Test Drive Honda Legend since 2009 Sedan
Overview of the updated version of Honda Legend
The share of Honda, or rather Honda Legend, in the premium sedan market is practically imperceptible against the background of such sector giants like Toyota and Nissan. At the same time, this is not at all indicator that Honda is inferior to competitors on technical indicators. What is hiding behind a gentlemanic outdoor
So, in front of us, the Honda Legend model, the continuation of which has recently stood under a big question, not to mention some successes in sales. In this segment, the overwhelming majority of customers legal entities, well, and the palm of championship among manufacturers still belongs to the Toyota and Nissan brands. It is unlikely that the miracle is accomplished, and the alignment of the forces will change in favor of Legend, but this does not upset the creators. Honda Legend is a condensate model, gathered the most wonderful ideas and dreams of developers.
The updated version of Honda Legend appeared before the public in September 2008 with a slightly modified appearance, but her character remained the same. It is able to surprise each organic combination of the stiffness of the suspension and the aristocraticness of the interior, represented by such elements, as, for example, the dashboard, is richly decorated with wooden materials of the well-known company TENDO MOKKO. In this harmony, all Honda Legend. It seems that the creators, fancy ride fans, simply deceived the leadership, promising to come up with a luxury model. The result is one hundred percent sports sedan!
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to represent Honda Legend such a not knowledgeable fear of a moth seeking to the top, to the hot sun. Honda Legend, without losing its aristocracy and elegance of the luxury sedan, coolly and at the same time on dizzying speed goes on overtaking rivals. This impeccable gentleman is capable of showing sharp teeth if necessary. The main secret weapon, of course, is the SH-AWD Full Drive Management System (Super Handling All Wheel Drive). It distributes torque not only between the front and rear wheels, but also between the left and right wheels on each axis. Without a doubt, this invention of Honda will become in the near future an indispensable attribute of high-tech cars (a bright example of the model X6 from BMW).
Perfect turning
In simple language, the SH-AWD system when driving even in the coolest rotation increases the speed of the outer rear wheel, and the machine is easier to cope with the turn. In the new Honda Legend, the system begins to work in the first speed, but in the conditions of urban roads this feature to feel in its entirety, it is unlikely that someone will work out. Using the full drive control system at the first speed is equivalent to the sharp start on the icing track. The consequences are clear anyone.
SH-AWD plays a purely auxiliary role. However, if you carefully look at, it is thanks to this wonderful function when leaving the sharp turn to directly, when a regular car suffers from insufficient turning, Honda Legend behaves surprisingly stably and predictable.
In all over the value of the SH-AWD, you understand on a snow-covered track. The system is activated if the driver is too slow when the rotation passes, and changes the force supplied to the specific wheels, thus increasing the maneuverability of the machine. You can trace the operation of the system in 4 graphs on the information display in the dashboard center (truth, it is worth noting that the graphs sometimes disappear from the visibility zone as the steering wheel turns), showing the torque distribution for each wheel. At the same time, without these graphs, the system operation is absolutely invisible to the simple user. And this imperceptibility is perhaps the best proof of the perfection of the mechanism.
Some boys
Thanks to the well-coordinated operation of the SH-AWD drive control system and the Dynamic Stabilization System, the VSA has made it possible to one hundred percent operation of all operating properties of the engine. Together with the change of model number with J35A on J37A, the engine operating volume (V6, 24-valve SOHC) was increased from 3 471 to 3,664 cu. See, and maximum power and torque rose from 300 hp at 6,200 rpm and 36 kg-m at 5,000 rpm to 309 hp at 6,300 rpm and 37.7 kg-M at 5,000 rpm, respectively.
The creators initially provided a Honda Legend engine with high performance characteristics, so the changes described above could not change the overall picture. However, this unit is so flawless and accurately reacts to the slightest action of the driver, which immediately understands it inherited all the best engines of the Honda family engines. If there is such an engine, there will be a sin to complain about the 5-speed automatic, even now, in the height of the boom for a large number of steps of gears.
Standard 5-speed automatic transmission, having a manual switching function using petal switches on the steering wheel (position S), will not let the driver bother. However, the usual position D is quite enough, and besides, the submissive petals rotate along with the steering wheel, which means that the management is possible only when driving strictly straight. In addition, her suspension embarrassed in Honda Legend: despite many obvious advantages, she is too tough. Each bump and each bump on surfaces with different clutch levels is too felt. Sometimes you even forget that you are driving a large luxury sedan. Eh, as it were, it was great if this problem could be sent soon. By the way, such a disadvantage is characteristic of the German premium class sedans. But whatever sports model is, such errors are unacceptable.
The price of the new Honda Legend, I will say honestly, on the pocket of a little: it varies from 5 million 550 thousand to 6 million 650 thousand yen. The model in the configuration I, which we tried this time, costs even more than 7 million 490 thousand yen: The presence of such super-options such as a glass hatch and night vision system Night Vision. However, will it stop young soul, those who want to remember and return at least a moment youthful youth?
Technical characteristics Honda Legend Full length: 4985 mm.
Full width: 1 845 mm.
Full height: 1 455 mm.
Wheel base: 2 800 mm.
Machine weight: 1 850 kg.
Drive: 4WD.
Engine: 3.7-liter 6-cylinder V-shaped, 24-valve SOHC, Developed Power 309 hp At 6,300 rpm, the greatest torque is 37.7 kg-M at 5,000 rpm.
Model price: 6,650,000 yen ($ 73 286).
Price test copy: 7 490 000 yen ($ 82 543).
Options: Color Alberta White Pearl (52 500IEN), Luke (105,000 yen), 18-inch aluminum discs (105,000 yen), night vision system Intelligent Night Vision System (577,500 yen).
A source: WebCG.net.
