little use of my left leg and, thus, my left foot. That makes clutching a manual transmission (MT) impossible.
So, yeah, I miss out on chances to drive MT vehicles. And, yes, I’ve taken slack from some auto enthusiasts for missing out on what some believe to be a total driving experience.
There’s nothing I can do about it, and I don’t know what I don’t know, so I can’t dwell on missing some MT driving experiences.
So what does this all have to do with my tester for the week? The 2013 Acura ILX is a new compact sedan offering from Honda’s luxury wing. And, the most standard engine is the same 2.4-liter engine offered in the Acura TSX. It cranks out 201 horsepower, which I would assume is quite a nice, spunky engine.
That’s an assumption, though, as Acura only makes that engine available in a
6-speed manual transmission.
So, as a result, I drove the less-impressive 2.0-liter,
4-cylinder engine, which delivers only 150 horsepower. That one comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Look beyond those output numbers and drive this ILX, and you’ll still find a sporty and punchy compact sedan. Compared to the Honda Civic, it’s a dragster — or at least it feels that way.
Kudos to Acura for creating a niche vehicle in the luxury market. The ILX is much more than just a Honda Civic with a little more luxury.
If the Civic is safe and sturdy, the ILX is daring and dashing. With the typical, aggressive-looking Acura grille and sleek sculpting, the ILX definitely boasts better looks than most compacts on the road.
Inside, my tester showed why the ILX definitely belongs in the luxury segment.
Leather-trimmed sport seats, a power moonroof and heated side mirrors offer a little bit
of the good life, not often found in the Civic or other compacts. Soft, high-quality materials accented in parchment color gave a real flair to the interior.
The ILX handles itself well on the road. With its small stature, it is able to maneuver through traffic and on twists and turns with ease. Braking
is what you expect from all
Acuras.
Fuel economy for my tester was 24 city and 35 highway. And, in a week’s worth of mostly highway driving, I averaged about 30 MPG.
Pricing is very competitive for the ILX, making it the least-expensive Acura on the market. Base for the 2.0-liter, automatic transmission ILX starts at $25,900 (base for the MT, 2.4-liter model starts at $29,200). My tester, with extra packages, including Acura’s technology package, came in with a price of $32,295.
Whether you’re an enthusiast who enjoys a manual transmission or someone looking for a little more luxury in a compact sedan, the new 2013 Acura ILX hits its mark.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor