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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  Reliable, basic transport - 1997 Honda Accord
  By Hondaowner - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Our Accord has had very minor repairs done other than regular maintenance. We are very happy with that. You can always be sure that when you turn the key, the engine will start and the car will move. AT 75K miles it shows no signs of trouble. The engine, however, is too weak for a car this size. If you have the AC on, forget about any acceleration even with a manual tranny. Performance and cornering are total afterthoughts.

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  Careful: These annoyances add up! - 2013 Honda Accord
  By imrickjamesbch - April 26 - 11:11 am

  My 2013 Accord EX-L V6 w/navigation 2/13 purchase started off going the wrong way leaving my dealers lot: 1. the car simply pulls to the left only at highway speeds. Two dealer visits within that week were a waste of time. They wont/cant figure out why this is so (any Im not only driving on crowned roads). Had I noted this during my two test drives prior to purchase, I would have passed on this car. Annoying! Youve been warned. 2. The audio system certainly is sexy and inviting, but when little things dont work like the subwoofer to the email/text message reading feature (using an iPhone 5)...or the lack of any Gracenote update installed in the car (until July 2013): grrrrrr

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  Honda Uses Name to Sell Cars - 2003 Honda Accord
  By Accordboy4 - April 21 - 2:00 am

  20 year Honda fan here. Own an 85 Accord with 370,000 miles on original engine and transmission. 2003 Accord had transmission failure at 1,500 miles (1 month old and before the first payment was made!!!). American Honda refused to do anything more than the warranty work which was a REMANUFACTURED transmission. No other compensation given.

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  Nice car but.... - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Dave - April 20 - 12:50 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for 1 year and have about 29,000 miles on it. The vehicle handles good. Gas mileage is good. I was rear ended at 10mph by a Jeep Cherokee and the vehicle suffered a lot of damage. I was told that the steel in the civic is not as strong as other vehicles I guess for weight? Any way not too impressed. Happy I leased it for 24 months and cant wait to get out of the lease. I suggest leasing and if you like the vehicle buy it after the lease is up, if you dont like it you can return it like I will. I need something fuel efficient and fun to drive this is not as fun.

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  Great car but terrible front seat. - 2017 Honda CR V
  By Chuck - April 18 - 5:50 pm

  This is my first Honda and I thought I would love it. But the front drivers seat is so uncomfortable that it is a torture to drive it more than 20 miles. My right hip and lower back hurt so bad it takes all the fun out driving. Everything else in the car is great. I love all the safety features but I might have to take a financial loss and try a different car.

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  EX-L Vibrations - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By kop604 - April 16 - 11:11 am

  New 2015 CR-V bought from Piazza Honda of Pottstown PA December 2014. Regular and severe vibrations at 2000 RPM especially at 40-50 mph, or at 1000 PRM at lower speed; random vibrations at other RPM and speed. Very noise. Really regret not getting Toyota RV4, my initial choice.

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  Definitely not a highway car - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Buzzy - April 7 - 8:35 am

  The vehicle is an in-town performer. Quick and agile, good boat ramp puller, and plenty of family features. However, extreme road noise on the highway and lousy front brake rotor design makes for a disappointing product. If the load is light and the speeds are low, this is a good neighborhood vehicle. But a road warrior, it is not.

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  Test Drove 2018 Odyssey - major issue with AC - 2018 Honda Odyssey
  By Joseph V - April 2 - 5:25 pm

  We waited over 7 months to finally purchase a Honda Touring 2018. Went to dealership and it only had an Elite in stock. So, we finally got around to test driving it. Here are the results: Pros - Magic Seat (awesome!), performance - good, brakes - good, navigation system - good (thought there would be a glare; however, it was minimal), cabin watch - good, remote engine start (thank god) - great! Cons - OMG, they screwed up the Air Conditioning. The front seat is okay. However, I would feel very sorry for anyone sitting in the third row. It just blows air (and not even cold). Also, the vent is on the bottom side. If anyone push the seat back, it gets partially cover. Forget the person sitting in the middle - no air at all. And, the second seat is almost the same. Unbelievable mistake. We live in Las Vegas and it can get up to 115 degrees during the summer. I sat in the car for 20 minutes, had the fan blowing high with the AC set to the lowest setting, and still, it was uncomfortable in the back seats. I even got the sales guy to finally admit that he was not comfortable with it. This is not acceptable in Las Vegas. As a result, we decided to hold off on this purchase. Hopefully, they have this fix in 2019. Unreal!!

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  Some good, Some bad - 2002 Honda Accord
  By MrGallant - March 30 - 4:45 pm

  I picked up my Honda in 02, wanting a troublefree commuter car. At 26K, the transmission completely died on mine. This is apparently common. The dealerships say otherwise. The car is pretty solid, though and the gas mileage is 25-30. The interior fabric is in fact, junk. For what this car cost, I expected better. The electrical system has always been junk, with more bugs than a rain forest. Also, be forewarned that your insurance will be high for this car, as Hondas are theft magnets. Too much cabin noise, but great trunk space. Back seats a joke. 23K bought no luxury, but still wasnt cheap. Decide if you want to go upmarket or be and affordable hauler.

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  Missing some basic featuers and functionality. - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By TariqZ - March 28 - 10:28 pm

  I decided to buy the 2016 Honda CR-V EX instead of EX-L as I didnt want the leather seats being in Texas. I bought a pre-owned certified vehicle with 28K miles. Vandergriff Honda in Arlington, TX made the buying process very stressful and unpleasant. If you live in DFW dont go there, the sales staff is incompetent and lack knowledge. I have only had for less than a month and so far there are 3 things I hate about this car: (1) No push button or remote tail gate lift? seriously Honda, its a basic feature which should come standard with the EX trim. My sales person lied and miss-sold me on this feature otherwise I probably wouldnt have bought this vehicle. (2) Interior storage, not many compartments to put stuff in the front especially the driver side, my Honda Civic has more storage compartments than this CR-V. (3) Poor road holding and handling. It is a comfortable vehicle with plenty of cargo space. I would recommend to get the EX-L trim or touring. BTW with only me in the vehicle on the highway it only does average 27 MPG.