Review: 2013 Acura ILX Tech: A compact approach to Honda's premium brand

There’s always been a bit of mixed reaction to premium compact cars in this country. Just the idea of a premium compact or subcompact may bring up visions of the woeful 1980s Cadillac Cimarron, which was basically a posh, expensive Chevrolet Cavalier. A few others have tried the formula; there was the Infiniti G20 and Acura’s own Integra as well as the Volvo S40. Audi still offers the A3, Lexus has the smallish ct 200h. You could probably lump the BMW 1 Series and even the MINI brand in there, too. Many of these cars have been gateways into premium or luxury brands. One of the best successes was the Integra, which was sold from 1986 through 2001. The Integra was, of course, replaced by the compact RSX coupe, which was sold until 2006. However, premium small cars have always been a tricky formula. Will buyers shell out extra cash for a leather-clad efficient premium small car? I’d say, other than the A3, MINI, and the Integra, most premium small cars have had lukewarm success here in the States.

Acura, Honda’s premium brand, hasn’t had an entry-level car in the U.S. since the RSX. For 2013, Acura is going to give it another go with the new ILX.

Review: 2014 Acura ILX Premium w/6-Speed Manual

“What are you driving this week, Andy?” inquired one of my co-workers.

“I’ve got the 2014 Acura ILX,” I said.

“ILX? So, what kind of car is it?” they asked.

“It’s a compact luxury sedan. Think of it as a Honda Civic in a tuxedo.”

I’ve reviewed the ILX in the past, but it was the 2.0-liter model with the automatic transmission. This combo felt somewhat underpowered and certainly wasn’t enthralling to drive. This 2.4 liter model with the magnificent six-speed manual is much more inspired. It’s more than just a Civic in a tuxedo. It’s a Civic in a tuxedo wearing running shoes drinking Red Bull.

In the driveway: 2013 Acura ILX 2.0

In the driveway this week, despite the photo of the car in this parking lot, is the 2013 Acura ILX. The ILX comes in three distinct flavors: 2.0 with the five-speed auto, the 2.4-liter with the six-speed manual, and Hybrid. This is the 2.0-liter version with automatic and the Technology Package.

Based on the Honda Civic, the ILX is well appointed inside and out. I happen to think it looks more attractive than a 2012 Civic inside and out, too (no offense, Scotty). The 2.0-liter engine makes 150 horsepower and feels adequate, but not much more. It is a smooth engine, especially for a four-pot, and shifts are velvety smooth. This puppy runs just a tick over $30,000 as shown, and it's decked out with all the tech goodies you see here plus HIDs, leather, moonroof, etc.

I can't help but think, will this cannibalize four-cylinder TSX sales? Also, is this model a solution to a non-existent problem? I mean, are people willing to buy a 150 hp compact luxury sedan? While we can't definitively answer these questions, we will drive this over the next week and report back with some of our opinions.

In the Driveway: 2014 Acura ILX Premium

In the driveway this week is Acura's compact 2014 ILX Premium sedan. Powered by the same 2.4-liter engine that powers the scrappy Honda Civic Si as well as a precise six-speed manual, the ILX is a more comfortable overall package, albeit, not quite as sporty.

After my drive to work today, I noticed the ride is certainly smoother but the handling isn't quite as racy. Also, the ILX does not have the limited-slip differential like the Civic Si, so you'll have one wheel spinning through harder corners. It is, however, very well appointed inside, it has a great stereo, and that Crimson Garnet paint is gorgeous. I happen to think the ILX looks great and is more attractive than the it's Civic cousin.

More later; stay tuned.

Review: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn

Volkswagen has been synonymous with creating drivers’ cars for decades; cars that communicate the road; cars that offer excellent steering feel; cars that make driving fun. The company got its reputation for this when it came out with the GTI hatchback—a hopped-up version of the Rabbit—in the early 1980s. The GTI is, of course, still one of the foremost hot hatchbacks on the market today. However, what if you want the fun of a GTI but in a sedan variant? You look to the VW Jetta GLI.

Small Luxuries: Well-Appointed Compact Cars Blur the Lines of Luxury

I was sitting inside a fully loaded 2014 Mazda3 S Grand Touring (review to come in the following weeks) the other day and noticed how well appointed this compact five-door was. There were heated leather seats, navigation, touchscreen everything, heads-up display, lane departure warning system, an excellent stereo, outstanding driving dynamics, and a very premium overall feel. It also has a premium price at close to $30,000. For a non-luxury-branded, non-high-performance (think Jetta GLI) compact, that’s getting pretty expensive. But let’s compare it to a premium-brand; I’ll pick on the BMW 320i for a moment. Similarly equipped, the ’14 320i is over $14,000  more expensive than the Mazda3 S 5-Door Grand Touring. Oh, and the Mazda has more horsepower (although slightly less torque) and better fuel economy. Is this an apples to oranges comparison? Well, one is FWD, one is RWD; the BMW is technically a compact whereas the Mazda3 is uh, well, technically a midsize. So much for car classifications (thank you EPA). Of course, the Mazda3 is just one example. You can option up a host of compacts and subcompacts with scads of luxury-like options (and price tags) which begs the question: Are these really expensive small cars, or great bargains on compact luxury?

The “premium” small car isn’t anything new. It’s been tried in all sorts of forms from the often mocked Cadillac Cimarron, which was just a Chevrolet Cavalier in a tuxedo; to the latest Acura ILX, which rides on the Honda Civic chassis and is quite good. Small luxury cars have been a fairly hit-or-miss, but with today’s emphasis on fuel economy and downsizing, perhaps higher-end small cars have more of a fighting chance than before. (Remember the Infiniti G20?)

And while today’s luxuriously appointed small cars are extremely nice for what they are, they’re still lagging behind in the must cutting edge methods of vehicular-provided pampering. Sit in a new Audi, BMW, Lexus, or Cadillac, and many of the technologies and interiors are definitely pushing the envelope in terms of tech and creature comforts. From heated a steering wheel and automatically adjusting seat bolsters; to a touchscreen with handwriting recognition, and ventilation systems that mimics natural air currents of a forest—the latest crop of bona-fide luxury rides have features such as these, and yes, all of the aforementioned luxury accouterments are real.

However, step inside a ’14 Mazda3 S Grand Touring, complete with its attractive two-tone leather seating, center console-mounted audio controls, and adaptive front lighting system, and you’ll quickly realize that this compact, and many others, offer a level of luxury and technology that hasn’t been seen in a small car before. In fact, many of today’s small cars are can be so well equipped that they cross the lines into bona-fide luxury vehicles. That, of course, begs the question, what is a luxury car? If you clad a Chevrolet Spark with leather, a touchscreen, heated seats, and Bluetooth, is it a “luxury car”? Of course not (and the Spark 2LT has all those features).

But with enough features, sold build quality, plenty of the latest technology, and a smooth ride and remarkable handling, many of today’s small cars are blurring the lines of what constitutes a luxury vehicle, regardless of size.