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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  Not Too Shabby But Very Vanilla Car - 1997 Honda Accord
  By Woodbyrne - July 13 - 8:31 am

  Pretty decent car in terms of reliability. I now have 133k miles on it and have experienced the following problems since owning it: needed new exhaust system and radiator. These are normal wear and tear items. Engine is perfect. Problem now is that its starting to get annoying old car problems. Sun roof began to leak so I just sealed it and took out the motor. Weird rattling noise under the car. Windows were always slow but now I have to push the passenger window up when closing it or it wont move. Once in a while the car will just turn off while you are driving. Car is too old now to dump cash in. And I wont get any $$ for a trade-in. Just going to drive it until it dies.

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  Major Transmission Issues - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By TGal - July 12 - 2:55 pm

  This is my third Honda Pilot and Im very disappointed in the quality when it comes to its performance. The transmission is all over the place! I noticed when the car is cold it has problems shifting gears for the first few minutes at various speeds. The freakiest thing is when youre driving downhill and hit your brakes the car lunges forward jerking everyone in the car. This can be reproduced almost every single time. Very noticeable lag time in acceleration between 20-40 miles an hour seems to try and find the correct gear. Called my Honda dealer and they say theyre unaware of these issues (of course) but said maybe they would have a software update that can fix it in the future. Thank God for the internet --glad to hear Im not the only one experiencing these same exact issues. Opening a report with Honda to submit my complaint and hopefully speed up the software update.

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  A lot of money...not sure its worth it - 2017 Honda CR-V
  By JD Petrarca - July 7 - 4:46 pm

  This is not my favorite vehicle I have owned, but it will do. When you buy it be prepared for the hard sell of all the "extras" that you dont need. That alone has soured me on the car. Its comfortable and relatively quiet. Am still waiting on the title- previous new cars I have purchased I received the title right away and was able to get plates, now I will either have to waste part of a vacation day or take up part of my Saturday standing in line at the BMV. Need to have the car a little longer to determine reliability, ease in handling during inclement weather, etc. Truth be told, wish I bought a Suburu.

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  Not like the old days! - 2017 Honda Accord
  By Katherine - July 1 - 8:36 pm

  I have a 2001 Honda Accord V6. Love it. So I bought a 2017 Accord V6. Pick-up is not as good; seems to have more play in the steering (I might need to get more used to it); steering wheel is uncomfortable: hard, not comfortable positioning for hands for some weird reason; BLACK dashboard! WHY??? When that sun hits it, the heat jumps back in your face! The radio/sound system is not nearly as good as 15 years ago. I am disappointed and doubt I will keep this car 15 years. If I could get all my money back, I would. Glad I still have the 2001!

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  Noisy Car - 2013 Honda Accord
  By hondaccord09 - June 16 - 1:49 pm

  This car is so loud that it takes away a lot of the driving enjoyment. It doesnt give you a luxury feel when driving this car. You have to crank up the volume. Even at low speed you can feel and hear the road from the cabin. They need to get rid of the loud cabin/road noise, especially when driving at high speed. Toyota and Nissan car are much quieter if noise is an issue for you.

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  Noise - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Tom S - June 14 - 6:50 pm

  Brake noise - high pitched squeal. Rattle of the back panel by the rear speakers against the rear window. Road Noise.

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  Good car, but a couple major problems - 2003 Honda CR-V
  By Jman - June 14 - 12:02 am

  The 2003 CR-V is the first new car my wife and I have owned. Value, and design were what made us decide on the CR-V over the Toyota Rav-4. All in all, we are pretty happy with our purchase. Only 2 major problems have occured in the past 3 years. The first one was the air conditioning system self destructing. Metal shavings went through the system and the entire thing had to be ripped out and replaced. The second one was the rear differential. The 2003 manual says every 60,000 miles the fluid needs to be replaced - under severe conditions. Buyer beware, it is more like every 15,000 to 20,000. Our rear diff was fried at 37,000. They replaced it under warranty though. $3000 worth.

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  no more CVT - 1998 Honda Civic
  By Jake - June 13 - 10:58 am

  have this car for a while. if youre planning on buying an used HX, DO NOT buy one with CVT transmission. its like the worst tranny ive ever seen. it gives you no performance, car is slow, tranny belt slips and weird noise from the tranny as it ages. it also makes the car idle like crap especially when its cold. other than the transmission, its a very good car. engine still runs smooth (my car has 140k miles already), AC still blows cold, quiet interior, very good gas mileage (33mpg, all i do is city driving).

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  My least favorite Honda to date - 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By Ned Christensen - June 12 - 4:54 pm

  I went for the Accord Hybrid because I thought it looked a little snazzier and handled sportier than the conventional 4-cyl sedan. Not a burner like my old 6-cyl coupe, but fun to drive and who could argue with 49 mpg, even with cheap gas. I liked the updated electronics, with Apple Play eliminating the need for nav., the backup camera is brighter, and the assisted cruise control and lane departure prevention seemed like a good idea. After 5 months of ownership, however, Im pretty thoroughly disappointed. The biggest letdown is the gas mileage, which despite its 49 mpg rating, averages closer to 35. The best Ive ever managed, with every fuel conservation tool in use, was about 39. I understand fuel economy is always overstated, but by 28 percent?! Shame on you Edmunds, for letting Honda get away with it. In other news, the entertainment touchscreen is a hot mess. The menu hierarchies arent intuitive and the virtual buttons are hard to hit. The volume control is either a touchy thing or the steering wheel, and theres no off switch! You cant turn off the radio. The assisted cruise control slows down so much and so far back that cars behind you start sounding horns for you to get out of the way. The lane assist and other safety features just make driving more complicated and less fun. To top it all off, the interior trim is shiny, high-gloss metal, which catches every ray of sunlight and blasts it into the drivers eyes. Even the fake would in the console is glossy and glarey--and thats with tinted windows. As for the performance, the car is fairly responsive unless youre looking for hard acceleration for passing or merging from a speed of 30-69 mph. In that range, you have to punch it into sport mode, which brings the gas engine to life with a disconcerting belch and whiny roar. The handling is extremely light when accelerating, although Im starting to get used to that. So, in summary, I hate the car, right? Well, not exactly. It is a Honda and I like Hondas because they seem to fit me well. This one does too, even though I hit my head getting into it. It feels pretty solid and it was marked down a lot--probably due to everything Ive written so far. The next generation should be amazing if they learn from all the shortcomings in this one. What are the chances?

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  Econobox - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By Michael - June 12 - 8:21 am

  I bought this vehicle mainly for its fuel economy and low ownership cost, and its ok in those regards. However, Im disappointed by its rough ride, noisy engine and cabin. I find the controls and interior details annoying. For example, the accessory power stays on only when the ignition is on, making it impossible to keep a cell phone charging overnight. The window lock on the drivers side prevents even the driver from operating the windows. You cant lock the doors with the remote unless all the doors are closed and if you unlock the doors remotely and dont open a door right away, it locks itself again. Honda, stop trying to protect me from myself -- its annoying!