Compare the2022 Acura ILXVS 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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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 Jetta doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The ILX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Jetta.

Both the ILX and the Jetta have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, 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 Volkswagen Jetta:

	ILX	Jetta
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	227	247
Neck Injury Risk	26%	31.7%
Neck Stress	257 lbs.	354 lbs.
Neck Compression	56 lbs.	58 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	211	315
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	40%	41.6%
Neck Compression	40 lbs.	141 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, results indicate that the Acura ILX is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	ILX	Jetta
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	143 lbs.	188 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the ILX is 2.4% less likely to roll over than the Jetta.

Warranty

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the ILX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Jetta. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Jetta ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The ILX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Jetta’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

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 Jetta’s camshafts. If the Jetta’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the ILX’s reliability 17 points higher than the Jetta.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ILX second among small premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Jetta isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 26th in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 55 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Engine

The ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (201 vs. 158) than the Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Transmission

The Acura ILX comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Jetta.

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 Jetta doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ILX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Jetta:

	ILX	Jetta
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	10.7 inches

The ILX stops shorter than the Jetta:

	ILX	Jetta
70 to 0 MPH	184 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ILX has larger standard tires than the Jetta (215/45R17 vs. 205/60R16). The ILX A-SPEC’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Jetta (225/40R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The ILX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta’s standard 60 series tires. The ILX A-SPEC’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Jetta R-Line/SEL Premium’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ILX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Jetta. The ILX A-SPEC’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Jetta R-Line/SEL Premium.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Acura ILX has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Jetta has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The ILX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Jetta’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The ILX has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the ILX flat and controlled during cornering. The Jetta’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The ILX A-SPEC handles at .83 G’s, while the Jetta pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The ILX is 4.3 inches shorter than the Jetta, 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 Jetta doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ILX has 1.2 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear hip room than the Jetta.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the ILX offers cargo security. The Jetta’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the ILX. The Jetta doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 44% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the ILX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Jetta can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

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 Jetta’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the ILX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Jetta’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ILX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Jetta SE/SEL.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the ILX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ILX will cost $485 less than the Jetta over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ILX is less expensive to operate than the Jetta because it costs $345 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the ILX than the Jetta, including $337 less for a water pump, $384 less for a muffler, $82 less for a starter, $10 less for a fuel pump, $61 less for front struts and $161 less for a timing belt/chain.