Before Japanese automakers made a name for themselves in the U.S., the Acura
Legend was the first of a wave of overseas luxury cars to start being sold at American dealerships. But besides being the eldest American-sold luxury sedan offered by Honda’s luxury line, what made the Acura Legend such a good car? From an available stick shift transmission to a finely crafted interior, get the full scoop on one of the nicest rides available from the late 80s through the ‘90s—the Acura Legend.
The Acura Legend: One of Honda’s first luxury vehicles
MotorTrend
details how the Acura Legend helped the Japanese luxury brand make a name for itself within the U.S. and rightfully so. The Legend was first sold in 1986 and was quite the statement. For starters, the car was larger, longer, and more powerful than any Honda-produced sedan had been before. But most importantly? The Acura Legend was outfitted with fuel injection at a time when most vehicles, whether they were foreign or domestic, were still using carburetors.
The Acura line was created as a response to expensive tariffs on Japanese-produced vehicles being sold in the U.S. The higher price to ship the vehicle into the states meant that Honda needed to sell cars that could pick up on some of their lost earnings—and the answer was to step up their luxury game. They accomplished just that with the Acura Legend, defined by a responsive V6 engine and unique double-wishbone front suspension, which offered improved handling and a cushy ride.
What Happened to the Acura Legend?
MORE: How Did Acura Come to Be and Who Owns This Luxury Brand?
Honda continued to sell and produce the Acura Legend through the ‘80s to the mid-‘90s, during which the Legend was named car of the year by MotorTrend in 1987. Honda continued to refine its interior and upgraded the V6 to a heftier, 200 hp 3.2-liter engine.
However, while the Acura Legend sold 55,000 units in its first two years of production, its popularly eventually phased out; the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45 began to overtake the Legend in sales.
Are used Acura Legends worth buying?
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Definitely—and considering that foreign-produced stick shift vehicles are coming back into style, the Acura Legend could be a great deal on a moderately powered, older luxury car. Many Acuras were purchased by older drivers, so it’s possible to find a mid-‘90s model with decent mileage and a well-kept interior. Like any other used car, the Acura Legend will be experiencing nationwide inflation rates that are skyrocketing the price of used cars, so hunting for the best deal is a must.
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