The Acura ILX is really an underrated car. It is much more than a gussied up Honda Civic; the platform and the i-MID system are probably the only things the car shares with the Civic. The design, engine, sheet metal, and materials are all unique to the ILX, and are two notches above a Civic. The car is designed to compete with the Buick Verano, Audi A3, Mercedes CLA and the BMW 2 and 3 series. Although engine performance, the quality of materials, and the overall driving experience is just a tad below the Germans, the vehicle can easily be had for less than $30K well equipped, giving it a strong value quotient. I got my 2.0L with the Technology package for $29.5 Out the door. The driving feel is tight - the steering response is precise with no wobbling. The engine sounds wonderful, and the braking is quick. The design of the car is reminiscent of the first generation TSX, but modernized and slightly shrunken down a bit. The cockpit is pure Acura, with beautiful blue lighting adorning a Swiss-watch like instrument gauges. Fuel economy is pretty nice, as I am averaging about 28mpg in mixed city and highway driving. On long highway trips, I am able to get about 400 miles of travel on a full tank. The car is perfect for weekend getaways for two. This is not a car for families, as the backseat is too small for anyone over 12 years old. This is an upscale pocket rocket that succeeds the Integra/RSX that Acura stopped building 10 years ago. Those of you who yearn for the sporty and upscale precision that Honda is known for, should spend the extra money and get the higher revving 2.4L. The 201 horsepower in that vehicle should be a gratifying experience.

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The Yaris drives well so long as you don’t demand too much out of the powertrain. The engine is a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder featuring Mazda’s SkyActiv-G engine design and a higher-than-usual compression ratio of 12 to 1. It makes only 106 horsepower and 103 pounds-feet of torque, and it’s mated to either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic, which my car featured. Despite the modest power output, the Yaris is reasonably peppy at lower speeds, but you’re going to need to plan your highway on-ramp accelerations in advance, and passing on a two-lane road is not advisable. Where the Mazda DNA really shines through is in how the Yaris handles. It has tight, responsive steering that makes the car feel lively and tossable, with excellent feedback and progressive understeer that makes it predictable and fun. The ride is surprisingly well controlled, though there is some pronounced body roll when you start seriously chucking it through turns. The skinny tires also don’t do much for grip, but you can feel that the bones of the thing are solid. Strong winds tend to toss it around on the highway, yet it’s reasonably stable and stress-free at highway speeds.