# Sterling 825/827: The Car That Broke Honda

> How a British car brand's bad deal with Honda left 14,171 buyers in shock.
- Title: Sterling 825/827: The Car That Broke Honda · Car and Driver
- Summary: How a British car brand's bad deal with Honda left 14,171 buyers in shock. The Sterling 825/827, a British car rebadged from Honda's Acura Legend, sold…
- Keywords: sterling 825, sterling 827, acura legend, rover, honda, class action lawsuit, j.d. power, cars, Sterling, 825, 827, Car
- Source: Car and Driver — https://caranddriver.com/features/a73961571/the-best-odds-1987-91-sterling-825-827
- Author: John Phillips
- Published: 2026-10-07T14:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sterling 825, sterling 827, acura legend, rover, honda, class action lawsuit, j.d. power, cars
## A Roman Candle Incident
At age 11, I bought a Roman candle with M-80 airburst option that exploded in a public park tree, hitting Mr. Reedy’s Pontiac Bonneville.

> I didn’t see that coming
## Mazda’s Italian Dilemma
Mazda faced Italian requests to turn their Miata into a Fiat 124 Spider, a move that confused their brand identity.

> How astonished must Mazda have been
## Rover’s Sterling Deal
Rover partnered with Honda to sell the Acura Legend as a British Sterling, using pound sterling branding.

> Rover’s intention: Sell the Japanese Legend as a British Sterling
## First Year Sales
The Sterling 825/827 sold 14,171 units in its first year despite being unknown outside of Christmas displays.

> 14,171 of them sold in the first year
## Early Problems
The Sterling’s cigarette lighter failed, and its power seat adjuster broke, requiring three Flintstones sofa cushions to see over wipers.

> I had to array three official Flintstones sofa cushions
## Engine Failure
The Sterling’s engine expired at 2500 rpm, snuffing power assist, gauges, headlights, and most of the driver’s dog respect.

> the engine, while humming at 2500 rpm or so, expired as if gutshot by Dick Cheney
## Class Action Threat
Sterling owners considered a class action lawsuit after the author was invited to a Miami Grand Prix debriefing.

> You’re gonna testify, right?
## Key takeaway

The Sterling 825/827, a British car rebadged from Honda's Acura Legend, sold 14,171 units in its first year despite critical flaws and a class action lawsuit threat.