2013 Acura ILX MSRP Pricing Announced, Will Start at $25,900

With its new entry-level model set to go on sale next month, Acura has finally released the pricing for the 2013 Acura ILX that was introduced at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Starting MSRP at $25,900, the new Acura ILX is dropping the price of entry into the Acura brand by about $4,000 (compared to a base TSX), and it helps expand what should become a popular new segment. As more consumers look to get better fuel economy and value without sacrificing luxury and comfort, new premium compact cars are starting to pop up from just about every automaker, and with the United States economy in mind, the ILX has another advantage over the competition since it is built at Honda's Greensburg, Ind. plant. Acura hasn't had a compact sedan in the United States since the Integra was dropped in 2001, but the new Civic-based ILX will combine all the premium content buyers are looking for in a luxury car with the improved fuel economy and lower price of a small car.

As Jeff Conrad, Acura's vice president of sales, said, "the 2013 Acura ILX will serve as the gateway to the Acura brand."

2013 Acura ILX

Included in its $25,900 starting MSRP, the 2013 Acura ILX will come standard with a power sunroof, 16-inch aluminum wheels, cloth seats, keyless entry with push-button start, tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming. Those looking for a little more luxury than the base car will be able to opt for the ILX with Premium Package which starts at $29,200 and includes features such as leather seats, heated front seats, more powerful audio system with XM Radio, HID headlights, 17-inch aluminum wheels, multi-view rearview camera and Acura's Active Sound Cancellation system. Buyers can also choose the ILX with Technology Package adding equipment like navigation with voice recognition and real-time weather and traffic and Acura's ELS Surround audio system that also adds 15 gigabytes of hard drive space for music storage.

As if all this standard and available equipment aren't enough to differentiate the base ILX from the Honda Civic, Acura also equipped the car with the 2.0-liter i-VTEC SOHC inline-four as its standard engine providing more horsepower and torque. Rated at 150 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque, the Acura ILX should provide an adequate performance improvement over a standard Civic. The improved performance does come at the cost of fuel economy with the 2013 ILX rated much lower than a base Civic at 24 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

2013 Acura ILX 2.4

For a little more power, the 2013 Acura ILX is also available with the same engine found under the hood of the sporty Honda Civic Si: a 2.4-liter i-VTEC DOHC inline-four that puts out 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. Pricing for the 2013 ILX 2.4 includes the Premium Package as standard equipment for $29,200 matching the price of the ILX with this package and the standard engine. As is the case with the Civic Si, the ILX 2.4 is only offered with the six-speed manual transmission, so it would appear that this trim level might be a low-volume model aimed at buyers looking for a sporty luxury sedan. Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Technology Package will be offered on the ILX 2.4. As expected, fuel economy on this ILX model is the same as the Civic Si with EPA estimates of 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.

2013 Acura ILX Hybrid

Finally, as the top trim level, the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid will have a starting MSRP of $28,900 making it the most affordable luxury hybrid undercutting the Lexus CT 200h by about $200. There will also be an ILK Hybrid with the Technology Package starting at $34,400 putting it on par with the slightly more expensive Lexus HS 250h. The ILX Hybrid is powered by yet another engine which in this case is a 1.5-liter liter i-VTEC SOHC inline-four that is paired with a 20-hp electric motor that gives this car a total output of 111 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. The motor gets its power from a lithium-ion battery, and all the power is sent to the front wheels through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Fuel economy is slightly lower than the Civic Hybrid with estimates of 39 mpg city and 38 mpg highway (a reduction of 5 mpg city and 6 mpg highway compared to Civic Hybrid).