Overview & Reviews
It takes confidence to name a car the Legend. If it had been forgettable with nothing legendary about it, Acura could have found itself derided for the irony. It would have forever become the butt of automotive jokes, or worse, part of an Alanis Morissette song. Luckily for Honda's luxury division, its bravado paid off with the Acura Legend, a car that's still held in high regard years after it bowed out in favor of an ironically forgettable replacement.
The Acura Legend was launched in 1986 alongside the Integra sport hatchback to create the Acura brand in North America. Actually co-developed with British automaker Rover (which named its version of the car the Sterling 825), the Legend -- available in sedan and coupe body styles -- was immediately a hit among consumers and reviewers alike.
Through its fledgling Acura brand, Honda successfully blended its penchant for reliability and engine expertise with luxury features previously unavailable in a car wearing the H badge. The second-generation Legend raised the bar even further and its introduction for 1991 saw the debut of Acura's own insignia -- a flipped Honda H with the top pinched to make an A -- that solidified the brand as more of a stand-alone entity.
When Acura discontinued the Legend name in favor of a new alphanumeric naming scheme for its latest luxury sedan, it unfortunately coincided with a drop in style and driving passion that had made the Legend such a success. The Legend's replacement, the RL, was certainly more luxurious and just as reliable, but hardly exciting.
As such, the Legend represents a '90s-era high point of Acura luxury sedan and coupe design. For used-vehicle shoppers, most Legends are getting up there in terms of miles but are still very viable choices.
Most Recent Acura Legend
The second-generation Acura Legend was produced from 1991-'95. The sedan was initially offered in base, L and LS trim levels, while the coupe stuck with L and LS throughout its run. The Legend's core engine was a 3.2-liter V6 making 200 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. In 1993, coupes jumped to 230 hp and upgraded their manual transmission to a six-speed, while all Legends gained dual airbags.
In 1994 a new top-of-the-line GS sedan debuted with the stronger engine and larger 16-inch wheels. The base sedan was dropped, and all Legends added a new grille, bumpers and a power steering wheel that could finally tilt as well as telescope. Its final year, 1995, saw the addition of a limited-production SE sedan with slight cosmetic distinctions.
As with all Acuras, options were limited. An automatic transmission, CD changer and an upgraded Bose stereo were the rare à la carte choices, with leather an option on lower trim levels. Standard equipment included dual front airbags, antilock brakes, alloy wheels, full power accessories, a power driver seat with memory, a sunroof and steering-wheel audio controls. Traction control, keyless entry, heated seats, a power passenger seat and two-tone paint were among the standard items on the upper trim levels.
The Legend was not only good-looking and well-equipped, but rewarding to drive as well. Performance was strong, particularly with the more powerful V6 found on some of the later models. The interior was well-constructed and attractive, toeing the line between luxury and sport. However, headroom was iffy for taller drivers, and the backseat was a little skimpy on legroom due to the Legend's rare longitudinal engine layout. The coupe's rear quarters were even more cramped, though that's typical for two-doors.
Although most Acura Legends on the road now have high mileage, its reputation for consistently strong reliability makes well-maintained examples an excellent choice.
Past Acura Legend models
The original, slightly smaller Acura Legend was produced from 1986-'90 and available in coupe and sedan body styles. These cars set the precedent for future Acuras with high feature content, quality engineering and impeccable reliability.
User Reviews:
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This is the BEST!! - 1994 Acura Legend
By slkman99 - October 5 - 2:00 amWoW! This car is utterly amazing! Im a car dealer and Ive driven other cars such as BMW 328i Sedan, Audi A4, Honda Accord, Mercedes E320, & Acura 3.2 TL (2002). NONE of those cars measure up to what the Legend offers. The Legend has quality that is UNSURPASSED! I have loved mine since day one and I have NO intentions on ever selling this car. Even if I win the lottery and become one of the richest people in America, I will still park my 1994 Acura Legend L Sedan next to my Ferrari F40 & Bentley Arnage Turbo in my garage.
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dude - 1995 Acura Legend
By dudelove - September 23 - 2:00 ambest car evver made!!
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Great car! - 1993 Acura Legend
By its_me - September 20 - 2:00 amPurchased this car new. Mechanically has never had a down day. 220 HP is quite fast Leather seats are very comfortable Excellent visibility Dual airbags Lots of legroom This is a lot of luxury car for <$10K in todays used car market
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Legend #2 - 1993 Acura Legend
By sailor2 - September 20 - 2:00 amNow I have 2 Legend coupes in my driveway. The first, an 87 with 196,000 miles is still going strong and is as much fun to drive as when it was new. This 93 however has so much more pep with 235hp instead of 161. That combined with the 6 speed transmission instead of 5 makes this car flat-out haul! I have never driven a car that combines luxury and performance the way the manual transmission Legend coupes do. What was Acura thinking when they dropped the line? At least theyre bringing back the 6 speed stick. My wife will never understand the joy I get from just aimlessly driving around.
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1995 Acura Legend Sedan - 1995 Acura Legend
By MrSmitty - September 19 - 2:00 amGreat car for the money! Change oil, new tires - thats it!
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My best vehicle yet - 1993 Acura Legend
By Zak - September 8 - 2:00 amThis has by far been the best and most reliable car I have driven over the past 30 years! It is fun to drive, it performs outstandingly, and is the most beautiful body design, even after almost ten years of driving. What a shame that Accura decided to change something this close to perfection! The only complaint I have is that the sun visor partially disrupts front view.
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The Best Car I have ever owned - 1992 Acura Legend
By jaru - August 15 - 2:00 amI purchase this car new in October of 1992 and it has been a joy to own. I have owned new Buicks, Cadillacs, and Mercedes. But this car has been the greater value than all the rest.
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If you buy one, get the GS!!! - 1994 Acura Legend
By nickikingcobra - August 13 - 2:00 amThis is the finest automobile I have ever owned. I bought an automatic equipted sedan (only because the 6 speed is so hard to come by) and though I miss the smooth shifts that I experience in my Accord coupe, the 230 horsepower type II 3.2L V6 more than makes up for it. I love pulling up to stop lights and leaving unsuspecting sport-compacts in the dust! The car pulls hard and sounds great doing it. I much prefer the Legend to its replacement, the Acura 3.5 RL. The Legend GS feels much sportier.
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Fantastic! - 1993 Acura Legend
By Monz - August 12 - 2:00 amBest car I ever had. Bought used and is very low maintenance... Powerful, fun, luxurious and still love my car even after four years. I will always have an Acura in my driveway!!!
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They cant all be winners - 1990 Acura Legend
By ceo_mr_man - August 11 - 2:00 amEvery time I drive this car, I wish I hadnt bought it. It had 145,000 miles, so I expected to make some repairs. Ive replaced the motor, the master cylinder, the alternator, the radio, some calipers, and inumerable other things. Its on its third transmission. The power seat is stuck, the seat memory broke, the ABS motor is shot, the power windows are broken, and the power antenna is stuck down. The A/C compressor is dead, the vent only vents hot air, and the car reeks of exhaust when the windows are down, as they have to be, given the above problems. There are too many more things wrong with this car to list. Oh, and its rusting out badly.
