If you want a supermini or a smallish 4x4 then Honda springs to mind. Honda makes great little cars and in case that sounds condescending what I mean is that it makes great “little” cars.

When it comes to luxury then it’s not such an obvious choice. Take the Legend, a top of the range saloon. Before production stopped to make way for the Accord, it was the most expensive Honda.

Yet the name is probably unfamiliar: so few were sold that most car magazines didn’t write about them, most Honda dealers didn’t stock them and I can’t remember a television show testing one. The net result is that a used Honda Legend is now one of the most underrated and undervalued luxury cars you can buy.

To understand what great value a used Honda Legend is consider this. In 2000 Honda produced the Civic 1.6 SE Executive and it cost £13,340; five years on a used example costs about £6,000. In the same year a new Honda Legend would have set you back a whopping £31,340 but today it struggles to fetch £9,000.

Being top of the range means leather upholstery, alloys, cruise control, climate control, electric seat adjustment, auto box and wood trim in the cabin. There is a super-smooth V6 engine and passengers can enjoy acres of room in the back.

The Legend badge has been about for a while, first on a saloon and coupé from the late 1980s that was essentially a Rover 800 with a 2.7 litre V6 engine. These cars are cheap now but suffer most of the problems associated with Rovers of that age: dubious electrics, worn trim and potentially expensive engine and gearbox problems that cap used values at about £800.

In 1991 a second generation Legend arrived with a more powerful 3.2 litre V6 producing 201bhp. Owners reported improved reliability and a step up in refinement, so second-hand examples straddle the £2,000-£6,000 price range. But the one to go for is the latest generation 3.5 litre V6, introduced in June 1996. While the styling may evoke memories of the Rover 800, on which Honda co-operated with what was then Austin Rover, under the skin it’s a different car and has a fantastic reputation for reliability.

With an eye for sales in America — where the Legend is sold as the Acura RL and is a runaway success — Honda endowed the car with a softly sprung chassis. The car wafts along as gently as an Audi A8 or BMW 7-series. Thanks to its generous dimensions — 16ft 4in long and 6ft wide — there’s no lack of cabin space. The electrically adjustable front seats are heated and the adjustable steering column ensures the perfect driving position.

Honda reliability means breakdowns are rare and servicing costs minimal, but try not to dent your Legend — panels are expensive and dealers rarely stock them. It is also worth being fussy about your service history, and do not feel embarrassed about checking that all the gadgets and gizmos work.

The only problem — given that Honda sold only 24 in 2003 — will be trying to find one. Perhaps that is why they call it the Legend.

Seats Leather seats are standard and should be wearing very well

Boot Large at 450 litres but slightly down on some luxury competitors of the same age

Insurance group Group 17 insurance so get a quote firs

Refinement Engine is very quiet but wind and tyre noise is not on a par

Wheels Alloys are standard. Check for surface corrosion where scuffed lacquer can cause water ingress

Panel damage Replacement panels are expensive and repairs are costly

Front discs Check for warped discs by braking hard and feeling for any judder

Climate control Standard on all models since 1991 but check the system works; recharging is cheap but new compressors are not

Colours Avoid white and black cars that are poor sellers and go for silver or graphite metallic

Engine 3.5 litre V6 is tuned for smoothness, not ultimate power, but expect economy around the 20mpg mark

Automatic gearbox Four-speed auto works well and despite the absence of a fifth ratio is never felt wanting

Service history Remember this was a £32,000 car so expect a full history for the first few years of the car's life at least

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Honda Legend 3.5 V6 saloon
Engine 3474cc, V6
Power 205bhp
Transmission Four-speed auto
Fuel 23.2mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 9.3sec
Top speed 139mph

THE ONE TO BUY

Honda Legend 3.5 V6 auto saloon 2001 51 registration with 50,000 miles. Pay £10,695 at a main dealer or £9,000 privately

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Honda Legend 3.5 V6 auto saloon