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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  Good Value - 2010 Honda Civic
  By lizdriver123 - December 8 - 11:37 pm

  OK. so do I like my Civic, and it is a great car for the value (but there are a couple issues). Had it for a year, 16,000 miles, yet to have a break down or major repair. Tune up here and there, and thats it. Great for city and highway driving, great gas mileage. Pretty comfortable. I am short and small, but my dad who is 62" can fit in the drivers seat and passengers seat comfortably for long trips. The but: winter driving. Even with top notch snow tires (and yes, for the record I am a capable driver in the snow), I had one or two close calls and am now looking for an AWD vehicle. This car is not even slightly equipped for the snow.

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  Hands down the worst car Ive ever driven in the snow - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By mattpotvin - December 8 - 3:01 pm

  The Pilot was great to me. Super reliable, and I only ever had one problem outside of routine maintenance, a rear HVAC blower motor went out, which was replaced under Honda Care for no charge. I selected the FWD model after getting a CPO mouse infested 4WD model from a dealer. They upgraded me to Leather and Rear Entertainment. We average under 40" of snow here, so I didnt think anything of the lack of 4WD. Until the first day I had to drive in snow. Even with Michelin Xice 2 snow tires, I couldnt make it over small bridges, crossing a single lane train track. Cars with all seasons drove right past me. Id slide backward down the hill. Bit better w/ traction control turned off.

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  Typical Honda - 2006 Honda Accord
  By roy71 - December 8 - 10:19 am

  This is my second Honda, my first was a 95 accord that made it to 224,000 miles. I really like this new one. It handles much better and rides firmer (which i like) the braking is decent and the 2.4 i v-tec engine is quicker and better on fuel than my old V6. Mine is pretty basic, it has manual cloth seats, no sunroof, no heated seats or nav. but i like it because it does what its supposed to do well. Im a little leery though about the transmission, to me it seems to shift rough compared to other cars ive been in. Mine has 97,500 on it and im hoping it will get me to at least 250,000. I plan to take good care of it and follow the service manual, hopefully it will pay off. If you can, buy one!

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  2012 Honda Civic EX Best Buy! - 2012 Honda Civic
  By gruel - December 7 - 7:03 pm

  I just got a new Honda Civic EX from Bergstrom in Oshkosh, WI. They called me, suggested I come in and trade my 07 Honda Fit. I went in, and test drove the Civic. I really noticed a couple of things immediately..the dash reminded me of the wonderful Mercury Cougar I had in 1990, and the ride was very similar...Quiet! The dash features looked complicated, but the menu took me through it all, and was not any harder than programming my cell phone. Speaking of cell phone, the Blue Tooth hookup in the Civic not only worked first time, but every time I enter the car, it automatically hooks up. I tested it with my wife in the car, watching the dash, and it mated when I was 40 feet away. BUY IT

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  Happy So Far - 2012 Honda Pilot
  By photo49 - December 7 - 3:16 pm

  After driving a small Audi for 3 years I decided to go back to an SUV. I wanted three row seating, 4 wheel drive, good handling, and decent gas mileage. I had ruled out the 2011 Pilot because I had read so many complaints about road noise, which I hate. However, when I read that this issue had been addressed in the 2012 model, it moved it back to the top of my list. Ive had it for 6 weeks and have driven 4,000 miles. Its pretty quiet (for an SUV), it handles well both on and off paved roads, its comfortable, storage is great, and it gets about 21 mpg in mostly highway driving. Acceleration is a little pokey and braking distances a bit long, but overall Im really happy with my Pilot.

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  used 2006 - 2006 Honda Civic
  By june1986 - December 7 - 12:10 pm

  just bought this baby for 11k with 101k miles, looks new, runs great. 41 mpg so far avg(first week) im still learning how to drive more efficently and its fun! i was looking at the FT-86 but decided to wait and got this in the meantime. i thought i would be disappointed but once i saw it in the metal and sat inside that all changed. great for adventures and wallets(30$ to fill up and first tank i got 460miles).

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  2003 Honda Accord EX V6 4dr - 2003 Honda Accord
  By hollandsc - December 7 - 11:32 am

  Background: original owner, 148k miles, new transaxle @ 45k, new output shaft oil seal @ 145k, new struts @ 145k, and every warning light that could have come on has come on. I need to mention that it has been in four wrecks – all due to being hit from behind while stopped. With this said, I do all repair work myself on this car and all of my other cars. This Honda is a little “touchy” because of the number of sensors. This is good or bad good if you fix the issue because the car knows if there is an issue or bad if you want to ignore the problem and don’t want to know about it. Parts are readily available, cheep & the car is easy to fix. No matter the car (I have had just about every

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  Best car everrr! - 1995 Honda Civic
  By andreroman21 - December 6 - 8:13 pm

  Purchased the car from my brother 2 years ago. A few things were done to it including an engine swap from a japanese civic SiR-II(170HP) and cloth seats from a 2001 Integra, as well as 2001 Integra GS-R rims. It is amazing on gas averaging about 40mpg hwy and has alot of oomph when I need it. I use it to commute to my job about 26 miles a day. I use synthetic oil and change oil as suggested as well as spark plugs. I have had no problems with the car as of yet. I love the looks of the car. Very unique... Honda really should put out a new hatchback model. I wont be getting rid of this car for a long long time. Exterior is stock except for coilovers and fresh paintjob. I get alot of compliments

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  the perfect car - 1998 Honda Accord
  By mpb666 - December 5 - 10:54 pm

  I bought my 98 accord in 2002. it had about 30,000 miles on it. was kept in great shape by previous owner..it is now december 2011 and i still own this great car. i am at 175,000 miles now with not 1 major problem in 10 years of owning it. still runs nice and smooth, quiet. i can trust and rely on this car to start and run great anytime. even in the dead of winter, will start up no problem. only thing ive ever had done major is replace the catalytic converter and starter. on my second set of brake pads in 10 years. i get 3 month oil changes and once a year maintenance checkup every year. im sure it would last another 10 years easy. great car, will miss it when i dont have it her anymore!

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  Good except for the engine - 2012 Honda Odyssey
  By rookie79 - December 5 - 1:48 pm

  We bought the Odyssey right before Thanksgiving to accomodate a growing family. Everything went well for the first 10 days. It drove well and our daughter loved it. Unfortunately on day 10 of ownership, one of the rocker plates broke and got sucked into the intake and destroyed the engine. So now I dont have a car for the next week or two while it gets a new engine. Less then 700 miles with an engine going bad is a tad ridiculous. Wish I could go back on the decision to buy this and go with the Chrysler which I ironically did not buy due to concerns with reliability and resale. Go figure.