Acura has announced that the 2022 model year will be the last for the ILX. Luckily, competitors like the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and Acura TLX are a few alternative subcompact luxury sedans worth considering if you like the ILX.

During its run from 2013 to the present day, the ILX endured some pretty harsh reviews. Many critics believed the ILX was an audaciously repackaged Honda Civic—but with worse features. On the other hand, some customers appreciated such a low starting price for a small luxury car.

As the ILX hands over the keys to Acura’s original entry-level offering, the Integra,

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1. Honda Civic

Starting price: $23,645 to $31,145

Selling points: Updated and modern appearance and cabin, great fuel economy, and plenty of standard tech features

Weak spots: Not the heartiest engine performance

Honda has done a fantastic job keeping up with the times with its redesigned 2022

Honda Civic

model. Emerging as a humiliatingly better version of the ILX, the refined exterior design isn’t the only great thing about the Civic. Its refreshed and contemporary interior also offers roomy passenger space and a suite of updated standard tech features, including

Honda Sensing adaptive cruise control

The Civic is one of the best compact cars for the money, offering a standard 158-horsepower four-cylinder engine that won’t necessarily turn heads but will get you where you need to go. If anything, it might raise a few eyebrows with its quite competitive fuel efficiency of 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

An astonishing budget buy, the 2022 Honda Civic offers luxury-esque features, fantastic fuel economy, and reliability for nearly $5,000 less than the ILX. Plus, you’ll enjoy lower ownership costs—from requiring inexpensive maintenance and repairs to being one of the

cheapest cars to insure

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2. Audi A3

Starting price: $34,295 to $40,495

Selling points: Smart looks, comfortable ride, and agile handling

Weak spots: Undersized trunk space

Sure, it may have a slightly higher price tag, but the sleek and subcompact

Audi A3

delivers higher quality. Having skipped the 2021 model year, the A3 returned to the market with sharper styling, advanced tech, and playfully powerful performance.

If you’re looking for a true-blue subcompact luxury sedan, you’ll be pleased to know the A3 is one of the smallest sedans on the market. Despite this, the cozy and snug cabin is plenty accommodating. Leather upholstery and power-adjustable, heated front seats are standard, as are a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen.

The Audi A3 rounds out its strengths with a spunky drive and nimble handling. Whether you choose all-wheel drive (AWD) or front-wheel drive (FWD), the standard turbocharged engine produces 201 horsepower and a class-quaking 6.4-second 0-to-60 time. For drivers who want perky performance, luxury features, and edgy styling straight out of the box, the A3 brings it all at a favorable price.

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3. Mercedes Benz A-Class

Starting price: $35,000 to $37,000

Selling points: Upscale styling, fun to drive, ample and user-friendly standard tech

Weak spots: Pricey for entry-level luxury range, puny trunk

As the entry-level option for Mercedes, the

A-Class

shares the ILX’s plight of delivering on luxury indulgence at an approachable price point. It also happens to be the last model year for the A-Class before its discontinued for the U.S. market. Nevertheless, the A-Class presses on, flashing an extravagant and polished appearance for one last American joyride.

But opulence isn’t just for show here—the A-Class comes with a heart of pure gold, in the form of a punchy turbocharged engine and lively handling. Instead of cutting corners on the base A220, Mercedes rolls out the red carpet in terms of standard equipment by including a panoramic roof, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster. For coupe graduates, luxury newbies, or Acura ILX defectors, the A-Class fits the bill.

4. Acura TLX

Starting price: $39,995 to $54,795

Selling points: More powerful and spacious with a few more safety features than the ILX

Weak spots: More expensive and pretty low fuel economy compared to the ILX

Even though the

Acura TLX

is in a different size class, the midsize luxury sedan is often considered a step up from its smaller ILX sibling… which brings us to our first point. The TLX is a fantastic alternative for drivers who may love the ILX but desire a little more interior space, power, and performance.

The 2002 TLX’s standard turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive offer an impressive 272 horsepower—although speed geeks may want to pony up to the AWD Type S. This top-tier trim is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6, brandishing 355 horsepower and a zippy 5.1-second 0-to-60 time.

If an athletic appearance, a strong engine, and upscale materials are a few of your favorite things, then you won’t feel so bad about the TLX’s steeper MSRP.

5. Mazda 3

Starting price: $22,165 to $34,465

Selling points: Upscale cabin and exciting handling and significant value buy

Weak spots: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto do not come standard on the base trim

Don’t let the bargain pricing fool you into believing the Mazda 3 is bad quality! Both the sedan and hatchback configurations cram an abundance of value into their tiny frames. We will, however, focus on the ILX’s closest match: the 2022

Mazda 3

sedan.

Right out of the gate, Mazda provides a superior range of performance customization, from the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to the 2.5-liter turbocharged powerhouse with 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, the sedan remains calm, cool, and collected through twisty turns and bumpy terrain.

While the Mazda 3 is fun to drive, you may wonder whether it can hang with the luxury crowd. Spoiler alert: it can. But you may need to upgrade to a higher trim to unlock the model’s most desirable elements. Nonetheless, let’s end on a few of the Mazda 3 upscale features that come standard:

Active safety features: Forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and smart brake support, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist, driver attention alert

Infotainment features: 8.8-inch display, 8-speaker audio system, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, 2 USB audio input ports

MORE:

How to build a custom Mazda 3

6. BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe

Starting price: $36,695 to $46,495

Selling points: Brawny, brainy, and beautiful

Weak spots: Not necessarily the best-value BMW and pricier than the competition

The

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

is the carmaker’s sensibly priced four-door compact sedan—considering it harbors a nearly nonsensical amount of power. The trim-topping M235i xDrive shares the same powertrain as the X2 M35i SUV but is much speedier. BMW asserts a 4.6-second 0-to-60 mph time, but Car and Driver was able to achieve 4.2 seconds without struggle.

The standard AWD 2 Series 228i Gran Coupe isn’t just all brawn. Its handsome interior showcases Dakota leather upholstery with illuminated Boston trim. Special standard abilities include an electrochromic rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, and power folding mirrors.

The 228i Gran Coupe isn’t all beauty, either. The exceptionally handsome and powerful cruiser also standardizes a variety of smart driver-assistance aids, including integrated turn signal mirrors, blind-spot monitoring, auto-leveling headlights, and cross-traffic alert.

Still not entertained? Part of what makes this vehicle such a pleasure to drive is its generous selection of premium infotainment accouterments, including standard HD radio, smart device integration, onboard hands-free communications system, hard disk drive, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—all standard and driver-friendly!

MORE: BMW car-buying guide

7. Lexus IS

Starting price: $40,200 to $68,475

Selling points: Cheaper than other entry-level luxury rivals and a relaxed, comfortable ride

Weak spots: Teeny-tiny trunk space and tight passenger room

If nothing else, the

Lexus IS

looks the part of a compact sports sedan—especially after debuting an enhanced and more aggressive exterior design in 2021. And this is one instance where you can judge a book by its cover because the interior cabin is equally classy, clean, and comfortable.

Starring high-quality materials like premium eco-friendly leather alternative (NuLuxe) and available aluminum trim, the upscale base IS 300 boasts standard eight-way power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated mirrors.

A 241-horsepower-capable engine and eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters come standard on the rear-wheel drive entry trim. But the options don’t end there—the IS 500 trims have 472-horsepower potential and can zoom from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.

The IS has some stiff competition and is pretty tight on space, but for solo drivers who crave a compact sports sedan with giddyup and good looks, the Lexus IS is worth consideration.

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8. Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Starting price: $32,390

Selling points: Spritely and assertive with sublime handling

Weak spots: Doesn’t quite look the sporty part and not the best quality materials

The

Volkswagen Jetta GLI

seems like a pretty conservative alternative on its face, but that’s part of its appeal. While it may not have the ILX’s naturally aspirated engine, the sport-tuned FWD compact sedan’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder can rip 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque in a flash.

As the only trim available for 2022, the GLI Autobahn comes with upscale standards, such as a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and customizable ambient lighting.

VW’s Jetta GLI is quite practical and affordable for a sporty compact sedan. That said, you’ll need to drop serious cash to afford the excitement and refinement of a truly class-leading luxury vehicle.

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Acura ILX vs. the competition

Now that you have the nuts and bolts, it’s time to put it all together! Take a look at our comparison of the 2022 Acura ILX and its closest rivals.

Model	Starting price range	Engine options	Maximum seating capacity	Trunk volume	Standard fuel economy (city/highway/combined)
2022 Acura ILX	$28,395 to $33,445	2.4L 4-cylinder	5 seats	12.4 cu ft	24/34/28 mpg
2022 Honda Civic	$23,645 to $31,145	2.0L 4-cylinder or turbocharged 1.5L 4-cylinder	5 seats	14.8 cu ft	31/40/35 mpg
2022 Audi A3	$34,295 to $40,495	Turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder	5 seats	10.9 cu ft	29/38/32 mpg
2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class	$35,000 to $37,000	Turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder	5 seats	8.6 cu ft	25/35/28 mpg
2022 Acura TLX	$39,995 to $54,795	Turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder or 3.0L V6	5 seats	13.5 cu ft	22/31/25 mpg
2022 Mazda 3	$22,165 to $34,465	2.0L 4-cylinder, 2.5L 4-cylinder, or turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder	5 seats	13.2 cu ft	28/36/31 mpg
BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe	$36,695 to $46,495	Turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder	5 seats	15.1 cu ft	23/33/27 mpg
2022 Lexus IS	$40,200 to $68,475	2.0L 4-cylinder, 3.5L V6, or 5.0L V8	5 seats	10.8 cu ft	21/31/25 mpg
2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI	$32,390	2.0L 4-cylinder	5 seats	14.1 cu ft	26/37/30 mpg

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