To the record! / Honda test drives

Demand for this model remained low for a number of reasons. Among the main ones are the inflated price tag, the lack of choice of trim levels, and a design that could boast neither American nor Japanese charm. The car looked rather dull, although under the hood there was a technically advanced filling.
The key feature was all-wheel drive. The SH-AWD system, developed under the leadership of the famous transmission guru from Honda, Yasugi Shibahata, was noticeably ahead of its time. Today, such technologies will not surprise anyone, but a few years ago, only Mitsubishi and Nissan could compete with Honda in this field.

They decided not to touch the all-wheel drive — and rightly so. Super Handling All-Wheel Drive still does its job perfectly. On dry surfaces, it does its best to keep the car on the intended trajectory, promptly redistributing torque between the wheels. This setup is enough for a large business-class sedan to demonstrate almost neutral handling, which commands respect. It is convenient to observe the system's operation through a separate monitor in the instrument panel: the bars clearly show where and in what volume the newton-meters are directed. Thanks to this, driving on asphalt behind the wheel of a Honda turns into a fascinating process.

But as soon as you drive onto ice or packed snow, SH-AWD seems to slip you a completely different car. It's like a business version of the Lancer Evo X: comfortable, spacious, and quiet, but at the same time fantastically controllable in drifts. It is enough just to turn off the stability system. Unfortunately for Honda, in Russia there were few enthusiasts ready to buy a large sedan only because of the advanced all-wheel drive. That is why the restyling was prepared.

The designers transformed the puffy appearance of the previous Legend with bold strokes. Sharp lines of the headlights at the front and rear, a daring radiator grille, fresh bumpers, and new wheels. The front fog lights were made in the spirit of the Civic — triangular in shape. The car seemed to have pulled itself together and lost excess weight. The fact that it has now become a copy of the overseas Acura RL worries few of us — there are even fewer such Acuras in Russia than Legends. Has the exterior become fresher? Undoubtedly, but only when viewed from three-quarters front or rear. From the side, the car still looks a bit dull and old-fashioned.

The interior was also updated, but not significantly. All the differences will be noticed only by the owner of the pre-restyling version. I admit, even after the update, the interior lags behind the times. It has its own zest and interesting solutions, but in comparison with competitors in the premium business class, Honda is unlikely to withstand the onslaught of the "Germans" and luxury "Japanese." Nevertheless, the updated Legend is to my liking. The engine was increased by 200 "cubes." It still produces 295 hp, but the torque has grown by 20 Nm. This means additional elasticity has appeared!

That's right — acceleration to a hundred became faster by 0.2 seconds. The "automatic" was also tightened up. It remained five-speed, but works smoother and a bit more agile. Legend, like any Honda (except perhaps large crossovers and pickups), loves fast driving. The driver's character manifests itself through a resilient suspension and good dynamics. But at the same time, the steering wheel feels "long" and not the most transparent, and the seats are soft and not at all sporty. A battle of contradictions? In a sense, yes. On one side of the scale — phenomenal all-wheel drive, an excellent engine, and a decent suspension. On the other — an outdated five-speed "automatic," an unequivocally comfortable interior without sporting frills, and vague steering.

Who is this cocktail created for? Apparently, for loyal Honda fans. It seems to me that even with a fresher appearance, the Legend in its current generation is unlikely to pose serious competition to the eminent rivals in our market. However, it is definitely capable of beating the "sales records" of its predecessor.