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

[Autos_Editor]

It's deja vu this week for James as he once again gets behind the wheel of an Acura ILX.
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[Fobroader]

So is this just a fancy Civic or are they completely different cars???

[Jaeger]

So is this just a fancy Civic or are they completely different cars???

Somewhere in between would be my guess.

[Fobroader]

So is this just a fancy Civic or are they completely different cars???

Somewhere in between would be my guess.

Oh, because I drove one of the first gen 1.7ELs and could not for the life of me why someone would pay more for the EL than a full load Civic as I could not tell them apart.

[Jaeger]

So is this just a fancy Civic or are they completely different cars???

Somewhere in between would be my guess.

Oh, because I drove one of the first gen 1.7ELs and could not for the life of me why someone would pay more for the EL than a full load Civic as I could not tell them apart.

As I said - just a guess on my part - I haven't driven the current Civic SI or the ILX.  Given the common  power train, I suspect  "completely different" is off the table.  But there is likely enough to differentiate it from the Civic that the badge engineering tag wouldn't be fair, either.  The 1.7EL was all but identical to the then-current Civic both inside and out.  At least the ILX brings its own style to the table.

[Blueprint]

So is this just a fancy Civic or are they completely different cars???

Somewhere in between would be my guess.

Oh, because I drove one of the first gen 1.7ELs and could not for the life of me why someone would pay more for the EL than a full load Civic as I could not tell them apart.

This one has the drivetrain from the Civic Si sedan, so the price gap is not as huge.  And you get a decent IP 

[SaskSpecV]

This one has the drivetrain from the Civic Si sedan, so the price gap is not as huge.  And you get a decent IP 

Yeah, but no LSD in the ILX...boo!  Surprising, because I can't imagine it would cost much to include on the ILX when it is standard on the Si.  On the other hand, most buyers probably won't even notice, or know what a limited-slip is...

The other minor peeve I have with the ILX dynamic is the all-or-nothing folding back seat.  Seems minor, but there have been lots of times when we've needed the flexibility of a a 60/40 setup.  If you're going to allow the seat to fold, why not make it as versatile as possible?  It can't cost any more to do so!

Overall though, looks like a nice compact sedan - and that sweet Honda 6MT!  Looking forward to Wing's comments.

[johngenx]

When we bought the Corolla, a major flaw in the Civic line up was the non-split folding seat until you stepped to the LX trim.  We take the Forester on ski trips to the mountains, but to our local hill, we usually take the Corolla, and being able to have the kid ride in the back while stowing skis in the trunk is a must-do for us.  Many times we've used the split feature, and no way I wanted an all/nothing folding rear seat.

[hemusbull]

This one here is really badge engineered Civic with few things worse when we compare ILX/2012 Civic with EL1.7/01-05 Civic tandems. First is the engine - it foes up to premium which is a step back. Second thing is this still weird double deck dash board, IMO this is something that never gona make a car even an entry-luxury! And third is the outside look, too much reminds me the benchmark Lexus IS, especially at the back.

[Weels]

This one here is really badge engineered Civic with few things worse when we compare ILX/2012 Civic with EL1.7/01-05 Civic tandems. First is the engine - it foes up to premium which is a step back. Second thing is this still weird double deck dash board, IMO this is something that never gona make a car even an entry-luxury! And third is the outside look, too much reminds me the benchmark Lexus IS, especially at the back.

I sat in one of these at T.O. Auto show this year - it does not have the double-decker dash of the Civic... in fact it looked and felt nothing like a Civic

[Mike]

I drove a base ILX (with the 150 hp motor) today around the handling track. Right after I took the new Verano turbo around the track.

The ILX completely out handles it which is sad since I loved the base Verano.

[Seafoam]

This one has the drivetrain from the Civic Si sedan, so the price gap is not as huge.  And you get a decent IP 

Yeah, but no LSD in the ILX...boo!  Surprising, because I can't imagine it would cost much to include on the ILX when it is standard on the Si.  On the other hand, most buyers probably won't even notice, or know what a limited-slip is...

The other minor peeve I have with the ILX dynamic is the all-or-nothing folding back seat.  Seems minor, but there have been lots of times when we've needed the flexibility of a a 60/40 setup.  If you're going to allow the seat to fold, why not make it as versatile as possible?  It can't cost any more to do so!

Overall though, looks like a nice compact sedan - and that sweet Honda 6MT!  Looking forward to Wing's comments.

Huh no split folding seat?  My plain jane 2012 civic has that. 

[SaskSpecV]

I drove a base ILX (with the 150 hp motor) today around the handling track. Right after I took the new Verano turbo around the track.

The ILX completely out handles it which is sad since I loved the base Verano.

Wow, that's surprising.  I could see the Dynamic ILX outhandling the base Verano, or even the Verano turbo, but the base ILX?  Was the base ILX that good, the Verano turbo that bad, or both?  And in what ways (specifically) was the Verano "outhandled"?  Or do we have to wait for another autos.ca comparison test?

[Mike]

I drove a base ILX (with the 150 hp motor) today around the handling track. Right after I took the new Verano turbo around the track.

The ILX completely out handles it which is sad since I loved the base Verano.

Wow, that's surprising.  I could see the Dynamic ILX outhandling the base Verano, or even the Verano turbo, but the base ILX?  Was the base ILX that good, the Verano turbo that bad, or both?  And in what ways (specifically) was the Verano "outhandled"?  Or do we have to wait for another autos.ca comparison test?

It was on the handling course for AJAC TestFest.  No instrument testing, just corner entering angle, exiting angle, steering input, car feel, lack of understeer, etc

[wing]

The track at test fest is good and always brings out the handlers, the Hondas always over achieve

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[Jaeger]

I drove a base ILX (with the 150 hp motor) today around the handling track. Right after I took the new Verano turbo around the track.

The ILX completely out handles it which is sad since I loved the base Verano.

Good to know.

[2latecrew]

3200 rpm at 120. Wish I could say that I'm shocked. They took the engine and transmission from the SI , left out the LSD (because they figured Acura buyers won't care or miss it ) and threw it into the "luxury model". You'd thik with the 100$ ort so they saved from leaving out the LSD they could have afforded a new gear ratio.

So its going to rev much higher than needed. A Mazda 3 Skyactive 6 speed pulls like 2700-2800 at the same speed with only 155 hp. Its not like the SI engine can't maintain 120 at less than 3 K so you need to gear it short. Its just a case of "badge engineering" to an extent. I know the ILX is not a clone of the SI but its just a powetrain swap. What will probably happen is that the noise will turn off some potential buyers, it won't sell well and they will say "See no one wants a 6 speed higher performance version we will just build low performance Automatics because that's what people want".

Yeas I'm rambling but this is such a pet peeve of mine. Especially with many cars having 6 gears so 6th is available to be an overdrive. Get it though your heads manufacturers. If I buy a stick its because I know how to downshift if I need to pass. I don't need to be at the torque peak in 6th gear at 120 so I can just step on it. I will down shift. The Mazda 3 was the first one to seem to get this. The Sonic Turbo's get it. No one else including Honda/Acura seems to. There is just no good reason to me to have the stick rev 500 rpm higher than the auto.

[Soram6275]

This thing is too unrefined to even be considered entry luxury or near it.  Not only is the split back seat missing, but also a cover for the upper part of the trunk is not there.  Note how exposed it all looks...not good.  And it's these little touches that matter.  A better deal would be a Civic with leather seats...or even the 4 door Civic Si if you want performance and if you like Honda.  Personally, I'd just as well get something else.

[SeaBlueS4]

3200 rpm at 120. Wish I could say that I'm shocked. They took the engine and transmission from the SI.....

Yeas I'm rambling but this is such a pet peeve of mine. Especially with many cars having 6 gears so 6th is available to be an overdrive. Get it though your heads manufacturers. If I buy a stick its because I know how to downshift if I need to pass. I don't need to be at the torque peak in 6th gear at 120 so I can just step on it. I will down shift. The Mazda 3 was the first one to seem to get this. The Sonic Turbo's get it. No one else including Honda/Acura seems to. There is just no good reason to me to have the stick rev 500 rpm higher than the auto.

Yep, still the one thing I would change about the S4 - 120kph is ~ 2,700 rpm in 6th. Yes, that's right at the torque peak so acceleration > 120kph in 6th is great, but I'd trade those relatively few times I need that for a downshift to 5th and 500 / 700 rpm lower cruising. Effectively what the DSG (with 7 speeds) does, but I wish 6th in the manual = 7th is the DSG. Plus the ratios are so close in the manual you can easily drive 2 -> 4 -> 6 if you want to.

[hemusbull]

Thank you Weexy,
I said it irresponsibly, may be 'cause i never sat in one of these - there isn't double deck and this makes me soft for my new short list.