Honda has been selling a high-end 4-door saloon called Legend since 1985, and today we'll take a look at this 4th generation, and more specifically the SH-AWD version that hit the Japanese market in 2004 and is also known outside of Japan as the Acura RL.
With this new Legend, Honda aims for luxury and high-tech to nibble at the market share of German saloons like the Mercedes E and BMW 5 Series.
Let's start with the engine... the all aluminium SOHC V-TEC 3.5 litre V6 develops 295bhp at 6200rpm and is hooked up to a 5-speed automatic gearbox that can be controlled from the steering wheel. The Legend is quite a heavy car (1.7 tons), so despite its 300bhp, the acceleration from standstill is not earth-shattering, but once the car is on it's way, there is no problem and the accelerations are more than acceptable.
This Legend also comes with SH-AWD or Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. The aim is to offer an excellent stability and distribute the power between the front and back wheels, but also for each wheel individually at the back. That's the theory, and we were able to notice during our test drive that the Legend is a stable car, and that even whilst driving in a sporty manner on damp and wet roads, the Legend stays on track where other cars of this kind would have a tendency to start sliding at the back. We can really say that this SH-AWD is one of the strong points of this Honda.
Technical success is not only limited to the handling though, because security and high-tech are spread out all over this car. We get AFS or Active Front Lighting System that improves visibility at night with 20%, ADAS or Adaptive Driving Assist Systems thatconsist of ACC or Adaptive Cruise Control, CMBS or Collision Mitigation Brake System and LKAS or Lane Keeping Assist System.
Our test model also was equipped with the Night Vision system. This feature uses a night camera connected to a small computer in order to recognize other vehicles or people on the road, even in very dark conditions. There is a screen mounted on top of the dashboard, and that displays what is seen by the camera and allows you to see at night like a cat. Have a look at the video for the demonstration of this amazing security feature!
Let's move on to the aesthetics of this vehicle. This legend has two faces as a matter of fact. It's a very sporty vehicle with those headlights and front grille, but looking at it from the side, it looks much more calm and elegant. Those 2 aspects merged provides us with a car that blends into any environment or situation. A good thing, but at the same time, it lacks a bit of character and personality when compared to a Mercedes E or BMW 5.
So what's there to see on the inside? A nice interior with plenty of gadgets, one more useful than the other. The controls are easy to access and the driving position is good too. The seats are good, and the materials that have been used are of an excellent quality. Important to note is that the seats can memorize the settings for 2 drivers and they are ventilated too. The central console on our test model was dominated by a DVD Video and Audio combo drive that could also act as TV screen and GPS. Despite the fact that it's very well integrated, we regret that the GPs system does not have a touch screen, and we had some difficulties navigating through the menus because of the dial on the central console. When it comes to sound output, Honda wanted the best only by fitting not less than 10 speakers inside the vehicle, and the sound output is good, but we've heard better in the Lexus IS250 (from Toyota).
The comfort level for the passenger is very good too, and Honda the angle at which the rear doors open, allows a very easy access to the rear seat. On sunny days, passengers at the rear have sunshields for each window, even on the rear window. A very useful feature when you have kids or when you want to go around town as discrete as possible.
So is this Legend Honda's weapon to fight off the competition from Germany? Despite all the good work by the Japanese engineers, we have to admit that the whole package is just a tad below what the Germans offer, and this due to its bit lack of character both on the inside as on the outside of this car. We really think that the Japanese manufacturer is aiming for the more elderly share of the market that is looking primarily for value for money but this target audience is also looking for a more exotic car with a bit of grunt. If security is your main aspect when considering a vehicle, this Honda Legend SH-AWD is THE car for you.
Honda Legend 06 SH-AWD
