2017 Acura ILX Owner’s Manual

While the Acura ILX attempts to pose as a luxury car, its Honda roots are easy to see, especially considering that this nameplate is based on the lowly Honda Civic.

The 2017 ILX, the entry-level option on Honda’s luxury arm, Acura, offers a slightly more opulent take on the already-dated 10th-generation Civic, which was sunsetted by the brand in 2015 and replaced with a brand-new 10th-generation model for 2016. Hence, with its plebeian origins and relatively older framework, the new ILX is not the most exciting option in its class. Still, its price is significantly more competitive than its closest rivals, like the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class and the Audi A3.

Since its introduction in 2013, the ILX hasn’t changed much. A mid-cycle refresh with last year’s models added a breath of fresh airdrop to this relatively affordable compact luxury sedan. Still, it didn’t bring its poshness levels anywhere close to its more premium competitors.

For 2017, there are barely any changes, with the most prominent one being the addition of three new paint-job color schemes.

At only a couple thousand bucks higher than the range-topping version of the current (one generation newer) Honda Civic, it is a serious debate on which option to pick. However, the Acura does signify its luxury designations with higher-grade leather furnishings and a premium dual touchscreen infotainment setup.

For its machine parts, the 2017 Acura ILX retains its single option after dropping its standard six-speed automatic transmission and the base 2-liter inline-four-cylinder block last year. The only setup available now is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 201 HP and 180 pound-feet of torque and pairs with a unique eight-speed automatic transmission that features both a torque converter and a dual-clutch setup.