The first Legend began as a joint venture with Britain's Austin Rover — but the UK-built cars failed Honda's own quality control so often that most of the 4,409 made there ended up as in-plant transport instead of being sold.
Median 110 hp across 352 similar cars
Lead trim: C20A 2.0 L SOHC V6 (Japan, 145 PS) · up to 187 hp
Honda Legend KA1–KA6 first generationKA1-KA6 · 1985–1990
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Honda Legend KA1–KA6 first generation yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe first Legend began as a joint venture with Britain's Austin Rover — but the UK-built cars failed Honda's own quality control so often that most of the 4,409 made there ended up as in-plant transport instead of being sold.
Introduced to Japan on 22 October 1985, the first production Honda offering only a SOHC V6 worldwide, launched with the new Honda Clio dealer channel. It came from Project XX with Austin Rover Group, replacing the Rover SD1 and giving Honda a luxury car for Japan, Europe and North America (Rover version: the Sterling and later 800); only 4,409 were built in the UK, at Cowley from 1986 to 1988, and US cars were built in Japan. Front-wheel drive with a 63/37 weight bias, a pillared sedan for durability and, from 6 February 1987, a coupé with the 2.7 L V6 and rear double wishbones (sedans got them for 1989). Japanese trims were V6Xi (2.5 L) and the shorter, narrower V6Gi and V6Zi (2.0 L, to fit tax classes); the 2.5 became the 2.7 C27A for 1988. Honda firsts included a driver airbag, ABS, seat belt pre-tensioners and TCS, the first traction control on a front-drive car; drag coefficient 0.32. In October 1988 the C20A gained a variable-geometry "Wing Turbo" in the 2.0 Ti sedans (automatic only) to cut emissions rather than raise power. The Legend also inspired the Subaru Legacy; owners included Soichiro Honda and Ayrton Senna.
Collectors Spotted in the Honda Legend Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Honda Legend yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
4 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C20A 2.0 L SOHC V6 (Japan, 145 PS) | 1985–1990 | 2.0 L V6 | 143 hp | 127 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| C20A 2.0 L SOHC V6 Wing Turbo (Japan, 190 PS, from October 1988) | 1988–1990 | 2.0 L V6 | 187 hp | 178 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| C25A 2.5 L SOHC V6 (165 PS) | 1985–1988 | 2.5 L V6 | 163 hp | 156 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| C27A 2.7 L SOHC V6 (180 PS, from 1988) | 1988–1990 | 2.7 L V6 | 178 hp | 167 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Long before self-steering cars were common, this Legend could nudge itself back into its lane on the highway — but the instant your hands moved the wheel, it let go completely.
This Legend quietly became one of the first cars anywhere to make cabin air filters standard equipment — a pollen filter tucked behind the glove box, years before it was common.
Honda used this Legend as a rolling test bed for the NSX — the flagship sedan quietly carried the research and parts that shaped Honda's supercar.
The first Legend began as a joint venture with Britain's Austin Rover — but the UK-built cars failed Honda's own quality control so often that most of the 4,409 made there ended up as in-plant transport instead of being sold.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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