Test Drive Honda Legend since 2009 Sedan

Mind for reason

Following the enhanced robot Asimo Honda introduced a new generation of Legend another step of technical progress.
Since 1985, Honda has taken three attempts to storm the premium segment. Each time a leitmotif for promoting a new model, a scientific and technological breakthrough in the field of high technologies was becoming. This made the flagship Legend leader in the number of sensors, but the target audience of slender ranks continued to march to the dealers of competitors. You can imagine, with what perplexity of Honda bosses looked at sales statistics, because, by and large, Legend had all the advantages of the representative class, supported by the generic features of Honda car high quality and advanced engineering. Moreover, I have not met a single person who, at the mention of Honda Legend, would grow disgruntled mine. Rather, on the contrary, public opinion expressed approval, but something lacked. What exactly? Judging by the fact that Lexus uses popularity and as vivid Americans look for new ACURA models, it can be assumed that Honda Legend lacked prestige. Moreover, Honda's successes in motor racing worked exclusively on the growing popularity of Civic and Accord, and Legend gradually turned into a unfulfilled Hondovtsev's dream to lead in the prestigious car segment. It was not here! The prototype of the new, fourth generation Legend, represented on the New York Motor Show in 2004, became a ray of hope for fans of the brand and somewhat overshadowed the rainbow mood of competitors. So, Acura RL (analogue of Honda Legend) has already made the lexus GS and Infiniti G35 in the American market. Russians far and mysterious RL also had to taste gray dealers only and manage to import new cars. However, the positions of the old-timers of the premium class Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz remain unshakable. Neighbors in the Japanese premium Trinity either do not dreamed: Lexus consistently improves sales results, and from September of this year, Infiniti has been applied to Russia officially. Looking at this premium-brand flower garden, is involuntarily asked: why Honda hides Acura from Russians? Asking this question in the Russian office of Honda, we received a very blurry answer. Like, the possibility of an acceptance of Acura to the Russian market is not excluded, but not yet talking about the preparatory work. Sad, acura has more chances of success in premium class than Honda, even if Legend and RL are essentially the same car. Well, it means that Honda again focuses on advanced engineering, and it remains to find out whether Legend of technical perfection is enough for success in the prestigious car segment.
 
To enthusiastically discuss the appearance of Honda Legend for only Japanese and Americans. The first will arrange a multi-hour excursion around the sedan, in detail justifying the functional load of each design element. They do not care what, in general, Legend looks boring. But in the details it is excellent. Rather, excellent study of these details. The Americans, in turn, will eat a hamburger for the health of Legend, for in case of hitting a pedestrian (not necessarily a citizen of the United States), a trauma-safe hood will serve as a soft bedding. We also appreciated the detailed elaboration of the exterior, and with a soft hood ride the roads of the megapolis calmer. But as for the overall impression of appearance, Legend did not struck. Sedan as a sedan, however, thanks to expressive optics and harmonious proportions, it is unmistakably recognized in the stream. And Legend is larger than classmates length (4957 mm) closely approached this indicator of representative class cars. So, in the cabin should be spacious.
 
The driver and front passenger is really free. In this considerable merit of wide, comfortable chairs that are equally good both in a long road and in steep turns. Adjustment ranges are also good, and for consumer comfort, heating and sedable air conditioning are heated. There are in Legend and your idrive. The Japanese multimedia system is controlled by means of a comfortable harsh on the center console, but it is also organized as abundantly as idrive BMW. Complain the entrance to the management of the audio system, climate, onboard computer and the common menu is carried out by separate buttons. By the way, about the buttons. In Legend, they are everywhere and there are many of them, and at night, when the salon resembles the cockpit of the intergalactic ship, in the abundance of lights you start rubbed. But how beautiful! The instrument panel is particularly impressive, made in the form of three wells on the Alfa Romeo manner, excellent readability readings and a presentable appearance. But the steering wheel seemed great to me. Civic and Accord steering wheel in diameter, and the rim is thicker and with a profile in places of grip.
In the back seat is not so spacious as expected. If there are ahead of the tall people, then their knees of the rear passengers will rest in the backs of the chairs. Places above your head is also a bit. But the most important drawback is difficult to identify. It is necessary to press the accelerator pedal, as the rear passengers covers fear. When you sit at the front of the front passenger (not to mention the driver), acceleration seems even too measured for a 300-strong car, but the rear attraction is rear. Why? Apparently, so Hondovtsy decided to emphasize that Legend car for the driver. And, judging by the characteristics, it is. And what in fact?
 
Exercise Gas in the floor makes it doubt the generated legend affiliation. Is it really Honda?! Contrary to expectations, overclocking is very smooth, quietly, as if under the hood, not a gasoline engine 3.5 V6 with a significant VTEC engraving on the valve lid, and a pair of electric motors from Civic Hybrid. Apparently, the lion's phase of the capacity of the 300-strong herd hid, in order to achieve decent economy, and for acute sensations, left a small working range from 4500 to 6000 rpm. It is difficult to put up with this, because from a large car you expect a greater torque on the bottoms, but it seems that up to 4000 rpm, the engine works under the influence of noving.
 
The machine is also characterized by a dual character. In civilian mode, it is not as terminated, as Audi and BMW bridges, but in manual holds turns on the cut-off! He would have more transmissions and the gear ratio is smaller, then perhaps Legend would go shunter. There are no complaintory brakes: a powerful, efficient slowdown in any situation.
 
And what is the system of a full drive, about which the reports of the journalists lay down not one praise? At the heart of the SH-AWD design, two multi-disc clutches located in front of each axis. Management of mechanisms is carried out by electronics using electromagnets, which allows you to vary the thrust for each wheel. And the back wheels are lucky. For their drive, a carbonate cardan shaft is used and an additional 2-speed transmission with a planetary transmission, which in turns increases the rotation speed of the rear wheels. Why did the Honda engineers have developed such a complicated full drive system? Oddly enough, in order to simplify the control of the car.
 
During the leisure ride, Legend remains a greater extent to the front-wheel drive car (70% of the torque is transmitted to the front axle), but as soon as the need for side support of the chairs, the intelligent full drive system begins to juggle not only between axes, but also between the wheels of one axis Lucky Thus, you start wondering how seriously, and most importantly, your driver's skills unexpectedly improved. V the representation of Honda was even assured that the Legend turns holds on the EVO IX tails, we did not check, but the unique feature of the car maintain stability in, it would seem hopeless situations.
 
Legend suspension is also configured to an active drive, but I don't think it's good. You see, it is a car with sports ambitions from below, but on top of it, perhaps, even more phlegmatic than Mercedes-Benz E-class, so excessive suspension stiffness seems to me inappropriate. Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series are also not cotton packed, but instead of the rigidity of their suspension elastic.
 
What do we think about the new Honda Legend? What is the next technological breakthrough. Little miracle in a large business class. However, when after the working day, which passed under the slogan of the Five Day in one day!, You approach this sedan, the only thing you are waiting for it, this is comfort. Hondovtsy probably guessed about your desires, so there was a spacious, cozy salon with quality that is not inferior to the best German samples in Legend. They also took care of your safety and were able to keep the car's appetite within reasonable limits. But when it came to work on the running characteristics, they had forgotten about the dimend dimensions and forced him to go to the steep Drivers Car manner. In this case, the appearance, the interior and the engine remained the same. It turned out a skateboard with riding home slippers.
Specifications Honda Legend
Dimensions, mm 4957x1845x1450
Base, mm 2800
Engine type gasoline V6
Working volume, cube. See 3471.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 295/6200
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 315/5000
Transmission Automatic 5-Range
Tires 235/50 R17
Max. Speed, km / h 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, from 7.3
Fuel consumption (city / route), l / 100 km 11.9
Tank volume, l 73
 
Stanislav Goncharenko
Photo of Oleg Slepyana.
 
 

 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"