Comparison: 2013 Acura ILX vs. Buick Verano gallery

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2013 Acura ILX Tech vs. 2013 Buick Verano Leather

Let's say you've got $30,000 to spend on a new car. Are you really going to get just another humdrum midsize sedan, or perhaps a compact crossover? Nah, treat yourself to something a little nicer, like either the Acura ILX or the Buick Verano. You deserve it.

2013 Acura ILX Tech vs. 2013 Buick Verano Leather - Comparison: 2013 Acura ILX vs. Buick Verano gallery2013 Reviews - Autos - MSN CA

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2013 Acura ILX Tech vs. 2013 Buick Verano Leather


2013 Acura ILX Tech vs. 2013 Buick Verano Leather - Comparison: 2013 Acura ILX vs. Buick Verano gallery2013 Reviews - Autos - MSN CA





Let's say you've got $30,000 to spend on a new car. Are you really going to get just another humdrum midsize sedan, or perhaps a compact crossover? Nah, treat yourself to something a little nicer, like either the Acura ILX or the Buick Verano. You deserve it.



Both these cars hit a sweet spot in the market, indicating that small luxury cars can do well. Both start in the mid 20s, so you don't need to have deep pockets to get behind the wheel of one.



You don't need a BMW or a Benz to get 18-inch wheels - both our high-spec testers wore spangly rims.



The ILX is supposedly the successor to the outgoing CSX as well as the TSX. It's a big step forward over the CSX, which was just a Civic with leather. The ILX has a unique shape, unique look, unique engine, and unique interior.

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You feel the road and the corners in the ILX. It's much less isolating than the Verano, but it's also less isolating in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness.



All ILXs feature something called Multi Amplitude Dampers which feature valves that change the damping force depending on the rate of vertical wheel travel. It makes a big difference in terms of ride quality.



With 150 horsepower performance is just adequate. Most rivals make closer to 180 hp, and notably more torque. The ILX needs more juice, and while you can have more power with the 2.4-litre Dynamic model, it's only offered with a stick-shift.



Only one gearbox is on offer to standard ILX customers, an outdated five-speed automatic. It revs higher and is fairly responsive, but for the money, it should have a sixth cog.

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We've heard that the ILX is up for a mid-cycle refresh in as little as a year. Honda misjudged the marketplace with this one.



Simplicity is the name of the game with the Acura. The centre stack may look complex, but it's user friendly and easy to figure out. Material quality is OK. The design doesn't feel especially luxurious, despite being well made.



The CSX's semi-digital dual layer dash has been banished. The ILX gets standard instruments instead. They're clear and straightforward.



Between the two cars, it's the Acura that has the better seat. There's lots of lateral support, and you feel like you sit in the seat rather than on it as in the Buick.

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Heated seats keep backsides toasty in winter, but your hands will require gloves. No heated steering wheel or remote starter here.



There's more rear legroom in the ILX than the Verano, and a flat floor helps. On the flip side the sloped rear window means taller passengers may need to slouch.



The ILX not only has a smaller trunk — it's about 60 L smaller at 348 — it's also got a smaller fuel tank (50 L vs 59)



Neither these cars are back-road chasers, though the Acura feels lighter on its toes and nimbler. It's less refined though.

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The Verano is a big car shrink-wrapped in a smaller body. It's quieter than many larger cars including some of Buick's own models.



Stepping out of the silent Verano and into the ILX made us wonder if we'd left a window down. Thick glass and lots of insulation make it quite literally silent on the inside.



No fancy dampers, but an extra-rigid chassis allowed Buick to fit softer suspension without compromising body control. You notice a huge difference on choppier road surfaces.



The base engine in the Verano is a torque-rich 2.4-litre inline-four. It's about as quick as the ILX despite the power advantage due to the weight the Buick packs.

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Might as well forget that this thing has a manual mode; it's slow slow slow. Standard six-speed automatic is best left to its own devices.



One of our least-favourite details on the Verano are these chromed eyebrows. They make the tail too heavy and are quite garish.



The Verano feels simply more luxurious, though the centre stack is something of a nightmare to navigate. Despite being all-black, the cabin is more inviting and less austere in appearance.



Chromed rings around the Verano's instruments and chronograph-style markings around the outer edges give the cabin a much more luxurious feel. Attention to detail is strong in this car.

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They may look comfy, but these buckets are over-stuffed. And what's with the manual recline on the otherwise power driver's seat?



This is luxury: heated seats and a heated steering wheel.



The rear seats in the Verano offer more under-thigh support, due in part to the higher positioning of the bench.



A taller aperture means you can fit larger objects into the ILX's trunk more easily.

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Both cars come from humble roots. The ILX shares its DNA with the Honda Civic, the Buick Verano with the Chevrolet Cruze.

[Duncan]

offcourse if i have 30000$ then i should go for acura ILX.I am dying heart fan of acura ILX.I will love to drive Acura but i don't have enough money to buy it yet.Thanks for sharing pictures of acura drive here.