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:

• 

  Transmission problem even in a EXL - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By pedrocarcamo@outlook.com - May 4 - 3:30 am

  At 14k miles, the car transmission is slippery and makes a knocking sound at 27mph. The dealer took it away from me to find a fix, it will take a week they said. Im hoping thats fixed since is an issue from the car, the car is brand new and only has 7 months.

• 

  Jack of all trades, master of none - 2013 Honda Accord
  By Mark - May 3 - 4:43 pm

  Honda really lost their way when they came out with the 9th gen. Accord. Expecting this to be the best Accord ever, it turned out to be one of the worst. They got rid of the classic K series engine and replaced it with their new "Earth Dreams" engine. The new engine is missing that classic, zippy, rev-happy Honda nature, and now it just feels like a typical plain jane Nissan or Toyota engine. The new CVT is awful. If this is the "best" CVT on the market, I am terrified for what other CVTs must be like to drive. You plant your foot on the throttle and it takes the transmission 5-10 seconds to catch up. When it finally does catch up it gives you too much power when you dont want it. The transmission also hesitates and jerks violently in certain driving situations. The engine is very slow to rev unlike Honda engines of yesteryear and they just transformed it from a Honda into...something else. Ride quality is unnecessarily stiff and passengers have told me that they cannot stand riding in my car because every bump in the road transmits into the cabin and it gives passengers a headache. Im also disappointed in the handling and the highway performance. Around town, the car feels big and heavy. On the highway it feels somewhat lumbering, the electric steering feels too disconnected from the front wheels to accurately gauge curves in the roadway. Curves on the highway feel somewhat scary in the Accord. You enter a slight curve at 65 mph and the body starts gradually leaning too much towards one direction making it feel like youre about to lose control over the vehicle. The brakes are quite non-linear and the car has a stubbornness to it while driving. Overall, the driving experience is not memorable in any sense of the word. It drives, but unlike Accords of the past, it drives lacking all remnants of character and personality. I always thought that the Accord was the one family sedan that did things differently, but with this new one that is no longer the case. They made it feel like everything else in the class. The only options that stand out anymore are the Legacy, Fusion, and Sonata. Very disappointing vehicle. Honda lost their way.

• 

  Disappointed - 2016 Honda Civic
  By Larry Moskovitz - May 2 - 2:44 am

  I traded in my 2013 Civic for a new 2016 Civic. I loved my 2013. I do not love my 2016. I have had it for 4 months and already it has had 2 recalls. I hate the technology system, far to complicated to work. In order to turn the radio on you need to click on 3 buttons (Audio, Source, Station). This means you are taking your eyes off the road while driving. The Econ button on the 2013 Civic was right where it should be, on the dash. The 2016 Econ button is located next to the gear shift box and you have to hunt for it. Yes, you can sort of feel for it, but that is a pain and again you are taking yours eyes off the road. When openning the front car door at night the only light that comes in located above in the back seating area, making it difficult to see as you enter the car. The USB and Power port is tucked behind the small tray in the front. A pain to push wires through and connect. My clock is frozen, tells me a different time that the clock on the odometer screen. I have a problem with a noise issue, when you come to a slow stop you can hear your branks making a noise. I brought the car in to the deal for this problem and they cannot fit it, told me the brakes checked out fine and after testing a couple of other 2016 Civics they noticed the same issue on all of them. (Said they would let Honda USA know about this.) All-in-all, I do not like this car and am looking to purchase a different 2016 brand.

• 

  You gotta be kidding... - 2010 Honda Insight
  By beachmom - April 21 - 4:36 pm

  It is hard for me to type as my neck and shoulders hurt from holding a steering wheel that operates like a go-cart or video game. This car cannot handle any sort of incline. People were passing me on the right to get around me. The mileage isnt that much better than any of the traditional smaller gas cars. My only consolation is putting less money in the hands of the gas companies. No room to speak of in the back, maybe for groceries. Looking out the back window is ridiculous, the window is split in half. A terrible design. My husband liked the car, and stupidly I didnt drive it before we bought it. The stereo is tinny and cheap, not for music lovers.

• 

  Honda and quality - I dont think so - 2003 Honda Civic
  By mooness - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Bumper loosened and mis-aligned first month. Interior door trim came apart. CV drive boot loosened and tore. Leaking strut.

• 

  Acceleration is Horrible - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By Merrimack, NH - April 8 - 10:33 pm

  Im really disappointed in the HR-Vs acceleration - I have been waiting for well over 6 months for this vehicle to arrive in New Hampshire .... Im so disappointed, my 2001 Honda Civic EX accelerates faster than this vehicle. -not sure what Im going to do for a vehicle now considering Ive had my heart set on this for almost a year

• 

  Buyer Beware - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By fnamowicz - March 30 - 3:35 am

  Terrible vibration at idle. Rough riding almost as good as a pickup truck with bad springs. The vibration cancels out any good features of this care so please read all the negative reviews and test drive when fully warmed up. This is the worst Honda ever.

• 

  2012 Honda Accord EX-L-dissapointed - 2012 Honda Accord
  By taylor ford - March 11 - 3:02 pm

  This was my first car, I recently traded it in for a BMW X1 and couldnt be happier. While I am not someone who can tell you car specifics, I can say the overall safety and appeal of the car is not good. I am 54" and could not see out at all. Whether it was changing lanes, backing up or even seeing in front of me. I only test drove this car once and in the moment, I didnt notice it too bad because I didnt have a lot of previous experience to base off of. However, over the two years I owned this car I only put 20k miles on it because I felt so unsafe driving. I tried everything to be able to see out better; moving mirrors, changing the seat up and down, nothing worked! Also, this car was extremely loud on the road and the longer I owned it the louder it got. The interior of the car seemed very busy and cheap to me. The whole interior was really a bummer for me, it looked cheap, was hard to clean and the leather seemed very low quality. With all of the negatives being said, I will say the car never gave me any engine problems and did seem fairly reliable. The car served its purpose as a first car but I will never recommend this car to anyone for safety and overall appeal, I am much happier with my BMW!

• 

  Overrated - 2003 Honda Odyssey
  By EnthusiastDriver - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Tinny, cheap interior materials, automatic doors with a personality of their own, brakes that needed major work @ 15000 mi, altogether... What is the big excitement about? Probably because the competition is so pityful.

• 

  Fun for a ride , Dont Take it home - 2002 Honda S2000
  By sportscarnut - March 4 - 7:23 pm

  only for the sadist on anything longer than a 15 minute trip no heated mirrors uncomfortable seats no concept of sound deadening (dont try more than 35 with a cell phone even with top up) Quick if revved right/dog if not (153 ft lb of torque even though 240 horse) Ever wonder why you see so many of these advertized used even though only 5000 of these made per year? Turfed this one out for vette, lost my shorts on it but my best descision with this car was cutting it loose.