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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  1998 Honda Prelude - 1998 Honda Prelude
  By rusty_toes - March 1 - 8:12 pm

  Purchased the car just under a month ago, and am still impressed by the overall quality of this Lude. The 5th gen is by far better looking than the 4th gen. Most the editor reviews will tell you the interior and exterior are lacking on the 5th gen. I could not disagree more! If nothing else, choose the 5th gen over the 4th because the 5th comes stock with vtec. I am not impressed by gimmicky features, and this car has none of those. It is a sports car. If you want something with plenty of room, get a 4 door accord. the Prelude I own has just over 110,000 miles on it, as far as I know it has not had any major mechanical work done.

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  Lease turn in - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Gregg - March 1 - 3:04 pm

  Almost immediately upon delivery, I noticed I would get shocked when I would put the key in the door or touch the car. It was serviced under warranty twice the shocks continued for the duration of my four year lease. I experienced no mechanical problems. But I did have to replace the original tires at 17,200 miles for wear. This was unexpected and costly! I drive less than 10,000 miles annually. My Civic was a comfortable drive even on long trips. It was roomy and had plenty of cargo space. It could have done better on gas in city driving. My only criticism, other than the tires, was that body was easily dented by shopping carts and I cracked the rear bumper on an snow bank.

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  Great car with minimal repairs - 1996 Honda Accord
  By cam0175 - March 1 - 1:57 pm

  I got this car when my dad was disabled in 2001. He had kept it in the garage with 7,500 miles. Six years later and 181,500 miles later (it has 189,000 now...mostly highway miles) the car has held up. I just replaced the struts and rotors and got new brakes. I also did the usual coolant change and transmission fluid change and had to replace two cv joints. The engine seems to purr now, I guess it is just breaking in! I plan on driving this thing for a long time. The body is in excellent conditions with one scratch and a small ding and the paint still shines when I wash her. I plan on seeing if this things will last me for another 80,000 miles.

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  Love love love this great family suv - 2013 Honda Pilot
  By Ashley flood - March 1 - 11:29 am

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  Good for all uses - 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By suzanne - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy driving the car and have had no problems with it. Good reliability in all aspects. Drove it to the east coast the week after purchasing it and got wonderful mileage on toll roads. Driving the speed limit and with minimal traffic I got 26-27 mpg. Love the car.

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  2007 Big Improvement Over 2004 - 2007 Honda Element
  By kcbrooksider - March 1 - 8:59 am

  I traded my 2004 Element for a 2007. I was surprised at how much better the 2007 edition is. It is a nicer and safer vehicle to drive. Even with the opportunity to get a different vehicle, the decision was easy to buy another Element. The 2004 was great. Its amazing the things I hauled in that vehicle: a refrigerator, 40 bags of mulch, two love seats...each time with the rear hatch closed.

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  I love my Hybrid - 2005 Honda Civic
  By poppyjim - March 1 - 5:46 am

  I drive my Honda Civic Hybrid like any standard vehicle. It performs very well, more than I expected. It has very good pickup from a standing start. My gas mileage averages out at 46 mpg by the way that I drive it. I find that the best mileage occurs when I keep it at or below 60 mph. My highest fuel mileage that I have gotten with it was 59.2 mpg. When I want to get a true gas mileage reading I always fill it the same way each time til the gas can be seen at the top of the filler tube. This vehicle is comfortable and handles very nice and I really appreciate it for the peace of mind I have when I pull into the pumps. I love my Hybrid.

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  Former Acura TSX Owner - 2017 Honda Civic
  By Dan S - February 28 - 11:43 pm

  My beloved 6-speed manual transmission TSX was over nine years old and enough little things were going wrong with it that it was time for a new car. With a house to remodel and kids in extracurricular activities I couldnt afford a luxury (or even sorta-luxury) performance sedan. So I was looking for a practical, reliable commuter car with an automatic transmission I could hand off to my daughter in 5 years when its paid off and shes 16. Being a Honda/Toyota guy this made me think about a Civic. I got the EX-L since I could at least get a nicer Civic in my price range. I was expecting a major step down from my TSX, but this Civic (which I viewed as a necessity/compromise and wasnt really excited to purchase) has slowly been impressing me. In Eco mode its the gutless wonder you expect a Civic to be but if you really stomp on the gas or take it out of Eco mode or even put it in sport mode that combination of 1.5L turbo and CVT transmission make it go right now. The 6-speed stick shift was one of my favorite things about my TSX but this Civic always seems to be in the right gear and I dont notice any clunky downshifting or lag when I press the gas. Handling is good (Honda always does that better than Toyota IMO) but then of course that makes for a rougher ride. I drove on an old patch of the 57 and got shaken and stirred. Thats when you know youre in a Civic the most. The interior is pretty nice. Im 62" and I fit OK but to get the most out of the legroom I have to crank the back of the seat all the way down because it goes down and back at the same time. So I pretty much have to fall down into the seat. In the end I think Ill miss my TSXs drivers seat the most, especially its lumbar support. Sitting so low is made up for by the excellent rear-view camera and right-mirror camera. Im using Android Auto with the Civic and the Navi is GREAT, so dont shell out extra for Hondas navi. Google Play Music found my music and playlists on my phone with no work from me but it doesnt play my podcasts. It seems like its possible, but I havent figured it out yet (I used Rocket Player and Doggcatcher before but Android Auto wont "channel" them through the car). Speaking of music, Im iffy on the stereo system. The Civic has lots of speakers and very clear sound but not much oomph on the low end. Ive turned down the treble, turned up the bass and shifted the balance rearward but its still not as good as default settings were on my TSX. Interior storage cubbies are weird but plentiful. Theres room for your cups, phone, sunglasses, gum, etc. but it may be down a cave and around a corner and a little dangerous to try to get at while you are driving. Overall I like this car. It doesnt come with a lot of bragging rights (Im a 42-year old family man, though... In my twenties I probably would have been a LOT more proud of it) but my wife really likes having a fun-to-drive car back in the family for her (she doesnt drive stick and our other car is a minivan) and the best compliment I can give this Civic is that given its relative comfort (as long as my youngest can still fit behind me) and WAY better gas mileage than the minivan, it has become the weekend family commuter car, so long as were not going to Costco or Home Depot. I wasnt expecting that to happen. I thought the Civic would be too small and too dull to want to drive any more than necessary but it has turned out to be a great not-so-little family car and its getting lots of use. Two end notes: 1. Sorry this review has no paragraph breaks, the online form is not allowing me to hit enter. 2. Gas mileage includes driving over hills to work every day.

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  good car - 2010 Honda Accord
  By bconn - February 28 - 9:10 pm

  Just bought this car. Used to have Toyota. Went with Honda due to Toyota problems. Overall good car. A little bumpy ride but will get used to it. came from corolla which had smoother ride.

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  Feel like a kid again - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Ed.Chicago - February 28 - 7:23 pm

  Love this car, would cry if something happened to it. Feel like Im in high school again with my first car. Great acceleration, huge cargo space when rear seats are folded down, rally shifter works wonderfully, good stock radio and lots of aftermarket parts if you ever want to go faster. Feels a lot faster than 160 Hp, think they under- rated the engine.