Test drive Honda Legend sedan since 2006 sedan

All photos of Honda Legend sedan since 2006

Mind for the mind

Following the advanced ASIMO Honda robot, the new generation of Legenda was another step in technological progress.
Since 1985, Honda has made three attempts to storm the premium segment. Each time, a scientific and technical breakthrough in the field of high technology became a leitmotif for the promotion of a new model. This made the flagship Legend the leader in the number of sensors, but the target audience continued to march to the dealers of competitors. One can imagine the bewilderment of the 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 vehicles with a high level of quality and advanced engineering. Moreover, I did not meet a single person who, when Honda Legend, would have made a dissatisfied mine. Rather, on the contrary, public opinion expressed approval, but something was missing. What exactly? Judging by the popularity of Lexus and how vividly the Americans grab the new Acura models, it can be assumed that Honda Legend did not have enough prestige. Moreover, the successes of Honda in motorsport worked exclusively for the growing popularity of Civic and Accord, and Legend gradually turned into a unfulfilled dream of the Hondians to lead in the segment of prestigious cars. It wasn't there! The prototype of the new, fourth generation Legend, presented at 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, the Acura RL (an analogue of Honda Legend) already began to stifle the Lexus GS and Infiniti G35 in the American market. The Russians distant and mysterious RL also liked the gray dealers and only manage to import new cars. However, the positions of the old-timers of the premium-class Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz remain unshakable. The neighbors in the Japanese premium trinity are also not asleep: Lexus has stably improves sales results, and since September this year, Infiniti has been officially delivered to Russia. Looking at this premium blond flower garden, you involuntarily wonder: why does Honda hide Acura from Russians? Having asked this question in the Russian representative office of Honda, we received a very vague answer. Like, the possibility of withdrawing Acura to the Russian market is not excluded, but so far there is no question of preparatory work. It is sad, because Acura has more chances for success in the premium class than Honda, even if Legend and RL are essentially the same car. Well, that means, Honda again focuses on advanced engineering, and we can find out if there is enough Legend of technical perfection for success in the segment of prestigious cars.

Enthusiastically discuss the appearance of Honda Legend only to the Japanese and Americans. The former will arrange a many -hour tour around the sedan, substantiating the functional load of each design element in detail. They are not worried about what in general Legend looks boring. But in detail it is excellent. Rather, the development of these details is excellent. The Americans, in turn, will eat a hamburger for the health of Legend, because in the event of a hike on a pedestrian (not necessarily a US citizen), a traumatic hood will serve as a soft underlying of the poor fellow. We, too, appreciated the detailed study of the exterior, and traveling along the roads of the metropolis with a soft hood is calmer. But as for the general impression of appearance, Legend did not amaze. The sedan is like a sedan, however, thanks to expressive optics and harmonious proportions, it is unmistakably recognized in the stream. And the LEGEND is larger than classmates length (4957 mm) came close to this indicator of the representative of the representative class. So, the cabin should be spacious.

The driver and the front passenger really are really free. This is a considerable merit of wide, comfortable armchairs, which are equally good both on the long road and in steep turns. The adjustments ranges are also good, and heating and the sciatic air conditioner are provided for swelling. There is your idrive in Legend. The Japanese multimedia system is controlled by a convenient circle on the central console, but it is organized as abstruse as Idrive BMW. Fortunately, the entrance to the control of the audio system, climate, on -board computer and the general menu is carried out in separate buttons. By the way, about the buttons. In Legend, they are everywhere and there are a lot of them, and at night, when the salon resembles the cockpit of the intergalactic ship, in the abundance of lights

you begin to get lost. But how beautiful! Especially impressive is the instrument panel, made in the form of three wells in the manner of Alfa Romeo, the magnificent readability of the testimony and a presentable appearance. But the steering wheel seemed great to me. Civic and Accord have a smaller steering wheel in diameter, and the rim is thicker and with a profile in the seals of the grip.
The back seat is not as spacious as expected. If tall people are sitting ahead, then the knees of the rear passengers will rest on the backs of the seats. There is also a little space above the head. But the most important drawback is difficult to identify. It is worth crushing the accelerator pedal a little, the rear passengers embrace fear. When you sit on the site of the front passenger (not to mention the driver), acceleration seems even too measured for a 300-horsepower car, but a real attraction behind. Why? Apparently, so the Hondians decided to emphasize that a legend car for a driver. And, judging by the characteristics, the way it is. And what is actually?

Exercise gas on the floor makes us doubt the generic affiliation of Legend. Is it Honda?! Contrary to expectations, acceleration passes very smoothly, quietly, as if under the hood, not a 3.5 V6 gasoline engine with a multi -significant vTEC engraving on the valve cover, and a pair of electric motors from Civic Hybrid. Apparently, the lion's fraction of the power of the 300-horsepower was hidden in order to achieve decent efficiency, and for acute sensations they 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 more torque on the bottoms, but it seems that up to 4000 rpm the engine operates under the influence of Novopassit.

The machine is also distinguished by a dual character. In civilian regime, he is not as quick as the thrones of Audi and BMW, but in manual he holds the momentum on the cut -off! He would have more programs and a smaller gear ratio, then perhaps Legend would go faster. There are no complaints about the brakes: a powerful, effective slowdown in any situation.

And what is the full -wheel drive system, about which colleagues journalists have folded more than one laudatory ode? The SH-AWD design is based on two multi-disc cliff located in front of each axis. The mechanisms are controlled by electronics using electromagnets, which allows you to vary traction for each wheel. And the rear wheels were lucky separately. For their drive, a carbon fiber carden shaft and an additional 2-speed gearbox with planetary gear are used, which in corners increases the speed of the rear wheels. Why did Honda engineers develop such a complex all -wheel drive system? Oddly enough, in order to simplify driving.

During a leggy legend driving, the front -wheel drive car remains more (70% of the torque is transmitted to the front axle), but as soon as the need for side support of the seats arises, the intellectual system of the full -wheel drive begins to juggle not only between the axes, but also between the wheels of the same axis ! Thus, you begin to wonder how serious, and most importantly, your driver's skill suddenly improved. AT

the Honda representative office even assured us that in the Legend turns, we did not check on the tail of Evo IX, but the unique feature of the car to maintain stability in seemingly hopeless situations noted.

The Legend suspension is also tuned to an active drive, but I don't think it's good. You see, from below it is a car with sports ambitions, but on top it is perhaps even more phlegmatic than Mercedes-Benz E-class, so the excessive rigidity of the suspension seems inappropriate to me here. Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series are also not full of cotton, but instead of the rigidity of their suspension of elastic.

What do we think about the new Honda Legend? That this is another technological breakthrough. A little miracle in a large business class. However, when, after a working day that has passed under the slogan, a five -day day in one day!, You approach this sedan, the only thing you expect from him is comfort. The Hondians probably guessed about your desires, so they provided a spacious, cozy salon with a quality not inferior to the best German patterns in Legend. They also took care of your safety and were able to restrain the appetite of the car within reasonable limits. But when it was time to work on running characteristics, they forgot about the dimensions of Legend and forced him to go to the manner of a steep Drivers Car. At the same time, the appearance, salon and engine remained the same. It turned out a skateboard with a ride from home slippers.
Technical characteristics of Honda Legend
Dimensions, mm 4957x1845x1450
Base, mm 2800
Benzine engine type V6
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 3471
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 295/6200
Max. moment, nm/rpm 315/5000
The transmission is automatic 5-band
Tires 235/50 R17
Max. Speed, km/h 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 7.3
Fuel consumption (city/highway), l/100 km 11.9
Tank volume, l 73

Stanislav Goncharenko
Photo by Oleg Slepyan