After a heart transplant, better legs, stronger backbone and comprehensive updates the 2016 Acura ILX is much more than a “glorified” Honda Civic – it’s a proper Acura. Gone is its underwhelming 150 horsepower engine and five-speed automatic. Now, a 201 horsepower (@ 6,800 rpm) 2.4-liter, 16-valve, direct-injected DOHC i-VTEC engine makes 180 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm.
Compared to the former 2-liter engine, that’s an additional 51 hp and 40 lb-ft of torque. According to Acura, the 2016 Acura ILX gets an EPA rating of 25 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. That’s 1-mpg better than the last model. Despite the greener return, the engine has a mean rumble when you pass 5,000 rpm.
The only transmission available is an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a torque converter and paddle-shifters. It’s fast, smooth, easy to play with and it optimizes the 2.4-liter’s power beautifully. It will let you go all the way up to redline and it will allow for lower gears to ease down to surprisingly low speeds. It truly is the best of both worlds.
There are a host of updates, upgrades and improvements throughout.
“The 2016 ILX gets numerous styling upgrades including restyled front and rear fasciae, front grille and rear LED combination lights, plus restyled 17-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. All ILX models come equipped with Acura’s signature Jewel Eye® LED headlights and feature upgraded interior materials, optional upsized wheels and tires, enhanced connectivity, and a host of new premium features, along with significant improvements to cabin quietness, sporty handling and collision safety engineering.
The 2016 ILX also expands consumer choice with three grades – the standard ILX, the ILX with Premium Package, and the line-topping ILX Tech Plus Package, in addition to an all-new A-SPEC Package, available with the Premium and Tech Plus grades. The ILX A-SPEC Package adds sporty side sill garnishes, a trunk spoiler, front fog lights, new 18-inch, 10-spoke machined alloy wheels, and several unique interior appearance touches.
All models can now be equipped with the AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, which combines with Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure to deliver intelligent safety and confident driving performance at the top of the competitive segment.” – – Acura USA
Thanks to a much stiffer structure, the suspension is freed up to do more of what it was designed for. Most road irregularities are soaked up and quietly dispensed with. Directional stability has improved and there is much less interior shake. All of this, combined with much more usable power, gives the 2016 Acura ILX a more sophisticated ride.
… and that engine note – it’s addictive.
Select the Sport Mode (“S” under “D” on the gear select) and gears are held longer giving you manual transmission-like flexibility while staying within the meat of the torque band. On its own, in Sport Mode, the 2016 Acura ILX will downshift right when you need it. Slam your right foot down, and the ILX will hold that gear all the way to the redline. Play with the paddle shifters and you get a fantastic, near instantaneous response in each crisp shift. Combined with the exhilarating exhaust note, it moves from a mild-mannered, entry-level luxury car to a sports sedan in an instant.
There were a few blemishes that (slightly) tarnished the 2016 Acura ILX. The main criticism revolves around the most notable similarity between the 2016 Acura ILX and Honda Civic – the roofline. If you have a tall torso, the low roofline and lowest seating position make it difficult to find an optimum (and comfortable) perch. Not everyone likes to sit heavily reclined like a racecar driver when commuting.
The other gripe has to do with Acura’s decision to ditch the manual option. This eight-speed auto (“dual-clutch”) is one of the best units added to a vehicle like this – no kidding. Still, given its sporty nature, there are a few manual transmission fans out there.
My tester was the 2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus A-Spec – which was fully loaded for $35,810. If you feel this is expensive, the price and content handily beat just about every competitor.
Check out our first drive with the 2016 Acura ILX video!
Here are the standard features for the 2016 Acura ILX
• NEW LED Jewel Eye® headlights
• 8-way power driver’s seat
• Multi-view rearview camera
• Auto on/off headlights
• One-touch power moonroof with tilt feature
• Bluetooth® HandsFree Link®
• NEW Active Noise Control
• 5-inch Multi-View Display
• Keyless Smart Entry with Push Button Start
• Security system
• 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio
• USB jack
• Pandora® internet radio interface
• SMS text messaging function
• Auxiliary jack
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Auto up/down power windows
• Power door locks
• Body-color, power heated side mirrors
• NEW Available AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive features
Premium grade additions
• Leather seating surfaces
• NEW Blind Spot Information
• NEW Cross Traffic Monitor
• NEW HD Radio™ and Aha™
• NEW Driver’s two-position memory seat
• NEW Front passenger 4-way power seat
• 8-inch upper display
• 7-inch On-Demand Multi-Use Display touch screen
• Dynamic Guidelines added to Multi-View Rear Camera
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Subwoofer
• HomeLink®
• NEW available smartphone-linked navigation system
• NEW Siri™ Eyes Free
Tech Plus grade additions
• NEW AcuraWatch™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies
• NEW next-generation AcuraLink™
• Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ with Traffic Rerouting
• Color TFT Multi-Information Display (MID)
• 10-speaker ELS Premium Studio Audio System
• SiriusXM® Radio including the NEW Advanced Audio feature set
• GPS-linked climate control
