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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  Vibrations will drive you crazy - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Laura S. Fitzgerald - February 7 - 10:04 am

  We owned this vehicle for one day when I said to my husband, "this car needs to be tuned." We brought it back to the dealer and they said they could not do anything. Honda did not have a fix. We test drove the car when it was cold out -- it did not vibrate. When the car warms up -- the vibrations are so bad that I do not like driving the car. Dont buy this car until they fix the problem. I have been waiting 4 months ...no fix yet.

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  Vibration and shuddering - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Brian Stevenson - February 6 - 10:18 am

  Just picked up my new 2015 CRV EX AWD a couple of weeks ago. Noticed right away that when it warmed up and hit certain speeds, taking foot off gas and then lightly depressing the pedal and there was a shuddering like the car was in the wrong gear. Took to the dealer and service manager came for a test drive and told me that was normal! Crap! No other new vehicle I have had did this. I thought I was buying quality by buying Honda, wrong!

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  An Odyssey indeed - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By David - February 2 - 7:26 pm

  Weve actually owned two 2006 Odys in three months. We returned the first after four days due to the abysmal fit, finish and performance. Our second has proven to be not quite as bad but still not deserving of the Honda name. The MPG is terrible. 15 city with a light foot. The interior fit and finish is poor. The leather is cheap, the plastics even cheaper. It handles well, but plan on checking your tires pressure every week, because two pounds high or low turns it into a ill-handling beast. Avoid gravel roads and high curbs at all costs, due to where Honda mounted the AC. The sliding doors get confused easily. Plenty of cup holders, airbags and fellow owners to commiserate with, though.

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  First Honda we have been disappointed in... - 2016 Honda Civic
  By mkhn - January 21 - 10:25 pm

  We purchased this car thinking we would drive it for a year, then pass it on to our child that is turning 16. We took it on our first weekend getaway and couldnt get out of it fast enough. The seats are very uncomfortable for long drives. The road noise is pretty significant. The climate 90% of the climate controls are behind a touch screen and when that touch screen locks up, which it does constantly, you cant access your climate controls. The only option is to push the auto button and let the car decide based on the temperature you select. But, you have no controls on whether it is blowing at your feet, in your face, how hard/soft it is blowing and whether the A/C is off or on. We actually had to pull off to the side of the freeway and restart the car to get the touch screen computer screen to reboot. The other thing we notice constantly is that people are always trying to cut in our lane because they have trouble seeing the car because it sits sow low. The bluetooth isnt as great as my last car and it is hard for people to understand you when they are on the listening end. The biggest surprise when we got home... and something every car we have owned for the last 10 years has had... there is no remote control garage door opening. Something so simple and so inconvenient... seriously Honda? We drive a lot and the only thing that we love about this car is the gas mileage and the pickup it has because of the turbo, and that is honestly the only two things that have kept it in our driveway. Otherwise, we would have traded or sold it. I cant speak to reliability or longevity yet. But, I can tell you I am 100% discouraged by the crappy touch screen that constantly locks up. It has been doing this from the day we purchased it and we have only owned it for a little more than a month. My guess is that it will probably get traded in next year if we dont start feeling differently.

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  Dont believe all the great reviews - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Jason - January 19 - 10:47 pm

  I had really high hopes for this new Ridgeline, but after driving this vehicle for the last 8+ months I can say that its a real disappointment especially compared to the previous generation. I had a 2008 Ridgeline that I really liked, but the new one is nothing like the previous generation. The new Ridgeline just doesnt have that nice solid feel that the previous generation did. The biggest issue with the new Ridgeline is stability. The steering is over-powered and light feeling as well as being overly sensitive to the road surface. This leads to a lot of road vibration in the steering wheel. Some reviewers have stated that there isnt much feedback from the road. Since driving this vehicle for 8+ months, I can say that its not that you dont get much feedback. Its that you get the wrong feedback, and too much of it. Small insignificant road imperfections (small bumps, small cracks, etc) cause feedback into the steering wheel where you would expect to not even notice. I will concede that some of the steering issues that Ive stated could be due to the lousy Firestone tires that come on the truck. The suspension is just on the edge of being bouncy, so when driving it feels a bit like floating around on the highway. This leads to the truck being very sensitive to even light breezes making driving on windy days very difficult. Other poor design issues: When coming to a complete stop, the truck rocks back and forth about 10-12 times before becoming motionless (which is weird as Ive never experienced this on any other vehicle), the heated seat switches look and feel like they came out of a vehicle from about 20 years ago, many of the safety features are intrusive (such as the Collision Mitigation Braking System...if it worked better it would be ok), the entertainment system is a bit clunky (its running a VERY old version of Android), the rear hvac controls are located with the main hvac controls (this doesnt even make sense especially in the RTL-E which is the trim level that I have). The biggest build quality issue that Ive noticed is that both front doors are not mounted straight (its not noticeable on mine unless you look closely, but once I noticed it I see it every time I get in the truck); however, there were a couple of others that have been corrected by the dealer (including something that was broken). On the positive side, the truck has a comfortable ride, the seats are comfortable, the technology is much better than previous gen, the look is much more truck-like, the brakes are pretty good, the engine is pretty good (although it could use a bit more low-end power), the transmission is pretty good, better fuel mileage than the previous Ridgeline.

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  gas guzzling civic - 2008 Honda Civic
  By kenny white - January 19 - 11:03 am

  My 2008 Civic lx with 3500 miles is getting 25 mpg. My 2004 Odyssey gets 20 and 22 mpg. I do not like the 5 spd auto. It gets on my nerves shifting up and down. It replaced a 1994 escort that never got less than 29 mpg the entire time we had it. And the shifter doesnt stop till d3. I do love everything else about this car but I will never buy another Honda. We will trade this car as soon as we can afford to unless the mpg goes up to 30. Oh yeah, the paint will fade from the acid rain and for an extra $500 they will cover it for 5 years. I have been very happy with my salesman and service rep since 2004. But if I want new untested improvements that may or may not work I will get a Honda!

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  Cant wait to trade it in! - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Scott - January 17 - 10:00 pm

  This is my 4th Accord and 6th Honda. I was excited when the new body style came out the interior space was a welcome improvement. I have been so disappointed in this car, I dont know where to start. I had to replace the rear brakes at 20K miles. I called Honda to complain, but they did nothing but send me a customer survey. The interior noise is almost unbearable unless you are driving on new blacktop. The 4-cyl is ok at highway speeds, but if you need to accelerate quickly from low speeds or a stop, forget it. Just hope the other guy has good brakes!

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  Im about to take a pounding! - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Eddie Wannabee - January 15 - 1:56 am

  Chose this Accord after viewing several endorsements, mainly from Consumer Reports. Have owned a couple Hondas in the past and I still have an Odyssey 2002 that runs fine. Did not test drive it. The engine is fine, appreciate some of its newly design features. The inside is a total different matter. Rattles and noises showed up after a few days and it has been downhill ever since. I am not talking about expected noise levels, I wish! Sounds like the very structure in the inside has so many imperfections that you get a concert of annoying noises. I am losing money for I will change this car very soon.

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  Boring car - 2000 Honda Accord
  By frank oconnell - January 2 - 10:00 am

  No pep to this 4 cylinder. This car is average, average, average. I own a 95 Maxima that is twice the car this one is.