Acura EL

Acura EL
1999–2000 Acura 1.6EL
Overview
Manufacturer	Honda
Production	1997–2005
Assembly	Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Entry-level luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Powertrain
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Chronology
Predecessor	Acura Integra sedan
Successor	Acura CSX

1.6EL
1997–1998 Acura 1.6EL
Overview
Production	1997–2000 Chassis Code MB4
Body and chassis
Class	Small luxury car
Related	Honda Domani Honda/Acura Integra Honda Civic
Powertrain
Engine	D16Y8 1.6 L I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase	103.1 in (2,619 mm)
Length	176.3 in (4,478 mm)
Width	67.1 in (1,704 mm)
Height	54.9 in (1,394 mm)
Curb weight	2,379 lb (1,079 kg)

1.7EL
2001-03 Acura 1.7EL - Chassis Code ES3
Overview
Also called	Acura EL (2004-05)
Production	2001–2005
Body and chassis
Class	Compact luxury car
Related	Honda Element Honda CR-V Honda/Acura Integra Acura RSX Honda Civic
Powertrain
Engine	D17A2 1.7 L SOHC I4 (127 hp)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	103.1 in (2620 mm)
Length	2001–03: 176.7 in (4488 mm) 2004-05: 177.4 in (4505 mm)
Width	67.5 in (1715 mm)
Height	56.7 in (1440 mm)

The Acura EL was a compact entry-level luxury sedan built at Honda's Alliston, Ontario, plant, and also the first Acura built in Canada. The EL is a badge-engineered Honda Civic with a higher level of features.

The Acura EL was a sales success. Representing 51% of Acura Canada's annual new-vehicle sales in its first full year, the EL remained Acura's top seller in Canada from 1997 to 2003. The Acura EL was replaced for the 2006 model year by the Acura CSX which, like the EL, was available only in Canada.

The first generation of the EL was a rebadged version of the Japanese market Honda Domani, a somewhat altered version of the 1997–2000 Honda Civic with differing front end, trunk, lights and various interior pieces. Honda sold the upscale Domani at Japanese dealership sales channel called Honda Clio that sold large, or well equipped luxury sedans like the Honda Legend and the Honda Inspire, and sold the more affordable Honda Civic at Honda Primo locations. Sold in Canada as the Acura 1.6EL, it was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model. Seeing that sales within Canada for the four-door Acura Integra were extremely low, Honda decided to replace it with the four-door-only Acura EL. Its 1.6 L VTEC engine produces 127 hp (95 kW) at 6600 rpm and 107 lb·ft (145 N·m) at 5500 rpm. It has features not available on the similar Civic such as amber-lit LED interior dash display, tachometer, power trunk (no keyhole on the trunk), alarm, 15-inch (195/55/15) wheels, antenna in the rear window glass, chrome interior door handles, extra pocket underneath centre console, paint-matched mirrors, side moldings, and door handles, slightly stiffer suspension, 12 mm rear sway bar and 26 mm front sway bar, heated mirrors, and an amplifier. From 1999 all 5-speed models had a leather-wrapped shift knob, similar to the one in the Acura Integra GSR.