Honda Legend   Women's view

June Neary Checks Out Hondas Latest Legend

The nice thing about this job is that you get to drive cars that otherwise you might not consider. Hondas Legend for instance, a new alternative to the standard Audi A6/Mercedes E-Class/BMW 5 Series fare in the Executive saloon sector. I approached this car not knowing quite what to expect. A £36,000 price tag, all wheel drive, a powerful V6 engine and almost every item of high-tech equipment you could imagine: all were encouraging signs. I liked the styling too purposeful without being showy. The low window line bucks the current market trend for sharky wedge shapes, but the big glasshouse gives a light and airy cabin. Initial impressions then were good.

My overall feelings were that this cars cabin was slightly larger than comparable interiors in the German competition. The boot too. Inside, as I expected, it was all beautifully screwed together and in terms of actual rather than perceived quality was a notch above the class average. The metallic dashboard finish lifts the already bright cabin and the equipment count is beyond reproach.

I wont run through it all here: suffice it to say that everything you can think of is included.

The clever four-wheel drive system directs the power to the right wheel at the right time. During the wet and muddy conditions of my test, try as I might, I couldnt unsettle it, even when I resorted to starting off on full power with two wheels on a muddy grass verge. The result is a car that gives you supreme confidence in all conditions. My test car came with Hondas clever ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System) options.

ADAS is especially clever, incorporating a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology. LKAS keeps the car in the centre of its lane on potentially tiring motorway and dual carriageway journeys, while ACC ensures that it stays a safe distance behind the car in front when in cruise control mode. If all of that fails, the Collision Mitigation Braking System can actually predict an impending collision, to reduce both the impact on occupants and damage to the car. Rest to sixty takes just over seven seconds on the way to 155mph flat out.

Whatever your speed, though, there's always an impressive sense of equilibrium which even the strongest undulations or the gustiest crosswinds can't upset. The 295bhp V6 engine is mounted transversely up front and Honda have kept the cars nose relatively compact for a model that houses such a hefty powerplant. Despite the more powerful engine, the need to house the rear differential and a decrease in wheelbase of fully 110mm over the previous Legend, this latest model offers 30mm extra cabin length and 40mm of width. That represents some clever design.

Inside, as you might expect, its all beautifully screwed together and in terms of actual rather than perceived quality is a notch above the class average. The metallic dashboard finish lifts the already bright cabin and the equipment count is beyond reproach. I wont run through it all here: suffice it to say that everything you can think of is included.

Can any car priced at over £36,000 be described as good value? Discuss. It certainly doesnt offer twice as much of anything as, say, an £18,000 Honda Accord but theres no doubt that the Legend is wonderfully executed. When put into comparison with direct rivals from BMW and Mercedes it also seems to stack up quite well. There are more knobs, buttons and electronic toys to play with than in a Comet Superstore, although Honda has managed to integrate them into the fascia design without seeming brash.

Prices? Well, you pay £36,340 for the standard EX model, or £39,090 for the version with Hondas clever ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System) options.

The Honda Legend is a luxury car that will surprise almost anything who opts to give it a chance a get behind the wheel. As luxury saloons go, its an informed choice.