For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Avalon have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Acura ILX doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Avalon are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ILX doesn't offer a back seat reminder.

The Toyota Avalon has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ILX doesn't offer knee airbags.

The Avalon has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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 Avalon Limited/Touring offers optional Rear Cross-Traffic Braking 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.

The Avalon Limited/Touring offers an optional Bird's Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ILX only offers a rear monitor.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Avalon 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 Avalon and the ILX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Toyota Avalon weighs 422 to 620 pounds more than the Acura ILX. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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

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 Toyota Avalon is safer than the Acura ILX:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight's “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Avalon the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The ILX last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Avalon for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the ILX.

There are almost 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Avalon's warranty.

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 Avalon's reliability 15 points higher than the ILX.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Acura is ranked 28th.

The Avalon's 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 100 more horsepower (301 vs. 201) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 180) than the ILX's 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Avalon is faster than the Acura ILX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Avalon uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ILX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Avalon XLE's standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the ILX (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Avalon Limited/Touring's standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the ILX (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Avalon higher (5 out of 10) than the Acura ILX (3). This means the Avalon produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

The Avalon stops much shorter than the ILX:

For better traction, the Avalon Limited's tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ILX (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Avalon Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The ILX's largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Avalon 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.

The Avalon offers an available 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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Avalon's wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the ILX (113 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Avalon is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ILX.

The Avalon Touring handles at .85 G's, while the ILX A-SPEC pulls only .83 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Avalon a Mid-size car, while the ILX is rated a Compact.

The Avalon has 15 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (104.3 vs. 89.3).

The Avalon has 5.5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 6.3 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the ILX.

The Avalon has a much larger trunk than the ILX (16.1 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Avalon's trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. The ILX's useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Avalon'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.

The Avalon uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ILX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Avalon Limited/Touring's standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver's seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The ILX doesn't offer an easy entry system.

The Avalon Limited/Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver's line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The ILX doesn't offer a heads-up display.

The Avalon'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 Avalon and the ILX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Avalon 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 Avalon'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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Avalon's available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the ILX's headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Avalon 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 avoid possible obstacles, the Avalon Limited/Touring has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The ILX doesn't offer cornering lights.

The Avalon's standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ILX offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

Both the Avalon and the ILX have standard heated front seats. The Avalon Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren't available in the ILX.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Avalon Limited/Touring 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.

On extremely cold winter days, the Avalon Limited/Touring's standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The ILX doesn't offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Avalon and the ILX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Avalon has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The ILX doesn't offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Avalon offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The ILX doesn't offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Avalon owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Avalon with a number “5” insurance rate while the ILX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Avalon is less expensive to operate than the ILX because typical repairs cost much less on the Avalon than the ILX, including $70 less for a starter, $66 less for fuel injection, $70 less for a fuel pump and $324 less for a power steering pump.

The Toyota Avalon has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Toyota Avalon outsold the Acura ILX by 36% during the 2021 model year.