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:

• 

  Another Honda - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By 4th Honda - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I never thought Id own a minivan, but Honda makes the minivan not only tolerable, but dear I say, fun. The 240 HP engine just rocks, yet the interior is quite. Suspension is great. 3rd row seat is not just for kids. Theres plenty of room for 6 full sized adults (7 if you dont mind being shoulder to shoulder). The leather seats are like cow hide heaven. Entertainment sys is top notch. The DVD system keeps the munkins occupied and content. Consider the Honda reputation for quality and reliability and the fact that you can wheel and deal on the price and you have the undisputed champ of the minivan category for `03.

• 

  Keeps the tradition - 2001 Honda Civic
  By josamars - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Far better finishings and iinternal design than most of the competition. Drives and handles very well, very inexpensive in gas and no a single problem to the date.

• 

  So Far... A great car - 2003 Honda Accord
  By unlstudent - September 17 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my Accord in Feb -- so far, only one small rattle that the dealership fixed right away. Was looking at the Altama and Camary before I bought the Accord. Tight drive, lots of power. I love this car.

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  Greaty Little Buggy - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Larry Reed - September 16 - 11:28 pm

  Ive been very happy with my CRV except for a few problems. First thing was the tires (especially the front) wearing out so quickly. I noticed in doing research I wasnt the only CRV owner with this problem. The next issue with my CRV is the lock actuator problem. The left rear door will no longer lock permanently. It locks and unlocks.....locks and unlocks. You come to a stop and the door unlocks. Start driving and it locks again...you cant trust it to lock so it is a security issue at all times. I had it fixed under lock problem warrant at Honda World in Downey but within a year it was the same problem. I couldnt get it back in there so went to Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos and they replaced it in October 2015 under the same lock actuator warranty. In March 2016 it started the same thing again. I had to make an appointment a week out to even get it back to Norm Reeves and now they want $375 to fix it. Says its a different problem. Its the same door doing the same thing. Now this to me is a problem that Honda should gladly fix but they wont. The CRV is comfortable to ride in on trips, gets up to 32 MPG on trips. Im very satisfied with my CRV....except for the above noted items. Honda...step up to the plate. JUNE 30, 2017 I still really like this car. At 100,000 miles I took it in to the dealer to have a tune up. When I went back they told me they didnt do it because there was no need. Everything was just like it should be, spark plugs included. I asked how can that be, they had another service tech check it out with the same answer. This car is now 10 years old and has the original spark plugs etc and still getting excellent gas mileage. My biggest issue was the door actuator locks. The last time it cost me $200 and I dont think I should have had to pay that. The dealer worked with me at Auburn Honda since it had been done 2 times before but said Honda wouldnt stand behind the problem so I had to pay. Other than that Id buy this car all over again

• 

  3 weeks in without regrets - 2013 Honda Accord
  By Arslan Tajammul - September 16 - 3:22 pm

  Driving my Lexus 07 was costing too much and I needed a commuter car for my 80 mile daily commute and wanted something that was used, comfortable, cheaper on gas and had good safety features. I rented an avalon for 5 days but was completely turned off by how stiff it was on the road and had no seat support. I also test drove a Camry but I wanted something higher end. The safety features were the deciding factor for me in buying this car. Ive done about 1500 miles on the Accord already and felt ready to write my review. The safety features of lane departure, left lane camera, and frontal warning are excellent and I figure even if just once in 5 years they help avoid an accident this is worth it. Driving 90% on the highway I am getting 35mpg which is also very good. The car is very intelligent and has responsive handling. The only two knocks on this car (as the expert reviews accurately say) are road noise at higher speeds and it being a firmer ride but even with it being firm it is still comfortable. Toyota/Lexus are definitely more comfortable of a ride.