Honda’s luxury marque, Acura, established itself in the U.S. market largely by selling near-luxury models like the Integra, the RSX and even the TSX, all of which served as gateways to the brand.

The commonality between these cars, generally speaking, was their compact size and relatively affordable price point. In recent years, however, Acura seems to have lost sight of both “compact” and “affordable,” as it’s entry-level TSX has grown in both size and price.

Enter the 2013 Acura ILX, a new compact sedan that hopes to deliver the near-luxury driving experience and bulletproof reliability that Acura buyers have come to expect, at a more reasonable starting price.

The base ILX starts at $26,795, including a destination charge of $895. That buys you a stylish sedan powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine good for 150 horsepower and mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The combination delivers an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city and 35 mpg on the highway.

Opt for the ILX with the Premium Package, and you’ll pay $30,095. The additional money buys you leather upholstery; heated front seats with a powered driver’s seat; a 360-watt audio system; HID headlamps; fog lamps; 17-inch wheels; a rearview camera and Active Sound Cancellation to ensure a quiet cabin.

If you want to add more luxury, the ILX is available with the Technology Package for $32,295. Building from the Premium Package, the Technology Package adds an ELS Surround audio system; voice guided navigation; real-time traffic; real-time weather and a HomeLink transmitter.

Buyers who want more performance can opt for the $30,095 ILX 2.4, which comes only with the Premium package. As the name implies, the ILX 2.4 swaps the 2.0-liter engine for a 2.4-liter version, rated at 201 horsepower and mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The tradeoff is fuel economy, with the ILX 2.4 rated at 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.

If fuel economy is your primary concern, the ILX comes in a hybrid variant, too. The base ILX Hybrid is priced at $29,795, including a 1.5-liter engine paired with an Integrated Motor Assist electric motor and mated to a continuously variable transmission. The combination delivers an EPA estimated 39 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

Finally, the ILX Hybrid is also available with the Technology Package at a price of $35,295. This model also includes the features of the Premium Package, but excludes the 17-inch wheels found on other Premium trim models.