If you want the space, build quality and sheer luxury offered by upmarket German manufacturers, but do not want to pay the price, there is an alternative.

Mixing with the likes of big hitters such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, strutting some of the world's most powerful brands, is not for the faint-hearted.

But Honda's return to the unforgiving E-sector fray certainly looks the part. The sleek Honda Legend's bodywork has hints of the far more expensive Lexus LS400 and packs all the refined elegance, and equipment, of more prestigious rivals at a more affordable price.

Under the bonnet is a 3.5-litre V6 petrol unit, capable of delivering almost 300 horsepower, mated to a five-speed, short-shifting automatic gearbox. This also allows the driver to switch from fully automatic mode, to ‘manually’ selecting gears using the shift lever in the centre console. Alternatively, F1-style paddles behind the steering wheel can be used to change gear. Precise handling is delivered through an all-wheel-drive system. During straight line cruising and mild cornering, the system delivers up to 70 per cent of the available torque to the front wheels, and 30 to the back. But during heavy throttle use, up to 70 per cent of torque is directed to the rear wheels, for increased acceleration and enhanced cornering ability.

Sophisticated technology permeates every ounce of the car, with collision prediction equipment, a lane keep assist system, adaptive cruise control and a pop-up bonnet to improve pedestrian safety.

Sumptuous comfort ranges from hand-stitched, soft-touch leather seats, to an advanced climate control system that is sensitive to sunlight, using optical sensors to determine the sun’s position, and automatically adjusting the interior climate.

The Legend’s audio equipment features a superb ten-speaker system developed by BOSE, which uses ‘in-cabin noise suppression’, which ‘cancels’ road, wind and other intrusive noise by sending out an opposite phase signal through the speaker system. It is similar technology to that used in RAF jets to cancel out exterior and engine noise.

Also fitted as standard is a voice-activated satellite navigation system, installed with more than 500 voice commands, an eight-inch display and glitzy 3D graphics.

Honda's first Legend was developed in conjunction with Rover, whose 800 shared its inner body panels and V6 engine and for a time, back in the mid-1980s, both models rolled off the production lines at Cowley.

More than two decades on, one of the biggest threats to the Japanese-built Honda Legend comes from its not-so-little brother, the new Honda Accord, which is a class act and can be almost as well equipped, and all at an even lower price.

Auto facts Honda Legend 3.5i VTEC EX

  • Price: £36,597
  • Ins group: 17
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 23.7mpg
  • Top speed: 155mph
  • Length: 495.5cm/195in
  • Width: 184.5cm/72.6in
  • Luggage capacity: 16.3 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 16 gallons/73 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 282g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/90,000 miles