| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1986 |
| Production Years: | 1986 - 1990 discontinued in 1990 |
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3), produced from 1986 to 1990, marked Honda's strong presence in the midsize luxury coupe segment, offering a blend of performance, comfort, and advanced engineering for its time. This first-generation Legend Coupe featured a sleek and aerodynamic body design characteristic of late 1980s Japanese luxury cars, built to appeal to drivers seeking sporty styling with practical dimensions. While exact size specifications of the KA3 series are less documented than later models, the Legend I Coupe typically measured around 4,640 mm (182.7 inches) in length, with a width of approximately 1,720 mm (67.7 inches) and a height near 1,295 mm (51.0 inches), providing a relatively compact footprint ideal for urban and highway driving. The wheelbase contributed to a balanced driving experience, enhancing stability without sacrificing maneuverability. The coupe body style emphasized sporty aesthetics with two doors and a comfortable two-to-four passenger seating arrangement. As a vehicle born during Honda's venture into luxury performance, the Legend I Coupe combined elegance with technological innovations including advanced suspension systems and an available V6 engine that delivered smooth power and refined driving dynamics. Compared to contemporaries in the midsize luxury coupe class, this Honda model offered competitive size dimensions that balanced road presence with practicality. For enthusiasts and collectors, the 1986-1990 Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) remains a notable example of Japanese automotive craftsmanship from the late 20th century, reflecting Honda's early luxury segment ambitions and engineering excellence.
Discover the standout features that make the 1986 Honda Legend I Coupe a leader in its class
Have a question? Please check our knowledgebase first.
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3), produced between 1986 and 1990, features an exterior length of approximately 4,665 mm (183.7 inches), a width of about 1,700 mm (66.9 inches), and a height near 1,335 mm (52.6 inches). These dimensions contribute to the coupe's sporty yet substantial presence on the road, balancing sleek design with enough cabin space for comfort. The compact stance helps in maneuverability while maintaining a classic coupe silhouette typical of late 1980s luxury sports cars.
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) weighs approximately 1,390 kg (3,064 lbs) curb weight. This moderate weight, considering its luxury coupe status and rear-wheel-drive platform, allows for a balanced blend of performance and comfort. The relatively lightweight facilitates responsive handling and agility, which is particularly beneficial for a grand touring car focused on a refined driving experience. It also helps optimize fuel efficiency and acceleration performance.
The wheelbase of the 1986-1990 Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) measures approximately 2,630 mm (103.5 inches). A longer wheelbase typically enhances ride comfort by reducing road impacts felt inside the cabin, which is crucial for a luxury coupe designed for comfortable cruising. It also improves straight-line stability at higher speeds and contributes to more interior legroom for passengers. However, the wheelbase is balanced to maintain agility in cornering, keeping the driving experience engaging.
The interior width of the Honda Legend I Coupe is approximately 1,425 mm (56.1 inches), which is fairly spacious for a two-door coupe of its era. The cabin comfortably accommodates four passengers with adequate headroom and legroom in the front seats. Rear seating is more suitable for shorter trips or smaller passengers due to typical coupe design constraints. The layout emphasizes driver comfort and control, with ergonomically placed instrumentation and premium materials reflecting its luxury positioning.
Yes, the Honda Legend I Coupe fits comfortably into a standard residential garage. With a width of 1,700 mm (66.9 inches) and a height of 1,335 mm (52.6 inches), it is narrow and low-profile enough to fit within typical garage door widths that range from about 2,400 mm to 2,700 mm (94.5 inches to 106 inches). The manageable length of 4,665 mm (183.7 inches) is also within the range of most personal garage depths, ensuring there is space to open doors and safely park without spatial concerns.
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) and the earlier Legend sedan share a similar platform but differ notably in size due to body style changes. The coupe is slightly shorter in overall length compared to the sedan, providing a sportier, more compact profile, while both share a close wheelbase length around 2,630 mm (103.5 inches). The coupe is marginally narrower and lower in height, emphasizing its athletic character. The sedan prioritizes passenger space and rear-seat comfort, whereas the coupe focuses on style and driving dynamics.
Compared to other luxury coupes of the late 1980s like the BMW 6 Series (E24) and Mercedes-Benz SEC, the Honda Legend I Coupe is generally more compact. The Legend's length of 4,665 mm (183.7 inches) is shorter than the BMW 6 Series, which measured around 4,770 mm (187.8 inches), and the Mercedes-Benz SEC, which often exceeded 4,800 mm (189 inches). The width is also narrower at 1,700 mm (66.9 inches) compared to these rivals, which typically approached or exceeded 1,800 mm (70.9 inches). This smaller footprint made the Legend lighter and potentially more agile, though with slightly less interior room.
The fuel tank capacity of the Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) is approximately 70 liters (18.5 US gallons), which offers a respectable range for a luxury coupe from the era. The coupe's trunk space is designed for practicality but is more limited compared to sedans, holding around 300 liters (10.6 cubic feet). This size is adequate for luggage or smaller cargo loads, typical for two-door cars where storage space is a compromise for style and sportiness. The rear seats fold down in some models to expand cargo capacity, enhancing versatility.
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) introduced several advanced features for its time, reflecting Honda's commitment to combining luxury with technology. It featured a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout with a powerful V6 engine, delivering a smooth and responsive driving experience. The interior included electric windows, advanced climate control, and premium materials like leather upholstery, representing luxury standards of the late 1980s. Aerodynamic styling combined with pop-up headlights gave it a modern appearance. These features positioned the Legend as a competitive luxury grand tourer.
The Honda Legend I Coupe (KA3) played a significant role in establishing Honda's presence in the luxury coupe segment during the late 1980s. It showcased Honda's ability to blend reliability, performance, and sophistication, offering a European-style grand touring experience at a competitive price. This model helped pave the way for Acura's luxury branding outside Japan and contributed to the prestige associated with Honda's upscale offerings. Its balance of size, performance, and comfort appealed to buyers seeking an alternative to established German and Japanese luxury coupes of that era.
Honda