Compare the2022 Acura ILX VS 2022 Lexus IS

The ILX has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the ILX and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura ILX is safer than the Lexus IS:

	ILX	IS
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	35%
Neck Stress	257 lbs.	429 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	57/324 lbs.	599/675 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	211	282
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	40%	41%
Neck Compression	40 lbs.	81 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura ILX is safer than the Lexus IS:

	ILX	IS
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	143 G’s	203 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 11 percent more Acura dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the ILX’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the ILX’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS’ camshafts. If the IS’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ILX second among small premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The IS was rated third in its category.

On the EPA test cycle the ILX gets better mileage than the IS:

			MPG
ILX
	FWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy
IS
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/31 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/28 hwy
		5.0 V8	17 city/25 hwy
	AWD	350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura ILX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The IS requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The ILX offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The IS doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Acura ILX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 750 pounds less than the Lexus IS.

The ILX is 3.2 inches shorter than the IS, making the ILX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The ILX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The IS doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ILX has 1.8 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

The ILX has a much larger trunk than the IS (12.4 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

The ILX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The IS’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The ILX’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The IS’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the ILX has standard extendable sun visors. The IS doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the ILX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ILX will cost $2685 to $6300 less than the IS over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ILX is less expensive to operate than the IS because it costs $182 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ILX than the IS, including $199 less for a water pump, $96 less for a muffler, $393 less for a starter, $162 less for fuel injection, $2 less for front struts, $904 less for a timing belt/chain and $580 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura ILX will be $11357 to $13962 less than for the Lexus IS.