What a terrific comparison, my first comment to your site as I've only just been introduced to it by a fellow Legend enthusiast. I have a neighbour who has only just replaced his GS450h (with a new Lexus) and I went for a good run in this car with him a year ago and I was stunned re its road manners, composure, general performance... not to mention the fit and finish (I own a 1991 Gen.2 Honda Legend saloon). Every time I get in a more modern car (my wife has a new SUV) I think gee I need to upgrade etc get in the groove and drive a more modern car with all the bells and whistles, but my old Legend has been a 'legend', super reliable, still very very comfortable, leather, sunroof, electric seats etc and uses little if any at all oil after 31 years. (the engine block is still oil tight!!!). Try that for most makes aside from Japan. Servicing is the life blood of ANY CAR if you choose to keep it longterm - it will repay you.
In recent past I've owned a lovely rust free Gen. 1 Coupe (1989) and a 1993 Gen. 2 Saloon. My current 1991 Gen. 2 saloon was a one owner till 2015 when I bought it here in Sydney. I've been on the hunt for a Gen.2 Coupe, very rare here but finally nabbed one in South Australia a few years back. It's in red, with stunning light tan leather. I've also acquired a set of 16 inch Legend alloy rims for it from Japan, these were never offered here but you see them on UK/Europe and US, Gen. 2 Coupe/Saloon examples.
@@tommyzoo Nice review,but there is no way the GS is in same league with the Legend. And here is die hard Honda man. That Legend compares to 3 series and Lexus IS. The GS competes directly with 5 series and E class.
Writing from California: Great comparison and analysis and the time you took to make, dare I say, a very professional looking video review. The Legend name hasn't been used in the States since early 1990s. Lexus's, regardless of model, are very difficult to age as they age so gracefully. Finally, how many German luxury marques from 10 years ago are still on the road, without being money pits. Thank you.
For some reason this just popped up in my recommended videos. Good review. I agree that too many reviewers in the motoring press forget that track handling is irrelevent for 99% of drivers.
What a great video and comparison , such an exclusive opportunity:)! Well done! I wish you would make more car review videos and focus a bit more on youtube channel, as you have such a nice manner of talking and facts to present about cars. I considered both of them cars in the past and was interested in Legend too, as it has that fab, more like american market, V6 engine))). But I have gone for the 2nd gs450H generation in the end and absolutely loving my car:). Both Legend and GS are smoth, soft, powerful and comfortable, love them style of cars which are not that popular here).
Very enjoyable video, it was a joy to listen to another person dimension on two very good cars. I think that is how will all think when getting into a car as novice but then as we go down the Road of reviews we need to check out the 0 to 60 ....why is it that important.
Excellent review, and by the way I completely agree with you. Automotive journalists don’t get these cars. I purchased a used RL, for my winter car and love it ,it runs like a top and the seats are the most comfortable I’ve ever been in any car. I also have an RLX which has a much more modern and luxurious interior which I also absolutely love. When I bought the RL I was also considering the Lexus to compare but couldn’t find one for sale so bought the RL ( I’m in Canada) and haven’t regretted it.
You're a great reviewer for people who know they are obligated to follow the speed limit. I had a Honda Accord Type S. I didn't consider it a luxury car, but everyone else did. My friends and family were very comfortable in it. So i think it is good to have a "luxurious" refined car.
I had a 450h for a few years...it was so good that my dad bought it off me at the end! Very fast with about 350bhp ish with the electric motor (which is rated @ 200bhp on it's own). Also an amazing stereo. Thanks for the vid - great comparison!
I bought my GS when i was 33, 13 years ago.. It has covered 100k miles and is still the best car ive ever owned. Alternator, Water pump, lower control arms are the only items replaced. I've had a GL Merc, S60 Volvo, 5008 Peugeot, Jeep, C Class Mercedes over thenpast decade. Nothing comes close in terms of long term ownership and reliability.
Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've had a couple of legends but they were the older 1st and 2nd generation models, and thought they were both brilliant cars and very underrated. Completely agree with your thoughts on the motoring press, lap times just aren't relevant for these sort of cars.
Not in the UK but none the less an excellent down to earth honest review of two brilliant cars. I dont know how youd choose between them. Luved the review
Again a brilliant video. Loved the like for like comparison test. There's a uniqueness with the legend which for me would give it the thumbs up in this comparison....not to mention the engine reliability
Lexus GS450H is a real sleeper. Only concern if buy an older one is the battery health. Cost pretty much to change. One bad side about it is that the battery take up much of the space in the trunk. I buy this car anyday compare to a german premium car.
Lovely comparo! I just wanted to say that this sort of large luxury sedan isn't exclusively an old man's choice - I'd say I'm a young guy, and even I'm interested by the Legend, cross shopping between that, a few smaller hatchbacks and sedans and a Volvo V70 to buy in the next 18 months. The idea of having something that has a good sound system, something quiet and something that's not gonna be a pain in my derrier, but that can still be a good bit of fun on a b-road. Cheers :D
Fantastic comparison! I concur, both fantastic vehicles. The slightly better overall refinement and cheaper running costs would sway me more towards the GS though. An IS250 vs Accord 2.4 would make for another excellent comparison video 😁. Have a great Christmas mate.
Fantastic review. I am a Honda Fanboy, but I would probably go for the Lexus, due to his hybrid capability which will give (probably) better miles to the gallon. I prefer the Honda interior though.
I have the Legend 3e generation now for 10 years, the car is from October 2006, total km's 390.000. It is still going smooth. I had also the first and second generation. I drive Honda since 1985.
What a excellent video and honest one too, I like you get Japanese cars I have a 2005 55 Honda Civic executive but I need your intelligent advice about the Honda Crv like the one I saw in the back ground of this video which should I go for 2.2 4x4 Diesel or the 2.04x4 petrol I would have to have a manual transmission and the top of the range EX model please can you give me advice, I value your opinion. Thanks Kevin
Thank you for your kind words re the video! With regards to Crv’s I always think it is all About how many miles you will Be doing and where. If your trips are predominantly short then I’d go for the petrol. If you are doing higher mileage and maybe towing etc then the diesels. I actually prefer the petrols as they are so much sweeter and quieter but they clearly lack the torque of the diesels. If you get chance drive both and pick the one that suits you better
A good review, in fact a perfect review. I get fed up with all the childish top gear style of banter with most u tube reviews. My father had a 96 legend then a facelift 99 legend but the ride wasn't as good. He always talked about getting a 2006 legend but it never happened, he bought a small is200 Lexus instead (great reliable car) . Five years has passed since dad went and this video has inspired me to get the car he never had. So for that I'm very greatful.
Nobody really knows about the GS 450H.. Truly unique and definitely one of a kind.. this car today will still Hawk down and pass I'd say over 90% of cars on the road now.. I've had plenty of S-Class Benz and Audis, but something about my GS 450h that puts it in a Class of its own.. That's my Android 17 Cruiser..👍🏾
I love the comparison, I'm looking at the lexus,as in the market for a luxury car ie the sclass so on,the lexus is winning out for me be it the GS or and ls
GS450h is RWD with Snow Mode, Sport Mode acceleration, Sport mode suspension, Mark Levinson stereo, 10L/100km = 24MPG, feels much nicer inside and quiet operation. If you're a grown up who enjoys a range of driving styles then it's the Lexus all day. Personal preference if you drive them both and prefer the Acura.
Totally agree with you about the motoring press!...It seems all they care about is cup holders and cornering. I just don't understand why the masses must have such harsh suspension when they drive like grandma's 99% of the time 🤔
I was literally comparing these cars but im 25, i am a graduate civil engineer and i work from home but i need to use a car for site visits usually once a week, at the moment i have a 2011 Jazz, im hoping to get something comfortable, i don't have to worry about fuel economy since i get compensated from work, i like the sunroof in the legend which the Lexus doesn't have but the legend has a giant steering wheel just like in my jazz...i love this video, thank you. Im leaning towards the legend it just seems more lively
uh, I thought the Lexus is 10 years older looking just in the interior... and then, it has start button :) Okay. But the taste is there, for me it's the Honda Legend that looks more premium and special (inside).
What’s the milage of such gs450h? Auto trader says 35 mpg combined but could that really be possible for 350 bhp? From searching around the net I’ve not found anything on the battery being shit so I assume its not? Looking to buy one atm
What a great video and a great comparison. Thanks. The legend is sold as Acura Legend in the United States. Interesting cars. Obviously the Lexus is a notch above any other class in its class with next level build quality and reliability but the legend is no slouch either. Great content and well presented. Also not sure what you mean by navigation showing postal codes. I’m guessing similar to zip codes in the United States. If so, I don’t think it’s common to see that at all. Maybe it’s a setting issue on that particular car.
Im currently looking at a lexus that have had 3 owners and done i think 140k miles (22k metric miles) Im a bit scared cuz i consider that alot, but the car look beautiful and for a good price, is it "too much miles" for the car i should i be safe? ive asked the car seller for info about the car and other services that has been done of course, waiting for a response.
Nice review, just look at the resell value and maintenance costs of these cars versus the Audi, BMW cars. To quote Scotty Kilmer : "poor people drive used BMW". Honda and Toyota are not flawless but compared to the rest.. very , very good. The Toyota / Lexus 3.5 V6 is very good, it is not direct port. The IS250 is, gives problems with carbon build up. That car should have been sold in Europe with the 3.5 and 4WD like in the USA.
Great cars. Great review! I agree with everything you said, including the conclusion that on the surface seems a little contradictory, as you acknowledged. The Lexus with the Honda powertrain would be almost perfect for me. I love the Honda V6 and it's got a proper gearbox. I even love Honda's quirkily modern (at least for the mid-2000s) take on a classic interior. And while there's nothing wrong with the Legend's styling, I think the Lexus has aged particularly well. In many ways the exterior reminds me of a Jaguar XF, but I think it's aged better, except from the rear. Anyway, coming back to me saying the Lexus with the Honda powertrain would be almost perfect. The problem with the Lexus powertrain is the CVT gearbox. I think it ruins the car under brisk acceleration and I'm not sure I could live with it. IMO, it sounds awful. And that's where the Honda wins. However, the fact is the Honda is very thirsty, certainly by modern standards. The J-Series engines were no more economical than the previous C-Series engines. So this is where the Honda loses. The fact is that while the two cars come from roughly the same production period, the Honda essentially represented a slightly updated version of the past, and the Lexus very clearly represented the future, with its powertrain essentially being an older first cousin of Lexus' current hybrid powertrains. I struggle to find the words to explain myself well, as I think you did. The ideal saloon car to suit everyone's priorities, everyone's sensibilities, everyone's moods, and everyone's bodies in all situations doesn't and I don't think can exist. And the more modern cars try to master everything, including meeting safety, emissions, and noise regulations, they fail to master anything, no matter how generally accomplished some modern cars are. Moreover, most motoring journalists' obsessions with testing road cars on race tracks informs potential buyers of very little that translates to normal road driving and typical usage. Ideally, I'll have a comfortable, spacious, and luxurious saloon car or maybe an SUV, and additionally I'll have a sports car. The vast majority of the time I want comfort, space, and luxury. If I didn't live in a big city, I'd probably have an S-Class sized saloon or a full-size Range Rover. If I could only have one car, and spent much of my time on the right roads, maybe I'd have an M5 or a Maserati Quattroporte. As I do live in a big city, and I don't want the added stress of driving a large car, I want a mid-size saloon. And as I do most of my miles in stop-start traffic, I want good economy around town. I also want good isolation and a decent audio system. The opportunity to rev the car out and throw it into a corner rarely present themselves in daily driving. So maybe I'd have something like a late Lexus GS 450h or current model Lexus ES. As we don't live in an ideal world, and as we're talking about an earlier GS 450h versus a pre-facelift Legend; for me, the Lexus wins. Its single compromise is that it's not going to satisfy me when the opportunity to rev it out does arise. And that's down to my sensibilities. However, if I were retired, which I'm not that far away from age-wise, no longer lived in a big city, and did very few miles, going to the shops, I dunno, maybe the rugby club, the pub, and on the weekends travelled around the local villages via B roads, it would have to be the Honda, especially if I took up golf. However, if we had had the GS 350 in the UK, and I could live with the lesser fuel economy, that would possibly win over the Legend. Although, the Legend would still handle better and be better in the wet and in the winter. I also find it interesting that nice examples of the Legend appear to be appreciating in value, whereas the GS is still depreciating. Anyway, my apologies for waffling on. I really enjoyed this review. I'd forgotten about the fourth gen. Legend and how many boxes it ticks for me. I used to own a Rover 827 coupe, and I really liked that car. I like the exterior styling of the Rover 75, but otherwise the Legend is what the flagship of the 75 range needed to be...IMO. And, sadly, Honda's current offerings don't appeal to me at my age. If I were in my twenties or eighties, maybe, but with the NSX and e now gone, the rest of the line-up is pretty boring. Even the Civic Type R, while undoubtedly a better car than the previous gen. wouldn't appeal to my twenties self as much. On the other hand, Lexus' offerings are more like what I would have hoped Honda would now be offering. I know Honda's a relatively small company, but Honda used to have an interesting line-up. A friend used to own a Prelude with four-wheel steering. That was a cool car. The CR-Z was a cool car. Etc. Owning a Legend and an NSX would have made sense to me. With the last NSX, you'd have to have gone to the Lexus dealer to buy a premium Japanese saloon.
I owned a 2007 legend with the better black interior. Not the awful cream dash like in this vid , i now own a Lexus is250 . The legend was fantastic in every way , but I always found ride too harsh for a large luxury car , the GS450 looks lovely but I’d chose the legend everyday and twice on Tuesdays for one and only one reason now they older . It doesn’t have a stupid battery and hybrid system , Lexus or not it’s gonna pack up as they all do and completely outweigh the savings made on fuel efficiency . The same reason I am holding off as long as possible upgrading my 250 to a new Lexus as most hybrid , just not for me if I can help it . Will always remember accelerating up a huge motorway incline near Devon in that legend like the hill wasn’t there leaving a hideous Audi Q7 that had been riding my a””” on the single carriage way for Mile , no hybrid motor required just brute force thank you very much ! What a car indeed . Although I’d choose the legend in this case , Lexus interiors are unbeatable and the best in the business as you aptly pointed out . Great vid , love your reviews .
Lexus L-finesse styling was beautiful and timeless. It still looks great definately better than any new car. Too bad americans preferred sharp angles and downright ugliness.
Fantastic comparison and thank you sir to remind us these 2 great machines ,these 2 are fantastic cars In many ways ,owned every lexus models ( including ISF and GSF ) I would have to say for us driving in uk gs450 is the best car ( reason being tax ,mpg ,reliability) owned both mk3 and 4 gs and I found mk3 is more expensive to run ( specially break pads and also mpg as mk3 is gen2 Toyota hybrid drive system ) also cvt works beautifully in mk3 where as in mk4 is a touch slow to act. On the other hand legend is a legend and nothing beats Honda’s engineering, only problem with that v6 is the gearbox ,6speed is not economy at all specially with being 4 wheel drive ,that’s why It’s not making sense to own one these days ,otherwise legend wins it for me and that smart 4wheel drive system is so clever (even now ) ,my GSF had TWD and still legend was much better handling. If only Acura would’ve made cars here in uk …
My brother has owned a couple of these 55 and 56. Loved the car for how smooth and quiet it was but at 34 I'm worried I might get bored of it. I've been driving around in a automatic last couple of years and really miss having a manual
I agree with the lexus. I've driven the LS 430 and 460 before, and they do not promote aggressive driving, it's almost vulgar to do so but it can push it if you want to, tho it doesn't have the grunt since it's a heavy car. They are just made to cruise in utmost silence and comfort, it's amazing how quiet they are. Never driven a Honda Legend but I'm interested how the 4 wheel drive feels. And also how the interior sounds, like, I haven't heard any creaks in the Lexus.
I bought a legend about two months ago, I've owned high power golf's before but they don't put the power down anyway close to the honda, on wet slippy and icey roads a honda legend can wave good bye to many BMW, audi, lexus, vw and the list goes on,
@@christphergunton6625 True but the 100 - 200kph on the Honda Legend is about 17/18 seconds The Lexus is around 11/12. Basically 60mph to 124mph the Lexus would steam roll it.
@@Tele302 can't argue with the times, however there is no traction control to get in the way of one's driving fun, just put your foot down and then find the next petrol station.
according to the technical data the car shows as having 292 bhp. On UK roads its hard to say what its top end is like as it reaches 60mph so quickly. All I know is it feels very quick for a car of this type
@@tommyzoo hi yes the petrol engine is 292bhp and the electric assistance brings the total to 340 - 350bhp. Remarkable performance for this size of the vehicle. I am interested in purchasing but wanting to know on average what is the true MPG on these cars?
11:15 oh...i'm not the only one that doesn't like the navigation system in my GS..it got me so frustrated i simply bought a Tomtom satnav...1000 times easyer to use...
CAREFUL !!. I have bought one recently with 100K miles on. I am kind of regretting it , according to the engineer the VCM Variable Cylinder Management closes 3 cylinders when needed to save fuel and apparently it causes a vacuum which reduces sucks and reduces oil. As a result if it not serviced on time engine suffers from oil starvation and there are dozens of these engines on youtube which have died just type J35 Honda in youtube.
I have a Legend as well and the only thing I consider a weak spot is the fuel consumption. It might be compared to a V8 consumption, but you kinda get similar performance as well. The high consumption likely is due to the traditional automatic transmission and the SH-AWD rear differential as it is sort of naturally always slipping more or less since it has magnetic clutch packs for both drive shafts and they are rarely driven fully closed.
Nice comparison. I own a KB1 Legend so I'm a bit biased ! I never liked the rear quarter panel aspect of the Lexus. My Legend is 2009, the last imported to the UK. It drives well with just 72000 miles. What dont I like about it ? £600 + Road tax per year, and I find the sat nav of very poor quality, most times I end up using my phone.
The road tax is a killer but I break it down into monthly to make it seem less painful when Iv owned one. The Nav is really old school in fairness. But it’s easy to operate albeit can take you down some ‘interesting’ roads
Many a man has had their trouser pulled down by buying the Honda .... Its a cheap car now that really stings when it goes wrong and it does .The electrics are a joke
Ciao e scusa se non scrivo nella tua lingua, ma se riesci a tradurre queste mie parole, ti dico che dopo diverse auto Honda tutte automatiche ma meno lussuose di qesta Legend, da amante delle sensazioni che Honda trasmette alla guida delle sue "bambine adorate", mi hai convinto, anche se con poca fatica, ad acquistarne una. Proprio dopo il tuo video, 5 minuti dopo, ho concluso l'acquisto di una del 2009 qui da me in Italia . Grazie sei stato fondamentale per la mia scelta.
I used to have two Lexus Gs’s and I really missed them a lot . Great cars
Once upon a time I went to test drive these two and decided to buy the Lexus. It was a fantastic car.
I can assure you it was a pretty slick video. A great and rare comparison. Thanks very much for posting.
What a terrific comparison, my first comment to your site as I've only just been introduced to it by a fellow Legend enthusiast. I have a neighbour who has only just replaced his GS450h (with a new Lexus) and I went for a good run in this car with him a year ago and I was stunned re its road manners, composure, general performance... not to mention the fit and finish (I own a 1991 Gen.2 Honda Legend saloon). Every time I get in a more modern car (my wife has a new SUV) I think gee I need to upgrade etc get in the groove and drive a more modern car with all the bells and whistles, but my old Legend has been a 'legend', super reliable, still very very comfortable, leather, sunroof, electric seats etc and uses little if any at all oil after 31 years. (the engine block is still oil tight!!!). Try that for most makes aside from Japan. Servicing is the life blood of ANY CAR if you choose to keep it longterm - it will repay you.
ahhh the gen 2 Legends ! If only I could find one. The coupe remains one of Honda's most beautiful designs
In recent past I've owned a lovely rust free Gen. 1 Coupe (1989) and a 1993 Gen. 2 Saloon. My current 1991 Gen. 2 saloon was a one owner till 2015 when I bought it here in Sydney. I've been on the hunt for a Gen.2 Coupe, very rare here but finally nabbed one in South Australia a few years back. It's in red, with stunning light tan leather. I've also acquired a set of 16 inch Legend alloy rims for it from Japan, these were never offered here but you see them on UK/Europe and US, Gen. 2 Coupe/Saloon examples.
@@tommyzoo so does the saloon 🙄
@@tommyzoo Nice review,but there is no way the GS is in same league with the Legend. And here is die hard Honda man. That Legend compares to 3 series and Lexus IS. The GS competes directly with 5 series and E class.
Writing from California: Great comparison and analysis and the time you took to make, dare I say, a very professional looking video review. The Legend name hasn't been used in the States since early 1990s. Lexus's, regardless of model, are very difficult to age as they age so gracefully.
Finally, how many German luxury marques from 10 years ago are still on the road, without being money pits. Thank you.
For some reason this just popped up in my recommended videos. Good review. I agree that too many reviewers in the motoring press forget that track handling is irrelevent for 99% of drivers.
This was a great video. Really enjoyed it.
What a great video and comparison , such an exclusive opportunity:)! Well done! I wish you would make more car review videos and focus a bit more on youtube channel, as you have such a nice manner of talking and facts to present about cars. I considered both of them cars in the past and was interested in Legend too, as it has that fab, more like american market, V6 engine))). But I have gone for the 2nd gs450H generation in the end and absolutely loving my car:).
Both Legend and GS are smoth, soft, powerful and comfortable, love them style of cars which are not that popular here).
Thank you ! I wish I could find more time to do this type of videos, but have bills to pay lol
Both amazing cars
Very enjoyable video, it was a joy to listen to another person dimension on two very good cars. I think that is how will all think when getting into a car as novice but then as we go down the Road of reviews we need to check out the 0 to 60 ....why is it that important.
Thank you for a balanced real world assessment of two great cars.
Excellent review, and by the way I completely agree with you. Automotive journalists don’t get these cars. I purchased a used RL, for my winter car and love it ,it runs like a top and the seats are the most comfortable I’ve ever been in any car. I also have an RLX which has a much more modern and luxurious interior which I also absolutely love. When I bought the RL I was also considering the Lexus to compare but couldn’t find one for sale so bought the RL ( I’m in Canada) and haven’t regretted it.
You're a great reviewer for people who know they are obligated to follow the speed limit. I had a Honda Accord Type S. I didn't consider it a luxury car, but everyone else did. My friends and family were very comfortable in it. So i think it is good to have a "luxurious" refined car.
I had a 450h for a few years...it was so good that my dad bought it off me at the end! Very fast with about 350bhp ish with the electric motor (which is rated @ 200bhp on it's own). Also an amazing stereo. Thanks for the vid - great comparison!
I bought my GS when i was 33, 13 years ago.. It has covered 100k miles and is still the best car ive ever owned. Alternator, Water pump, lower control arms are the only items replaced. I've had a GL Merc, S60 Volvo, 5008 Peugeot, Jeep, C Class Mercedes over thenpast decade. Nothing comes close in terms of long term ownership and reliability.
Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've had a couple of legends but they were the older 1st and 2nd generation models, and thought they were both brilliant cars and very underrated. Completely agree with your thoughts on the motoring press, lap times just aren't relevant for these sort of cars.
I have a KB1 Legend last 4 years and it’s a joy to drive on open road and handling is so so good
Great review thank you enjoyed it
Not in the UK but none the less an excellent down to earth honest review of two brilliant cars. I dont know how youd choose between them. Luved the review
Thank you
The Lexus may wins in terms of quality, but I’m riding with the Legend 😉
Great video, thanks
I've owned Lexus and Acura and they're both excellent vehicles. I kept the 08 RL. Love it.
Again a brilliant video. Loved the like for like comparison test. There's a uniqueness with the legend which for me would give it the thumbs up in this comparison....not to mention the engine reliability
Great wideo I got my GS450H and I love it
Lexus GS450H is a real sleeper. Only concern if buy an older one is the battery health. Cost pretty much to change. One bad side about it is that the battery take up much of the space in the trunk. I buy this car anyday compare to a german premium car.
Lovely comparo! I just wanted to say that this sort of large luxury sedan isn't exclusively an old man's choice - I'd say I'm a young guy, and even I'm interested by the Legend, cross shopping between that, a few smaller hatchbacks and sedans and a Volvo V70 to buy in the next 18 months. The idea of having something that has a good sound system, something quiet and something that's not gonna be a pain in my derrier, but that can still be a good bit of fun on a b-road. Cheers :D
Fantastic comparison! I concur, both fantastic vehicles. The slightly better overall refinement and cheaper running costs would sway me more towards the GS though. An IS250 vs Accord 2.4 would make for another excellent comparison video 😁. Have a great Christmas mate.
Thank you. And have a happy Christmas too
The Lexus is so much better at being an executive sedan.
Fantastic review.
I am a Honda Fanboy, but I would probably go for the Lexus, due to his hybrid capability which will give (probably) better miles to the gallon.
I prefer the Honda interior though.
If you want good millage on the petrol
You dont buy this cars at all
@@hondamanvtec2894 I recommend the Civic 1.6D or Renault Clio 1.5DCi 🤣
I have the Legend 3e generation now for 10 years, the car is from October 2006, total km's 390.000. It is still going smooth. I had also the first and second generation. I drive Honda since 1985.
My personal favorite in terms of styling at least, was the MK2 Legend Coupe. Stunning car
What a excellent video and honest one too, I like you get Japanese cars I have a 2005 55 Honda Civic executive but I need your intelligent advice about the Honda Crv like the one I saw in the back ground of this video which should I go for 2.2 4x4 Diesel or the 2.04x4 petrol I would have to have a manual transmission and the top of the range EX model please can you give me advice, I value your opinion. Thanks Kevin
Thank you for your kind words re the video! With regards to Crv’s I always think it is all
About how many miles you will
Be doing and where. If your trips are predominantly short then I’d go for the petrol. If you are doing higher mileage and maybe towing etc then the diesels. I actually prefer the petrols as they are so much sweeter and quieter but they clearly lack the torque of the diesels. If you get chance drive both and pick the one that suits you better
A good review, in fact a perfect review. I get fed up with all the childish top gear style of banter with most u tube reviews. My father had a 96 legend then a facelift 99 legend but the ride wasn't as good. He always talked about getting a 2006 legend but it never happened, he bought a small is200 Lexus instead (great reliable car) . Five years has passed since dad went and this video has inspired me to get the car he never had. So for that I'm very greatful.
I am glad to have inspired you. Also glad I never felt inspired to buy a Renault 5 that my dear departed father had .....
Thank You 🙏🙏🙏
legend ftw, its basically a Sedan NSX
What a lovely part of the country!
Your a.legend mate haha pun intended. Gonna buy one based on this review. Cheers
I couldn't stomach £630 road tax for the honda
So right this Lexus is so underrated and so reliable
Nobody really knows about the GS 450H.. Truly unique and definitely one of a kind.. this car today will still Hawk down and pass I'd say over 90% of cars on the road now.. I've had plenty of S-Class Benz and Audis, but something about my GS 450h that puts it in a Class of its own.. That's my Android 17 Cruiser..👍🏾
@@AceXun13 I love my one as its unique and not everybody has one
@@SamValJean that's what's make you unique bro.. 👍🏾
I love the comparison, I'm looking at the lexus,as in the market for a luxury car ie the sclass so on,the lexus is winning out for me be it the GS or and ls
Great honest review
My concern with the Lexus is the longevity of the battery and with it being more complicated more likely to go wrong
Thank you. Touch wood we have never touched a battery on one. But always a possibility with higher mileage ones
@@tommyzoo what's the highest mileage have you seen on these?
I’ve seen 500,000kms with the same battery pack
GS450h is RWD with Snow Mode, Sport Mode acceleration, Sport mode suspension, Mark Levinson stereo, 10L/100km = 24MPG, feels much nicer inside and quiet operation. If you're a grown up who enjoys a range of driving styles then it's the Lexus all day. Personal preference if you drive them both and prefer the Acura.
I don't blem you I got myself 2005 Legend as it was just introduced and l fell in love with it driving was my joy for 5 years.
Totally agree with you about the motoring press!...It seems all they care about is cup holders and cornering. I just don't understand why the masses must have such harsh suspension when they drive like grandma's 99% of the time 🤔
I was literally comparing these cars but im 25, i am a graduate civil engineer and i work from home but i need to use a car for site visits usually once a week, at the moment i have a 2011 Jazz, im hoping to get something comfortable, i don't have to worry about fuel economy since i get compensated from work, i like the sunroof in the legend which the Lexus doesn't have but the legend has a giant steering wheel just like in my jazz...i love this video, thank you. Im leaning towards the legend it just seems more lively
Check the road tax first. The Legend is an eye watering £735 per year.
uh, I thought the Lexus is 10 years older looking just in the interior... and then, it has start button :) Okay. But the taste is there, for me it's the Honda Legend that looks more premium and special (inside).
I agree👍more engaging drive as well!! 😎 Good exhaust note!!!!
Lexus looks better..
@@e1337prodigylitteraly these people are blind
Love this Honda Legend. Very beautiful best Car in this Category. Honda ist the the best forever
Hey! I’m 19 and I own a Honda accord. I’d love a legend or gs450 😁 I’m a petrol head but I love comfort for everyday driving
What’s the milage of such gs450h? Auto trader says 35 mpg combined but could that really be possible for 350 bhp? From searching around the net I’ve not found anything on the battery being shit so I assume its not? Looking to buy one atm
I'm a big Lexus fan and always will be. They make wonderful cars! I have paid a deposit for a Lexus IS250 V6. Thank you for your review.
What a great video and a great comparison. Thanks. The legend is sold as Acura Legend in the United States. Interesting cars. Obviously the Lexus is a notch above any other class in its class with next level build quality and reliability but the legend is no slouch either. Great content and well presented. Also not sure what you mean by navigation showing postal codes. I’m guessing similar to zip codes in the United States. If so, I don’t think it’s common to see that at all. Maybe it’s a setting issue on that particular car.
Would it have been the Acura RL ? Really enjoyed having the rare opportunity to test both together
@@tommyzoo Yes, you’re absolutely correct. It was sold as the RL. My mistake.
Im currently looking at a lexus that have had 3 owners and done i think 140k miles (22k metric miles) Im a bit scared cuz i consider that alot, but the car look beautiful and for a good price, is it "too much miles" for the car i should i be safe? ive asked the car seller for info about the car and other services that has been done of course, waiting for a response.
I believe that the Lexus is 348 bhp as the electric motor gives the extra bhp , so Lexus wins🤣
Nice review, just look at the resell value and maintenance costs of these cars versus the Audi, BMW cars. To quote Scotty Kilmer : "poor people drive used BMW". Honda and Toyota are not flawless but compared to the rest.. very , very good. The Toyota / Lexus 3.5 V6 is very good, it is not direct port. The IS250 is, gives problems with carbon build up. That car should have been sold in Europe with the 3.5 and 4WD like in the USA.
Great cars. Great review! I agree with everything you said, including the conclusion that on the surface seems a little contradictory, as you acknowledged.
The Lexus with the Honda powertrain would be almost perfect for me. I love the Honda V6 and it's got a proper gearbox. I even love Honda's quirkily modern (at least for the mid-2000s) take on a classic interior. And while there's nothing wrong with the Legend's styling, I think the Lexus has aged particularly well. In many ways the exterior reminds me of a Jaguar XF, but I think it's aged better, except from the rear.
Anyway, coming back to me saying the Lexus with the Honda powertrain would be almost perfect. The problem with the Lexus powertrain is the CVT gearbox. I think it ruins the car under brisk acceleration and I'm not sure I could live with it. IMO, it sounds awful. And that's where the Honda wins. However, the fact is the Honda is very thirsty, certainly by modern standards. The J-Series engines were no more economical than the previous C-Series engines. So this is where the Honda loses.
The fact is that while the two cars come from roughly the same production period, the Honda essentially represented a slightly updated version of the past, and the Lexus very clearly represented the future, with its powertrain essentially being an older first cousin of Lexus' current hybrid powertrains.
I struggle to find the words to explain myself well, as I think you did. The ideal saloon car to suit everyone's priorities, everyone's sensibilities, everyone's moods, and everyone's bodies in all situations doesn't and I don't think can exist. And the more modern cars try to master everything, including meeting safety, emissions, and noise regulations, they fail to master anything, no matter how generally accomplished some modern cars are. Moreover, most motoring journalists' obsessions with testing road cars on race tracks informs potential buyers of very little that translates to normal road driving and typical usage.
Ideally, I'll have a comfortable, spacious, and luxurious saloon car or maybe an SUV, and additionally I'll have a sports car. The vast majority of the time I want comfort, space, and luxury. If I didn't live in a big city, I'd probably have an S-Class sized saloon or a full-size Range Rover. If I could only have one car, and spent much of my time on the right roads, maybe I'd have an M5 or a Maserati Quattroporte.
As I do live in a big city, and I don't want the added stress of driving a large car, I want a mid-size saloon. And as I do most of my miles in stop-start traffic, I want good economy around town. I also want good isolation and a decent audio system. The opportunity to rev the car out and throw it into a corner rarely present themselves in daily driving. So maybe I'd have something like a late Lexus GS 450h or current model Lexus ES.
As we don't live in an ideal world, and as we're talking about an earlier GS 450h versus a pre-facelift Legend; for me, the Lexus wins. Its single compromise is that it's not going to satisfy me when the opportunity to rev it out does arise. And that's down to my sensibilities. However, if I were retired, which I'm not that far away from age-wise, no longer lived in a big city, and did very few miles, going to the shops, I dunno, maybe the rugby club, the pub, and on the weekends travelled around the local villages via B roads, it would have to be the Honda, especially if I took up golf.
However, if we had had the GS 350 in the UK, and I could live with the lesser fuel economy, that would possibly win over the Legend. Although, the Legend would still handle better and be better in the wet and in the winter.
I also find it interesting that nice examples of the Legend appear to be appreciating in value, whereas the GS is still depreciating.
Anyway, my apologies for waffling on. I really enjoyed this review. I'd forgotten about the fourth gen. Legend and how many boxes it ticks for me. I used to own a Rover 827 coupe, and I really liked that car. I like the exterior styling of the Rover 75, but otherwise the Legend is what the flagship of the 75 range needed to be...IMO. And, sadly, Honda's current offerings don't appeal to me at my age. If I were in my twenties or eighties, maybe, but with the NSX and e now gone, the rest of the line-up is pretty boring. Even the Civic Type R, while undoubtedly a better car than the previous gen. wouldn't appeal to my twenties self as much. On the other hand, Lexus' offerings are more like what I would have hoped Honda would now be offering. I know Honda's a relatively small company, but Honda used to have an interesting line-up. A friend used to own a Prelude with four-wheel steering. That was a cool car. The CR-Z was a cool car. Etc. Owning a Legend and an NSX would have made sense to me. With the last NSX, you'd have to have gone to the Lexus dealer to buy a premium Japanese saloon.
I owned a 2007 legend with the better black interior. Not the awful cream dash like in this vid , i now own a Lexus is250 . The legend was fantastic in every way , but I always found ride too harsh for a large luxury car , the GS450 looks lovely but I’d chose the legend everyday and twice on Tuesdays for one and only one reason now they older . It doesn’t have a stupid battery and hybrid system , Lexus or not it’s gonna pack up as they all do and completely outweigh the savings made on fuel efficiency . The same reason I am holding off as long as possible upgrading my 250 to a new Lexus as most hybrid , just not for me if I can help it . Will always remember accelerating up a huge motorway incline near Devon in that legend like the hill wasn’t there leaving a hideous Audi Q7 that had been riding my a””” on the single carriage way for Mile , no hybrid motor required just brute force thank you very much ! What a car indeed . Although I’d choose the legend in this case , Lexus interiors are unbeatable and the best in the business as you aptly pointed out . Great vid , love your reviews .
FYI the legend / rl is subject to takata airbag recall. Quite serious
And it's scary consequences!
The 3.5iV6 Engine is the best Honda has ever made, and they still use it in the other models like the Pilot and the Ridgeline
Is it as reliable as the lexus engine? Can't find much info on the internet.
@@MNuggat The problem is that Honda made their last Legend in 2009 in Europe. The engine is still used in the USA and Canada.
@@MNuggat just google J35, its bulletproof, will go a million miles as long as you change timing belt
@@KushPizzaSleep thanks, in the meantime I bought a legend with the j37, runs like a clock.
@@MNuggat honda petrol engines are bullet proof
Lexus L-finesse styling was beautiful and timeless. It still looks great definately better than any new car. Too bad americans preferred sharp angles and downright ugliness.
From your test drive, the Legend is alot more quieter and less road noise where the Lexus had more road noise.
Yep very rare 😌
Fantastic comparison and thank you sir to remind us these 2 great machines ,these 2 are fantastic cars In many ways ,owned every lexus models ( including ISF and GSF ) I would have to say for us driving in uk gs450 is the best car ( reason being tax ,mpg ,reliability) owned both mk3 and 4 gs and I found mk3 is more expensive to run ( specially break pads and also mpg as mk3 is gen2 Toyota hybrid drive system ) also cvt works beautifully in mk3 where as in mk4 is a touch slow to act. On the other hand legend is a legend and nothing beats Honda’s engineering, only problem with that v6 is the gearbox ,6speed is not economy at all specially with being 4 wheel drive ,that’s why It’s not making sense to own one these days ,otherwise legend wins it for me and that smart 4wheel drive system is so clever (even now ) ,my GSF had TWD and still legend was much better handling. If only Acura would’ve made cars here in uk …
My brother has owned a couple of these 55 and 56. Loved the car for how smooth and quiet it was but at 34 I'm worried I might get bored of it. I've been driving around in a automatic last couple of years and really miss having a manual
when you're young, you get bored of everything.. just the way it is..
Lexus is a much more attractive car than the Honda. The tax cost of the Legend is a deal breaker for me, just throwing money away.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
I agree with the lexus. I've driven the LS 430 and 460 before, and they do not promote aggressive driving, it's almost vulgar to do so but it can push it if you want to, tho it doesn't have the grunt since it's a heavy car.
They are just made to cruise in utmost silence and comfort, it's amazing how quiet they are.
Never driven a Honda Legend but I'm interested how the 4 wheel drive feels. And also how the interior sounds, like, I haven't heard any creaks in the Lexus.
I bought a legend about two months ago, I've owned high power golf's before but they don't put the power down anyway close to the honda, on wet slippy and icey roads a honda legend can wave good bye to many BMW, audi, lexus, vw and the list goes on,
@@christphergunton6625
True but the 100 - 200kph on the Honda Legend is about 17/18 seconds
The Lexus is around 11/12.
Basically 60mph to 124mph the Lexus would steam roll it.
@@christphergunton6625 and a Golf R does it in 10/11 seconds
@@Tele302 can't argue with the times, however there is no traction control to get in the way of one's driving fun, just put your foot down and then find the next petrol station.
@Alinutz Alin I think the LS430 has plenty of grunt. 290hp, 320lbft torque on a car weighing 1.8tonne.
0 to 60 in 5 secs ish.
That is plenty of grunt
How fast is the Lexus top end? And also the GS450H is about 350bhp.
according to the technical data the car shows as having 292 bhp. On UK roads its hard to say what its top end is like as it reaches 60mph so quickly. All I know is it feels very quick for a car of this type
@@tommyzoo hi yes the petrol engine is 292bhp and the electric assistance brings the total to 340 - 350bhp. Remarkable performance for this size of the vehicle.
I am interested in purchasing but wanting to know on average what is the true MPG on these cars?
11:15 oh...i'm not the only one that doesn't like the navigation system in my GS..it got me so frustrated i simply bought a Tomtom satnav...1000 times easyer to use...
CAREFUL !!. I have bought one recently with 100K miles on. I am kind of regretting it , according to the engineer the VCM Variable Cylinder Management closes 3 cylinders when needed to save fuel and apparently it causes a vacuum which reduces sucks and reduces oil. As a result if it not serviced on time engine suffers from oil starvation and there are dozens of these engines on youtube which have died just type J35 Honda in youtube.
the weakness of legend seems to be the fuel consumption like a v 8 engine not a v 6?
I have a Legend as well and the only thing I consider a weak spot is the fuel consumption. It might be compared to a V8 consumption, but you kinda get similar performance as well. The high consumption likely is due to the traditional automatic transmission and the SH-AWD rear differential as it is sort of naturally always slipping more or less since it has magnetic clutch packs for both drive shafts and they are rarely driven fully closed.
Nice comparison. I own a KB1 Legend so I'm a bit biased ! I never liked the rear quarter panel aspect of the Lexus. My Legend is 2009, the last imported to the UK. It drives well with just 72000 miles. What dont I like about it ? £600 + Road tax per year, and I find the sat nav of very poor quality, most times I end up using my phone.
The road tax is a killer but I break it down into monthly to make it seem less painful when Iv owned one. The Nav is really old school in fairness. But it’s easy to operate albeit can take you down some ‘interesting’ roads
and which of the two is the better ❓
It’s a personal preference but I’d take the legend
@@tommyzoo Yes, I also find the Legend more interesting
Japanese make the best cars ,and watches GS 😊
Legend dont have tax road if the owner wants to sale it get back to me please
Lexus make the best cars in the world
The most reliable, not necessarily the best!
@@a.c.6475 True 👍
I test drove both cars and got the Legend. The lexus just wasnt sporty enough for me
Did the same 4 years ago
Legend been great no regrets
It appears you are are too tall for the lexus. Is that true?
Nope. Fit just fine!
@@tommyzoo ok great
Legends would be great until it came to parts....they are just so rare. You are completely at the mercy of the main dealers.
Never really had any issues personally. The things you can only get from Honda are the bits that rarely go wrong fortunately
Hmm!...give Bernardi Acura parts a try, they're outside of Boston Ma, reasonable prices, I have an 07 kb1 tech!
tax on that Honda is £695 a year 😵💫
Yep ! Worth every penny 😂😳
Lexus I’m a fan sorry
Many a man has had their trouser pulled down by buying the Honda .... Its a cheap car now that really stings when it goes wrong and it does .The electrics are a joke
Lol not sure I and many others would agree with that ! But each to their own
@@tommyzoo And add in the road tax .... ! nAnd the MPG. I
@@carforumwanker yes it’s a 3.5 V6 ?? Not exactly a eco box. Clearly you’re not a fan
@@tommyzoo Well he does state in his name that he's a wanker. 🤷♂
Ciao e scusa se non scrivo nella tua lingua, ma se riesci a tradurre queste mie parole, ti dico che dopo diverse auto Honda tutte automatiche ma meno lussuose di qesta Legend, da amante delle sensazioni che Honda trasmette alla guida delle sue "bambine adorate", mi hai convinto, anche se con poca fatica, ad acquistarne una. Proprio dopo il tuo video, 5 minuti dopo, ho concluso l'acquisto di una del 2009 qui da me in Italia . Grazie sei stato fondamentale per la mia scelta.