2013 Acura ILX Hybrid Buyer's Guide

Acura is back after a number of years dedicated to the higher-end luxury market, and they're doing it in style with a car that practically reinvents its own segment. The ILX Hybrid is the semi-electric part of the brand new ILX series -…

Acura is back after a number of years dedicated to the higher-end luxury market, and they're doing it in style with a car that practically reinvents its own segment. The ILX Hybrid is the semi-electric part of the all-new ILX series - a stylish four-door car to be reckoned with that boasts the right body care paired with technical components. Despite the high cost and sophisticated appearance, the price tag does not require a millionaire's bank account.

Main advantages

The ILX Hybrid is equipped with standards such as a sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity, a tilt-and-extend leather steering wheel, a backup camera, and a USB/iPod interface with Pandora integration. The optional technology package will give you a better sound system and hard drive-based navigation.

Changes in 2013 year

This is the first model year for the Acura ILX Hybrid.

What we like

This cheeky little sedan performed well in crash and safety tests, the interior is attractive and well organized, and the specs even in the base model make this car a fun choice. The look doesn't push the boundaries of being too progressive, keeping it stylish yet sporty enough. And, of course, gas mileage is very decent for a hybrid car.

What worries us

Due to the battery pack, trunk space is limited to just 10 cubic feet. You won't find leather seats on the options list, which means if you want to feel genuine luxury in an affordable sedan, you might want to take a look at a more upscale model like BMW's 1 Series. As you'd expect, the hybrid engine isn't as snappy as the premium 2.4-liter variant, so you'll need around 10 seconds to hit 0 mph.

Available Models

The ILX Hybrid comes with a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine with 127 lb-ft of torque. torque, 111 hp and 39/38 mpg.

Key Feedback

There were two recalls for this model, in August 2012 and July 2014. The first was related to a problem with the door lock cable - activating the door locks while using the handle could cause the cable to loosen or change position, increasing the risk of opening the door during traffic or accidents. The second recall was related to overheating in the headlight area, which presented a melting, smoking or fire hazard. Honda notified owners of both issues and offered to fix the issues free of charge.

General questions

Aside from a handful of occasional incidents such as low mileage battery changes and a flat tire occurring moments after the tire pressure warning light came on, there aren't many recurring complaints about this model.