Civic VS ILX Differences.
 

Hey guys.
I often find myself explaining to people the differences between the Civic and ILX.

Thought a thread would be quicker to find as well some people may know some cool info I don't.

For example, team3d shared this in the 9th gen forums that I never knew.

Some more differences with the first gen ILX and similar year Civic are:
Civic as of 2014... 2015 as well I believe do not have an HID option OR leather interior.
No sound system upgrades either.

The civic SI comes with 18in wheels where as ILX is only 17in.

Like I said, just a location for people to post the concrete differences between the two very similar cars and maybe some thoughts and theory on it as well. :thumbsup:

ILX Pitfalls: No LSD and NO NAVI Available. No option for stock Summer Tires and a bit worse in all performance categories (0-60, 1/4 Mile, Braking 60-0, Roadholding)

Civic SI Pitfalls: No Heated/Leather/Power seats, Like Jon Said no HID Lights.


The 1 thing I have a hard time understanding is the lack of NAVI in the ILX while the cheaper Honda SI has it available. The no LSD I get but is still a pain in the ass, I am planning on installing a limited Slip Diff but only because I am putting in a new clutch as well, If I wasn't installing an upgraded clutch I wouldn't spend the money on the LSD - not a cheap thing to install if you aren't doing it yourself

The Canadian market has a manual navi. I have a navi. So does pockets. But yes no manual with navi in the states.
I expect that to change with the 2016 mmc though.

The differences between the two are sometimes hard to see. As I recall, the ILX uses an aluminum front bumper, aluminum hood and a larger diameter steering shaft. Other differences back in 2013 included:

• AT Gearing
• AT Paddle Shifters
• Amplitude Reactive Dampeners (questionable advantage)
• Greater structural rigidity
• HID Headlights (premium and up)
• Acoustic Windshield
• Active Sound Control
• SMS Text Messaging (since surpassed)
• ELS Audio
• 60 GB Hard Drive
• Multi-View Rear Camera (since surpassed)
• Keyless Access (now matched)
• Pushbutton ignition (now matched)
• Auto Headlights
• Dual Zone A/C
• One-Touch turn signals (now matched)

It's probably just down to math. With a 5% take rate for manuals, and 20,000 sales per year, they're only making 1000 ILX manuals. This is for the entire year, divide by 12 and it's only 83 cars a month. There are 260 Acura dealers so it's 1/3 of a car per dealer BEFORE colors are taken into consideration. Understanding this, it's amazing they keep the 6MT around at all.

forgetting 1 major difference. They don't even share the same engine.

That's why I originally thought the comparison was with the 2.4L and Civic SI, much closer comparison as they share the same engine which in turn leads to sharing the same things going in and coming out of that engine.

Why wife bought a 2013 Civic Ex-L. Leather Heated Seats, but not powered

Yeah, but the R18 and R20 are almost the same LOL. I remain convinced that this was never in the original plan for the ILX auto. It was probably 'forced' by the next generation Earth Dreams tech not being ready at launch.

To be fair there are optional 18's for the ILX, while the optional Si wheels (HFP) are still 18's. Other differences with the Civic:

- exposed exhaust tips
- digital speedo
- i-VTEC gauge (Si)
- 2-tone seat upholstery (Si)
- embossed logos in seats (Si)
- carbon fiber dash trim (Si)
- smaller nav screen (7" vs. 8")
- LED fogs & taillights (Hybrid)
- optional CNG engine

The 18's are part of the new MMC. The old diamond cut alloy accessory wheels were still 17's, although about 7 lbs lighter per wheel. Regular wheels were 32 lbs each, the accessory wheels are 25. I looked it up on websites selling the wheels, they listed shipping weights.

if I wasn't told the ILX is based off the civic, I would probably never know. They look so different in person, both exterior and interior. Yes they are similar in overall size/dimension. Si vs ILX, they both drive very different in terms of clutch engagement point (Si has higher engagement point), shifter feel (ilx felt better), and Si had rev hang/ ilx didn't. Since they share the same engine/transmission, I thought the drive would be very similar but it wasn't. Clutch and shifter feels goes to the ILX but handling goes to the Si. lack of LSD and sport suspension is ok for daily driving but maybe not canyon carving

Good point. It seems that a lot of people say "it's just a dressed up Civic" and in all the reviews they mention that it's based off the Civic. But the RDX is just a dressed up CR-V, and the MDX is a reverse-engineered dressed up Pilot/Odyssey, and so on for the TLX, yet you never hear them mention these roots. I think it's because Acura brought back the Civic-based car, where the TL has always been Accord related, RDX CR-V related, etcetera. The Civic is a well respected car, so is being based off one a bad thing? I don't think so, you figure if they're building 500k a year they'd pay attention to the design.

^^^I agree. You never really hear other cars that share platforms being talked about as much and saying it's only a dressed up ______ (fill in the blank). I think it has to do with some people justifying why they bought the civic instead. A lot also say they can't see paying $7k more for the same car. ILX's currently can be had for at least $3k off msrp (if not more) so the gap may be more like $4-5k. Both are fine cars and which ever checks the boxes more for the potential buyer would work

Past couple posts are spot on.
Many who own the accord or tsx will say it's just a dressed up civic as well.

Personally I didn't even consider a civic. I think it looks like.. well.. a civic
I feel the ilx wears the Acura badge well.

We came out of a great performing 2009 Civic EXL Navi before we got our new 2013 ILX Tech. For us it was a plus that the ILX was based on the Civic. We are not sure about the QC though. Some have been great, ours has been knick named the "Clank mobile". Beyond the excess noise, the engine and trans has performed flawlessly.

despite the exterior & interior differences, the biggest difference is drive-ability...


many of you knows we have a 9th gen civic only monthly meet, everyone that test drove my car immediately fell in love with the ilx... the car is smoother, the chassis is more rigid, it does not drive like a civic si, at all....