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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  Accord poorly insulated - 2016 Honda Accord
  By Guido - March 21 - 10:43 am

  I feel the 2016 Accord EX-L is a nice car for limited use meaning around town and short trips with speeds bellow 60 miles/h over that speed it gets very noisy to the point that I have to raise the radio volume that makes me feel very uncomfortable. The noise is from the wind, the road, I think the car is not properly insulated, also the top of the dashboard gets very hot with the sun reflecting the heat in my face.

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  Good dash, questionable engine - 2001 Honda CR-V
  By Hondabuyer - March 16 - 9:45 am

  You have to wonder what Honda was thinking with the engine-transmission combination in this SUV. This vehicle is so underpowered that it is almost dangerous on the freeway. You dont have enough extra power to avoid potential accidents (i.e. truckers changing lanes into you, ect.). 3rd and 4th gear are too close together requiring the vehicle to frequently shift down to 2nd gear simply to travel up and over overpasses or to maintain speed on hills. The result is rather poor fuel economy in freeway driving (25 MPG or less). Engine in my vehicle is plagued by misfires and a worn cylinder head. Some rust already visible below side windows. The dash doesnt rattle. Thats worth something.

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  Caution: Adaptive Cruise Control/Collision Avoid - 2017 Honda Pilot
  By Preston L Jackson - March 6 - 11:18 am

  According to the dealer 2017 was the first year Honda offered Adaptive Cruise Control an any of its vehicles. We bought the car in March 2017. On our first trip to Oregon from Utah, my wife and I, found the system to be dangerous. We set the system to begin braking at level 4 of 4 which is the longest distance detection setting. The system would allowed the car on the freeway and at freeway speeds to approach another vehicle in the same lane at high speed then when within an unsafe distance (less than setting 4 should allow) the vehicle would slam on the brakes, reduce speed from 75-80 mph to under 60 and then hesitate accelerating while the vehicle in front would pull away. The hesitation caused vehicles behind to brake or change lanes quickly to avoid collision. After the first encounter I tested the system several more times. The situation did not occur every time, but enough to let me know not to trust the system. In Adaptive Cruise our Pilot would also detect vehicles in the lane to the left of us and would not accelerate to highway speed. Adaptive Cruise on our Pilot would also read across lanes when in a left turn on the freeway and apply the brakes at freeway speeds to less than 60 mph causing vehicles following in the same lane to apply brakes. The system is way too sensitive! The condition seems to worsen when the vehicle is in ADC and Collision Avoidance. We stopped using the ADC and Collision Avoidance systems for the rest of the trip. The regular cruise control seems to work well, but in regular cruise if you brake before changing lanes the system turns off and you then change lanes (so far so good), but when you push resume the vehicle only accelerates at 10 mph which takes forever to get out of the way of approaching vehicles. Be prepared to accelerate and get out of the way using the gas pedal. We used the Collision Avoidance system for the first 1,500 miles then turned it off because the brake warning light would come on approximately every 50 miles for no reason at all. I took it to the dealer and they looked at it for a couple of days then called and said all systems checked out ok. I took it home then got a call from the dealer saying they would like to look further into my concerns. They kept it for about a week. The dealer called and said it appeared all was working as designed. I personally believed the car to be to dangerous to drive unless you dont use ADC or Collision Avoidance systems, which I paid for or you are prepared for the deficiencies. I wouldnt let my wife drive the car and I couldnt in all moral conscious sell it to someone else knowing it was dangerous so I turned it back to the dealership in August 2017 after 5 months with 4,560 miles on it. I had to take a $9,791 loss, but the company is now responsible for the vehicle.

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  Embarrassing FM stereo quality, customer service - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Rochelle Webb - March 5 - 8:53 pm

  Similar reports have shown up in many varied places concerning the embarrassingly horrible sound quality of the FM radio on several 2016 Honda Pilot models. Despite this, what is more troubling is that Honda seems to be giving owners with this issue terrible customer service, ranging from denying there could possibly be an issue, to assigning case managers who eventually deliver a message that nothing can apparently be done about the issue. This type of services is unacceptable. Had we been aware of this issue and the lack of concern for it from Honda, we would most certainly have looked at other brands. Our 2008 Odyssey had a better radio! Regardless of speed or setting, including the SVC setting, the volume fluctuates up and down randomly every 5 to 60 seconds on any FM station. The sound is great while using a bluetooth connected device or SiriusXM. It is only the FM radio sound quality and volume that is terrible, regardless of station, radio setting, or speed of the vehicle.

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  2015 CRV EX - L:Less Standard Features but Works - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By jeff299 - February 27 - 12:53 am

  After reviewing Forester and Rogue, I picked up CRV due to space available. I still think Honda has to a catch up on interior and features offered for the price. It is point A to B car not for ones who like performance or feature rich. I am only getting 20 mpg( vs stated 27 mpg) mixed driving ( still around 500 miles). Hope this gets better

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  Not what I expect from a Honda - 2001 Honda Civic
  By fehansen - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 1992 Accord EX sedan and loved it so when I was looking for a new car, I figured I couldnt go wrong with another one. This civic has been horrible. There is a real problem with the front end. Almost every 6 months, I need new struts oup front, Ive had the control arm replaced and the control arm bushings replaced. Honda has upped the warranty on the struts to 200,000km. I guess they recognize there is a front end problem with the 2001s but instead of fixing it, they are prepared to throw free parts at it for the time being. Free parts are nice but its a real headache to take a new car in for surgery every 6 months.

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  wished i would have stayed with ford - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By rr - February 24 - 3:56 pm

  has been in shop 11 times in 14 months, 7 trips re brakes alone, replaced rotors and pads front and rear at 18,000 mi, rear axle hub at 14,500 [warped], cv joint front at 38,000, still has vibration, only new car in 25 yr of marriage and we are disappointed beyond words. hondas "TUDE" is "we dont make mistakes, it must be your driving style"plan on replacing this summer

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  HONDA CIVIC? THINK AGAIN! - 2002 Honda Civic
  By RANDY1223453532 - February 17 - 10:00 am

  A FEW MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX (2 DOOR COUPE). THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS AUTOMOBILE PURCHASING GOES. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP TWICE BECAUSE IT JUST RANDOMLY DOES NOT START (MIND YOU THIS CAR HAS 3000 MILES, AND IS UNDER 3 MONTHS OLD). NOT TO MENTION I HAVE DRIVE GOLF CARTS WITH MORE PICK UP THAN THIS THING. ANOTHER NEGATIVE THING I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IT LIKE ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT JUMPS OR THE TRANSMISSION JERKS OR SOMETHING.

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  Lemon - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By Tom - February 13 - 9:08 pm

  Problems with EGR valve. Five trips to dealer to fix this (under warranty). Light in clock quit working. Engine started leaking oil at 63,000 miles (out of warranty). Honda dealer blamed it on a Wal-Mart oil change (not a fact based analysis). Changed the rear main seal and still leaked (Honda did cover this charge). Next recommendation was to change the engine at my expense ($2800). Dealer where the vehicle was purchased refused to do the repair after I asked for a guarantee that the engine change would fix the leak. No more Hondas at this house. Also the transmission now "clunks" when put into reverse to back out of the garage.

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  Just an "OK" - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Focl - February 10 - 8:40 am

  This car didnt live up to my expectations. Its my first Honda and I was surprised that the cockpit has several ergonomic issues. The automatic transmission has the strangest kick down Ive ever experienced. It feels like someones putting on the brakes. Speaking of brakes, the ABS system kick in way too early when braking easy on wet roads causing the car to skid forward much further than you expect it too! Very scary in light snow or rain!!! Every time you step on the brake you get a loud thumping in the rear which is undoubtedly the gas slapping the inside of the tank (annoying).