Honda Legend

Honda introduced the original Legend in 1985 to break beyond the family-car image that had defined the marque. Positioned above every other model, it ushered Honda into the full-size premium segment for the first time. Even after the staggered end of production in 2021, the car remained the company’s longest-running flagship nameplate.

Throughout its life, the Legend wore three different badges depending on the market. In Japan it stayed the Honda Legend, while in North America the same platform appeared under the Acura brand, first as the Acura Legend (1986–1995) and later rebranded as the RL (1996–2012) and finally the RLX (2013–2020). Each generation delivered V6 power and top-tier equipment in an effort to compete with European executive sedans.

Across six generations, all Legends introduced Honda’s latest V6 technology—from the debut 2.5-liter C-series to subsequent 3.2- and 3.5-liter J-series engines—paired with advances such as SH-AWD torque-vectoring and early collision-mitigation systems. The platform consistently previewed technology that filtered down to the broader Honda range within a few years.

Although global production ceased in 2021, the Legend cemented Honda’s credibility in executive-level engineering and shaped the identity of the Acura brand from its inception. Its name remains synonymous with the brand’s most advanced chassis and drivetrain innovations of any era in which it was produced.