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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  Brilliant! - 1999 Honda Civic
  By rohan - December 28 - 3:13 pm

  I will never sell this car! I have had it since 2007 and a lot of people tell me I need to upgrade to a better car. I never will, here are the secrets: - They only made a few Honda HXs. Its got a unique transmission that gives it appox 38 mpg. They stopped making the HXs so Honda could come up with its Hybrids! - I got the stickshft. I did change Timing Belt along with all belts/sparks and the ride is great. - I can go from Cleveland to Chicago/New York on one full tank of gas (which is all of 12 gallons!!!) - I put the best/premium gas - yes, thats how much I love this car LOL. Its got 136000 miles on it currently and I plan on driving it least to 300000...

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  2 Year Ownership - 2007 Honda Civic
  By mb0130 - December 28 - 12:25 pm

  I bought this vehicle because I needed one - before kids. Its better if you dont have kids. All I can fit in the trunk is a stroller and a portable crib and not much else. The ride was ok at first, but it has gotten worse. Recently, the bars on the gas gauge go up and down. I have had to replace the sun visors because the heat split the plastic and wouldnt allow them to close. The radio a couple of times has gone out for a minute and then will come back on and once the car wouldnt turn over and nothing was wrong with it. The up and down shift is also not the greatest in the automatic. Sometimes I have to press the gas pedal all the way down to get up speed to get on the highway.

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  What a great car!! - 1999 Honda Accord
  By Mike K. - December 28 - 9:28 am

  I purchased my 1999 Honda 2Dr EX V6 new in April 99. I have 110,000 miles on this car and I must say that it is an excellent vehicle. I drive it daily and find it very enjoyable to drive. It has great performance and reliability and it is very comfortable on long drives. My overall average mileage is 23.5 miles per gallon. Which hasnt changed much since I bought the car. I plan on keeping this car for a very long time. I highly recommend it.

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  Great Utility Vehicle - 2010 Honda Pilot
  By scooterpower - December 27 - 12:59 pm

  This is probably the best appliance you can buy for your family that doesnt guzzle gas. Quality is great, mileage is excellent. 20mpg is nice for such a large truck, but weve always had hi-po cars in the garage (V10 M5, M3, S2000, Cayman S) so mileage isnt a deal breaker for us. Quality/design of interior is on par with the best from Germany, too bad the outside is vanilla. I prefer the looks of the Traverse & CX-9 to the Pilot. 1 major flaw three weeks in and weve got a huge windshield crack! I havent even made a payment yet... Overall great car, but Id prefer a wagon to ANY SUV. We really do not need the 3rd row seats.

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  Getting too Big to Handle - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Ed K - December 27 - 8:50 am

  I waited few months to write this review due to that I thought I will give it enough time to get used to its size. I owe a 1993 Accord that I love to drive, the 2008 is not a fun car to drive. The Gas mileage is good, the acceleration sometime is slow when cold from 1st to 2nd gear. Seats are little on the hard side.

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  Fun car, with annoyances - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Alexa - December 26 - 8:11 pm

  I was spoiled by my Toyota Echo - 40+ mpg. The Fit cant touch it. Its mpg readout claims 34 mpg, but it lies. Very inaccurate, and since Honda does such a good job on everything else, I cant help thinking it is intentional. I get 29 mpg. Other annoyances - no cubbyholes for sunglasses, car reg & ins, phone charger, etc. BLACK upholstery (hate it, but only option for 09 Sport) collects tons of hair from my blond, long-haired dog. On the other hand, I feel safe, with crush-zone front and lots of airbags. Fit is peppy, has great easy-to-read, well-lit gauges, good sound system, cruise control. It hauls lots of stuff easily.

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  Great Van! - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By T Riggs - December 26 - 7:40 pm

  This is our 2nd odyssey since 2000. We have been very happy with our Honda van. The only negative is that it is not very quiet on the road. I expected not to hear much road noise with this priced van. Should also have had backup sensors for the price. The entertainment package has given us no trouble and is still going strong after 71/2 years. You do have to put a new timing belt in at 105000 miles.

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  Good now but some bumps along the way - 2010 Honda Odyssey
  By Speedwell - December 26 - 5:02 pm

  Half-way home from picking up the van, the VSC system failed. Lucky there is a switch to disable on the dash. Took a week at the dealer to figure out the problem and now some 1500 miles later, everything is OK. The Touring has everything as standard and it all works pretty well except the voice assist on the nav system is hard to hear at highway speeds (volume at max) due the fact that there is a lot of noise in the cabin at 60 mph +. The voice assist on the bluetooth phone is much louder however (kind of strange).

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  Soccer moms yes, outdoor enthusiast no - 2010 Honda Pilot
  By LWT - December 26 - 12:21 pm

  The interior is excellent. Vents for even the 3rd row passengers, 3 climate zones (driver, passenger, rear), plenty of cup holders, 3 power outlets, and lots of nooks to hide stuff. The benches are very short though! Not a lot of thigh support. You sit down and almost feel like your legs are dangling. Road noise is a problem also, even though I bought the EX-L which supposedly has thicker glass to cut down on this. Havent noticed the same pulling to the right that others have (1500 miles driven), and the mileage I get is no where near advertised. I avg. 19 hwy, 16 city. The Pilot is very wimpy on trails, and I have yet to take it out on the sand (Im a little scared to do so).

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  So Far So Good - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Lee - December 25 - 5:20 pm

  Ive had the car for six months and have driven over 10,000 miles. Although I have never been able to obtain the advertised 47/48 MPG, I do get at least 42 with the highest logging in at 45. It really does make a difference how you drive (how you accelerate/deccelerate, extra weight, using the a/c, etc...)I am very happy with this car. You dont need to understand the technology behind the car, just know that at $2.50 a gallon this car is a money saver.