The Acura ILX does 29.8 mpg combined (26.6 city, 34.9 highway), which works out to about $1,289 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 38 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 27.3 — a difference of $396 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Acura ILX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Acura ILX ranges from 38 down to 27.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $396 a year across 3 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 38 / 38 | 2013–2014 | $1,011 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 24.4 / 34.4 | 2016–2022 | $1,352 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 24 / 34 | 2013–2015 | $1,407 |
What that actually costs
The Acura ILX burns a gallon every 29.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 403 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.107 |
| Fuel per year | $1,289 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,445 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$205 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,625 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Acura ILX gives up 8.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 34.9 out there against 26.6 in town, a 31% drop worth $344 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 26.6 mpg | $1,444 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 34.9 mpg | $1,100 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.3 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the ILX changed over the years
The ILX peaked in 2014 at 32.5 mpg (31 city, 36 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2022 at 28 — 4.5 mpg apart, or $189 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2022 car does 28. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2021 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2020 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2019 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2018 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2017 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2016 | 25 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2015 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2014 | 31 / 36 | 2 | $1,182 | |
| 2013 | 31 / 36 | 2 | $1,182 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 12 EPA ratings of the Acura ILX — 3 engines across 2013–2022. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,625. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Acura ILX get?
29.8 mpg combined on average — 26.6 in the city and 34.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2013–2022.
How much does a Acura ILX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,289 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,445 over five years, or 0.107 dollars a mile.
Which ILX engine is the most economical?
The 1.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 38 mpg, against 27.3 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $396 a year.
Is the ILX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world ILX figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Acura ILX is $2,625 against the $1,289 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 38 and 27 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.