Is the Acura ilx the same as Integra?
The ILX and Integra are not the same car. Integra is the revived name for Acura's entry‑level model, introduced for the 2023 model year, effectively replacing the ILX in the lineup.
Historically, Acura's ILX launched in the early 2010s as a compact luxury sedan built on Honda Civic underpinnings. It continued in production into the late 2010s with various updates before Acura phased it out. In 2023, Acura reintroduced the Integra as a distinct hatchback model aimed at delivering sportier styling and a newer chassis, built on a Civic‑based platform. While the two share engineering roots, they differ in body style, market positioning, and feature emphasis, so they aren’t the same vehicle.
A quick history of ILX and Integra
Below are the core distinctions in how the two nameplates came to market and what they represented in Acura’s lineup.
- Body style: ILX is a four‑door sedan; Integra is a practical hatchback with a liftgate.
- Platform and engineering: Both ride on Honda Civic‑based underpinnings, but Integra uses newer packaging and tuning to suit a hatchback’s dynamics and cargo layout.
- Powertrains: ILX offered older engine options over its run (with updates along the way), while Integra uses a turbocharged inline‑four with about 200 horsepower and offers transmission choices that include a manual on certain trims and a CVT on others.
- Technology and features: Integra generally targets sportier trims with more modern standard tech and driver‑assist features, whereas ILX technology levels varied across its production years.
- Market position and availability: ILX was Acura’s entry‑level sedan before being discontinued; Integra is the newer entry‑level model, launched for the 2023 model year, available as a hatchback.
In short, they are not the same model. Integra carries forward the Civic‑based engineering ethos but is positioned and styled as a distinct, modern replacement for the ILX within Acura’s lineup.
Design, features, and driving experience
The two nameplates diverge in how they look on the road, how they carry cargo, and how they feel behind the wheel. Here’s how that plays out in everyday use.
- Exterior and interior packaging: ILX typically presents as a traditional sedan with a conventional trunk, while Integra is designed as a hatchback with a broader cargo area and flexible storage options.
- Driving character: Integra emphasizes a sportier, more dynamic driving experience relative to the ILX’s earlier emphasis on entry‑level luxury and comfort.
- Technology and safety: Integra features the latest Acura infotainment and driver‑assist systems available on current models, whereas ILX offerings varied by model year and trim before its discontinuation.
- Performance options: Integra’s trim ladder includes sportier variants and a manual transmission on select models, appealing to enthusiasts; ILX offerings in its later years were less performance‑focused by comparison.
- Fuel economy and efficiency: Both are designed for everyday practicality, but exact numbers depend on year, trim, and drivetrain configuration.
For shoppers, the differences matter for how you use the car day to day—more cargo space and a sportier feel with Integra, versus the older, sedan‑focused approach that defined the ILX in its final years.
Shopping implications today
Understanding where each nameplate sits in today’s market helps buyers decide what to look for, especially since ILX is no longer sold new and Integra represents Acura’s current entry point.
- New vs used availability: ILX is no longer sold new; Integra is available new, with current model‑year refreshes and option sets. If you want ILX, you’ll be shopping in the used market or looking at remaining dealer stock.
- Pricing and value: New Integra pricing sits in a different bracket than the final years of the ILX; used ILX models can be attractive on pre‑owned lots but may show their age in tech and efficiency.
- Trims and features: Integra’s latest trims (e.g., A‑Spec or Tech variants) offer newer tech and sport‑leaning features, while ILX examples will reflect the older feature set from their production years.
- Resale and reliability: Both share Acura’s reputation, but Integra benefits from newer design, updated safety tech, and a longer modern warranty runway depending on the model year.
- Where to buy: For new cars, start with Acura dealers offering Integra; for ILX, look to used‑car inventories or certified pre‑owned programs if you’re interested in a legacy model.
Bottom line for shoppers: If you want a fresh, current entry‑level Acura with modern tech and a hatchback format, the Integra is the model to consider. If you’re exploring older, pre‑Integra era features and styling, you’ll be looking at the ILX in the used market.
Summary
The Acura ILX and Integra are not the same car. The ILX was Acura’s entry‑level sedan that ran through the late 2010s, while the Integra debuted for the 2023 model year as a distinct, hatchback successor with sportier styling and newer technology. They share heritage and a Civic‑based platform, but their body styles, driving goals, and current availability are different. For anyone shopping today, Integra is the contemporary gateway to Acura’s compact‑car experience; ILX exists today mainly as a historical or used‑car option.
