Acura Legend Best And Worst Years (Quick Facts!)

One of Honda’s first vehicles was the Acura Legend, which certainly lived up to its moniker.

Supplying more power and a more extensive interior.

Find out more about the legend that the Acura Legend attained.

VIDEO: 1994 Acura Legend

Acura Legend Best And Worst Years

The Acura Legend performs well between 2002 and 2004 and poorly between 1991 and 1995. Twenty-four complaints from owners throughout six model years involved transmission problems. After the 1995 model year, the Acura Legend has yet to be sold or produced, and it has also been discontinued.

Overview

Honda of Japan produces the mid-size luxury/executive sedan known as the Acura Legend. From 1985 to 1995, it was offered as both a sedan, which was categorized as a full-size car and a coupe, which was categorized as a mid-size car, in the United States and Canada under Honda’s luxury brand, Acura (similar to how the Honda Accord is set up today).

However, until 1996, when it was renamed the Acura 3.5RL, it was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura moniker. As a result, the Honda Legend from the KA9 series in North America was known as the 3.5RL.

The 1980s voluntary export limits that the Japanese government and U.S. trade negotiators established to limit sales of conventional cars gave Japanese manufacturers a chance to export more premium versions.

Due to the Legend’s and Honda’s Acura division’s initial success in taking on well-established European and American luxury automakers, Toyota and Nissan respectively created the Lexus and Infiniti brands to compete in the luxury automobile market.

How did the Acura Legend fare?

Through the 1980s and mid-1990s, Honda continued to sell and manufacture the Acura Legend, which won MotorTrend’s 1987 Car of the Year award.

Honda improved its cabin further and replaced the V6 with a larger, 200-horsepower 3.2-liter engine.

Although the Acura Legend sold 55,000 cars in its first two years of production, it was later phased out, and the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45 surpassed its sales.

The legendary The First Acura

The tiny Integra hatchback and the flagship Legend were the other two Acuras unveiled. (Like the Integra, the Legend was offered in several foreign countries as a Honda.)

The Legend sedan was a large vehicle by Honda standards; it was only slightly wider and nearly a foot longer than the current Accord.

Honda equips Acura Legend with its first V-6 engine.

A V-6 engine was hidden beneath the hood, something Honda’s American customers had never seen. With four valves per cylinder and multi-port fuel injection, though only one camshaft per cylinder head, it was a modern engine when carburetors and pushrods still powered domestic engines.

Its displacement (2.5 liters) and output (151 hp, 154 lb-ft) appear modest by today’s standards. The Legend had a four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbones up front and (perhaps paradoxically) struts out back, whereas most of the industry was employing MacPherson struts and beam axles for their front-wheel-drive automobiles.

In addition, the Legend featured a manual transmission option during its entire model life, unlike other premium vehicles that were automatic only.

The Legend received positive first reviews and was praised for its precise handling, space- and fuel efficiency, and well-designed cabin, which was upscale but not unduly ornamented.

But, of course, the Legend couldn’t be compared to many other vehicles at the time.

Acura Legend Coupe, 1987

For the 1987 model year, Acura introduced a two-door Legend coupe, and our colleagues at MotorTrend liked it so well that they named it their Import Vehicle of the Year for the year.

The coupes V-6 was bored out to 2.7 liters for ten horsepower and ten lb-ft gain. It also featured a double-wishbone rear suspension.

In 1987, a larger engine was added to the Legend sedan; in 1989, a double-wishbone rear suspension was added.

The second generation of the 1991 Acura Legend

For the 1991 model year, Acura unveiled a second-generation Legend that was utterly new. With a wheelbase and length that was six inches long, this car was more extensive and had a much sleeker design. The 3.2-liter engine produced 200 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque.

Honda installed a unique variable induction system that altered the airflow through the intake manifold in three distinct RPM-linked phases to address complaints about a lack of low-end torque.

In addition, the new Legend’s engine was situated longitudinally instead of transversely, which raised concerns about whether Acura intended to install a V-8 or all-wheel drive.

At the time, the firm declined, and neither would occur.

The End Of The Legend Of Acura

Of course, the Legend was facing opposition by this point. It is reduced price, when compared to other large Japanese luxury vehicles, received appreciation from writers, as did the fact that a manual transmission is still an option.

The lack of opulence compared to the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45 and Honda’s adamant refusal to install a V-8 engine or transfer power to the back wheels were both complaints made by numerous customers.

230 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque were added to the 1993 Legend coupe, which came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. In 1994, the sedan received this powerplant in the guise of the Legend GS.

Some stylistic alterations were also made to the 1994 versions. The Legend’s final year was 1995, and the new-for-1996) 3.5 RL took its place.

Are used Acura Legends a good investment?

Given that foreign-produced stick-shift cars are becoming increasingly popular, the Acura Legend might represent a fantastic value for a moderately powered, older luxury vehicle as many older drivers bought Acuras, obtaining a mid-1990s model with respectable mileage and a clean interior.

However, the Acura Legend may be subject to the same nationwide inflation rates driving up used car costs, so shopping around for the best value is essential.

Acura Legend Features

The first Acura to be equipped with a driver’s airbag was the Legend coupe. In 1989, it became standard on the coupe and sedan after being an option for the 1987 model year.

Despite expanding the Legend for 1991, Acura found a market for a car with the same footprint as the original Legend. The outcome was the new-for-1992 Vigor, which resembled the original Legend in size (and, possibly, style).

It was propelled by a peculiar five-cylinder engine positioned longitudinally. The second-generation ES was expanded by Lexus to roughly the same proportions, while Infiniti followed in 1992 with the similarly sized J30.

During the first three years of its manufacture, sales of the Acura Legend outpaced those of the Infiniti Q45 over its entire 18-year manufacturing cycle.

One of the 1994 stylistic updates was the large-letter spelling of the word “Legend” on the trunk lid. Because of this, the car was referred to as the “Leg End” in at least one British journal.

Purchase an Acura Legend advice.

The Acura Legend hasn’t drawn much interest from collectors, but given that it’s one of the few sizeable Japanese luxury vehicles available with a manual transmission and drives light and agilely like a Honda, they aren’t receiving the credit they deserve.

Unlike its rivals, legends are specific vehicles because Infiniti has never opted for novel high-tech features like hydraulic suspensions or four-wheel steering.

It’s okay to purchase a vehicle with high mileage, but remember that older Honda owners commonly purchased Acuras, and some gently used, low-mileage vehicles are still available.

How Safe is an Acura Legend?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Acura Legend a 5-star safety rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it an overall rating of “Good” (IIHS).

Edmunds gave the 1993 model a 3/5 driver rating and a 4/5 passenger rating, while Autoblog gave the 2006 model a 5-star rating. Moreover, Cars.com gave the 1993 model a 5-star safety rating.

Acura Legend FAQ’s

Acura Legends’ dependability?

On all fronts, it is a highly dependable vehicle, and I would suggest it to anyone. This car is still going strong after having more than 300,000 miles on it since I bought it used in 2016.

The 1991 Acura Legend is trustworthy?

The clutch and brakes of 1986–1987 automobiles, however, have frequently proved problematic. The electrical and suspension systems have been shown to require more repairs than usual. According to Consumer Reports, the 1991–1995 Legend has an almost flawless reliability track record.

When did Acura Legends debut?

From 1986 until 1995, the Acura Legend, marketed as the Honda Legend outside of the United States, Canada, and some regions of China, was a high-end car available as a sedan and a coupe. Up until 1996, when it was renamed the Acura 3.5RL, it was the first flagship sedan sold under the Acura moniker.

Is Acura Legend a high-end vehicle?

Honda of Japan produces the mid-size luxury/executive sedan known as the Acura Legend.

Why did Acura drop the Legend?

The Acura Legend gained notoriety.

Sadly, decreased sales led to its eventual discontinuation in 1995, and the Acura RL eventually took its place. But because the Legend laid the road for success for all of the Honda and Acura models created since then—and even today—they have plenty to be grateful for.