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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  Great, safe vehicle - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By ELR - November 16 - 10:25 pm

  We had our Pilot for just about 2 years and had no problems with it. It was great for: (i) driving kids in the carpool to school, (ii) taking long trips (DVD in the car may be mans greatest invention) (iii) heading up to the mountains for skiing. I was involved in an accident this past weekend and was broadsided at 55 mph. The Pilot is probably totalled, but my only injuries are bruising from the seatbelt. Since the car is probably totalled we will be getting another Pilot - It looks like it held its value beyond our expectations. Truly a great vehicle by a great company.

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  My Ridgeline - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By thais a. conroy - November 16 - 10:20 pm

  The best vehicle we have owned.The ride is excellant along with the comfort.As we are campers living in the North East,we need the truck part that is availiable.The storage under the body is also very handy. As owners of a large Golden Retriever the fact that the back seats fold upmakes ample room for him.In short, there is nothing bad about this vehicle at all. Its great.

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  Great vehicle - 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By ED - November 16 - 10:30 am

  Purchased the crosstour after lease was up on a 2007 Murano. Didnt like the 2010 Murano bodystyle so I went with the crosstour. Got a great deal on it. This vehicle is great. It drives great and the interior is top notch. I had people in the parking lot telling how they like my car.

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  All Around Winner! - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Dave - November 15 - 6:36 pm

  Ive had this car now for 1 month and 1300 miles, and Im loving it. You wont find a better combination of acceleration, handling, looks, reliability, and practicality at the 20k price point. I always look forward to driving it. For a 2.0 L 4cyl with only a rated 139 lb-ft of torque, the pull even from low rpm in any of the first 4 gears is surprisingly strong. Wind it out to 7-8k rpm and you feel like your driving a F1 race car! This car is every bit as quick and much more nimble than the V6 02 Maxima it replaced. Ive experienced 28-29 mpg thus far, which I feel is plenty decent given the performance this car delivers. Id recommend it to anyone!

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  Buy one! - 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By artstarlaura - November 15 - 8:38 am

  I was considering Accord, Lexus RX, or BMW 3 series. I painstakingly checked reviews on all these cars, still not thinking of the Crosstour because I planned to buy a used car as Ive always done. Then I realized I could afford a new CT, and from the test drive I loved it! Not to mention it was the best reviewed of all the cars I checked. It is so quiet I almost forget Im driving it, but if I want to accelerate and feel the power its there. Perfect cabin size IMO- we have three small dogs, go on regular roadtrips, and carry around photo gear. This car couldnt be better for our lifestyle. Stylish, comfortable, practical to own, and just plain cool. Great value and feels luxurious!

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  What a Car! - 2009 Honda Fit
  By Ken - November 15 - 5:20 am

  This is our first Honda. We also have a 2007 Nissan Altima which we love, but wanted a true economy car for short hops as well as commuting. We fell in love with the 2008 Fit we drove but decided to wait for the 2009 since we were intrigued with the new body style and what sounded like some new features. Were thrilled with the car after the first week. The quality and comfort are first rate. The mileage is running at 42 mpg for the first few hundred miles. Its smooth, quiet, and just fun to drive!

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  A great vehicle! - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By TDR - November 15 - 2:43 am

  Just finished the first 1000 miles on the 09 Pilot Touring with R&N 4wd. This vehicle is so comfortable and fun to drive. It is very quiet, roomy, and the features are never ending. I also have a 2004 Pilot that has also been great, but I must admit that the new body style is greatly improved. I have been pleasantly surprised at all the nice electronic features that have been added. Have not complaints at all at this point. Gas mileage is about 20, very similar to what the 2004 Pilot gets.

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  excellent - 1999 Honda Accord
  By So Cal accord - November 14 - 10:10 pm

  this car is magnificent. it is fun to drive and it is quick. there are no signs of bad craftsmanship in a honda. this car easily shows how well hondas can be.

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  Mines a Good One - 2004 Honda Accord
  By Russ - November 14 - 4:00 pm

  More fun to drive this manual four cylinder EX than the two Camrys Ive owned. Interesting to read the complaints about squeaks and rattles: after 40,000 miles I dont have any ... and have needed to do nothing to the car except change the engine oil a few times (easy to do on your own on this car)and put on a new set of tires. I like the firm seats with good side bolsters. I plan to happily keep this car for 200,000 miles. Good value for $20,000.

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  HRV exceeds expectations.. Until you use the radio - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By TheGuySubmittingThisReview - November 14 - 10:05 am

  I got this car out of college, coming from my parents 2006 Lexus RX330 (it was old but it was a tank, befitting of a 16 year old). Most of my driving in cities, taking trips under 5 miles. Turn radius is excellent, youll think youre in a smaller car. Parking-including parallel, is a breeze. Both cameras are excellent, the backup has a wide view so you can see the periphery and lanewatch lets you change lanes without turning your head. Brake hold is amazing, and I dont know why this wasnt a feature decades ago. I can actually take my foot off the brake at a stoplight and not worry. In the city, I averaged about 13mpg in the RX(rated 16). In the HRV I average about 24 (rated 27). Taking road trips (~65mph), I would average about 24 in the RX (rated 22), and I get about 33 in the HRV (Rated 31). Im averaging 27 for the life of the car (9months, 8k miles). The best Ive gotten on the highway is 36 after driving about 2 hours at 65mph. 2WD mileage is likely better. Acceleration is fine. Its not as fast as my familys now illegal Jetta TDI, but its comparable to the RX. Ive never had problems passing on the highway; its just not impressive if you ever go pedal to the metal. Acceleration is improved in sport mode (keeps the engine at a higher RPM), but you lose about 5mpg. As for ECO mode, Ive noticed AC it gets severely nerfed. If you live somewhere warm youll want to keep ECO off. In cruise control, ECO mode is also lackluster. Resuming to 65mph from a full stop at a stoplight took about 25 seconds-in this time 18 cars passed me on the left. I didnt know why it was so slow until I turned ECO mode off-suddenly cruise control accelerated at an acceptable rate. Its fine if youre maintaining speed, but if you have to slow down or come to stops on a long trip, youll want to turn ECO off. I also havent noticed a significant increase in efficiency in ECO mode; at best it might be 1-2mpgs. For the interior, space is great. Im 6 and its "almost" tight, I have the seat as low as possible, but I still fit comfortably. Backseat space is excellent. Easily fits 5+carry-ons. Magic seats are excellent. I was able to fit an entire queen bed frame (disassembled) in the car by folding the seats down. Every time Im packing a ton of stuff Im amazed by how much space this car has; sometimes I wonder if theres some voodoo going on. Interior build quality is excellent. I have the cloth seats (leather was not work $4k to me), and I appreciate the soft touch materials. It makes it a lot more comfortable than than the hard plastic materials in the jetta. The fo-leather on the dash looks stylish. Its hysterical to watch some new passengers try to figure out where the back door handles are. My biggest issue is the entertainment controls. They are terrible. TERRIBLE. Changing sources takes 2-4 touchscreen presses, and some buttons are so small you have to take your eyes off the road to look. Climate controls are slightly better since its black on white, which is easier to see in your peripheral. Still not great. I find myself relying on the steering wheel controls to control volume and other audio functions. Thats not a story of "Great! The steering buttons work fantastic!"; its a story of "The touchscreen is so bad that Im taking every opportunity to avoid it". Its also unintuitive-I find it easier to change something myself than explain the layout to a passenger. I did buy a phone mount that snaps onto the air vent and offers wireless charging to my phone, and I connect over bluetooth. That works like a charm, and it lets me easily change audio sources within my phone (podcast republic, pandora, spotify, etc) and use google maps. Connecting my wireless charger, I did notice one big drawback-the ports. My EX comes equipped with a car outlet, two USB ports, and a HDMI input. first off, the HDMI is worthless. It lets you pump something to the display, but only when the car is stopped. I dont see any point in connecting something like a laptop to a SMALLER screen. If you want it for the audio, just use bluetooth. The USB ports dont provide enough power to charge a cell phone. Theyre meant for data only (mp3 hookup). This perplexes me both because EVERYONE is going to try to charge their cell phone from those ports, and NO ONE is in a scenario where theyll benefit from 2 MP3 hookups. I dunno what they were thinking, and I had to get a usb adapter for the power socket. In conclusion, this is a great car for the city and highway. I just got my first oil change, and have had no maintenance or repair issues other than the tow hook cover coming off in a wash ($100? really?). It gives you headroom without sacrificing MPGs. The electronics need some redesigning for usability, but for its price point, the HRV is a 9/10, magical automobile. Give me android auto and itll be a 10/10.