Compare the2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2022 Acura ILX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jetta GLI has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The ILX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Jetta GLI has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The ILX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta GLI has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the ILX.

Both the Jetta GLI and the ILX 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, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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

	Jetta GLI	ILX
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	166 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	308/63 lbs.	768/623 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 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is safer than the Acura ILX:

	Jetta GLI	ILX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	234
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	317 lbs.	487 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	306	324
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	64 G’s
Hip Force	554 lbs.	699 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	239	299
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	627 lbs.	945 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Jetta GLI’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the ILX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the ILX.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Jetta GLI’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the ILX’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volkswagen 4 places higher in reliability than Acura.

Engine

The Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (228 vs. 201) and 78 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is faster than the Acura ILX (automatics tested):

	Jetta GLI	ILX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.8 sec	17.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.1 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	94 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the ILX:

			MPG
Jetta GLI
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/37 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
ILX
	Auto	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Jetta GLI Automatic’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The ILX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura ILX (3). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Jetta GLI	ILX
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.1 inches

The Jetta GLI’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ILX are solid, not vented.

The Jetta GLI stops much shorter than the ILX:

	Jetta GLI	ILX
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Jetta GLI has larger tires than the ILX (225/45R18 vs. 215/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Jetta GLI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ILX.

The Jetta GLI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the ILX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta GLI has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The ILX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Jetta GLI is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the ILX.

The Jetta GLI’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58.6% to 41.4%) than the ILX’s (63% to 37%). This gives the Jetta GLI more stable handling and braking.

The Jetta GLI handles at .95 G’s, while the ILX A-SPEC pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Jetta GLI has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (93.9 vs. 89.3).

The Jetta GLI has 2.7 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the ILX.

Cargo Capacity

The Jetta GLI has a much larger trunk than the ILX (14.1 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The Jetta GLI’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The ILX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Ergonomics

The Jetta GLI’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The ILX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Jetta GLI and the ILX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Jetta GLI is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ILX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Jetta GLI’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ILX’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Jetta GLI’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ILX’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Jetta GLI detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ILX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta GLI has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The ILX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta GLI keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The ILX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The ILX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Jetta GLI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 3 years. The ILX has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Acura ILX by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.

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