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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  Honda has a winner - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By zeroagenow - October 30 - 11:20 am

  Honda has made a truck that performs, is fun to drive, very safe, affordable and not only out innovates all others but does so in a way that will affect truck manufacturing in years to come. All you have to do is test drive one and you can feel right away the difference between the Ridgeline and all other trucks ever made. They beat out the engineering of all competitors and for a better price so the only thing you can ask for is even more standard features I guess. No I dont work for Honda!

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  The CRV is a great SUV!! - 2008 Honda CR-V
  By Ute Vilfroy - October 30 - 9:13 am

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  Rid of the gas guzzling pickup - 2008 Honda Civic
  By John from El Paso TX - October 30 - 3:33 am

  OK, I went from a crew cab, fully loaded, Nissan Titan LE pickup to the Civic EX-L -- and I have not had this much fun in a long time. I traded, taking not too bad a loss on the trade, because of the gas prices, and long-term questionable reliability of the Titan. The Civic EX-L Coupe is another story. I am 62" tall and weigh 240, yet I can easily get in and drive this little pocket rocket and feel very comfortable doing so. Styling is great, love the leather, and acceleration is whatever you want it to be. Some comments note a blind spot. Can you people not adjust your mirrors? Properly adjusted, you never have to turn your head to change lanes. Buy this car for fun and economy.

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  Honda CR-V EX is a great value! - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By Paul Fritzsche - October 29 - 3:03 am

  We researched all the competitors in the compact SUV class, and eventually narrowed it down to the point where the 2016 Honda CR-V EX was the only vehicle we were considering. Safety ratings were above all other competitors, and we really liked all the included features in the EX version and did not feel that any additional options were needed. We test drove it locally to make sure that we liked driving it, then began strategically shopping for the best deal. We loved the Edmunds "Price Promise" shopping tool, which really provides a great starting point for negotiating a terrific price. We got quotes from a few dealers through Price Promise, then emailed all the other Honda dealers within 100 miles of here to ask for their "out the door" pricing. We negotiated down the top two competitive dealers until they wouldnt budge any further, then contacted our local dealer (which does not participate in Price Promise) to see if they were interested at that price (which was about $1,800 lower than the original "invoice" pricing they had quoted us) and to our surprise, they were still excited to accept that offer. So, in the end, we paid about $700 less than the best Price Promise price, and got to buy it from the dealership right here in town. We could not be happier!

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  Probably the best small SUV - 2005 Honda CR-V
  By NewHondaDad - October 29 - 2:30 am

  Its fun to drive, with plenty of useful room. I seem to be in a small minority who chose the Fwd version here in TN, but I dont intend to drive off-road, and Ive done OK with Fwd sedans in the winter here. The engine has plenty of power. However, I think the engine feels "touchy", and the acceleration and decel. should be smoother. Milage around town after two tanks of gas is 21.6 mpg.

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  Excellent coupe! - 2007 Honda Accord
  By accord-lover - October 29 - 2:26 am

  Techinically reliable. Good-looking interior. Smooth driving. Sporty exterior (backside). Comfortable elbow desk.

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  Not the Target Market - 2004 Honda Element
  By Old Boy - October 29 - 2:00 am

  We are retired and not in Hondas target market for the Element. I think the vehicle is to practical for the X or Y generation. Its fun to drive, although the short wheel base gives a choppy ride on rough roads. Goes great in snow even without AWD.

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  Why they took so long to build it!!! - 2004 Honda Element
  By Clarke Patten - October 29 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I are 50 and have been driving three different Chevy Tracker Convertibles since 1992. We purchased the Element in November of 2003. Our very first reaction was god that puppy is ugly,but after viewing one in person our opinion change almost imediately. The whole package is totally outstanding. The maintaince is unreal as well. It hardly calls for any service compared to the tracker. There is not one thing that we dislike about the Element and hope to drive it for a long time. Once again we have a FUN vehicle.

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  No more screaming kids - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Syl - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I got this for my wife. Weve had it for almost a month now. Were getting around 15mpg which is better then the 99 Blazer(13mpg) it replaced but not around the 18-20mpg I was really expecting but its mostly city driving so it still has room for improvement. We got a dealer installed DVD player but I now wished I had gotten the navigation instead and got one of those audiovox 10" aftermarket DVD by myself. My 3 kids (3yr twins and 5yr old) are so fascinated by the DVD player that sometime you have to look again to make sure we didnt forget them somewhere. We love it so much that Im seriously considering trading in my 97 Mitsu. Eclipse GS-T for one myself.

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  Keep making them like this!!! - 2000 Honda Accord
  By Johnny Honda - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned Hondas for years but never an Accord sedan. This car is truly magnificent. It has the pick-up of a sports car (200 HP) and carpools like a champ! You can find all kinds of after market accessories to jazz up the design because lets face it, its not all that swell from the factory. Make sure you maintain the maintenance schedule as recommended and youll never have a problem!