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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  Im going to wait... - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By RSJ - June 27 - 2:43 am

  I looked at this HR-V at my local dealership and checked it out. I am a long-time Honda owner and have had Civics, Accords and a CR-V over the years. In my experience, Honda typically puts out these new models with the minimal amount of features and horsepower they can get away with and still sell a ton of them - for cost and profit reasons of course - Im already seeing reviews that say this HR-V is under powered - go figure! As the years go by, they tend to begin adding better engines and tweaking the ride, interior quality, features and noise levels. Theyve done this on most any model you can name that they have introduced or upgraded. I find that if you wait until the mid-cycle refresh or near the end of a model cycle, youll find that the car has been refined and upgraded to a more acceptable level for most people. I have learned that I do not buy a Honda the first time out of the gate for a model refresh or a new model - not necessarily because of overall reliability issues which is still true with most domestic models - but because Honda tends to "massage" the models as the years pass and they are better near the end of their cycle than at first. My advice? Dont jump on Honda models when they are the "new thing everyone has to have". I am looking at an Accord or possibly the top of the line newly redesigned Civic with turbo engine but I am waiting a couple of years to let Honda tweak and massage any issues that almost always arise at first - just my two-cents worth from a long time Honda fan - patience pays off with Honda :-)

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  Great Car But - 2014 Honda Accord
  By rgtoth - June 24 - 10:28 pm

  Good mileage in town or on highway. Great handling and responsive for 4 cyl. Road noise very pronounced at higher speeds on interstates especially on concrete pavement. It would be a No. 1 car if Honda could quite it down. In fact the whole honda line including Acura have the same noise issues.

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  Tranny Unsafe - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By K2Rider - June 24 - 10:00 am

  Bought our 2000LX new. Battled with front end shake for 6 mths. Dealer replaced tires and resolved it. Engine idles poorly, paint chips & rusts very easily, slider doors stick, sometimes it wont start, front suspension clunk- 5 dealer trips then fixed. NOW HONDA ADMITS TO TRANNY PROBLEMS IN AN L.A. TIMES ARTICLE. Research before you buy one of these. See: ODYCLUB.com . Overall: very dissapointed.

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  Civic LX coupe (CO8 Racing) - 2001 Honda Civic
  By eomsux - June 24 - 10:00 am

  This car isnt that bad, but it could use quite a bit of improvement, the handling is horrable, the seats are the most uncomfortable thing Ive ridden in, the front windsheild fogs up evrytime it rains. The only way I feel you can make this car fun to drive, is to modify the hell out of it, start with the suspension.

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  Wanted to love it - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By mario - June 24 - 5:48 am

  Been waiting to get an HRV from the moment I hard it was coming out. Test drove one and loved it until about 3 weeks into it. I am seriously feeling vibrations from the gas pedal as well as the brake pedal. Seems to be worse on bad roads as well as freeway driving. I have taken it to the dealer as well as service where they tell me they dont feel it. I have owned a Civic and never had this problem. Now every time I get into the car I dread it. I expected my new car to be perfect.

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  Speedy but unsteady - 2007 Honda Civic
  By joe_prog - June 15 - 9:06 pm

  My SI sedan came with a leather interior. Yes, the car is noisy, it is designed to be that way. I got rid of a lot of the booming by lining the trunk, the doors and part of the floorboard with RAAMmat. The left front fender is designed to be an acoustic amplifier for the intake. This became apparent when the exhaust noise was dampened. My third gear was sticky. I replaced the oil with Royal Purple and it is perfect now. When I leave from a standing stop, sometimes, the steering wheel lurches to the right. Also, sometimes, I hear a popping noise from the left front wheel. All in all, a disappointing car.

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  Ridgeline Owner - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By Anthro - June 7 - 4:53 pm

  I purchased this vehicle in late 2005 due to its extensive safety features and fuel economy within the price point. I have now put less than 2K miles on it and am ready to sell. Why? Gas mileage running 12-13 mpg rather than the 16-21. Blind spots make the vehicle difficult and dangerous to drive for a petite driver. Significant blind spots occur in right rear due design and rear headrest configuation. The headrest design should be abolished. The curvature forward makes it very uncomfortable and many people turn them around defeating the purpose. Impossible to judge distance when backing up due to blind spots.

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  unhappy honda owner!!!! - 2000 Honda Accord
  By unhappy honda owner - June 5 - 10:00 am

  ive had 2 transmission in the last 4 months put in this vehicle. the seal on the trunk has been changed twice. there are times when i start it in the morning and it starts to shake then just dies. i have taken good care of the car it only has 26k miles and the oil gets changed every 3000 miles. needless to say i have had it with honda!!!!!!

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  Lemon is too good of a word - 1999 Honda Passport
  By karen - June 5 - 2:00 am

  For the 1st 2 years i had this truck i mostly drove loaner cars. From the check engine light coming on every 2 weeks & taking 1 week to fix, to the computer being replaced & that took just under a month to fix to the gas gauge breaking & to fix that it confused all the service people. The service people for Honda have NO clue how to service this truck. This truck is just JUNK dont purchase it.

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  Honda - where are you going with this - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Hayabusa - June 3 - 5:36 am

  The car which does every thing right is getting wrong, build quality is down from last few generations. Lost the battery charging in just 3 hours of leaving the door open and radio on! The engine starts as if there is lot of load on it (4cl) - not a very peppy engine - I may be wrong here because all the time I have used Pontiac GTO, CTS, Impala 3.8, Maxima and Hondas V6. I wouldnt recommend this car due to the fact that the quality of build is not up to Hondas standards.