Last updated August 4, 2026
Acura ILX trims follow a base-to-feature ladder with a few distinct side branches. The 2.0L and later base car are the entry choices; the short-lived Hybrid prioritizes fuel savings, while the Special Edition adds a sportier look. The 2.4L, AcuraWatch Plus Pkg, and Premium Pkg form the middle, emphasizing manual-shift involvement, added safety, or leather and phone integration. Premium & A-SPEC Pkgs adds sport styling, Technology Pkg and Technology Plus Pkg emphasize navigation and upgraded audio, and the Technology & A-SPEC combinations bring both themes together at the top.
The Base Model trim level—2.0L and base—is the straightforward entry ILX, centered on compact sport-sedan character, heated seats, and a moonroof without the richer cabin tech of higher trims.
Best for: Shoppers who want the core Acura experience and everyday comfort without extra appearance or technology packages.
Highlights
The Hybrid trim level, sold simply as Hybrid, is the efficiency-focused ILX, pairing electric assistance with smooth automatic operation and displays that encourage lower fuel use.
Best for: Commuters who value fewer fuel stops more than the gas ILX's sportier performance feel.
Highlights
Rather than a conventional upgrade over Base Model, Hybrid branches toward fuel savings with electric assist, an efficiency-focused transmission, and economy coaching.
0 in stock
The Special Editions trim level, represented by Special Edition, gives the standard ILX a sportier visual identity without moving into leather, navigation, or a full A-Spec package combination.
Best for: Drivers who want a more aggressive-looking ILX but do not need the richer cabin tech of upper trims.
Highlights
This is a separate, later style branch: compared with Hybrid's efficiency focus, it returns to gas-powered performance and adds more assertive exterior details.
2 in stock
The Mid-Level trim level—2.4L, AcuraWatch Plus Pkg, and Premium Pkg—is the ILX's varied middle branch, covering manual-shift involvement, added driver assistance, or a more polished leather-and-connectivity cabin.
Best for: Shoppers who want a meaningful functional upgrade and can match the member trim to performance, safety, or comfort priorities.
Highlights
Over Special Editions, Mid-Level redirects the upgrade from appearance to function, adding manual-shift engagement, expanded safety, or Premium comfort and connectivity depending on the member trim.
13 in stock
The Sport Styling trim level, sold as Premium & A-SPEC Pkgs, combines Premium comfort and phone connectivity with darker A-Spec body details and a more distinctive cabin, without adding power.
Best for: Drivers who like the Premium model's everyday features but want a sharper exterior and sportier seat treatment.
Highlights
Over Mid-Level's Premium Pkg, it adds the full A-Spec appearance treatment and distinctive seat trim while keeping the same performance character.
7 in stock
The Tech Features trim level—Technology Pkg and Technology Plus Pkg—is the electronics-focused ILX, adding built-in navigation and richer ELS Studio audio without A-Spec styling.
Best for: Shoppers who care more about navigation, sound quality, and driver-assistance features than sport-themed bodywork.
Highlights
It trades Sport Styling's A-Spec treatment for built-in navigation and upgraded ELS Studio audio, making this a technology step rather than a visual one.
0 in stock
The Top Tier trim level—Technology & A-SPEC Pkgs and Technology Plus & A-SPEC Pkgs—is the fully equipped ILX, combining the Technology models' cabin electronics with A-Spec exterior and interior treatment.
Best for: Buyers who want the ILX's sport appearance and its broadest factory technology package in the same car.
Highlights
Combines Tech Features' navigation and upgraded ELS Studio audio with the A-Spec appearance and cabin treatment found in Sport Styling.
0 in stock| Feature | Hybrid | Top Tier | Mid-Level | Base Model | Sport Styling | Tech Features | Special Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Includes | Hybrid0 in stock | Technology & A-SPEC Pkgs, Technology Plus & A-SPEC Pkgs0 in stock | 2.4L, AcuraWatch Plus Pkg, Premium Pkg13 in stock | 2.0L, base17 in stock | Premium & A-SPEC Pkgs7 in stock | Technology Pkg, Technology Plus Pkg0 in stock | Special Edition2 in stock |
| Main focus | Fuel-saving commuting | Full technology plus A-Spec style | Performance, safety, or comfort upgrade | Entry comfort and core ILX character | Premium comfort plus A-Spec style | Navigation and upgraded audio | Sportier look without the full package |
| Powertrain character | Hybrid with electric assist; CVT | Gas four-cylinder; dual-clutch automatic | Manual on 2.4L; dual-clutch automatic on package cars | Gas four-cylinder; paddle-shift automatic | Gas four-cylinder; dual-clutch automatic | Gas four-cylinder; dual-clutch automatic | Gas four-cylinder; dual-clutch automatic |
| Phone integration | Efficiency-focused earlier-era system | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on Premium Pkg | Higher trims add the richer setup | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Base-style infotainment |
| Driver-assistance emphasis | Not part of its hybrid-specific identity | Expanded driver assistance | AcuraWatch Plus centers on active safety | Standard suite on later base cars | Safety suite plus blind-spot help | Expanded driver assistance | Follows the base car's safety equipment |
| Sport appearance treatment | Standard exterior | Full A-Spec exterior and cabin | Standard exterior | Standard exterior | Full A-Spec exterior and cabin | Standard exterior | Larger wheels, side sills, and spoiler |
| Built-in navigation | Not central to this trim | Included | Technology trim is the next step | Higher trims add it | Not part of this package pairing | Included | Not included in its style upgrade |
| Audio character | Not a defining upgrade | ELS Studio premium audio | Upgraded premium audio on Premium Pkg | Premium system on older 2.0L; higher trims upgrade later cars | Premium audio | ELS Studio premium audio | Base-car audio |
On 2019-2022 models, Premium adds leather-trimmed seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring, and upgraded audio. It keeps the base model’s 201-hp engine and front-wheel drive.
On later ILX models, Premium with A-Spec keeps the Premium trim’s comfort, phone integration, and safety features, then adds darker exterior trim, fog lights, side pieces, a spoiler, and sportier leather-and-suede seat trim. Power is unchanged.
On 2019-2022 models, Technology with A-Spec adds built-in navigation and the 10-speaker ELS Studio audio system. Both have the same A-Spec appearance treatment, leather-and-suede seats, phone integration, safety features, and 201-hp engine.
For 2018-2020 models, the standalone Technology Package is the tech-focused choice without A-Spec styling. It combines leather seating, navigation, phone integration, blind-spot monitoring, and the 10-speaker ELS Studio audio system.
A-Spec means sportier styling, not a separate performance engine. On 2018-2022 ILX models, it brings a sharper exterior treatment and a more distinctive cabin, with details such as dark trim, a spoiler, sportier seat materials, and contrast stitching.
No. On 2018-2022 ILX models, A-Spec changes the appearance and interior trim rather than the engine. It uses the same 201-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic as other ILX trims from the same era.
On 2019-2022 ILX models, Premium and higher trims have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the dual-screen system. The base trim does not include that upgraded phone-integration setup. Earlier cars differ by model year and package.
In later ILX lineups, Premium and Technology trims use leather-trimmed seats, while A-Spec versions add leather-and-suede trim. The later base model uses synthetic leather. Earlier cars vary; notably, the 2014 2.0L included heated leather-trimmed seats.
Technology models are the ones to look for. The standalone Technology Package offered navigation and 10-speaker ELS Studio audio through 2020. In the 2021-2022 lineup, those features came only with Technology and A-Spec together.
The 2018 Special Edition is a simpler sport-look model based on the standard ILX. It adds 18-inch wheels, side pieces, and a rear spoiler. A-Spec models pair a broader sport appearance and cabin treatment with Premium or Technology equipment.
Pick the 2013-2014 Hybrid if fewer fuel stops matter most; it uses a 1.5-liter gas-electric system and an efficiency-focused automatic. The 2.0L is the simpler conventional-gas option, with a 150-hp engine and five-speed automatic.
In the post-2016 lineup, AcuraWatch Plus focuses on driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping help. Premium focuses more on cabin comfort and convenience, including leather seating and upgraded audio.
Acura often treated ILX trim levels as equipment packages. A name such as Premium with A-Spec means Premium comfort and tech plus the A-Spec appearance treatment. On 2021-2022 cars, Technology equipment was paired only with A-Spec rather than sold alone.