Sedans have always been my weakness. Back in the day, my father drove a Volga, and that was the ultimate dream back then. For me, the word "car" has always been associated with the classic silhouette: hood, cabin, and trunk. So my choice was corresponding — VAZ-2108, Passat B5 wagon, and Renault Clio hatchback. A sedan, and nothing else! Honda's advertising is, of course, brilliant; it was impossible to ignore. Oh, if only I could come up with something like that someday... And their cars turn out no worse than their commercials. That's it, decided: Honda! Power of dreams? Exactly, I need dreams, and preferably for them to come true.
I went online to study the model lineup. And there it is, the candidate — the new Civic, a small to mid-size sedan. Looks decent, the engine is suitable, the interior is nice. And the price is acceptable — $19,900. I already found a buyer for the Clio, and I've saved up some money. Time to get it. Just in case, I polled my friends. And they all said in unison: "Are you crazy?! What sedan? Have you seen the new Civic hatchback? Now that's a real eyestopper!" Yes, I've seen it, I've seen it! And I read the test.
Alright, I think: "Maybe forget the sedan? The hatch has barely less space, but the interior — well, it's just a beauty salon, and of unearthly beauty. And outside — a real spaceship! And by the way, in kindergarten I dreamed of becoming a cosmonaut..." Oh well, here goes nothing, I'll take it! Only it costs, the rascal, over seven thousand more than the sedan, if in the version with the glass roof. But my girlfriend immediately declared — she's giving up her fur coat and a trip to the sea, just so the roof is transparent. Romance, you know! Fine — art demands sacrifice. I'll manage...
I waited for the weekend and went to the showroom to see the car in person and take a test drive. Looked, drove. Yes, yes, yes, I like it, I'll take it! $27,300 with me. I tell the salesman: "Well, dear comrade, sell me this wonderful alien hyperboloid quickly!" And he, all polite and pleasant, replies: "And when would it be convenient for you to pick up the car — next November, or better in December, just in time for New Year 2008?" What-what? The queue stretches for a year?! Oh my god...
I went outside, shed a tear, cursed. Went back in to see what else they had. There's an FR-V minivan. Cool, but why do I need a bus now? Oh-oh, and who's that over there? I approach — well, well, familiar faces! It's him, the Honda Accord, the hero of the gear commercial! I look — it's only $1,100 more than the Civic, and looks more solid. Call a friend: "Vlad, there's an Accord here, a bit more expensive than the Civic. Maybe take it? The engine is a full 2 liters." — "Nah, 2 liters is just POS material. A real Accord has a 2.4-liter engine, like the Type-S!"
Alright, show me the Type-S... And what do you know, not bad! A racy body kit, leather-suede seats. Impressive. How much? $32,900. Fine, I'll take a loan. Wait, what's that handsome guy hiding over there — all metallic, with a sunroof, light leather interior, and power seats? What? Executive trim for $37,300? Who cares, I'm already getting a loan. Better to have this one. Who put it in the corner like that so I almost missed it? Oh, I'd give our BTL director a piece of my mind about their merchandisers...
I get to work, and there's a surprise! The boss calls me in and informs me that I've been promoted and now I'm the new head of our working group. Heh-heh, who would doubt it! Though, I admit, I didn't think it would happen so fast... Well, whatever, now the Accord is both fitting for my status and within my budget. Let the media planners drive the Civic. I even forgot somehow that the car ended up costing twice as much as planned. Driving home in the evening, I look, and there are Accords on the roads like billboards on Kutuzovsky. And my friends "cheered me up" by informing me, just in case, that the Accord is one of the most stolen cars in Moscow...
Oh, forget you all! And what's insurance for? That's it, I've had enough! I got the money ready and went to the showroom for the Accord Executive. I walk in. I take a step forward, then two back. There's some unusual sedan at the entrance. The front reminds me of the Accord, but it's way too big. I walk around, look. Honda Legend. New model! So there are almost none on the roads. Great! All-wheel drive, powerful engine, luxurious interior. And it doesn't look as flashy as Audi, BMW, or Mercedes — they won't give me sideways looks at work. How much does it cost? Who cares at this point, honestly! Maybe consult with friends and colleagues? No, I've already annoyed them so much with my car problems that they'll soon stop talking to me. $69,000. A 3-year loan with a large down payment. I'll take it! Over the week of gathering and processing documents, I came to terms with everything. 70 grand instead of the planned 20? So what? My self-esteem, by the way, has grown much more in that time.
And finally, I'm behind the wheel of the Honda Legend! And what's so special about it, this most advanced Honda sedan? "Luxury of technology" — banners and magazine layouts scream. Yes, I like the powerful engine — a 3.5-liter "six" that herds a herd of 295 "horses." I don't know if it belongs to luxury or technology, but it easily lets you overtake boldly or be first off the line! Even the "mere" 5-speed automatic with stretched gears doesn't bother me — there's so much power that you don't notice any of that. Top speed — 250 km/h.
And there's also all-wheel drive with the long and boring name SH-AWD. You know how that stands for? What, you don't know and don't want to know? I'll tell you anyway — Super Handling All Wheel Drive. And the key word here is Super. This clever thing knows itself how, where, and when to distribute engine torque. And so there's no doubt that it works and what it's actually doing, it can constantly show you a "work report" on a small screen under the speedometer. So, let's see: the right front wheel is getting this much torque, and the left rear — that much. Aha, great, it'd be nice to still have time to watch the road. Fine, do what you want, I'll focus on driving. And the Legend really does handle Super! Where are you "leaning" so hard in the corner, you've got two tons in you! Did you mistake yourself for a sports car? But no, everything's fine — quick and precise responses, excellent handling and brakes. And that same SH-AWD makes the car slightly "turn in" with torque in corners. Super! The main thing is not to fall out of the saddle; fortunately, the seats are helpers, they hold well.
To study the buttons, levers, and switches scattered throughout the cabin, you need more than an hour and at least two higher educations. And once you do that, you can count on a doctoral degree. But I'm in no hurry. So, what's this scattering of buttons on the center console? Aha, that's how the climate control is managed. And what's this? Aha, got it, the power seats and steering column whirred. And what's this unusual little lever? Onboard computer control? Folding the rear sunshade? Ah-ah-ah, it's the door handle! How unusual. There's also a rearview camera. On the big central display, you can see everything happening behind — sneaking a banana into my exhaust pipe unnoticed won't work.
The same big screen also shows all the readings of the onboard multimedia system. All secondary functions are controlled by a large joystick. At first, this causes bewilderment and irritation. Why make it so complicated; did I buy a car to solve puzzles? For example, to add "bass" to the stereo, you have to wade through the thorns of several menus and submenus. It's clear, of course, that I'll get used to everything and then it'll all take seconds. But still, I'd rather put my mental and analytical abilities to use at work than fiddling with this interface. Speaking of music: 10 Bose speakers, subwoofer, 8-channel amplifier, 6-disc DVD changer. A whole orchestra, and a very well-coordinated one at that! Maybe that's why the menu is so confusing, so only a true audiophile can get to it? So to speak, so only the "worthy" can listen to it?
| Specifications | $69000 |
|---|---|
| External dimensions | |
| Overall length, mm | 4957 |
| Overall width, mm | 1845 |
| Overall height, mm | 1450 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2800 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 145 |
| Weight | |
| Curb weight, kg | 1860 |
| Maximum permissible weight, kg | 2310 |
| Maximum permissible trailer weight (with/without brake system), kg | 1600/750 |
| Dynamic characteristics | |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 250 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h, s | 7.3 |
| Fuel consumption | |
| Fuel type | AI 95 or higher |
| Urban cycle, l/100km | 17.0 |
| Extra-urban cycle, l/100km | 8.9 |
| Combined cycle, l/100km | 11.9 |
| Capacities | |
| Fuel tank capacity, l | 73 |
| Trunk capacity VDA, l | 452 |
| Engine | |
| Maximum power, kW (hp)/rpm | 217(295)/6200 |
| Maximum torque, Nm/rpm | 351/5000 |
| Engine type | V6 petrol, 4-stroke liquid-cooled with overhead camshaft |
| Valve drive system | SOHC VTEC |
| Displacement, cm3 | 3 471 |
| Fuel supply system | Electronic fuel injection |
| Exhaust system | 3-stage purification, exhaust gas recirculation system |
| Red zone / rev limiter, rpm | 6800/6900 |
| Transmission | |
| Automatic gearbox | Torque converter with lock-up clutch |
| Transmission type | 5-speed automatic |
| Suspension | |
| Front | Independent, double wishbone, with coil springs |
| Rear | Independent, multi-link, with coil springs |
| Brake system | |
| Front | Ventilated disc |
| Rear with ABS | Ventilated disc |
| Tire size | |
| Front | 235/50R17 100W |
| Rear | 235/50R17 100W |
| Wheel diameter / type | |
| Front/rear | 17 X 8J |
| Type | Alloy |
- Country of manufacture Japan
- Engine model V6 3.5L SOHC VTEC
- 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability
- Compliance with EURO 4 environmental standards
- Navigation system (compass)
- Active headlight adjustment system (AFS) [cornering lights]
- Cruise control
- Rear view camera when reversing
- 4-spoke multifunction steering wheel
- Electric steering wheel adjustment for height and reach
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Paddle shifters on the steering column
- Metal decorative inserts
- High-quality BOSE audio system with 10 speakers AM/FM/RDS/6DVD-Audio/MP3/WMA
- Leather seat upholstery
- Power adjustment (8 directions) for driver and front passenger seats
- Electric lumbar support adjustment for front seats
- Memory for two settings of steering wheel and driver's seat
- Rear pocket on driver and front passenger seats
- Heated front seats
- Three rear headrests
- Folding rear seat
- Access to trunk through rear armrest compartment. Lockable with key
- Retractable cup holders for rear passengers
- Hands Free with Bluetooth technology
- Active noise cancellation system throughout the cabin
- Keyless entry. Trunk lock release
- Power sunroof with close button
- Rear power sunshade
- 2 sunshades for rear passengers
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Illuminated vanity mirror for driver and front passenger
- Rain sensor
- Light sensor
- Lockable glove box
- Dual-zone climate control with separate adjustment of upper and lower flows. Adjusts depending on sun position
- Leather-wrapped gear shift lever
- Wooden decorative trim on front panel
- Wooden decorative trim on side panels
- Metal door sill plates
- Multifunction joystick on center panel
- Power windows for all doors with automatic mode
- Electric door locking
- Sunroof power button lock
- Power window button lock
- Trunk lid opening device
- Fuel filler lid opening device
- Cup holder
- Center armrest, leather-wrapped
- Compartment in center armrest with two covers
- Ashtray for driver and front passenger
- Two rear ashtrays for rear passengers
- Cigarette lighter
- Multi-information display
- Outside temperature sensor
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), including ABS and Traction Control System (TCS)
- Brake Assist system
- Intelligent airbag system for driver and front passenger
- Intelligent side airbag system
- Side curtain airbags (front and rear)
- Pop Up Hood system for enhanced pedestrian safety
- Five three-point seat belts with pretensioners
- Front belts with height-adjustable shoulder point
- ISO-FIX child seat attachment system with three fixing points
- Instrument panel illumination level adjuster
- Door lighting/mirror lighting
- Dual trunk lighting
- Reading lamps for rear passengers
- Xenon cornering headlights AFL
- Front fog lights
- Additional LED stop light at top rear
- Rear LED fog light
- Sunstrip on windshield (green with blue tint halfway)
- Headlight washers
- Water-repellent coating on front side windows
- Front strut brace
- Side moldings, chrome and body-colored
- LED turn signal repeaters
- Asferic, electrically adjustable, folding, treated with special water-repellent solution, auto-dimming heated side mirrors. Automatically tilt down when reversing
- Factory alarm system
- Electronic immobilizer with floating code
- Tires 235/50R17 100W
Car for test provided by
official representative LLC “Honda Motor RUS”. Behind the scenes
