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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  CVT Trans Will Make Me Trade This Car - 2013 Honda Accord
  By palalt1 - July 23 - 2:48 pm

  I have a 2013 Accord Sport with the CVT transmission. It has become so annoying to drive with only 3000 miles that Im considering trading. Honda tells me there is no record of a problem and the dealer says the unit isnt serviceable. Under normal driving, there is almost a constant slinky toy or rubber band feeling that actually makes the engine rpm go up and down when it should be smoothly accelerating. There is some kind of intermittent slippage going on the whole time you are driving it. Anything but Constant Velocity. Honda is playing stupid and merely patronized me with statements like: "Well make a record of your concern." I own a Murano CVT so Im familiar with this technology.

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  Reliability issues - 2011 Honda Fit
  By autonix - July 23 - 8:43 am

  Less than 3 years old and have already had to have valves adjusted and the heater blower motor replaced! Definitely reliability issues.

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  Beware - 2013 Honda Accord
  By rockamatic - July 21 - 11:29 pm

  Its a pretty good car, but buyers beware of some strange features. The Sport edition has some weird thing on the steering wheel called a paddle shifter. Its there so you can get the feel of a stick shift on an automatic. But the problem is... you go to hit your blinker, and lo and behold youve just downshifted going like 80 miles an hour... really dangerous! The other weird feature is the drivers side rear view mirror. It has a second little mirror attached to it. This bends the image of the oncoming car. Im driving down the interstate, and this car is coming up beside me, and to my surprise he cuts over into my lane and nearly sideswipes me, so I swerve. But that was only an illusion.

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  Things I didnt think about FIRST - 2012 Honda Civic
  By schoolsh33 - July 13 - 12:50 pm

  Ive had 96 Civic & 98Accord. Bought 2012 Civic 4 door stick shift in May 2011. Ive always loved stick for the pickup & gas mileage. Big problems with this car. 1) NO pickup at all. Its embarrassing at a light with even slight incline & people are on your butt & go around u because it takes forever to get up to speed. If AC is on forget it, u have to turn it off until u get to speed. 2) Visibility sucks. There is a thick separator where side mirrors are making window 2 sections creating major blind spots 3) My kids cant have back window down, it causes this vibrating wind sound that hurts your ears. So, things I never thought about have made me unhappy with this car & Im trading it in

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  Cost Reduction Design - 2008 Honda Accord
  By fosterphx1 - June 29 - 6:14 pm

  Purchased new, now have 85k miles. Experienced all the problems reported (brakes, road noise, cheap interior, rattles, and easily scratched paint). The Navigation system was delivered with very out of date maps, voice recognition is poor (buy a Garmin for $200), and the suspension feels very heavy and loose over rough pavement. Rebuilt the front end at 80k, lost two batteries due to a failing AC pressure relief valve, and the auto AC is not designed for Phoenix weather. (fan never comes on high speed even if cabin >100 degrees). Trunk volume diminished by hinges. Should be designed for struts. Should have dumped this car earlier before the resale value declined.

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  Honda Accord Reliability - 2010 Honda Accord
  By gimpus - June 22 - 10:03 am

  2010 Accord is nothing but trouble. In t.5 years, Ive experienced all the problems mentioned in the past blogs....oil consumption of 1 qt per 1000 miles is "normal". I purchased an Accord to do the exact opposite of what I am doing now--checking oil levels, spending time at the dealership letting mechanics tell me everything is within "parameters". Now I had to change brakes, deal with AC not getting cool, flashing check engine lights, wheel alignment problems all in 2.5 years. I am a careful driver and 80% of the mileage was on highways. Avoid this car.

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  Wheres the quality? - 1994 Honda Accord
  By hondoman45 - June 21 - 1:33 am

  Almost six years ago I wrote a review here that was pretty positive about the Accord. Now, with years of ownership, I can state this isnt a car that can compare with Toyota. It is far inferior as my Accord has needed a head gasket repair, numerous suspension repairs, frequent alignments, electrical gremlins that have plagued it, and it still has issues every couple of months that are costly to fix. I keep thinking it will stop having problems but it just continues on...My four Celicas combined have not had the issues of my one Accord. I take great care of my cars and now question the quality of Honda. This car gets a failing grade.

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  New Hybrid runs well but head restraints are a pain - 2013 Honda Civic
  By new2bie - June 20 - 9:21 pm

  I just purchased a new 2013 Civic Hybrid. The vehicle only has 500 miles on it so far, so there isnt much to tell yet. Averaging 44.5 mpg, which is a little less than my 2003 model, but definitely acceptable. Color is supposed to be green opal metallic, but it just looks blue to me. Im a little unsure of all the electronics on the new model. In general, our electronic gadgets only last a couple of years, and I expect to drive this car for much longer than that. Im concerned that Electronic components in a vehicle can be VERY expensive to replace.

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  ALWAYS TRANSMISSION!!!!!! - 2002 Honda Accord
  By yiven421 - June 11 - 9:45 pm

  I am getting mad about the transmission when it is 86,000 miles. The car viborated a lot when turning from N to D4 or when stopping, the dealer charged me $5400 for a new one and about $3000 for a used one. [non-permissible content removed] I hate Honda!!!!

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  Poor Exterior Lighting - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By pompom - June 7 - 7:09 am

  I was so looking forward to purchasing my new car. I did a lot of research and came to 3 top cars. I chose the CRV and I think I made a big mistake. It did not help that the dealer delivered a very dirty car to me and when I called to complain the salesman would not assist me. The finance guy tried and tried to get me to put almost $2,000 on my loan for an extended warranty. It would have been nice for someone to show me what the so called ten computers do instead of trying to upsell me so hard! Now when I drive at night the exterior lighting is so bad that I almost always have to drive with the high beams on something I have never had to do with other cars. Very bad experience!