Overview & Reviews

Why are Honda vehicles so highly regarded by American drivers? Certainly, their excellent reputation for reliability and quality is a major factor. But it also has to do with the overall driving and owning experience. Read any Honda review and you'll likely notice common themes such as thoughtful design, a friendly nature, better-than-average fuel economy and attention to safety.

Japan-based Honda Motor Company was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda. The company got its start making motorbikes. Japan had been rendered cash poor and fuel-starved after World War II, and its citizens were hurting for an inexpensive, fuel-efficient mode of transportation. Honda's first motorcycles mated engines with bicycles to create a motorbike that was cheap to make and operate.

Honda's bikes quickly evolved into vehicles far more sophisticated than small engines stuck into bicycle frames. The manufacturer's 1949 D-Type could reach speeds of up to 50 mph, and offered front and rear suspension. The 1950s saw the launch of the successful Juno scooter, built to steal market share from the Vespa knockoffs that were popular in Japan at that time. In the latter part of that decade, Honda introduced the ultra-successful C100 Super Cub. The motorbike was remarkably easy to operate and featured a crossbar-free frame that made it popular with women. It went on to become the first Honda motorbike sold in the U.S. via then-new American Honda Co. in 1959.

By the early 1960s, Honda had built its first automobiles for the Japanese home market and entered Formula One racing. But it wasn't until 1970 that it exported its first car, the diminutive N600, to the U.S. The automaker initially had a hard time sparking interest among American buyers, but that all changed in 1973 with the introduction of the Civic. The car was larger than Honda's previous models even though it was still very petite compared to compact American cars. The Civic's high fuel efficiency (an important selling point given that decade's energy crisis) and affordability made it Honda's first American success story. By 1976, the Civic had been joined by the Accord, which quickly became a favorite with U.S. consumers as well.

By the 1980s, Honda's success and its reputation as a maker of well-built reliable cars and motorcycles continued to grow. It began building Accords in the U.S. in 1982 and by 1989 had earned the distinction of making America's most popular car. This was also the decade in which Honda created the Acura brand as a way to sell more upscale and luxurious vehicles. Throughout this decade and into the 1990s, the Civic and Accord were huge sellers and considered class benchmarks. Also during this time, Honda continued to innovate through such technologies as variable valve timing, aluminum body construction and improved safety features.

Today, Honda's lineup runs the gamut. Included are fuel-sipping hybrids, a spacious minivan, reliable family sedans, practical SUVs and even a pickup. Although the latest Civic and Accord aren't quite the benchmarks they once were for their respective classes, Honda's brand as a whole continues to be one of the most well respected in the industry, with millions of loyal and satisfied customers.

User Reviews:

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  A superb quality car - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Scott - October 31 - 1:27 pm

  My wife absolutely loves her Accord. Its our first Honda car (although weve owned Honda powersports equipment) and we couldnt be more pleased. Purchased at 35,000 miles on the clock and 41,000 miles later, all weve done are oil changes, a new battery, new tires and brakes. The only issue that we were somewhat disappointed in was having to replace the rear brakes at 50,000...and it just wasnt the pads. We had to replace calipers, rotors AND pads. But, some of that could be attributed to the cold, snowy climate that we live in (Northern NY). Other than that, the car has been a joy to own. Surprisingly decent power is supplied by the 2.4L 190 HP 4 cylinder engine and the 5-speed manual transmission. The 5-speed shifts smoothly and is a blast to run through the gears. Inside, the car is very comfortable and the 8-way power seats are wonderful. Its very good in snow IF you run snow tires on it, especially with the 5-speed and front wheel drive. Great sound system with the multi-CD changer & 6 speaker setup. Air conditioning works great as well---you have to wear a jacket if you have it on. The Accord is a very high-quality vehicle, and we would recommend it to anyone. My wife will be back for another one...if I can ever get her to part with this one.

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  Honda Civic - 2015 Honda Civic
  By Honda Civic - October 29 - 8:58 pm

  Im very impressed with my civic! I give it a 5 star overall!!

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  THE CAR IS A TROOPER - 2004 Honda Accord
  By JACKIE - October 29 - 11:28 am

  145000 miles had since new Sep 2003 ,,now son has been driving it last 4 years, in his last year of college. Other than normal wear items The car has been wonderful...

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  Just what I needed - 2015 Honda Accord
  By Ken - October 29 - 6:49 am

  OK, I really really really wanted a Nissan 370z. Its been my dream car for such a long time. But I realized that I just needed more room on rare occasions. I also needed to buy an automatic this time because my wife cant drive a manual. Driving the Z automatic was a bitter disappointment, that cvt on the z was just terrible. I also didnt like the idea of premium fuel again. Enter the Honda Accord Coupe. That amazing Honda reliability, a very peppy V6 that doesnt need premium fuel but still gets nearly 300 hp, and a bit of a sporty look. I bought the White Accord and the 2 tone leather seats are just beautiful. Most of my commute is on the highway and I regularly get between 31 to 37 mpg. You read that right, on occasions ive reached 37 mpg. Add to that a nice quiet, comfortable ride and its all pretty much perfect for me. I was a bit disappointed with Hondas top of the line stereo in the EXL, but after tuning in the frequency controls a bit, I am much happier. And I am pretty sure that CDs sound much better through the stereo than using Bluetooth or USB. Was also disappointed to learn that Honda is still using a timing belt for the V6, but that huge bill wont be for many years.

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  Great car for business and family travel - 2010 Honda Pilot
  By Clayton - October 28 - 3:56 pm

  Selected car for inside room and ride since I travel a lot. It compared with Lincoln Towncar for ride, since it isnt around any more. Car is great buy, I have company car now and do not need it anymore. Great car!

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  Honda is the Best! Get a CRV! - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By Kayla Holler - October 27 - 11:03 am

  It is beautiful, fun to drive, had good traction in rain and highway speeds+ and always looked beautiful. The seats and interior were easy to clean and always looked great on my 2013 CRV. The back seat is super spacious and so is the rear cargo area. I looked at all other small suvs and they never had as much room inside, especially in the back seat and cargo area. The only complaint I have is the road noise was louder than in a car. I was told that smaller SUVs are like that. Im not sure I believe that, but in spite of the noise which is worse if the road is rough and at highway speeds and if your car needs an alignment, I could still enjoy my music from the fabulous USB plugins. I just loaded up a flash drive and plugged it in. Sounded great. I looked at newer models though, and we bought a new Civic and the newer models have a touch screen for music controls which I hate. The knob you could turn to quickly scroll through songs and albums worked much easier. The touch screen is a pain for finding anything and not getting sidetracked by accidentally touching the wrong spot. My CRV was a gorgeous blue called Mountain Air. I dont know why Honda doesnt make more cars in this color and make the Acura SUVs in that color. The newer CRV has a redesigned front which I do not like as well as the 2013 model and possibly the 2014. It is more of a snub-nosed look I find ugly. The interior is uglier, too, with more of a very dark charcoal kind of color with beige. I know that color is harder to keep clean because we have it on our new Civic. All dust shows all the time. The touch screen is more of a pain on the Civic to clean, too. Our 2013 CRV was easy to clean and always looked great. We got a super trade-in value for it because it still looked like new. Ive never missed a car so much or regretted trading one more. Id buy it back in a second. I have always owned American-made brands and always had problems with them, windows quit working, air conditioners quit, handles fall off, the vent louvres break, quit working, they just are not that dependable. Then, we bought an older, 1998 Honda Odyssey with high miles and to my surprise, everything worked! I could immediately see the difference in quality materials and design. Everything was quality built, no thin, cheap plastic like on my GM or Ford cars. I loved it. It drove and rode like a smooth-riding car, unlike a previous Pontiac van we owned which was more like a truck and soon had no working AC or windows. Fun in our 100+ summers. After owning the Odyssey, I decided the next vehicles would be Hondas. They are so ridiculously dependable. All reviews agree. Never go back to American made crap. Our friends work for a dealership that has GM and Ford and Chrysler. They get new vehicles every couple of years and we watch as they always have to have their new vehicles in the shop for ridiculous little things that dont work or quit working within weeks of getting their brand new vehicle. That doesnt happen with Honda. I value the five-star crash test rating (youd be horrified if you knew what the other makers ratings are....try one star front crash rating on Nissan Rogue for instance...and I value the dependability of Honda most of all. I hate breakdowns. With all the other old cars I have owned, I am practically an expert on what car noises, symptoms usually mean, but dont have to worry with a Honda. My other car, a 2003 Buick LeSabre Custome Celebration model with alll the bells and whistles for that year, has had problems with AC quitting, then mysteriously working again and lights not working, lots of fuse replacements, etc. Not fun. Get a Honda.

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  Perfect Car for High School Student - 2001 Honda Civic
  By Honda=Reliable - October 26 - 5:24 pm

  Im 16 and spent the entire summer looking at cars on TrueCar. When I turned 16, I got this car for my birthday. Honda is one of the car manufacturers that I trust. I havent had any issues with it. Its very practical. The trunk is larger compared to some big sedans. The rear seat can seat three people comfortably. The car gets 30 MPG. I love this car!

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  Saved My Life - 2012 Honda CR-V
  By a nn - October 25 - 9:55 pm

  This car was smashed by a truck and totalled. And I lived.

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  Im Back in a Honda Again - 2015 Honda Civic
  By James - October 23 - 1:02 am

  Ive been through a lot of cars in my life, and Id love to recount them for you all, but theres a character limit here. Instead, let me just say that everything about this car meets or exceeds what I expected, aside from a few small things. The interior is huge, the car is gorgeous, the electronics are beyond what I expected, and the price is very reasonable for a low-end sedan. Im financing my new Civic, and I have it in "Honda commercial silver", but I already love it. Its smooth, comfortable and quiet. The stereo is great, and the velocity-based audio is a treat. Its getting 37mpg right now, but its not even broken in. Acceleration and braking are too smooth to be real, and slamming on the brakes or putting the pedal to the metal feel like youre barely changing speed. The smooth changing transmission is amazing for that. No jerky shifting in this auto. Im dropping about $400 a month on it, and when its paid off, Ill be happy about that. The seats are comfortable, the touch screen works well, and I would give it a "great" if it werent for the fact that only iPhones seem to mesh well. Still, bluetooth and USB work excellently with this car. Overall, a quiet, well-controlled environment inside, a beautiful exterior with the chrome bar in the front and the smooth styling, and for a sedan, its really sexy. There are some "bad" parts though. The trunk is relatively small, compared to say, a Hyundai Sonata, but thats more like a 4-banger Accord. Ultimately, Id much rather drive my Civic than a Sonata. The backup and right-turn cameras are awesome, but Im not sure I trust them yet. Im still really leery of both cameras. The little guide rails given are great, but I just cant hand myself over to the computer and camera and still find myself wrapping my right arm around the passenger seat to look out the back. The pillars in the back are atrociously huge and create giant blind spots, but thats where the right-turn camera comes into play. It really doesnt have the guts that the older Civics did, with its roughly 10 second 0-60, but it does still feel responsive, despite that. The ABS is strong and you never feel the jerky push-pull of older systems, and hitting curves feels just as simple as the 1995 version. All-manual seat adjustment is kinda sad for a car in this range, but its a tiny quibble, with the ability to raise and lower the seat being a new thing for me, even if I do have to do it manually. It also has a slightly wider turn radius than I expected, but still pretty nice. It also seems to attract bugs, maybe theyre turned on by the beauty of the front end, which is far better than model years newer and older. Overall, these minor issues are extremely minor, while the positives are huge. If you want a new car that will save you money on gas for a relatively low price, this is absolutely the way to go. Keep the eco on, drive the speed limit, and ignore the jerks who want to get to work a whole 3 minutes earlier. This is no beastly sports car, but if youre looking for that, youre in the wrong place. If you want something that wont cost you and arm and a leg to use, youve found it. Dont bother leasing this thing will keep its value far more than most cars. Its smooth, simple, efficient and fun to drive. There are so many things I like and so few I dont, give it a test drive at least before the 2016s ruin the look for you.

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  Over 278,000 miles... - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Stephen Wollman - October 22 - 6:30 am

  My wife and I are now Piloteers. I bought my first pilot--an03--in 2013. The guy I bought if from had sent his last kid to college and didnt need the extra car, otherwise Im sure he wouldve kept it. It had 245,000 miles on it. Since weve owned it (its been my wifes primary driver) weve rolled it up to 278,000. Other than standard maintenance, Ive put no money into it. It literally still handles like its brand new. The invinceable V-tech engine is very quiet, and the transmission doesnt slip in the least. As of a week ago, we are now piloteers for life. I gave away my perfectly good Chrysler Pacifica and bought my wife a newer pilot with half the mileage. The 03 is now mine. I will never buy another vehicle. When my oldest gets into high school (in the next two years) I will give him the 03 and buy another. Make no mistake, the honda pilot is the absolute distance you can take your dollar. It is well worth the money.