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:

• 

  Not much for $30k IMO. - 2004 Honda Odyssey
  By chet - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Moderate build quality at best. Tin can sheet metal that dents at the touch of a child, poor paint job, and substantial NVH presence. My biggest gripe is that I paid for leather on the sticker but the vehicle has this crappy vinyl imitation leather inside. It doesnt even feel like leather and it tears very easily. I remember better interior on my familys old 1981 Chevette. Truly pathetic.

• 

  Honda Lemon??? - 2002 Honda CR-V
  By Mike K. - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Lots of small problems, engine light (fixed on third dealer visit), noise in headliner (fixed after two visits), noise in drivers door (working on a fix), drivers seat rocking back and forth (fixed after four visits), headrests coming up by themselves (no fix) and last but not least, rattling noise in the sunroof (taken to dealer seven times, noise still there, told by Honda "its normal for SUV to make noise like that") All in all, the car spent 1 month at dealers out of nine month that I had it. The dealer in this case tried everything possible to resolve the issues, but Honda did not even called me back after several complaints.

• 

  We like the Vehicle, infotainment not so much... - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Carguy - September 26 - 6:57 pm

  2016 EX-L AWD and the vehicle itself has been great overall. Mileage is good, power is good, interior cargo room is great. With that said they should have just not put a radio/infotainment system in at all and saved me some money. The EX-L has the middle of the road option for sound system for the Pilot, and if you were to put it into a stage coach it would be an insult to the stage coach rather than an upgrade. They focused so much on the form (look and cleanliness of Dash) that they forgot about the function. Having no volume knob is flat out annoying, but just when you think you can get used to that the system shows how slow it is. Then you have the actual functional/quality control problems. 1) FM radio signal fades in and out at random while the car is moving (in areas with strong signals, and verified with other vehicles). 2) The subwoofer is pretty much useless to non-existent, and attempting to change the signal level on the settings page does absolutely nothing (full minus setting to full plus plus). 3) Dumb stuff like giving you the option to move the clock to different corners of the 8 inch screen, yet when an option is selected nothing happens, our clock is and has always been on the top right side of the screen despite trying every option that is given with no response. Car has been to the dealer, and it resolved nothing other than documenting the problem. Contacted American Honda Customer Service, they just gave the number for tech support and didnt really seem interested in helping. Contacted Tech support and they stated all they could do at this time was document my concerns. I wish I was the only one having these issues but a quick internet search will reveal many are experiencing the FM fade and Subwoofer issues. My advice for anyone looking to purchase this vehicle is to do an extremely thorough test of the infotainment system and make sure it is performing to your liking before purchase. In my opinion it behaves and functions nothing at all like you would expect for a vehicle with a $40,000 price tag. Update 8/23/16: Pilot has been back to dealer several times and the tuner has been replaced twice per a Honda TSB. This seems to have resolved the FM fade for the most part, but reception sound quality is absolutely terrible with stations on the lower end of the spectrum sounding muffled and the higher end frequencies only having treble. Dealer Service Manager agreed the system sounds atrocious, but they dont know what to do as a pilot we tested on the dealer lot had the same symptoms. Subwoofer control still seems to have no response, and the clock doesnt respond to options selected. Infotainment system is pure garbage.

• 

  Repeated repairs on my 2010 CRV - 2010 Honda CR-V
  By A Ryan - September 22 - 7:58 am

  I bought my 2010 CRV used in 2013, with 38,000 miles on the vehicle. It now has 58,000 miles, so it has not seen heavy usage. However, the starter failed after one year (just after the warranty expired), at a cost of $900 to replace. Then a front wheel bearing went out, another $300. Then the engines variable valve timing advance went out, an $1,100 repair fee. Finally, the air conditioner clutch/compressor unit died a few weeks ago for a $1,500 repair. According to the internet, the valve timing advance and air conditioner are well known to have problems in the CRV. By comparison, I bought a 2010 Toyota Camry new. It now has about 57,000 miles on it. There have been no repairs beyond the failure of two tire pressure sensors, a $200 repair. The CRV was my first Honda after years of Toyota and my wifes Lexus ownership. I wont be buying another Honda.

• 

  ear plugs required - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By Georgia boy - September 19 - 5:24 pm

  this vehicle is the noisiest vehicle I have ever ridden in, I suppose it is road noise, but then it shutters frequently at25-30 mph so perhaps transmission issues also. dealer could careless, says nothing is wrong. this is my wifes car I cannot stand to ride in it thinking about how much it costs and how totally unpleasant the ride is. You cannot even hear the radio on the highway. Avoid this vehicle. My Camry is so much more pleasant.

• 

  Most overated car - 2006 Honda Accord
  By pilot - September 19 - 9:43 am

  I purchased my brand new 2006 Honda Accord SE about five weeks ago and what a disappointment The car is a rattle trap, idles like an old tractor and the gas mileage is nowhere near the one advertised. I went back to the dealership thinking that it might be something wrong with the idle in MY car but surprise... after checking the idle in 6 brand new Accords they all proved to have the same problem. My advice if you are thinking to buy this car is to take a LONG test drive let the car idle with air conditioning on in heavy traffic so you will see if you can put up with the shaking. Do you research... be informed. My other car is a Honda Prelude and is one of the best cars Ive ever driven.

• 

  Disappointed Driver - 2004 Honda Odyssey
  By Jaspa - September 8 - 2:00 am

  The car runs ok, it just feels and looks very cheap. Cheap parts, few extras.

• 

  should/could/would be a fun car... - 2002 Honda Civic
  By kjiang - September 7 - 10:00 am

  since we bought this 2002 Civic we havent had good experience at all: 1. Fuel Drinker: 20-22 short distances and 30-31 highways. 2. Noisy: some noise local drive and can-not-stand-anymore noise on highways. 3. Terrible breaks: when step a little harder on the break it becomes really sudden break which scares me every time. 4. Glitch Transmission: when change from one speed level to another the transmission is not smooth at all (big glitch & noise). P.S. were very regret that we bought this not satisfying at all car (will NEVER buy Honda again...)

• 

  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR WITH THE 9 SPEED TRANSMISSION! - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Teri - September 5 - 5:56 am

  We traded in our 2011 Honda Pilot, and went for the top of the line this time. While the interior and amenities are very nice, they dont make up for the problems with the transmission. Two months after purchasing the car we noticed a whining sound while accelerating. Took them 2 months and me being very insistent on getting a fix, which was a new wiring harness. Recently the vehicle started having transmission problems, similar to other reviews. Transmission was glitchy, lurching, missing gears, this was most notable when climbing a hill. The vehicle then started with some sort of belt squeaking noise, engine then started overheating while idling. Back to Honda Service...."somehow" transmission fluid had gotten into the radiator, and the Honda service verified the transmission problem, the fix replacing the entire transmission. Found out at the Honda Service desk that they had to replace a transmission on another Elite just a few weeks before mine. After doing extensive research on this 9 speed transmission, it seems this transmission is not reliable. I too like other Elite owners, am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA. Why would they put this transmission in their most expensive vehicle? I have called American Honda to open a case, with the hopes of getting out of this car and into a Pilot EX-L with the tried and true 6 speed transmission. Of course the dealer with "let" me trade my car in and accomplish this, and then I can loose twelve grand. SHAME ON YOU HONDA!!!

• 

  Honda Reliability Has Degraded - 2012 Honda CR-V
  By Jim - August 25 - 11:29 am

  Honda has long known there was design problem with the variable timing chain actuator (VTC Actuator) in a number of vehicles since at least 2008 model year. Honda issued TBA 09-010 in October 2012 about this problem. The problem could occur outside the normal warranty period. Symptoms include a grinding or rattling noise on a cold start after the car has been at rest for approximately 10 hours. The cost of repair will be in excess of $600.00 for the customer. Honda refuses to extend warranty or do a recall. The problem with the recall is this, if they replace the VTC Actuator it will likely fail again. I will never buy another Honda product.