Acura might be the luxury arm of Honda but it is not a big player in the automotive industry and this is partly because of the uncontrolled parts sharing between its vehicles and standard Honda vehicles.
The perfect example would be with the Acura ILX and the Honda Civic Si Mini. Both vehicles are driven on the FWD platform and are powered by the same 2.4L I4 engine that produces 201hp. The power is pumped through a traditional 6-speed manual transmission and both vehicles also return the same fuel consumption rate of 22mpg city/31mpg highway.
Even so, the biggest difference would be with the price. Apparently, the ILX cost about $7,000 more than the Civic Si Mini at $30,095. Apparently, the price difference is due to the ILX interior which is made to appear luxurious when compared to the Civic Si Mini.
Aside from that, it seems that difference between the two is only with the target market. The Acura ILX is meant for the adults that have matured and realized that no girl likes a racer boy and prefers guys with a classy outfit. The Civic Si Mini, on the other hand, is every new license holder’s dream come true.
This is disappointing to say the least as people often have high expectations from Honda. The Acura ILX deserves more for its price aside from subtle changes to its design. It needs a stamp of authority to show that it is meant to be viewed like an Audi or Mercedes, not its own twin the Civic.
