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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  BEWARE! Road test before buying! - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By BIG swede - May 16 - 1:23 am

  I traded in my 03 Odyssey for 06. 06 has had vibrations in steering wheel at highway cruising speeds since purchase which make vehicle annoying, tiring and perhaps even unsafe to drive. Also excessive steering "kickback" from bumps and imperfections in pavement. Honda has balanced tires twice with no improvement. Suggest you road test Odyssey at highway speed before purchasing.

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  Honda please address the audio software issues!!! - 2016 Honda Civic
  By YP - May 8 - 10:18 am

  Im so glad I found the civicx.com forum and the many owners with my same 2016 Honda Touring issues (http://www.civicx.com/threads/loud-popping-noise-upon-startup-touring.1279/). After reading, if you have the same issue, please post there and also contact Honda technical support to hopefully get them to address this widespread and very "unpublicized" issue. I just purchased my Touring 6 days ago - March 2016, and have been to the dealership 2x, and have to figure out how to take it back AGAIN tomorrow. According to other owners on civicx.com, I can look forward to dozens of more visits that do not result in any type of long term "fix". First the charging port unit was broken (used to be called a cigarette lighter). Apparently it was installed wrong. They also had to address my Bluetooth issue- where when playing music the audio drops, sounds choppy and skips over and over and over in the song, and also the issue where there is absolutely no sound when starting the car from time to time. Mind you, I experienced all of these issues within the first 4 hours of having the car!! The day after my purchase, I dropped off my new Touring to the service department. Three days later service tells me they couldnt replicate the audio issues, but that they called Honda Technical Support who advised there is no issue. So in the end they refreshed the system and let me know it should be fine now. Nope. Not 10 minutes after driving off the lot it happened again. I took it back and they sat with me and confirmed the issue WAS there and indeed was VERY annoying. They said that the Honda techline advised that now since the service department tech has replicated the issue, they can confirm its a KNOWN issue that requires a software update that they havent produced yet. I was told that I will need to call consistently to see if an update has been created, and in the meantime to avoid Bluetooth and use CarPlay for audio and sent on my way. The next day I experienced the no audio issue again at start up. One day after that I get that full volume power surge popping sound that blasted my ears and Im sure my speakers are damaged because of it!!! It didnt matter what source of audio it was set to (Bluetooth, AM, FM, XM, CarPlay), or whether or not I turned the audio off, and didnt stop even after pulling over and restarting/shutting down/restarting the car. After one last huge pop it finally stopped but left me with absolutely NO audio for my 2 hour drive - I had to use my earbuds and cellphone for music! I now have to make yet ANOTHER drive to Honda to get service to look at it again and at least document my issues in case future action is necessary. Im glad Im not the only one going through this with their brand new Civic Touring, but to know so many have the same issues with the Touring is really unnerving. No idea why is there no coverage on this publicly so that it lights a fire under Honda to get more resources allocated towards fixing these major issues!!! We paid extra for the better speakers, audio and technology, but are unable to use them from day 1 with no fix in sight. To now have to consider bringing a little speaker with me to hook to my iPhone in order to get music on my sometimes 1-2 hour commutes is unbelievable and should be taken seriously by Honda. My ultimate hope is that the speakers are covered under warranty because Im sure thats going to come in handy soon with the sporadic high volume popping. I still think the car itself is absolutely beautiful, but I am disgusted with Honda at this point because the issue has been happening to people on the civicx.com forum since December 2015!! My hope is the more this issue is publicized, the harder Honda will work to fix it, or do a recall for the affected cars (not sure if all are affected).

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  Good, not great - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By iambat - May 5 - 10:00 am

  Excellent Honda reputation, questionable ergonomics. Uncomfortable drivers seat. Steering wheel position and drivers seat hard to match for comfort. Small radio/cd buttons on dash, steering wheel controls seem lilke afterthoughts, not as user friendly as controls in new Accord. Great drivetrain, confidence building trip through the Deleware Gorge in the rain, filled the back with antiques and a dog, got 20 mpg over 900 miles. The Nav comes only with continental USA software.

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  Review - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By tefarmer - May 3 - 2:26 pm

  On the whole this has been a good vehicle. I pull a small cargo trailer with it and am having transmission problems even though it has had all of the Honda services required and I have Honda House change the transmission fluid each fall.

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  Not What We Had Hoped For - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By We Tried. - May 1 - 1:30 pm

  We were very excited when we picked up the car and were looking forward to long-term ownership of our first Honda.It is very feature rich which played a part in our purchase in addition to the gas mileage estimates. However, after taking it on several long road trips and driving it around locally for several months we decided to sell it. Why? In highway driving, it has a lot of wind noise, feels tinny..not substantial, steering is somewhat loose, it is very underpowered when you try to pass and the gas mileage at best was 26 mpg. In the city the gas mileage average around 17 mpg which was substantially lower than the 22 posted on the sticker. Decided to go back to a Volvo SUV. We tried!

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  Hate this Van - 1999 Honda Odyssey
  By Hate this van - May 1 - 12:39 pm

  I thought this van would be nice to drive. The check engine light comes on unless I use premium gas, and a diagnostics test said the o2 sensor and the cat needed replaced. I am glad I havent had the trans problem that everyone else seems to have, maybe that was worked out before I got it. It doesnt have a smooth ride at all. The sliding doors stick and sometimes wont even stay shut, even the hatch is hard to get open and closed.

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  DO NOT RECOMMEND - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By christine1212 - April 26 - 7:51 am

  As previous reviews have stated, I also have the vibration problem. It is annoying and unacceptable. Honda needs to acknowledge they have a problem and fix it. Please check out Honda Owners Club under 2015 vibration issues before you purchase. Would not recommend! Honda will not be an option for me in the future. Or anyone I can spread the word to... already had 3 people ask me about the car and I turned them right off. How can anyone say it is not a safety issue!? When things vibrate more than they should, things loosen and can fall apart. Safety issue!!!!

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  Not too crazy about this SUV - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By ray - April 25 - 9:05 pm

  The gas mileage is horrible!! I get 13 miles to gal.,not a lead foot. There is a clunking noise in the rear of the car always think I have run over something. co-worker has same model and same problem. dealer states nothing wrong. The build feels cheap. Engine is quiet, has good power.Drivers seat is postioned funny to the steering wheel( cannot explain this correctly,try to put your knee on the steeing wheel). Gas and brake pedal are in weird position also. Cannot wait to trade this vehicle. Cannot use all speakers due to vibration makes sound terrible.Had Toyota Highlander V6 and it was totaled (not by me).gas mileage was 18 in city, and saved my life.Waiting for 08 Highlander to buy.

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  A Greek Tragedy: The Fatal Flaw - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By WashDad - April 25 - 4:51 pm

  The long-term history of this vehicle has been moments of love interspersed with tragic disappointment. Our first mistake was not realizing that buying a Canadian-registered Honda in the US would cut us off from all factory support. Honda USA wouldnt help us because the car was Canadian. Honda Canada wouldnt help us because it was purchased in the US. Recall work performed for free for my neighbors cost me money. This is especially galling since all 2000 Odysseys were built in a single factory in Ontario. I will never buy another Honda. Problems: short-lived brakes, doors, more doors, transmission at 78k, another tranny at 109k, squealing brakes, broken seat, radio, smog control.

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  Buyer Beware - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By hondanomore - April 24 - 3:12 pm

  Purchased new and vehicle was fine until it got to 45,000. Transmission seals failed ($900). Dealer said out of warranty so you pay. Trannys first scheduled service was 45,000. Dash board lights started to fail at 50,000. Now at 75,000 tranny is dead and must be replaced ($5,500). 34 years of car ownsership and never owned anything nearly this bad. Just glad my 12-year old Ford with 210,000 miles on it is reliable.