Honda Legend test drive since 2009 sedan

For a record!

Honda in Russia in good account, but the paradox, the top model of Legend is sold, to put it mildly, not very much. Will restyling help her?
 
There are several causes of low demand. The main relatively high price, the only equipment and appearance from the category of neither the American nor the Japanese. This car looked somehow sluggish, despite the fact that the filling advanced from a technical point of view was hidden inside.
She touched mainly a full -wheel drive. Let me remind you that the SH-AWD sibahata, which was created under the guidance of the legendary Hondovsky transmission genius of Yasuga, was ahead of time. Today, such transmissions began to create everyone who is not too lazy, but a few years ago, only Mitsubishi and Nissan went to competitors at Honda competitors.
It was all -wheel drive that did not touch. And why? Super Handling All-Wheel Drive is still exclusively coping with its duties. On dry asphalt, until the last holds the car on the trajectory, quickly throwing the torque between the wheels. The turning of a large business class sedan in this world can be called almost neutral, which inspires respect. You can monitor the operation of the system by looking at a special monitor, which is mounted in the tidy. The columns show where and how much Newton's meters at the moment the system. Therefore, asphalt riding along the trajectory becomes a fascinating occupation while driving.
But it is worth rolling on an icy or snowy surface, as Sh-Awd with his efforts will quietly slip another car to you. Something like the business version of Lancer Evo X is comfortable, large and quiet, but at the same time perfectly controlled in sliding. It is only necessary to turn off the stabilization system. Unfortunately, Honda, in Russia there were not many gourmets who would buy a large sedan only with an eye on a steep all -wheel drive. It was then that restyling arrived.
Bold strokes artists transformed the puffy appearance of the old legend. The sharp outlines of the front and rear headlights, the bully grille of the radiator, new bumpers, wheels. The front festivals were completely performed in the Civic style, they are triangular. The car pulled himself up, as if dropping extra pounds. Well, the fact that now it has become a copy of the overseas Acura RL is not worried about us. For there are even fewer such Akur in Russia than legends. Has the appearance become more relevant? Yes. But only with a look of three quarters in front or behind. On the side, the car is still a little dull and old -fashioned.
The salon, by the way, also got, but a little. All the differences will be seen only by the owner of the prerestyled option. And I must admit that even after the update, the interior does not keep up with the times. In it, of course, there is a certain originality and some finds, but if you compare it with the alleged competitors in the premium-business class, then Honda is unlikely to resist the onslaught of Germans and some Luxury Japanese. Nevertheless, an updated legend I like. The steep engine threw 200 cubes. He still develops 295 hp, but the moment was added by 20 nm. Therefore, additional elasticity!
So it is in acceleration to hundreds of a new legend threw 0.2 seconds. They pulled up and the machine gun. Although he remained five-speed, he works smoother and slightly faster. Legend, like any Honda (well, except perhaps large crossovers and pickups), loves to ride quickly. The driverships here are expressed by an elastic suspension and good dynamics. Nevertheless, we can observe a somewhat opaque, long steering wheel, or, for example, soft, completely unsportsmanlike chairs. The struggle of contradictions? In a certain sense of the word yes. On one side of the scales, an incredible four -wheel drive and an excellent motor with a good suspension. On the other old five -speed machine, an unambiguously comfortable salon, devoid of various kinds of sports bellows, is a slurred steering wheel.
For whom was this cocktail created? Apparently for fans of Honda. It seems to me that despite the aggravated modernized appearance, Legend is unlikely to be able to impose a struggle in eminent competitors in our market in this generation. But the records of sales of the predecessor must definitely be beaten.
Nikolai Ilyin
 
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [March 2009]