Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

The 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid replaces the CSX as Acura's entry-level sedan, but is it actually an improvement?
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[nsmyhte]

I don't know why anyone whould get this thing over the new Accord.

[Blueprint]

I don't expect the ILX line-up to do nearly as well in Canada as did the CSX / 1.7 EL / 1.6 EL before it.  Simply put, the car is ok but the pricing is wrong.  The "basic" CSX was a value proposition, at 3-4k$ above the Civic EX-L, and as a result, it sold pretty well.

Montreal is awash in premium compacts, and I have yet to see an ILX.  Not a good sign.   New RDX is a solid hit, though.

[dutch]

I don't know why anyone whould get this thing over the new Accord.

Acura name on the car, that would be the only thing I could think of. That and the dealership experience may be a little better (gourmet coffee instead of nescafe)

[Fobroader]

I don't expect the ILX line-up to do nearly as well in Canada as did the CSX / 1.7 EL / 1.6 EL before it.  Simply put, the car is ok but the pricing is wrong.  The "basic" CSX was a value proposition, at 3-4k$ above the Civic EX-L, and as a result, it sold pretty well.

Montreal is awash in premium compacts, and I have yet to see an ILX.  Not a good sign.   New RDX is a solid hit, though.

oh, so thats where the RDXs all are. You can see more exotics around here than those little SUVs.

[Mike]

I don't know why anyone whould get this thing over the new Accord.

Acura name on the car, that would be the only thing I could think of. That and the dealership experience may be a little better (gourmet coffee instead of nescafe)

ILX is also quite a bit smaller, so some will go for that.   I need to drive one, but I find it will be hard pressed to beat the cheaper Verano

[dkaz]

oh, so thats where the RDXs all are. You can see more exotics around here than those little SUVs.

The RDX is super popular in Vancouver as well, I see them everywhere.

ILX, not a single one yet. Seems the ILX is more catered to the American market.

[wing]

Haven't seen an rdx or ilx here

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[dragonfly]

oh, so thats where the RDXs all are. You can see more exotics around here than those little SUVs.

The RDX is super popular in Vancouver as well, I see them everywhere.

ILX, not a single one yet. Seems the ILX is more catered to the American market.

  Sheesh...not MY Americano market..1.5 engine hooked up to a CVT, eh?  Watch out granny!  All this for a starting price of only 35 grand...Wow...Good luck...Jack

[mmret]

$35k just makes no sense.

[cruzzer]

I agree with those that say it's too expensive and the new Accord is probably as good or better at a lower price and it comes with a manual in it's base configuration, something that the ILX does not. Had a manual been offered the starting price would have been about $26,500. Not too bad and maybe something (as a former EL and current Civic EX-L owner) might have considered. Most of what I've read about the ILX so far has been positive. This report should be interesting over the next few days.

[Scarebus]

Isn't the ILX (in 2.4L 6MT trim anyway) more or less comparable to the original TSX?  On that basis, it should do quite well on the sales side.

[Snowman]

This thing will fail. What part of RWD does Honda not understand 

[Ice]

This thing will fail. What part of RWD does Honda not understand 

Acura could definitely use some sort of RWD fun machine but I can't see it happening.

One question: Audi, in my mind, is similar to Acura in that they do some platform sharing between Audi and VW and Acura and Honda share an awful lot. Not that the comparison is direct because Audi definitely has a few extra things going but a FWD Audi A4 and a Acura ILX or TSX or TL is at a basic level the same thing. So why does Audi get a pass in discussions while Acura doesn't? Acura needs to figure out what kind of luxury car company it needs to be but I think it sometimes gets the short end of the stick perception wise.

By all rights the TSX and TL are extremely nice cars (I've been in both) from a quality of build standpoint and I'm told from a driving standpoint as well.

[johngenx]

Honda seems to be focused on SUV type of vehicles.  The last Civic and Accord updates were half-hearted.

The CR-V, MDX and Pilot make them a lot of money.  That's where the attention is now.  Not on RWD sports cars. Ironically, Toyota is heading back there, and based on the conversation I had at the Subaru dealer, the little sportsters are a giant hit.

[carcrazed]

ILX starts at $27.790 base.  Civic SI with the same engine starts at $25,990.

ILX hybrid pricing doesn't make much sense to me (Civic hybrid with Nav is $26,350), but the regular version seems fair enough.

Not my cup of tea either way.. I'm interested in the RDX, though.

[Shnak]

This thing will fail. What part of RWD does Honda not understand 

90% of the car driving population doesn't care about RWD... why should Honda care about RWD, especially for a sedan?

[bombastic]

This thing looks dated on the outside design. Sort of Mazda Millenia. I saw one in flesh and was quite disappointed. Acura used to build nice design. Not any more. Not for this price.....

[2latecrew]

ILX starts at $27.790 base.  Civic SI with the same engine starts at $25,990.

ILX hybrid pricing doesn't make much sense to me (Civic hybrid with Nav is $26,350), but the regular version seems fair enough.

Not my cup of tea either way.. I'm interested in the RDX, though.

I saw a base ILX in a lot the other day. The interior looked quite a step up from the Civic while the CSX was not. Nice round gauges instead of the 2 level Digital/Tach Civic.

However the ILX Dynamic which has the same 2.4 as the Civic SI is some 6 K more than the Si. Personally I prefer the ILX Dynamic as its more grown up while having a similar engine/transmission but 6 K is a very large difference.

It is more "different" from the Civic than the CSX was so Ithink that they will probably do just fine selling the base Model.

[nsmyhte]

I don't know why anyone whould get this thing over the new Accord.

Acura name on the car, that would be the only thing I could think of. That and the dealership experience may be a little better (gourmet coffee instead of nescafe)

Acura doens't have much prestige nor cachet in today's market.