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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  Great car - 2015 Honda Accord
  By John Marcus - October 7 - 3:22 pm

  The car is great. No regrets at all and we are a Toyota / Lexus family. Very happy. The edmunds price promise was the best of any deal I found.

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  A great little car on a serious budget - 2015 Honda Fit
  By Quick - October 7 - 2:34 pm

  Im going to try and keep this review short by trying to skip over all the technical specs youve already read and just get straight to the good and the bad, but first I think it is important that I give you som e background. Im in my early 20s just graduated college and my previous car was an ultra-plush 1997 Pontiac Bonneville. (Think of it as your favorite recliner on wheels.) The Bonneville was great, but it was quickly turning into a money pit and it was time for a new car. Ive owned the car for about six months now, and Im still in love with it, but it does have a few downsides. First of all, the car is rated 38/40 mpg (city, hwy), however I drive mostly highway miles and in order for me to actually get my average mpg per tank below 40, Ive got to drive around in sport mode approximately 15% of the time and drive pretty aggressively. On average, I get between 42 and 45 mpg. Ive gotten 47 - 50 before on long road trips, or by driving extremely conservatively. Needless to say, the mpgs are great. The car has a pretty stiff suspension, and the base model lacks a lot of the sound-dampening materials of the higher end models, so there is a good bit of road noise. The stiff suspension also gives you a powerful incentive to avoid any and all bumps in the road as they do not absorb much of the impact and Im always afraid of hurting my precious automobile. I did have to drive down one particularly terrible country road that was absolutely full of potholes, and now there are a few light rattles in the seat belt columns, which is pretty vexing since it is a brand new car. The car is extremely easy to drive. The steering wheel turns with very little effort, acceleration and braking is smooth. Acceleration is kind of sluggish, especially if you are coming from a full size sedan like me, but I dont really mind it as its still a fun drive. Sports mode basically just makes the engine rev higher and provides a noticeable increase in responsiveness. Economy mode is a more dramatic change, with extremely sluggish acceleration and reduced A/C performance. Personally, I only use it when travelling on the highway. The car will get extremely hot out in the sun, which is to be expected with the all black interior, but the A/C can take care of it in a matter of seconds, so its not really an issue. The seats are comfortable, but dont really cradle your body, so you have a tendency to slide a little in the turns. Additionally, the center console "armrest" is completely unusable because it is practically on the floor. The radio sounds like every other normal car stereo, except for the Bluetooth. Im not sure if it is just my phone or what, but the sound quality there is pretty bad. Its like using a payphone. The last, and maybe most important, thing to note, is that my particular car seems to have a few quality control issues. A few of the dashboard panels dont line up quite right. The window trim on one door seems to stick out further than all the others, and the front bumper seems to have too large a gap in the panels on one side. When it gets hot, the rear window squirter leaks and leaves a nearly impossible to remove streak from the soap on the window. These are all things that Ill have to ask the dealer about when I go for an oil change. Final verdict: despite its few flaws, I absolutely love it and feel that I made the right choice.

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  Great little ride! - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Fran - October 6 - 3:23 pm

  What a great SUV.....handles well, good fuel economy, easy to enter and exit, turning radius is amazing, roomy and great styling. Love the ease of getting in and out of this car. Honda has also done a lot to quiet the road noise since I bought my 2008 Accord. Driving this vehicle is a dream.....no blind spots and the camera for backup and right turns is outstanding. The passenger space is wonderful.....my grandkids love the extra space for their backpacks. Trunk/cargo is wonderful and the auto feature to put the seats down works great. My only issue is working the entertainment system.....Im pretty computer literate but it takes a while to get this system right and the manual is a little short on explanation. I would recommend to anyone to get your price through the internet first and then go in and see if you can get any extras.

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  Love my civic! - 2012 Honda Civic
  By Nyagresk - October 5 - 11:37 pm

  ROAD NOISE SUCKS THOUGH!!! Very noisy. And there no outside air display which is kind of weird. Other than that it is amazing. I love the gas mileage and that it takes regular gas. Looks super sporty on the outside and slick interior is nice and simple. So far so good! 19.120k miles and going strong.

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  Great car - 2015 Honda Accord
  By George - October 5 - 10:32 pm

  Very good fuel economy. I exceed the factory posted mpg all the time, especially on highway. I reached even 42 MPG on highway for 100 miles trip.

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  Very Satisfied - 2015 Honda Accord
  By John - October 5 - 1:48 pm

  I bought the Sport after test driving an LX. I found the seats on the LX unacceptable. Also, I thought the gas pedal on the LX was a bit too eager. The salesman suggest I try the Sport model, and it is a vast improvement. The drivers seat is adjustable every which way and comfortable. The CVT shifts smooth and the acceleration is great. I am very satisfied with this car. Although, I would advise anyone thinking of buying an Accord to move up from the LX model. The difference between the LX and Sport is huge.

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  Second hand 2007 Honda Accord Sedan V6 6MT - 2007 Honda Accord
  By ryhi - October 4 - 3:14 pm

  This is the third Honda Accord Ive owned, (95 EX Sedan I4 5MT (Sold), 01 EX-L Coupe I4 5MT (current commuter)) and the first V6. I picked it up for $10,000 flat at 93,000 miles. I knew I needed to do the timing belt which I picked up the whole kit, Honda genuine and with all pulleys and tensioners, spark plugs, and all for ~$400, the job itself was straight forward, Honda has a good layout with the J-series engine and this engine bay. The job took a good chunk of the day and now it is ready for another 100,000 miles and 7-10 years. The car is now at ~105000 miles and it is an amazing car. This V6 is smooth, the shifting is short and precise, clutch is smooth as well steering is connected and who knows who was driving this car before me and how abusive they were, I cant really tell. I was worried about MPG (well, not really I was happy for the power) but If I behave I can get low to mid 30s on the freeway and low to mid 20s around town. The navigation, while outdated, is still quite good. It registers all the roads I need in the SF bay area and knows the tricky interchanges, giving you detailed information about which lane and such, it obviously doesnt have all the newer subdivisions. The brakes are my only huge complaint for this and all my Accords, I will be replacing them soon, thankfully it is quite easy to switch out the pads/rotors for higher quality aftermarket parts for this generation. The interior is very comfortable, excellent sound system, everything works inside, A/C gets too cold sometimes. :) Dash cluster is simple, controls are aesthetically placed, leather is holding up well and it all cleans up nicely. The performance is outright amazing, C/D gauged the 0-60 at 5.9s during their test of this car and I wouldnt be surprised if this car at its current age could still pull that off, it is very quick off the line. It can even walk away from many of the newest family sedans at a stop light. Even with my very lively driving style it isnt leaking or burning any oil and between the regular oil changes I do I can see the oil itself still has quite a bit of carrying capacity. This is a solid setup: sedan for the family, good safely rating, ample room, excellent engine/transmission combo, and all the features that we would be looking for in a newer car. Replacement parts and aftermarket support is plentiful and at a good price, insurance is also reasonably low. I was lucky to find this particular model and a great color (Copper Bronze Pearl). I can say I have no regrets with this car with this car and my wife loves it too which is a huge plus. We got what we both wanted, I got the engine transmission combo I wanted in a family sedan, and she got her four doors for future car seats and kids, seat warmers, and ample room for family trips. I purchased it knowing it can and will easily give me 7-10 more years with me doing all the routine oil changes and maintenance myself, my other two accords are over 200,000 miles, this one should be no exception. Im also free from the fears of a high milage automatic transmission.

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  2008 element - saved my life - 2008 Honda Element
  By Hcarew - October 2 - 5:27 pm

  Wonderful car. Airbags everything worked head on collision with Tahoe going 45 to 50 miles an hour. Walked away with minor injuries. Recommend this card to everyone I meet

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  Best Car Yet! - 2015 Honda Accord
  By Nick R. - October 2 - 1:55 pm

  Bought my 2015 Sport a few months back, was kind of iffy about getting a car with a CVT, but have had no problems with it! I owned a 2012 LX and this car is much nicer and you get an assortment of standard features that still dont come on most cars. Love having Bluetooth and a backup-camera! Also love how the sport looks compared to all of the other models that the Accord comes in, love the dual exhaust!

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  Great Work horse 347,000 miles and still going - 2006 Honda Accord
  By Chuck Pomeroy - October 2 - 10:33 am

  I bought my car new in November of 2005. I drive over 33,000 miles a year (yes I know I am not carbon friendly). Anyway this car has been amazing. Great for the everyday commute and the vacation getaway. I live in the mountains and work in L.A. so most winters I have to run on chains 30-40 minutes each morning and each evening during the winter. Other cars and 4 wheel drive trucks have gotten stuck or crashed but NOT my Honda. In the 347,000 miles I have had very little trouble. I have replaced: right rear wheel bearing (once) one electric fan motor one air conditioning High pressure valve one starter At the 310,000 mile mark she started using a little oil. Now at 347,000 I need to add 1 to 1.5 quarts of oil in between oil changes. I still get 30 mpg and everything- radio, gauges, ac and heater, heated seats still work perfectly. I just looked at new cars and because of there price I am sticking with this one. My mechanic has said "this car rides better than most of the 100,000 mile cars he works on" and because I park underground and clay and wax the car regularly the paint is still in amazing shape. Great Great Car Thank You Honda!!