Honda Legend Saloon (2006 - 2007) practicality

The Legend has all the safety equipment you'd expect in a car costing nearly £40,000 (front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with emergency braking assistance and a stability control system), but it also has some rare and unique features. Like the Citroen C6 and the Jaguar XK, the Legend comes with a pop-up bonnet to improve safety for pedestrians. A collision warning system is also available (linked to the adaptive cruise control) which automatically activates the pre-tensioners in the front seatbelts, lets out a warning chime and will even begin to apply the brakes if it feels the driver isn't intervening quickly enough.

Also, like the top version of the latest Honda Accord, the extra safety pack includes a lane-keeping assist system, which can ensure the car does not inadvertently stray out of its lane on the motorway. It's no surprise that it was awarded the maximum five stars for crash safety by Euro NCAP.

A 452-litre boot means the Legend has less carrying capacity than the smaller Accord. Even worse, the boot is an awkward shape and unable to cope with larger or boxy items as it narrows severely towards the rear seats. The opening isn't very wide either so getting large suitcases in and out can be a real problem. The rear seats themselves are cramped too and there's limited head room due to the low roofline.

Up front there is a centre armrest offering extra storage. A rear-view camera helps when parking (the car is almost five metres long) although front and rear parking sensors can be chosen as an option.