Is the Honda Legend FWD or RWD?
The latest Honda Legend is primarily front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on hybrid variants through an electric rear axle.
Across its history, the Legend's drivetrain has shifted. The model's earliest generations used rear-wheel drive, but in recent years Honda has moved toward front-wheel drive as the baseline, with a hybrid AWD option that engages the rear wheels via electric motors when needed.
Current drivetrain layout
Here is a concise breakdown of how the current Legend configurations are typically offered in markets where the model is sold.
- Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the standard layout for most Legend variants today.
- All-wheel drive (AWD) is available on hybrid variants, using an electric motor-driven rear axle to distribute torque to the rear wheels as conditions demand.
Before listing, note that these are the two main drivetrain options you’ll encounter on recent Legenda models:
In practice, this means most Legendaries are FWD with AWD available as an option on electrified trims, providing improved traction when needed without a permanent rear mechanical drive.
Historical perspective
Understanding how the drivetrain evolved across generations helps contextualize the current setup.
- Older Legend generations were designed with rear-wheel drive layouts.
- Modern Legends are built around front-wheel drive as the baseline, with a hybrid AWD system that can engage rear-wheel drive via electric motors.
Before listing the key shifts by era, note the general trend:
Today the trend is clear: the Legend leans toward FWD with optional AWD in hybrid variants, rather than a traditional RWD configuration in the latest models.
Summary: The Honda Legend’s drivetrain has evolved from RWD in its early iterations to a modern FWD baseline with an optional hybrid AWD system, aligning with Honda’s approach to efficiency and all-weather capability in its flagship sedan.
Is Acura Legend FWD or RWD?
Second generation (1991)
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
| Layout | Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.2 L C32A & C32A1 V6 |
| Transmission | 4-Speed Automatic 5-Speed Manual 6-Speed Manual (Type-II) |
Are there any RWD Hondas?
Yes, Honda has made rear-wheel drive (RWD) cars in the past, with the most famous examples being the S2000 and the original NSX. However, Honda has largely moved away from RWD, with its modern lineup consisting almost entirely of front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles, primarily for cost, packaging, and fuel efficiency reasons. While there is speculation about future RWD models, particularly in their electric lineup, they have not been widely available in recent years.
Past RWD Honda models
- Honda S2000: A well-known two-seat roadster produced from 1999 to 2009, celebrated for its high-revving engine and RWD performance.
- Honda NSX: The original first-generation NSX was a mid-engined RWD sports car.
- Honda S660: A Kei-class sports car with a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, available mainly in Japan.
Reasons for shifting away from RWD
- Cost and efficiency: FWD platforms are generally cheaper to produce, require less complex drivetrains, and are more space-efficient, which allows for more interior and cargo room.
- Strategic focus: Honda's current strategy prioritizes FWD, AWD, and hybrid/electric powertrains, which are seen as more central to their future business.
- Market trends: The demand for traditional sports car platforms has decreased, and Honda has focused on other vehicle segments.
Potential future RWD models
- Electrification: The nature of electric powertrains makes it easier to implement RWD by placing a motor at the rear, and some new models in China have RWD as a standard feature. This could lead to a greater presence of RWD in Honda's future lineup.
Is my Honda FWD or RWD?
All Honda cars and two-wheel-drive trucks use front-wheel drive, with transverse-mounted engines. This design eliminates the intrusion of a driveshaft tunnel in the cabin found in most front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Is the Honda Legend AWD?
The Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system used on the Legend is equipped with two rear-mounted motors that enable highly responsive torque vectoring to the left and right rear wheels regardless of the level of driving torque generated by the front-mounted engine.
