The ILX is a premium compact sedan, similar to the Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Genesis G70, and Audi A4. It got a substantial facelift for 2019, so it has no major changes for this year.

All ILXs come with a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that develops 201 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. An 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and front-wheel drive (FWD) are also standard. Fuel economy stands at 24 mpg city, 34 highway, 28 combined, albeit on premium fuel.

The ILX’s standard roster of features include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, a power sunroof, an acoustic windshield, sport front seats with leatherette upholstery and heating, an 8-way power driver’s seat, a folding rear seatback, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless start and access, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, ambient lighting, the Acura Audio system, and a dual-screen infotainment system.

The Premium Package bundles perforated leather seats, 2-position driver’s memory, a 4-way power passenger seat, premium 17-inch alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and Acura Premium Audio with 7 speakers and a subwoofer.

The Technology Package comes with Acura/ELS Studio premium audio system featuring 10 speakers and a subwoofer, navigation with 3D view, real-time traffic, and a color instrument-panel LCD.

Finally, the A-Spec package includes a unique body kit, A-Spec badging, 18-inch gray alloy wheels, LED fog lights, a dark-chrome grille, piano black exterior trim, premium leather-and-Ultrasuede seats, an A-Spec steering wheel, a black headliner, a unique instrument panel, stainless-steel sport pedals, and A-Spec door-sill trim.

The ILX includes the entire AcuraWatch suite of features as standard. They consist of forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a multi-view rear camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection are also standard. The Acura ILX received excellent scores for crash prevention and safety, but a Poor headlight rating kept it out of the running for any awards.