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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  Honda Pilot - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Kong Wang - December 5 - 2:00 am

  Honda Pilot is the best family SUV. Its a 4wd SUV for 30k.

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  It turned me! - 2002 Honda Civic
  By Phoenix - December 5 - 2:00 am

  Ive been a longtime diehard V8 lover. That being said I had it up to my eyeballs with replacing parts for my Firebird and finally broke down and bought a Honda for its reliability as a daily driver. To my amazement this is an incredibly fun to drive little car and its got enough power to play around on the freeways (Ive gotten it up to 135mph). In addition to that the handling is the best you could imagine on any car under $40K. I still take my TransAm to the track on the weekend, but the Si really changed my mind about I-4s.

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  As Advertised - 2008 Honda Fit
  By Photo/Video - December 4 - 9:43 am

  Excels at city driving, cargo hauling, parking, etc. Road manners, noise, seats can get old on highway trips over 90 minutes.

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  THE BEST CAR EVER OWNED - 1990 Honda Accord
  By lavenderbutterfly - December 4 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT WAS MORE RELIABLE THAN THE HONDA. THIS IS MY 2ND ONE AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THE 1990 MODEL OVERALL OTHERS. HONDA HAS MADE A GREAT PRODUCT. I USED TO COMMUTE 170 MILES DAILY AND NEVER DID I HAVE ANY TROUBLE. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED MAYBE TWICE. WHEN THE ORIGINAL ONES WERE CHANGED I WENT OVER THE TIME LIMIT AND THEY WERE REALLY STILL IN GOOD SHAPE! SHE IS ONLY NOW GIVING ME PROBLEMS BUT WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT, SHE IS 12 YEARS OLD. THERE ARE OVER 246,000 MILES ON MY HONDA. I DONT COMMUTE ANYMORE SO I AM UNABLE TO TELL YOU EXCEPT TO GUESTIMATE MY MILEAGE.

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  Gotta Love It! - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Shari - December 3 - 10:50 pm

  I moved up from an 06 Civic, which I loved. It was hard to leave it at the dealership. I will be moving to the top of a hill on about 3 miles of uphill dirt/mud/snow, and wanted something higher off the road and AWD. As sad as I was to leave my fun Civic, 10 miles down the road, I knew I had done the right thing. Im a little nervous about going from my excellent fuel economy to something a little more costly. But in my first 300 miles, Ive averaged 29 mpg. I love the mpg guage too. You can easily see where you could improve driving habits.

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  Best vehicle Ive had - 2005 Honda Accord
  By NY driver in AZ - December 3 - 10:43 pm

  On the road, going up the "mountain", it is better than my 5.0 Mustang or my Avalon were. In town, it gets as good mileage as my Civic EX did. Everyone who rides in it remarks about the comfort and room. Quiet and a pleasure to drive on the road; mileage great until you get to 80+.

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  2010 EX-L sedan w/Nav - 2010 Honda Accord
  By HappyDriver - December 3 - 10:00 pm

  This car is flat out amazing and very well built. I hear a lot of people complaining about road noise but I found it less noisy than others that I test drove, 2010 Nissan Maxima, Altima and 3 & 5 series bmws for example. The center console offers wide array of controls which I love, however if youre stupid and wear bottle caps for glasses, you might experience a slight problem. The rear tail lights look much better as well; the past few years were God awful. Overall, great job on the car, would of appreciated the option of having a manual transmission in the V6 sedan models. That would of made driving fun for me.

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  Pick One Up, IF YOU CAN - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Doug - December 3 - 8:50 am

  Have had this car for about 2 years and simply love it. Bought it before the gas crisis and glad I did. Yes it does not have the pickup of normal cars but that is what the Hybrid technology is all about. If you floor it it decreases your efficiency. Has had one recall but that was an easy 1- hour fix at the local dealer. All it was, was some small computer change. Big trunk space, excellent standard features that come with the car, and looks great.

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  10 Day Review - 2008 Honda CR-V
  By TMask - December 2 - 11:23 pm

  After tooling around in our new CR-V for 10 days, we are continually impressed by this vehicle. Its got a peppy engine, great handling, cool styling, and all the bells and whistles we could ask for. The only extra we needed was a roof rack, because this baby comes fully loaded, standard. It climbs well in the foothills (havent taken it for a spin further up yet) and accelerates smoothly on the highway.

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  2015 Honda Pilot - 2015 Honda Pilot
  By Charles - December 2 - 10:50 pm

  Great dependable, spacious, still trying to figure out all the technology in it. Wish it got better gas mileage, but It has all the features we were looking for in a large SUV.