Vans

Honda Legend vs. Nissan Fuga 350GT

The January issue of Driver magazine in Japan does a comparison between the Honda Legend (Acura RL) and Nissan Fuga 350GT (Infiniti M35 Sport). They compared acceleration, braking, and track times on the Tsukuba test circuit.

Acceleration: The 350GT did 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds and 0-100 14.7 seconds beating out the Legend by almost a full second, 7.4 and 15.5 seconds respectively.

Braking: The magazine claimed the 350GT has the shortest 60-0 mph braking distance they have ever recorded, besting even the 350Z and other exotics. The Legend was behind those cars, by a number of feet.

Tsukuba Test Circuit: The Legend ran a 1'12 around the circuit, while the 350GT ran a 1'10.

The staff praised 350GT for its overall balance, ride quality, and the grippy RE-050A tires that were mounted on 19-inch rims. They also liked its torque rich VQ engine.

They staff praised Legends composure around the test circuit and around the corners well. The SH-AWD system allowed the RL to carve through corners with ease and hook up immediately at corner exits.

The magazine summarized that the Legend is a technologically advanced luxury car, where-as the 350GT is a drivers car capable of dethroning the BMW 5-Series.

Bitium

go buy one

hemants

That picture highlights the overhang on the front of the RL compared to the M35.

The RL is a SHAWD car in FWD clothing. If you look at RWD sedans, they have much less overhang in front of the front axle.

cM3go

both are excellent cars

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Sounds to me like they're both great cars. I wonder if there are differences in gearing for the Honda Legend and the Acura RL since testers in the US have gotten mid- to high-6 sec times for the 0-60.

Vans

No doubt about it - both are great. It seems like the SH-AWD is living up to it's name as being a very good awd system but I do think the RL could use some more ponies down below. But I think everyone is stunned at the performance of the Fuga - and it's not even the 450/45 with the v8....

dseag2

Thanks. I believe someone posted this article already. What you left out of your synopsis was Driver Magazine's complaint that it was hard to hook up the Fuga on corner exits where it left long trails of black rubber marks from the inside tire.

I agree that both are excellent cars, and I don't think anyone is surprised that the M is a driver's car as that is definitely Infiniti's direction. With that said, the RL is very well balanced in the sport/luxury equation so it can definitely hold its own in the real world. I never plan on taking it to the track, but it sure makes my everyday commute sweet.

The RL, the M, and the new GS should all prove to be excellent cars, so which one gets chosen will simply depend on the buyer's individual wants/needs.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

The Fuga only had RWD in this case, correct?

dseag2

Yes. AWD would definitely help the handling situation but it would also slow the car down. It's a trade-off.

Vans

Right - I believe they only offer awd on the v-6, which would slow it down. They're not offering it on the v-8... imagine if they did though

phile

That's not necessarily true. The previous RL, as well as the old Legends, had short front overhangs, and they were FWD cars from the get go.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Yup...it's not whether the car is FWD or RWD, but rather the orientation of the engine. Longitudinal mounting will result in shorter front overhangs while a transverse mounting will result in a longer overhang.

wavshrdr

I'd second that call for more ponies/torque down low. I'd like to see the gearing on the Japanese Legend vs. the US RL. The 3 independent times I've seen for the RL showed that with a normal car at the track the RL seems to run a 6.7 0-60 (matching the Fuga) but then goes on to run a 15.1-15.3 sec 1/4 mile at 92-95 mph. So it looks like they regeared the US spec to beat the Japanese version to 60 but the US spec one it is slower to 100 mph.

One interesting thing I did see is that the 0-100 time is 16.5 (17.2 for another run) seconds (substantiall slower than the Japanese version) and then the 0-130 time is 40.2. The RL that ran the 15.3 had its 60' times listed and they were definitely not quick at 2.45 or to put it in perspective slightly slower than a 4 cylinder Civic or Accord for the first 60' but then it gets moving.

njsimons

the infniti does 5.3 0-60 with the m45. thats pretty faast. This months issue road and track.