Honda Legend KB1 Automotive Review

KMII · 2025-09-14T17:34:33Z

Explore the Honda Legend KB1 (Acura RL) and its groundbreaking SH-AWD system. KMII's review and collector insights reveal why this innovative car struggled in Europe.

KMII

WPS member · Automotive forum

38 replies4979 views1 photos

KMII's retrospective on the Honda Legend KB1 offers a fascinating look at a car ahead of its time, particularly its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. This discussion explores why such an innovative vehicle struggled in certain markets and prompts a broader conversation among collectors about revisiting significant cars from their past. KMII's detailed account provides a valuable foundation for understanding the KB1's technological prowess and market challenges.

The KB1 generation, launched in 2004 was supposed to be Honda’s long awaited answer to the likes of Lexus and Infiniti. Which meant from the beginning that they would probably bomb in Europe, irrespective of how good they were.

While a V8 RWD was too far off the Honda beaten track, it came with a 295bhp 3,5 liter V6 and the - so Japanese - Super Handling All Wheel Drive. This was a very early proper torque vectoring setup, with up to 100% of the torque going to the appropriate rear wheel, if needed.

In addition to that it offered a decent ACC, an early noise canceling system (the car was very quiet for the era) and a proper Honda reliability.

The 3,5 liter VTEC needed to be wrung out for proper performance and the 5 speed automatic was quite a bit better than what was par for the course back in the day. For someone used to a turbocharged petrol, it lacked the heavy punch but was far from a weak point.

But the handling was truly remarkable for the time. Testing it on the same day as the same generation Audi A6 with comparable power, it felt like a decade ahead handling wise. Instead of understeer and the ESP working by applying selective braking, you just had the car accelerate the outer rear wheel for better turn-in. Too bad the test drive needed to end at some point - caning it on a selection of mountain passes is a memory I relish two decades on.

I take it the car was a financial calamity in Europe but possibly performed better in other parts of the world. There was one more generation in Japan and I suppose the nameplate died for good afterwards 🤷🏻‍♂️ A shame, really, since it always featured advanced technology (the last one was the first Level 3 self driving car in Japan).

The other day I saw a couple in the classifieds and was wondering if trying one out for a longer term exposure wouldn’t be an interesting idea - as a road trip car for instance.

Anyone else considering retrying cars from their youth? 😊

Picture from: Autocar NZ

Key Points from the Discussion

The primary reason for the Honda Legend KB1's limited success in Europe was its pricing, which put it in direct competition with established luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes, where brand prestige often outweighed technological innovation for consumers.
In the USA, the Honda Legend KB1 was marketed as the Acura RL 3.5L SH-AWD, indicating a different branding strategy for the North American market.
A concern for some drivers is whether the SH-AWD system on the KB1 (Acura RL) would revert to front-wheel drive for efficiency during constant-speed highway cruising, potentially compromising steering feel, a common characteristic of FWD vehicles.
The discussion around revisiting past cars often encounters modern obstacles such as increasing road taxes, insurance costs, and the overall expense of maintaining older vehicles, especially in regions like the UK.
KMII notes that some modern electric vehicles, specifically Teslas, have exhibited significant reliability issues and poor aftersales service in fleet environments, with anecdotes of infotainment failures and window operation glitches.
The era of dedicated performance hot hatches and sedans, particularly from Japanese and French manufacturers, is nearing its end, with models like the Civic Type R, Megane RS, and Clio RS either in their final iterations or already discontinued.

The Discussion

Marc Obermann

Sep 14, 2025

If I remember correctly the biggest problem had nothing to do with how the car looked or drove it was quite simply the price, people didn't want to say "My cars a Honda" when for the same or similar money they could drive a BMW or Mercedes. On the question of thinking about getting a car from my past the thought comes up quite often, but then I see the prices of the cars I would like, the silly new road tax in the UK and insurance and realise the government is trying really hard to stop us ownin

Dr No

Sep 14, 2025

. . . and a free spot in the garage there will be a muscle Mopar on my insurance policy. First choice? 'Cuda. The visit to Huntington Beach Chrysler Plymouth in 1970 with Dad seeing dozens of 'Cudas on the lot is burned in my memory. Art

KMII

Sep 14, 2025

But as you said - few people would want to defend their choice in a golf club, ruining the car’s chances before it even saw the market 🤷🏻‍♂️ I hear what you’re saying - most exciting cars from the era have gone through the roof price wise in the last years 🤷🏻‍♂️

KMII

Sep 14, 2025

Looking really good - hope it joins you soon 🤞🏻

Dr No

Sep 14, 2025

. . . and I'll probably have to settle for an earlier A-body version. But either would float my boat.

patrick_y

Sep 14, 2025

In the USA, this car was called the Acura RL 3.5L SH-AWD. I've never driven one, but I have been a passenger. Seemed like a nice car. My fear is that the car will revert to FWD when it senses you're going to be driving at a constant speed in fifth gear - does this car do this for efficiency? This would potentially numb out the steering feel? I've never owned an FWD car, only RWD cars, but have had them as rental cars, and they always have a numb steering rack. I'm looking forward to the next Por

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