Honda has always meant passion and technology to me, ever since I first watched a video of Ayrton Senna testing the mighty NSX on the Suzuka Track and from the first time I got in touch with a Civic with a VTEC engine screaming at 8,000rpm, Honda has been my favourite Japanese brand. The new Legend is the result of the last 20 years of high tech development and I genuinely feel very curious to jump in and fire up the 3.5-litre VTEC engine. My first impression is that our Japanese friends have put a lot of effort into the design and in the achievement of a superior style and comfort. The Legend is very well equipped inside and I actually feel very welcome. Everything looks very sober, yet more elegant than any previous Honda machines. Certainly Lexus and Infiniti have a new competitor.

This new evolution of the Legend presents an intelligent four-wheel drive system, which distributes the power to the right wheel according to hundreds of parameters of information coming from its powerful computer. Throttle pressure, weight transfer, steering angle, speed and more will influence the exact amount of the 295bhp that is available. Understeer is kept under control as well as any loss of traction in almost every condition. The car handles nicely and I am surprised how well it behaves through the tight slalom put on at the launch event.

But I found that if you make a mistake, you don`t pay the price for it, as the computer will brake that wheel, accelerate the other one, cut off the power for a small second and the car will stay on its track. It is therefore not the most exciting machine I've tested but as daily transport it certainly does the job. I can see myself cruising for a thousand kilometres in this car. On the other hand the lack of feedback and electronic filters take most of the pleasure out of the driving experience. White it`s not a sports car, I found that the grip level and the control of the Legend is good. The engine is as smooth as silk, as well as the full auto gearbox. The end result is almost zero emotions though.

The price is fixed at a hefty $ 46,339, which makes me think that I would probably rather go down the route of the new Accord 3.0-litre VTEC, with almost the same power and which will save you more than $ 19,000. The Accord is not as elegant, as refined, as ultimately technological but the difference in price can't be ignored. So all in all, Honda has come up with a very competent car that does little wrong, but fails to stir the senses.