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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  Another Terrific Honda - 2011 Honda CR-V
  By Todd Perry - June 12 - 9:17 pm

  Reliable, good fuel economy, excellent overall value

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  My least favorite Honda to date - 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By Ned Christensen - June 12 - 4:54 pm

  I went for the Accord Hybrid because I thought it looked a little snazzier and handled sportier than the conventional 4-cyl sedan. Not a burner like my old 6-cyl coupe, but fun to drive and who could argue with 49 mpg, even with cheap gas. I liked the updated electronics, with Apple Play eliminating the need for nav., the backup camera is brighter, and the assisted cruise control and lane departure prevention seemed like a good idea. After 5 months of ownership, however, Im pretty thoroughly disappointed. The biggest letdown is the gas mileage, which despite its 49 mpg rating, averages closer to 35. The best Ive ever managed, with every fuel conservation tool in use, was about 39. I understand fuel economy is always overstated, but by 28 percent?! Shame on you Edmunds, for letting Honda get away with it. In other news, the entertainment touchscreen is a hot mess. The menu hierarchies arent intuitive and the virtual buttons are hard to hit. The volume control is either a touchy thing or the steering wheel, and theres no off switch! You cant turn off the radio. The assisted cruise control slows down so much and so far back that cars behind you start sounding horns for you to get out of the way. The lane assist and other safety features just make driving more complicated and less fun. To top it all off, the interior trim is shiny, high-gloss metal, which catches every ray of sunlight and blasts it into the drivers eyes. Even the fake would in the console is glossy and glarey--and thats with tinted windows. As for the performance, the car is fairly responsive unless youre looking for hard acceleration for passing or merging from a speed of 30-69 mph. In that range, you have to punch it into sport mode, which brings the gas engine to life with a disconcerting belch and whiny roar. The handling is extremely light when accelerating, although Im starting to get used to that. So, in summary, I hate the car, right? Well, not exactly. It is a Honda and I like Hondas because they seem to fit me well. This one does too, even though I hit my head getting into it. It feels pretty solid and it was marked down a lot--probably due to everything Ive written so far. The next generation should be amazing if they learn from all the shortcomings in this one. What are the chances?

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  Great Find - 1995 Honda Odyssey
  By Josh - June 12 - 2:55 pm

  My wife and I just purchased a 1995 Odyssey this past weekend and so far we love it. We were blessed to find one with only 95,000 miles and the owner before us kept the car immaculate! It looks brand new! We had a Nissan Xterra before (which we loved) but with two small children we were getting tired of packing them into the small back seat and then having no extra room. The Odyssey drives great and we really havent been able to tell much difference between the 4cyl. in the Odyssey and the 6cyl. in the Xterra (yet). Its so much easier to see out of the big windows and it feels just as solid on the highway. We would highly recommend one to anyone who is looking.

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  excellent car - 2006 Honda Accord
  By Catherine - June 12 - 10:36 am

  I have had this car only two weeks and i find it a very comfortable ride.

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  Hondas are awesome - 2007 Honda Civic
  By E man - June 12 - 8:46 am

  I have not had any major problems with my civic. It is a very reliable car and I truly enjoy driving it because it is sporty and economical at the same time. Not to mention, it just looks really cool!

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  Econobox - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By Michael - June 12 - 8:21 am

  I bought this vehicle mainly for its fuel economy and low ownership cost, and its ok in those regards. However, Im disappointed by its rough ride, noisy engine and cabin. I find the controls and interior details annoying. For example, the accessory power stays on only when the ignition is on, making it impossible to keep a cell phone charging overnight. The window lock on the drivers side prevents even the driver from operating the windows. You cant lock the doors with the remote unless all the doors are closed and if you unlock the doors remotely and dont open a door right away, it locks itself again. Honda, stop trying to protect me from myself -- its annoying!

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  Never have to think about it car - 2006 Honda Civic
  By Happy Honda Owner - June 12 - 8:02 am

  Great reliability at a good price.

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  Best car on the market - 2008 Honda Civic
  By steve - June 11 - 10:26 pm

  Drove both Civic Hybrid & Prius before buying. Civic is quieter; has fewer distractions for operator; and gets even better mileage than advertised. We have taken several 400 mile trips and find the Civic to be stable and effortless on the highway. We have discovered that keeping cruise speed below 68 mph increases gas mileage by nearly 6%. I utilize GPS on other vehicles and would prefer a more comprehensive data base on the Civic. We love the car and feel that we made the right choice.

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  Great redesign! - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By HondaFan367 - June 11 - 5:10 pm

  I have driven the CRV about 1700 miles now, and I love everything about it. Its ride is much smoother than my previous CRV, and it is so luxurious! I really like the instant mile per gallon guage, and tire pressure monitoring system. If youre looking for a smaller SUV, I highly recommend taking this one home with you!

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  The Little Car That Could - 1993 Honda Civic
  By Joshua Brown - June 11 - 9:32 am

  I bought my Honda Civic Si in 97 for $6200. I have done some basic performance modifications on it, but little to the engine itself. I have had nearly zero problems with this car. My distributor bearing went out in 2001 (cost me approx. $220 to fix myself) and then my ignition coil failed 5/06 (cost me less than $100 to fix myself). This car still gets about 38 mpg on the highway and about 34 mpg in the city. The mpg averages 36-37 even after hitting 260,000 miles!! Yes 260,000!! This cars little sohs vtec engine is an engineering marvel. My only complaint is on the body. Nearly every fifth generation Civic (EG) has rust on the rear wheel well. This car has paid for itself 10 times over