Which Honda model was the first to use a V6 engine?

The Honda Legend was the first Honda model to use a V6 engine.

Honda introduced the first-generation Legend in Japan on October 22, 1985, as a new luxury flagship. Unlike many Honda models of the period, the Legend was offered exclusively with V6 power. Its early engines included the 2.0-liter C20A and 2.5-liter C25A, depending on market and trim.

The model emerged from Project XX, a joint development project between Honda and Britain’s Austin Rover Group. Honda wanted a larger, more prestigious car for Japan and international markets, while Rover sought a modern luxury-car platform. The resulting Legend also formed the basis for the Acura Legend sold in North America from the 1986 model year.

The answer is sometimes confused with the NSX because the NSX’s celebrated 3.0-liter V6 and VTEC technology made it more famous among enthusiasts. However, the NSX arrived later, with production beginning in 1990. The Legend’s V6 was significant because it established Honda’s first production use of a six-cylinder V layout before that technology appeared in later performance models.