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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  Hondas May Last Forever, But... - 2002 Honda Civic
  By HKI4EVR - January 6 - 6:24 pm

  I dont know what Honda was thinking when they designed the interior of the Honda Civic. They may run forever, but what is the point if you hate driving it? I have had to replace my stereo twice, my vents vibrate up and down as I drive, when the vents are set to come out at the floor only, I have to shut the rest of my vents to get all the air to come out only at the floor, and now when I push the button to turn on my rear defrost, my radio stations go fuzzy. Not only that, but what brilliant engineer thought that putting cupholders on the other side of the shifter would be a good idea? And what is the point of having an armrest that interferes with the drivers ability to shift?

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  Excellent - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By Victor - January 6 - 5:52 pm

  Its comfortable, and fun to drive, safe, reliable, and good looking. had a problem with the brake system but over all im happy with it. will definitely buy the 2007 model mine has 85000 now, so Ill keep it for another year or two, still runs like when I first bought it. no other mechanical or electrical problems.

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  CR-V - 2005 Honda CR-V
  By W Miller - January 6 - 4:10 pm

  Two complaints with my CR-V, 1. The ride is a little rougher than expected. Second and most important there is a design flaw with the A/C. A rock damaged the A/C under and the entire unit had to be replaced. So with only 2000 miles on the car I had to replace the A/C, and since it was road damage it is not covered by the warranty & I had to pay for it.

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  Orange BOXX - 2005 Honda Element
  By DirtGhost - January 6 - 2:13 pm

  If you are looking for a cool ride with a "fun to drive attitude" you have choosen the correct ride. Lots of interior room. Rear sets can fold up and out of the way or can be removed or out into a bed if needed for those camping nights. Front seats are comfy fully adjustable ride height. Easy to operate right off the lot. Nice large wndshield area . Comfy sport ute to play with . Awd model is what I have . I will say this one thing it takes only 1/2 second for the rear wheels to kick in when need it. Last thing FUN TO DRIVE

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  Honda? - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By Snowman - January 6 - 1:00 pm

  This is my 4th Honda, might be my last!!!! Problems from day one - wind noise from winshield, grinding brakes and electrical gremlins. MPG is terrible so far - 16 mpg! Dealer is trying hard to keep us happy, Honda is not!

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  Just Okay - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Ghary - January 6 - 4:20 am

  The car is very pretty but dont let the looks fool you. I only have 800 miles on the car and so far its been a bad experience. I never bought a Honda before and I am disappointed in every way. After hearing all the great reviews from everyone I had to try. The car rattles on medium radio volume (about talking level, I dont like loud music). No brand new car should rattle. The audio quality is horrible. Poor, not as expected gas mileage (16 mpg with mixed highway/city driving). The windows constantly fog up and rear defroster doesnt work. Theres also a lot of road noise! I should have spent the extra money to get something else.

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  Pilot-no problems - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By sfisheriii - January 5 - 8:00 pm

  My wife drives the car the most, especially in town. I drive on the highway. While the gas mileage is low compared to a sedan, she feels that the in-out comfort and the high view the car affords her are wonderful. The engineers and designers have invested a lot of thinking into the interior design of the car and have come up with another winner. There was one small glitch involving shifting to a lower gear(automatic), but we figured it out.

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  Honda reliability - 2010 Honda CR-V
  By Adrian P - January 5 - 7:00 pm

  A little noisy ride, good handling, good braking, nice interior and spacious, good gas mileage without the need to use premium gas. Honda engine may not be the best in class on gas mileage or the quietest but is one of the few who will go all day long at full throttle without giving up. Honda is for humble people who consider reliability and quality before performance. Being the best selling SUV on the market right now means people thrust Honda built.

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  Honday Odyssey - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By Bill - January 5 - 3:54 pm

  Disappointed with highway mileage, getting 21 consistantly, thought 25 would be realistic. The pivot point on the seats reclining feels like someone is stuffing a pillow into your lower back, some like some dont. Road noise is higher than expected, especially on a windy day. Not wind leaks but wind travelling around the vehicle, not as quiet as the 98 Plymouth Voyager we had. Some of the road noise could be the tires that were on the vehicle when purchased, planning on changing those. Transmission does a lot of shifting around 35 - 40 like its not sure what gear to be in.

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  An Upgrade From The Previous Production Run - 2016 Honda Civic
  By Neward Thelman - January 5 - 2:32 pm

  Isnt it amazing how many people describe whatever brand new vehicle theyve just purchased as "An Amazing car", or "Greatest Car Ever!", or some such other hyperbole? The age and mindset of those placing such posts immediately springs to mind. In reality, beyond the "Bestest Greatestest Most Humongously Stupendestist Car Ever" reactions, the new Civic remains tethered to its econo-box origins. I test drove the LX. The styling is overall a forward step up from its previous grandma conservative look, but the designers went too far in many respects. The back end looks like they were going for super-sporty, but didnt really know how its done, so they went way overboard with an excessive - and from some angles - ludicrous design. Inside, the car is much nicer than the Corolla, although its still far short of the plusher refinement of the Chevy Cruze. When driving, you still have a sense of sparseness along with that unmistakably econo-box feeling of an empty, light-weight tin can. Tapping the interior roof confirms the impression of rather cheap hollowness. The Civic had adequate acceleration, but no feeling at all of power on demand. Just drive an Accord for comparison and you feel the difference immediately. However, it has better power than the Corolla. The ride is somewhat jittery. Rear visibility is poor due to the narrow and radically tilted slot of a rear window. If you choose the Civic, youll have to live with a CVT - not something Id want to do; but it seems that many people hardly notice ["bestest car ever!!!"]. Id say that Hondas CVTs are as good as Toyotas, and much better than the droning, straining designs that Suburu makes. Overall, the new Civic may be a good choice for a first time car buyer, or as a second car if you already own a better one. For me, the nail in the coffin is that every trim above the base LX model comes with a moonroof. You get one, whether you want it or not. Will it leak? Maybe it will, maybe it wont. Youll just have to find out - and when, several years down the road - that Civic that you bought for its "unsurpassed" reliability starts dripping water on your head and filling the cabin with rapidly growing, fragrant mold, youll be scratching that very same [now moist] head that had led you to make the purchase. As for Honda - nice demonstration of corporate wisdom.