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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  Dont bother - 2014 Honda Pilot
  By blakecatch22 - December 22 - 10:54 am

  We owned a 2005, 2007, and now 2014 Honda Pilot. The main problems are the fuel economy and power numbers are tepid, the 5-speed gearbox is jerky, and acceleration took nearly 10 seconds. Plus the transmission cost a small fortune to repair. Please, take my word and buy aToyota Highlander (which we now own) or the Honda Odyssey.

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  awful seats, marginal a/c - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By rwalters1 - December 20 - 5:21 pm

  Owned this car for 15,000 miles. The seats are hard and crowned in the middle. Tried to fix them with the help of an upholstery shop. unless you are very large or very young you will not like these seats. They get very painful the more you drive this car. I believe the car critics are a bunch of biased reviewers. How could anyone miss the fact that these seats are this terrible. A friend at work wife has a CR-V and he says the same thing. Bought an Escape and it makes the Honda look and feel like it was a ten year old car. On a hot day we had to put the fan on high and turn temp to 65 and it barely worked.

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  What was I thinking?! - 2005 Honda Civic
  By slcarter81 - December 17 - 1:35 pm

  So the pros for this vehicle are: great gas mileage and comfort. After reading the reviews, perhaps I purchased a lemon but I will never recommend this car to anyone. 15 minutes after driving this car off the lot, all my lights came on. Fortunately the dealership replaced the hybrid battery. I have had to change the sensors and now it is burning oil. There is NO pick up in this vehicle. If you live in the mountains, do not buy this car. Every one will be passing you! After about a year of having this car, I am in the market for a new vehicle.

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  DONT BE FOOLED BY THE HONDA NAME! nothing but problems - 2005 Honda Civic
  By sfus1989 - December 15 - 7:18 pm

  My 05 civic has been NOTHING but problems! I got it at 90,000 miles and on my way home the thermostat went and the oil pan had to be replaced. Then something seemed wrong with the acceleration so I took it to my uncle who is a mechanic (aka I know he is not going to screw me) and I found out the timing belt had to be replaced, They all Do at 90,000 fyi. Then from there the front hub bearings had to be replaced because the sound was atrocious and grinding. THEN the OEM gas cap was faulty and the check engine light came on, so I bought a new one and found out that the check engine light was the alternator AND cat convertor needed to be replaced. HONDA RELIABILITY? Ill stick with Toyota!

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  Happy with my fit UNTIL 150,000!! BEWARE! - 2008 Honda Fit
  By matt331 - December 8 - 6:47 pm

  I would say up until a couple of months ago I would rated my Honda Fit a easy 5 out 5 stars UNTIL I crossed the 150,000 mark. I will let it be known Ive been the sole owner of this car and have all maintenance done at Honda (oil changes/inspections). Since passing the 150k mark Ive had the car towed twice once for a bad fuel pump ($700) the second time because the accelerator coils and water pump went out completely. The second issue ended up costing around $1500 because valve adjustments and new parts. The check engine light has come on several times since and needless to say Im now afraid of driving this thing down the street. So beware after 150k, its a money pit!

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  Great car - avoid it anyway - 2010 Honda Accord
  By welltraveled - December 2 - 7:59 pm

  Bought this car used with 35,000 miles on it the car burned a quart of oil in 1,000 miles consistently. Check engine light came on and the car began running rough on a long trip stopped into a Honda dealership who told us that there was a class action lawsuit over this car, and Honda extended the warranty for this issue to 8 years / unlimited mileage. The piston rings fail and oil enters the engine. This fouls the spark plugs, and the engine fails. Remedy was to rebuild the engine with new rings, gaskets, etc. - four days worth of work. No guarantee that the issue wont recur, so I would avoid this car. This is my second Accord and third Honda / Acura. Disappointing.

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  OK, but features not up to high price - 2012 Honda CR-V
  By jenson23 - December 1 - 3:30 am

  A bit disappointed after reading so many stellar reviews. Lots of blind spots. Doors come up higher than my older cars (cant easily rest my arm on windowsill) probably for better safety, but that makes it very hard to see the 4 corners of the car, or see potholes by front passenger side, or see where the driveway edges are when Im backing up. Also very disappointed at the lack of lights. No light in glove box! No lights anywhere on outside door or mirror. When I open the door on a dark street at night, other cars cant see that its open! Very dangerous. Worst is getting in car at night and cant see button to quickly lock door, and have to feel / fumbling w/ key!

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  CR-V V stands for Vanilla - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By brifi - November 24 - 9:34 pm

  This car is like driving an appliance, its drives OK and gets me where I want to go but has very little character. Fuel economy declines drastically in cold weather. LX seats are not very comfortable after an hour. Rear visibility is very poor, the backup camera is not a solution to this. The stability control catches me by surprise, applying brakes in the middle of a turn when I am not expecting it. The front seat head rests have an aggressive angle that doesnt allow me to stretch and straighten my neck. I wish I had bought the Forester with true AWD. I also wish I could turn off the A/C function that automatically comes on in defrost modes, it is not necessary in my dry winter climate.

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  2015 LX Beware of Seat discomfort - 2015 Honda Fit
  By andy206 - November 2 - 11:01 am

  I just bought a 2015 LX. I like the car but the front seats, the driver seat for me, are really poorly designed in a concave shape. The seat seemed OK at first, but after about 30 miles or so, I was in terrific back pain, like my back had been wrenched. This is beyond discomfort, graduating to health hazard. I am trying lumbar supports with limited success. I traded in a 1999 Tacoma with bench seats, which gave me no problem. I have also driven a number of other cars recently including a 2005 Prius, a 2013 Kia Rio, and a Chevy Aveo, all with no problem. Unless i can figure something to improve the seat I will not be keeping this car.

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  2004 Honda Accord 4 cylinder vs. 6 cylinder EX V6 - 2004 Honda Accord
  By ababner - November 1 - 5:04 am

  Prior to purchasing our 2004 Honda Accord EX V6 I read Honda was an outstanding car with proven reliability a Quality built car. My personal experience has proven this to be untrue. Unfortunately there is a major difference between the 4 cylinder and the 6 cylinder Honda Accord. The six cylinders are notorious for having transmission problems. We found this out the hard way with my wife breaking down with our three kids in the middle of the highway. I received a call at work engine racing but car not moving help call. Wife and kids abandoned the car and when I got there found the transmission failure.