1991-1995 Acura Legend: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
Reviews & Ratings
Pricing
Explore
Specifications & Safety
Related to Acura Legend
Related Reviews
View Another Vehicle
Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1991-1995 Acura Legend and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Acceleration
- Passenger and cargo room
- Antilock brakes
- Instruments/controls
- Steering/handling
Cons
- Fuel economy
- Automatic-transmission performance
- Driver seating
- Rear-seat room (coupe)
Vehicle Highlights
Larger than prior Legends, the second generation of Acura's upmarket front-drive sedan debuted after the start of the '91 model year. A coupe soon followed on a shorter wheelbase, in L and luxury LS trim. Sedans came in three trim levels: base, L, and LS. Exterior and interior designs were evolutionary, but outer body panels were thicker than before, and more were galvanized for corrosion protection. All models have antilock braking. Antiroll bars grew in thickness, engines now used hydraulic front mounts, and rear brake discs were enlarged. LS Legends for 1991 included a passenger-side airbag; other models had one for the driver only.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Acura Legend LS sedan Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 7 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 5 | |
| Quietness | 7 | |
| Controls/Materials | 7 | |
| Interior Room | 7 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 5 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 8 | |
| Total Score: | 61 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1991-1995 Acura Legend. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1991-1995 Acura Legend.
Year to Year Changes
1992 Acura Legend:
L and LS models had both driver- and passenger-side airbags and seatbelt pretensioners for 1992. Cupholders found their way into the central console.
1993 Acura Legend:
The base sedan added a passenger-side airbag in '93, making that safety feature standard across the board. Alterations for '93 aimed at smoother automatic-transmission shifts. Coupes arrived after the start of the model year, gaining a 6-speed manual transmission and 30 more horsepower. Coupes also got Legend's first traction-control system, plus 215/55VR16 high-performance tires. Sedans stuck with the less-potent engine.
1994 Acura Legend:
A high-performance GS sedan with a 230-horsepower engine and 6-speed gearbox joined for '94, borrowing some features from the LS coupe, as the base sedan faded. All Legends got a freshening, including a restyled grille and front bumpers, plus a power tilt/telescopic steering column.
1995 Acura Legend:
The 1995 Legend was a carryover with minimal change.
Our road test for the 1991-1995 Acura Legend includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1991-1995 Acura Legend and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1991-1995 Acura Legend is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
The higher-powered V6 engine in these Legends yields quick acceleration, but gas mileage is no bonus. Our tests ranged from 16-18 mpg in urban driving to the low 20s on the highway. Despite the momentary ignition-retard setup of the automatic transmission, midrange downshifts in earlier models still border on harsh and can get rough under hard acceleration. Performance also slips quite a bit with automatic. Ride quality is smoother and more absorbent than before. The taut ride is never harsh, but falls short of the suppleness displayed by some European rivals. Though stable, it can get harsh and abrupt over rough surfaces. Handling earns high marks, nearly like that of a sports car. Quick turns bring some body lean, but grip, balance, and control are laudable. Standard antilocking makes the brakes feel strong and secure. Though roomier in back than before, this is still essentially a spacious 4-seater. Front-seat occupants might lack head room with the sunroof, or find that the early nontilting, telescoping steering wheel crowds one's thighs. Leg room in the coupe's back seat is scant, and long doors hamper access. Trunks are hardly huge, but have a flat floor and handy bumper-height opening. Instruments and controls are logical, with a feather-touch feel.
Value for the Money
Sporty manners, copious luxury (on LS), worthy workmanship, and stout construction help the Legend rival some more costly premium automobiles--including those from Infiniti and Lexus.
Sporty manners, copious luxury (on LS), worthy workmanship, and stout construction help the Legend rival some more costly premium automobiles--including those from Infiniti and Lexus.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Acura Legend LS sedan Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 7 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 5 | |
| Quietness | 7 | |
| Controls/Materials | 7 | |
| Interior Room | 7 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 5 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 8 | |
| Total Score: | 61 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Acura Legend includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Acura Legend .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Audio system:
If the remote volume control doesn't work, or there is static when the remote is used, the volume control motor inside the radio is bad. (1991-92)
Cruise control:
The cruise control may not engage due to a faulty actuator. (1994)
Engine noise:
Carbon buildup on the piston rings may cause piston slap. The fix is to clean the carbon using GM Top Engine Cleaner sucked in by way of a vacuum port on the throttle body. (1991-95)
Glovebox:
The glovebox light stays on because the switch plunger is too short, requiring an extension cap over the plunger to prevent a dead battery. (1991-92)
Poor transmission shift:
Debris collects on the screen in the engine's air intake causing poor acceleration (all models) or lack of upshift (automatic transmission) at full throttle. (1991-94)
Security alarm:
The security alarm may not deactivate with the key in the driver's door, which sets off the alarm. Turning the key again may disarm it. (1991-95)
Steering noise:
Telescopic steering columns may groan when the wheel is turned because there is not enough lubrication on the column. (1991-95)
Steering problems:
The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) tends to fail, but a repair kit has been released so that the whole power steering assembly need not be replaced. (1991-94)
Steering problems:
Steering may be difficult during parking maneuvers due to a problem with the vehicle speed sensor in the power steering unit. (1991-94)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $715 |
| Alternator | $360 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,005 |
| Brakes | $200 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $965 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $555 |
| Exhaust System | $810 |
| Radiator | $530 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $895 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $300 |
Our price chart for this generation Acura Legend details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1995 | |||
| Legend coupe | $3,300-4,000 | $2,600-3,200 | $800-1,000 |
| Legend sedan | $2,800-3,500 | $2,100-2,600 | $600-800 |
| 1994 | |||
| Legend coupe | $2,700-3,400 | $2,000-2,600 | $600-700 |
| Legend sedan | $2,300-3,000 | $1,700-2,200 | $400-600 |
| 1993 | |||
| Legend coupe | $2,200-2,800 | $1,600-2,000 | $400-500 |
| Legend sedan | $1,800-2,400 | $1,200-1,600 | $300-400 |
| 1992 | |||
| Legend coupe | $1,900-2,500 | $1,300-1,700 | $300-400 |
| Legend sedan | $1,500-2,000 | $1,000-1,300 | $200-300 |
| 1991 | |||
| Legend coupe | $1,600-2,200 | $1,100-1,500 | $200-300 |
| Legend sedan | $1,300-1,900 | $800-1,200 | $200 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Acura Legend include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door coupe | 4-door sedan |
| Wheelbase, in. | 111.4 | 114.6 |
| Overall Length, in. | 192.5 | 194.9 |
| Overall Width, in. | 71.3 | 71.3 |
| Overall Height, in. | 53.5 | 55.1 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3516 | 3516 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 14.1 | 14.8 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.3 | 38.5 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.9 | 42.7 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 35.9 | 36.5 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 28.7 | 33.5 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Second-generation Legends carried a larger (3.2-liter) aluminum V6 engine than their predecessor, with four valves per cylinder and sequential multipoint fuel injection. Now, however, it was mounted longitudinally instead of transversely. Horsepower rose by 25 percent, to 200, while torque output reached 210 pound-feet (a 30-percent gain). New distributorless direct ignition used one coil per spark plug. Legends may have a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, which added momentary ignition-retard for smoother shifts. Coupe engines gained 30 horsepower in 1993, and a GS sedan adopted that engine a year later.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohc V6 | 3.2 / 196 | 200 | 210 | 5-speed manual: 18/25 4-speed automatic: 19/24 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 19.2 |
| ohc V6 | 3.2 / 196 | 230 | 206 | 6-speed manual: 18/26 4-speed automatic: 18/23 |
6-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 20.2 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Acura Legend include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1995 Legend |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 3 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 4 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1991-1995 Acura Legend directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1991 sedan:
Transmission-shift-cable bracket can be damaged and shift lever may not correctly indicate gear position.
1991-92 w/Bose audio:
A transistor in the speaker amplifier could overheat, resulting in smoke or the possibility of a fire.
1992:
Passenger-side airbag assembly in small number of cars was produced without igniter material, which would cause nondeployment or slow deployment in case of collision.
Car Buying Resources
Search
Local Listings
Vehicle
History Report
FREE CARFAX Record Check
Looking at a used car, check for costly hidden problems before
you buy.
