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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  Honda does not stand by their warranty. - 2014 Honda Odyssey
  By Jason - December 1 - 10:32 pm

  Our 2014 Odyssey is still within warranty. The vehicles rear camber is out 1.8 on the drivers and 1.4 out on the passenger side. Honda did not engineer the rear suspension with adjustments. There is a $400 dollar camber kit to correct the problem but since it is manufactured by another company, Honda will not authorize the dealership to fix it. This is a common problem with the Odyssey and the Pilot but Honda sweeps it under the rug and chooses not to deal with the problem. As a result of the camber being out, the tires are wearing out at a ridiculous speed. If you are thinking about buying an Odyssey, buy a Toyota instead.

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  4 wheel motor cycle - 2005 Honda S2000
  By Bill edwards - December 1 - 9:33 am

  Have owned S2000 since 2006. Quick and dangerous (if your not paying attention). After 6500 rpm this car really is fun. My favorite is driving in 3rd gear between 6500 & 7000 rpm in traffic. It screams loud enough that drivers beside me think the pistons are about to swap holes in the engine :) Hard to imagine a replacement after 10 yrs. car is in pristine condition. Thinking of Lexus RC 150, but the Honda is still a lot of fun. For gas consumption, it uses all in the tank, as who cares what the mileage is! Cheers -ga

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  Youll be sorry - 2013 Honda Insight
  By judy - November 30 - 4:52 pm

  This is the most uncomfortable, loud, gutless car you can buy. The mileage is not worth it, and goes down quickly if you have to do even small inclines. (not hills, just normal on the freeway or average road inclines) There is no way to get your money out of it if you buy it new. You cant hold a conversation without yelling in the car because of the noise. The car is so gutless, you put yourself at risk to pull out of your street if you see another car coming. Not to mention you cant see out of the car easily at all. A lot of blind spots. Dont get the light fabric seats. They stain with water. You may not listen to this. Thats fine, but be warned, you will not be happy.

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  Poor fuel economy and vibration - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Charles Simons - November 30 - 11:38 am

  I am getting terrible fuel millage 22 city and 28 hwy my 2013 did much better and it has a vibration on acel. I do not like cvrt trans. for this reason. I can not believe Honda puts only this trans in vehicles. I may have to quit buying Hondas

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  Dependable, Comfortable, Quick & Nimble! - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Honest John - November 30 - 8:11 am

  This car is pretty much perfect. It gets over 30MPG Hwy and makes 271HP. As an Audi S4 owner, Im rather hard to impress with performance or style, but this tight little V6 did the job! Its a bit noisy on the road, a trade-off for the lower profile tires, but given the handling improvement they provide, they are well worth it. I would like to address the guy who wrote about Honda cars being "pieces of junk" while extolling the virtues of the Mercedes Benz line. Just read the Consumer Reports reviews on Hondas and Benzs and you will see that dependability-wise, the BENZ is surely the "piece of junk." The fact that you pay three times too much for the heavy, ugly German vehicles makes them a true fools purchase. Most Mercedes owners realize this about the time the warranty runs out and they encounter their first REPAIR BILL!

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  I Love Driving this car! - 2002 Honda Accord
  By Truong N. - November 29 - 7:09 pm

  I have 146k miles on the odometer. The Engine and Transmission are still flawless. No leaks or anything. I did have to replace the radiator, timing belt, and water pump. Man this car is pretty quick for almost a 14 year old car. It gets me where I need to go. The ride quality is really stiff, not the best when it comes down to ride quality. The fuel economy ist good either. I cant complain because its a v6. I average about 18 mpg from city and highway driven. I love the comfortable seats and the exterior of this car! Its my daily drive and I love driving this car.

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  2010 Accord LX Sedan - 83,000 miles of reliable tr - 2010 Honda Accord
  By Adam Zaharchuk - November 29 - 11:38 am

  Very reliable, has needed no mechanical repairs. Only oil & fluid changes, tires and brake pads. Drives and handles great! Very comfortable seating. High quality interior (for the most part). What I dont like: plastic wheel covers chip very easily, and after 83,000 miles, the steel wheels behind the wheel covers are discolored. The window belt molding has been replaced on all four windows as the rubber that was used has basically disintegrated. Unacceptable for a Honda that is only five years old. The paint is also of very poor quality. I have the dark gray color, and gave recently started to notice some very slight oxidation. The paint also chips fairly easily, especially on the front of the car/hood area. The headlight housings are also of poor quality. They have already started to haze up. I am tall (63") and when I enter the car, my knees tend to hit the dashboard.

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  Honda lover - 2011 Honda Accord
  By Dani - November 29 - 9:42 am

  This is my 3rd Honda. The car has a lot of interior room for its size and enough leg room for my husband who is 61". The car sits comfortably and I love the heated seats. Although visibility while backing up is okay, I wish we had bought a 2012 with the backup camera. (A camera can be added to the 2011.) The brakes are fantastic! Shimming is a BIG problem with this car. I have had it balanced and aligned 3 times at two different places and it has not solved the problem. I plan to take it to the dealership while we have the warranty on the car.

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  2015 exl crv awd - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Jay - November 28 - 9:51 pm

  Honda CRV drive up to 1700-2000rpm Vibrantion bring to honda dealership! Check the rear seats! Under there making noises! Rear Brakeline clip Vibrantion. Honda fix for u.

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  This is a wonderful car, except: - 2015 Honda Odyssey
  By P Garrity - November 28 - 4:36 pm

  Something happened after the 2012 Odyssey that caused the Honda entertainment system people to lose their minds. The 2015 system is horrible. Pairing with a phone is touch-and-go at best, voice commands are impossible to use, if youre using phone navigation (Waze etc) you cant also use the radio or other audio sources. It is all clunky, hard to use and a really inferior experience. The addition of a side-view blind-spot camera was cute, but for my money Id rather have a front-of-car parking camera. The side-view camera is distracting and doesnt really provide a very useful image most of the time. The 2012 Odyssey was a much better car in terms of features than the 2015.