I had trouble finding comparison reviews of the ILX so I thought I'd offer the reasons for my purchase decision...

After 11+ years with a VW Jetta 1.8T, it was time for a new car. I liked the size and power of the Jetta, but the girl was getting old, and this time around I wanted something with a little more comfort. I had $20k to spend and I test drove the following:

• 2011 Volvo C30 - nearly impossible to get in and out of the back seat, but otherwise a great car
• 2011 Volvo S40 - the automatic transmission was a slushbox. There is nothing worse than stepping on the gas and having to wait a beat for the car to start moving.
• 2010 Volvo S60 - beautiful car to drive, possibly the best of the bunch, but too big for my tastes
• 2011 Audi A3 - faster than my '03 Jetta and better appointed, but I might as well have been driving my Jetta
• 2010 Audi A4 - awesome car, but if I wanted something this big I would have taken the S60
• 2012 Jetta GLI - really fun car and the right size, but not as comfortable to the ILX. This was a close second.
• 2014 Passat 1.8T - this is great car for the money, but it is really big -- felt bigger than the A4 and S60.
• 2012 Acura TSX - I liked this car, but it wasn't priced very well (e.g. it retained it's value better than the others I looked at -- not a bad thing for current owners)
• 2013 Acura ILX

The price for all of these cars were roughly the same (within $2k of each other) but they varied in mileage. The ILX was the one with enough space in the back for my two teenage sons who only ride maybe once a week in my car, enough creature comforts, solid handling and enough power.

My concern going into the test drive was the power. I read review after review about how slow the car was. After test driving the car, I understand those reviews, but the car has plenty of power for getting around town, it just won't scratch that "I like to drive really fast" itch like something like the GLI will. I'm 47 and I no longer have that itch to scratch. I just want to merge on the highway safely and dart through New England roads with confidence.

Overall the car isn't the most luxurious of the bunch (that would be the S60), nor the roomiest (that would be the Passat), nor the sportiest (the GLI or A4) but it was the best combination of all of those variables and was priced to move.

I'm happy to answer any questions that might help someone else make a decision.

 

Congratulations with the new purchase. It's really a car one has to test drive to get a feel for it.

 

Welcome. You didn't mention the purchase price. Did you get the Tech version? As you may have noticed some of us are troubled by the rear suspension noise. I also have a clanking noise when my 20 K 2013 Tech's brake pedal is released quickly at a stop sign. (No adverse effects, just that noise that drives me nuts)
My wife really likes the size and to the 2.0s credit, it delivers 30 plus mpg effortlessly. We have never fed it premium gas either, no pinging.


If you have the tech version, I'd really like to hear your experiences on trying to program the GPS. We find the interface really sucks! Hopefully that is improved on the latest ILX coming out this spring will alleviate that shortcoming.

 

Just to contrast with the user that said he. Has clunking noises.
I have heard the pedal sound he mentioned but only a handful of times during cold weather in my 2 years of ownership. No rear clunking hear though.
I also have a 2.0 and love love love it.

Congrats on your purchase.

 

Thanks Jon, Good clarification. It is a cold weather brake pedal clank on mine as well. which has progressed in frequency to any cold day below freezing.

 

Mine is a 2.0 Premium w/ 28k miles purchased for $18,300. The car is immaculate and still even smells new!

I had read about the clunking noise and wind noise issues in this forum before my test drive so I was listening carefully for either -- I found neither. I am in Maine and, believe it or not, it hasn't been cold yet (40 degrees and sunny ATM) but I'll keep ear out for it.

 

Congrats and welcome. Always nice to hear about someone ending up with an ILX after researching it against other vehicles. I think it's a truly under-appreciated car and offers a lot of bang for the buck. Happy driving!

 

That's a great price! Well done. Keep us posted on how your ride is performing.