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:

Showing 241 through 250 of 273.00

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  Thanks Mom - 1990 Acura Legend
  By Cinciman - July 28 - 2:00 am

  My mother in law sold me her ride for $1. Thanks Mom! I cant believe that the car has only 160 hp. It is so fast and the passing power is incredible. Reliability is great. The car was in a really bad front end accident in 94 and it must have been perfectly rebuilt. I cant tell. Moms dog tore up the rear leather seats because they were dry rotted. Rust in all the typical Legend areas. Otherwise this car used is better than most new cars that cost $20,000. Even newer Acuras arent this nice inside.

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  Loved It - 1995 Acura Legend
  By Decksmooth - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Overall, I loved this car, but there were a few problems. I bought the car with 45000 miles. The transmission started to go at 92000. I sold it at 102000 and got top $ thanks to Edmunds even though the tranny was bad. One more complaint-- while backing out of the driveway after snowplows had created a small to medium snowbank, the front bumper snapped off completely. The directional lights (located in the bumper) conveniently disconnected with minimal damage The body shop guy told me it was designed to happen that way during head-on collisions. He ordered a new piece to reconnect the bumper & $200 later I was back on the road with the same bumper.

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  1994 Acura Legend- buttery ride - 1994 Acura Legend
  By Rickster - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Get compliments every week on how good this car looks... from strangers. White is best color w/toupe interior. The buttery/smooth drive is really great. I have 150K+ miles on it. Needed new transmisssion last year, but that is uncommon. Acura dealerships really provide great service and good value.

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  Wont find a better used car - 1990 Acura Legend
  By jds1990coupe - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Ive got a 1990 Acura Coupe LS [and a 1990 Coupe L] with about 168,000 miles on it. It had around 149,000 when I purchased it. The mechanical design of the car is great and it has proven to be very reliable. Replacement parts are more expensive, but then you dont have to replace them all of the time. If you can do some simple repairs/maintenance on your own you will benefit greatly. Styling design is awesome, as people think im driving a mid-90s car. That says a lot for a 12 year old car. The 5speeds are a kick to drive and if you can find one get it.

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  Driving pleasure - 1995 Acura Legend
  By gs4amg - July 11 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle was well-maintained by the previous owner, and had low mileage. It is one of the few six-speeds made in 95. Acceleration and handling are outstanding. For highway driving the fuel economy (28 mpg) is terrific. The interior leather shows wear. Were it not for the absolutely horrible BOSE stereo in the car, a recall candidate if there ever was one, this car would be a 10. It is a wonderful car to drive. My only regret is that I live so close to where I work.

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  The Legend.... - 1990 Acura Legend
  By xtecnro - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I believe that the Acura Legends where the best car ever made. The name goes great with the reliability and smoothness of the ride. Who can forget such a car? Plus, the structure of the car is still looking good today. The look is still up to date with the other cars in the new 2000 era. Although the interior may not be excellent, (which can always be modified) the exterior and the engine make the car live up to its name....."Legend".....and thats exactly what this car is, a legend. I give it 2 thumbs up!

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  91 Coupe L 5 Speed - 1991 Acura Legend
  By Daddy O - July 5 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for almost 2.5 years and have had very few maintenance items. I personally have had to replace the master cylinder, clutch, and radiator which was my fault for not filling it up properly. Overall I have probably put about $1000 into the car. Thats remarkable when you consider it is over 10 years old has 165,000 miles on it.

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  Still lovin it after 6 years - 1994 Acura Legend
  By cstien - July 4 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our car as a 2-year old and still love everything about it, 6 years later. There have been no major mechanical problems. We chose the tone on tone trim package which was a great choice. Ive notice that other 94 models with the black trim look tired compared to my color combo. The paint still looks great and with 123,000 miles on it, it still runs like a top. This is a keeper til the wheels fall off!

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  Great Car - 1992 Acura Legend
  By Theblessed_1 - July 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is a great car. I have known about Hondas reliablity for a very long time. I have seen many of the Legends on the road and they caught my attention very quickly. I then wanted one very much. I got a deal on one, and I do not regret the choice at all. My advice to anyone who is considering purchasing this vehicle.....DO IT !

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  Best used to car to buy - 1990 Acura Legend
  By jds1990coupe - July 3 - 2:00 am

  The car has been great. Ive added plenty of mods to it for fun purposes but the stock parts never failed. All that the thing requires is regular maintenance and a car cover [That Texas Sun fades paint fast]. The 5spd is great to drive: fun, fast, handles well. My only knock on it is that gas mileage isnt great for the size/weight of the car and it being a 2.7L [23mpg]. Parts are more expensive to replace than say, domestic cars but they last longer too.