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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  Excellent car - 1997 Honda Civic
  By Driver - May 14 - 9:22 am

  I have been driving this car for 12 years and its still performing with no problems. Ive mostly kept up with the maintenance schedule, but not to the T. My goal is to drive it for 10 more years!

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  Nice until A/C failed - 2004 Honda CR-V
  By JPettibone - May 13 - 10:49 am

  I really liked my CR/V until the last few years. 1st, the cabin materials did not wear well. 2nd, the gas mileage seemed to decline over time to the point that I could not get more than 275 miles out of a tank even with highway mileage. 3rd, we had reliability problems. Had a $600 transmission sensor repair last year, and then the A/C compressor imploded and destroyed the entire AC system a few weeks ago. The cost for that repair was quoted at $3800 by the dealer, and American Honda refused to help even though theyve helped other customers with this, but left us out to dry despite owing a 06 accord and doing all service for both at the dealer. Were done with Honda for a while.

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  Enjoyable SUV - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Lanie - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Pilot first the get-go. It is fun to drive, seats the kids and dogs and groceries and whatever I pick up during the day. The GPS could be better, more detailed. The MPG is NOT the advertised MPG I get...I get much less. Wish I could have gotten the GPS and the DVD system together...wanted Honda to add DVD on but they said no go.

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  could be better - 2003 Honda Accord
  By JJ1 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Bought the Accord thinking it would be a carefree experience compared to VW. Not the case. Car has needed front and rear brakes 3 times in less than 14k miles, getting ready to get brand new rotors and pads again. Transmission recall. Passenger airbag cover broken. Front left fender pops (a lot of them do on the car dealer lots). Rattles and squeeks. Not at all what I counted on.

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  My favorite car - 1995 Honda Civic
  By alalime - May 12 - 2:45 pm

  I bought the 1995 civic with 8,000 miles on it, and I put 190,000 miles on it before the head gasket blew. With regular maintenance, these cars just keep running. My only gripe about it is the body started to give out before the motor .

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  Perfect car - except for the seat. - 2007 Honda Accord
  By Dmitri Toptygin - May 12 - 2:25 pm

  I drove about 40000 miles on this car, and I had almost no problems with it. Excellent reliability, fuel economy, handling in dry and wet conditions. The only thing that causes problems is the new design of the drivers seat. From 1999 to 2007 I drove an Accord EX 1999, and that one had a great drivers seat. The 2007 version has a new seat design, and this caused me a lot of back pain. I already paid over $2000 to a chiropractor. The headrest cannot be lifted high enough to make it comfortable. Removing and discarding the headrest makes it feel better, but this increases the danger of whiplash injury in an accident.

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  THIS CAR ROCKS, SIMPLE AS THAT !!! - 2016 Honda Accord
  By WILLIAM - May 12 - 4:01 am

  I wanted a car that would go 200,000 miles without a major repair. Statistically it was the HONDA ACCORD (1ST) or the TOYOTA CAMRY (2nd) that are the cars most likely to do this in North America, accordingly to the Google search I conducted.The Camry doesnt offer a two door COUPE so it was to be a HONDA. Next I did not want a CVT transmission, so the 4 cylinder Accords were out.I drove the HONDA ACCORD EX-L COUPE 3.5L V6, 6speed Automatic w/sequential transmission and hated the paddle shifters, so it was going to have to be the 2016 HONDA ACCORD EX-L 3.5L 6Speed Manual, AND AM I GLAD I GOT ONE !! WOW, I had no idea how fast these cars are, and did not buy it for its speediness. IT IS JUST A SHARP CAR. Everywhere I go people look at it and do not know what it is, BUT THEY ALL LIKE IT !!! The PEARL BLACK Is gorgeous, the interior is comfortable, the STEREO CRANKS... EE-GAD MON, and the V6 engine gets 24.6 MPGs over the first 10,000 miles I drove the car as I never reset the A trip odometer when I left the dealership, but it reset itself at 10,000 miles. The previous 4 cylinder cars I had, a 2013 CR-V and a 2015 Toyota RAV4 both averaged 25 MPG (the RAV 4 got 24.9) so this car gets the EXACT same MPGs as a 4cylinder engine, LOL !!!! Now for the fun part, I drive casually as I am in no hurry, and there are always people that want to run me off the road or try to go around me and then cut in front of me and hit the brakes like morons. SO I HAVE HAD MY SHARE OF FUN BLOWING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM OFF THE ROAD. NAMELY a 740i BMW that was SHOCKED he could not pass me....from a 35 MPH roll...I LEFT THE GUY IN THE DUST !!! An $85,000(PLUS TAX) car that puts out 400 Horse power(BUT it weighs 6,000 lbs. LOL !!!) could not keep up w/my HONDA ACCORD COUPE 3.5L V6 @ $27,500. In Florida the biggest laugh was a Ford Fusion 2.0 Si Turbo, after banging 3rd and 4th gear, I had to stop because I couldnt see the poor guy. He must have seen the ACCORD name-plate and figured hed blow me off the road but he must not have seen the V6 on the other side of the trunk because he did not have a chance, LOL, NONE, then there are the AUDIs....the A3,A4,A5,A6s and the Mercedes C300s and all the BMWs from 328is to 740is cars that all could NOT BELIEVE what my lil 2016 HONDA ACCORD COUPE 3.5L V6 6Speed Manual did to their very expensive BUT SLOW cars......not a single one of these cars came close to keeping up with my ACCORD COUPE. NOW, I am NOT A STREET RACER, these things happened on open Highways, on road trips to Florida from the North Eastern USA, from 40MPH to 70 MPH situations that only went up to 95MPH to 110MPH because that was all I had to do to disappear from these cars, except the 740i BMW which was an on-ramp situation and was the most enjoyable as I know how much he paid for that POS and I KNEW this guy thought he was gonna blow right by me,BUT..... NO WAY BUDDY !!! I slowed down, after I made my considerable point (it was not even close) and as he passed me I lowered my window and patted my CARS door as he went by ...I WAS LAUGHING AT HIM. SO there you have it, a really SHARP LOOKIN DAILY DRIVER TYPE CAR, COMFORTABLE AND FUN TO DRIVE,GOOD MPGs and no hefty insurance bills like Mustangs, Camaros,Chargers all get. This is not a MUSCLE CAR, BUT IT IS SUPRISINGLY FASSSSSST 0-60 MPH in under 6 seconds.BTW, if you want one of these cars ,THEY ARE RARE, I had only 4 to choose from on the entire EAST-COAST of the USA when I commenced my search in May 2016 as most dealers do not even stock them.Not many people want a V6, 6speed Maunual Honda ACCORD w/ony 2 doors(A COUPE, BUT, I DID !!!)....and seriously, everywhere I go... people really like this car....most people do not know what it is from a side view and are surprised when they find out its an ACCORD....and from the front it looks like a PREMIUM LUXURY SPORTS COUPE w/the sports bra and the window visors I put on it, SHARP LOOKIN. I C other ACCORD COUPE OWNERS that call their COUPEs their BABY and really seem to love them. I like mine and will drive it for four or five years and then hopefully I will get half of what I paid for it, and buy another one !!! SIMPLY PUT, THE HONDA ACCORD EX-L 3.5L V6 ,6 Speed Manual is a ROCKIN CAR !!! THANKS HONDA, I did not want a boy-toy pony car as I am past that point in life.

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  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By RICVEGAS - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR ABOUT THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SERVICE TO FIX IT. THE CORRECTION THAT THEY MADE WAS TO REPLACE A PIPE INSIDE THE GAS TANK OR WHATEVER. AFTER TWO MONTHS THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, THEN BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SERVICE TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW EVERY ONE OR TWO MONTHS THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS COMING ON. IM TIRED ALREADY BRINGING THIS CAR TO THE SERVICE.

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  Great Now, Greatest w/Improvements - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By DDH - May 10 - 2:00 am

  First 4 months were the pits doors continueously had problems. The contineous returns to the dealer eventually fixed the door problem. Then a low grinding noise when backing up, the transmission was replaced Dealer had vehicle more than we did. Even with being put out over the period of problems, I love my Odyssey. It is roomy, it is great for the kids, my elderly Mother who is handicapped finds little difficulty getting in and out of the Odyssey. Lastly the knobs for the driver side are in a bad place, I have had to have the knobs replaced due to the children stepping on the knobs.

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  Finally somethings different. - 2003 Honda Element
  By NKGA - May 10 - 2:00 am

  This car is a great car because its very practical and unique in many ways. Unlike V6, this car has only Inline-4 with 160 hps,which gives a decent fuel economy and proformance. One more thing, every where I go, I always get the attention from people, and all my friends love it when I drive it to school.