1991-1995 Acura Legend Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Acura Legend. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Acura Legend.

1991-1995 Acura Legend Review

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.

Year to Year Changes

1992 Acura Legend: L and LS models had a both driver- and passenger-side airbag 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.

1991-1995 Acura Legend Road Test

Pros	Cons

Antilock brakes	Fuel economy

Acceleration	Rear-seat room (coupe)

Steering/handling	Automatic-transmission performance

Instruments/controls	Driver seating

Passenger and cargo room

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.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

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:	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.

1991-1995 Acura Legend Reliability

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: Steering may be difficult during parking maneuvers due to a problem with the vehicle speed sensor in the power steering unit. (1991-94)

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)

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

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.

1991-1995 Acura Legend Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1991
Legend coupe	$1,800-2,500	$1,200-1,700	$300-400
Legend sedan	$1,500-2,000	$1,000-1,300	$200-300

1992
Legend coupe	$2,200-2,900	$1,600-2,100	$400-600
Legend sedan	$1,800-2,400	$1,200-1,600	$300-400

1993
Legend coupe	$2,600-3,300	$1,900-2,400	$500-700
Legend sedan	$2,200-2,800	$1,600-2,000	$400-500

1994
Legend coupe	$3,200-4,000	$2,500-3,100	$800-1,000
Legend sedan	$2,800-3,500	$2,100-2,600	$600-800

1995
Legend coupe	$3,900-4,700	$3,200-3,900	$1,200-1,500
Legend sedan	$3,400-4,100	$2,700-3,200	$900-1,100

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.

1991-1995 Acura Legend Specs & Safety

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	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	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.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1995 Legend	1995 Legend

Front Impact, Driver	3	3

Front Impact, Passenger	4	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%. Side-impact 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%.

Built In: Japan

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Also in the 1991-1995 Acura Legend Review:

Acura Legend

Acura Legend Road Test

Acura Legend Reliability

Acura Legend Prices

Acura Legend Specs & Safety

Acura Legend Photos

Acura Legend Full Review