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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  Houston Hybrid - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Houston Hybrid Owner - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Using a Chevy Avalance and driving 3000 miles a month had me on a first name basis with the gas attendant. When my gas bill hit over $400.00 a month I knew I had to do something. I started by looking at the Toyota Prius but found the local dealers a challenge to deal with. Not only was the wait for a Prius about 6 months they were not willing to negotiate price or configuration of the vehicles options. That led me to the Honda Civic Hybrid. It is easier to drive than the complicated Prius. It was less expensive to buy and in stock. Its an easy car to own. It has plenty of acceleration for big city driving.Chevron misses me.

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  Tormented 2003 Honda Accord Owner - 2003 Honda Accord
  By Sharker - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Overall the Accord is a very nice car. But the overall Honda experience has left me disillusioned. After one month the indash 6 disk CD changer started to drill holes in my CDs. Honda made me wait 1 month for a NEW ONE...oh WAIT! they gave me someones elses "recondition" CD changer/radio/climate control unit! I feel robbed! I also had to wait 10 weeks to get my 6 CDs back that were stuck in the CD Changer and I am fighting to get compensated for the damaged CDs. I get about 24mpg and I do mostly highway driving. I like the car but am a little disappointed.

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  My Spacious car - 2003 Honda Accord
  By Chris72771 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I love my Accord, it is extremely spacious inside. The trunk is huge and everything you need while driving is right at your fingertips. The car handles great and I feel safe driving in bad weather conditions.

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  Pretty good car - 2004 Honda Accord
  By zride17 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  For the most part, I like my car. It feels pretty powerful for just 4 cylanders. The sunroof is fun, Ive never had one before. The controls on the stereo are great. Probably the best on any car that Ive seen. Ive got some noise from my driver window if it is windy or Im going over 45mph. The other annoying thing is the paint. I had a Saturn before and the paint didnt chip nearly as easily as this one does. Ive had it for two months and Ive had two door dings chip the paint. One on each side. One of them I did myself with our other car and the other car (Altima) didnt lose any paint at all.

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  Pascuals review - 2004 Honda Accord
  By pascual876 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Great ride no matter what the weather and situation, great handling, pickup, and braking.

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  niiiiiiiice - 2004 Honda Accord
  By itisaemily - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Im in college, and this is the first new car i got and i love it! it was affordable and satisfying. The car is quiet with PLENTY of cup holders. The exterior design is nice, and the interior is a little sporty but also elegant. I really like it. I like my car color (graphite pearl) a lot too! i recommend it.

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  Perfection? Almost! - 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By The Lilodian - April 5 - 7:00 pm

  Mind blowing upgrade from 07 Civic EX w/ Navi ! Driving experience amply luxurious. Road clearance great, car feels solid and sturdy. Cabin really comfy + quiet, even on highways, roomy (IÂ’m 6ft 180 lbs). Engine a bit slow from stop but catches up fast. Tech gadgets intuitive + useful, but not flawless (IÂ’m an engineer; I know). Unique sporty styling (esp. front grille) has turned heads and incited inquiries. Fit and finish (esp. interior) great. IÂ’m sure long drives will be enjoyable. Mileage as advertised 1st tank 17.5 mpg (mostly city) Bottom line: Great value, comfort + goodies justify cost. Awesome family car, but also sporty + technologically advanced to appeal to young single guy (me

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  If one must own a minivan, the Odyssey is great - 2018 Honda Odyssey
  By Scott - April 5 - 6:05 pm

  My wife and I swore that we would never own a minivan. Then she became pregnant with our fourth child. Combine that with the complexities of the car lines at the kids’ schools, and poof, we went from being cool kids to owning not just one but two 2018 Odyssey Elites. I previously owned a 2017 Lexus LX 570 and she owned a 2016 Volvo XC 90. Needless to say, we were pretty happy with our former vehicles. But sometimes things happen in life that cause needs and priorities to change. We went with the Odyssey primarily because the magic slide seats are, well, magical. It is amazing how easy it is to configure the interior seating of this vehicle. I am 6’1” and a big guy. Because of various other family members who tag along sometimes, I’ve ridden in the second and third rows. Amazingly, with the magic slide seat pushed inbound and forward for entry purposes, I had no problem entering the third row. In addition, it was comfortable and I actually enjoyed sitting back there and watching a movie with my 6 year-old daughter (who thought it was hilarious that daddy was in the back with her). I have 2100 miles on my Odyssey and have had no problems with the vehicle whatsoever other than the doors (which I will get to). The van drives great, is economical, loaded with amazing technology, and has more utility and useful room than any large SUV I have ever owned. I still find myself wondering how a vehicle that small (I’ve previously owned Suburbans, etc.) can feel so big inside. I still haven’t towed anything yet (my 10 year-old sails competitively) so the jury is still out on that one. I also find myself why I previously owned much more expensive SUVs that had no more (and sometimes less) tech than the Odyssey. In a world where a loaded 2018 Expedition costs nearly $80k, a loaded Odyssey Elite at $44k (what we paid for both of ours) seems like a pretty great deal. Have there been a few occasions where I felt a little less macho with my minivan? Yes, a few; but surprisingly, not many. Being a man is about taking care of your family; and this van is the best family vehicle I’ve ever owned by a long shot. Two months into ownership, the stigma is long gone from my head and I stopped caring about what others think. The only “complaints” that I have about the vehicle are as follows; 1) the driver’s armrest is useless to me. There is no position in which it feels comfortable; 2) the sliding doors are a little quirky at times - usually closing in car line. I suspect that is some kind of sensor that relates to someone being close to the door on the outside. It’s pretty rare, but worth mentioning; 3) no 360 degree camera. This is the only thing my wife hates about the Odyssey. Acura has it. Nissan has had it for years. Honda, this would have been a simple addition; 4) the automatic emergency breaking feature, while it saved my behind on my last vehicle, is a little sensitive in the Odyssey in town with lots of traffic; and 5) the second row seats are heavy and difficult to remove. However, on the last point, the second row seats on the Pacifica are much less comfortable. Comparing apples to apples, I’ll take magic slide over stow-and-go any day of the week and twice on Sunday. While I have read complaints about the 10-speed transmission, we have not experienced any such problems. Good luck shopping.

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  Best in class - 2005 Honda Civic
  By amelny - April 5 - 1:06 am

  This is the sixth Honda (3rd Civic) weve owned, and they just keep getting better, cheaper to maintain and more reliable as time goes on. This one is fun to drive, handles very well and has fit/finish of a car twice as expensive.

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  Its ok for a daily driver - 2013 Honda Accord
  By mark - April 4 - 2:23 pm

  Its a Honda, not a Mercedes, so my expectations werent that high to begin with. The 4 cylinder model is not a race car by any means, but the CVT does a decent job at putting the power down where you need it and delivering a nice smooth take off from a stop night. The steering is very loose, but it delivers a precise and agile feeling. The brakes could be better, they vibrate a little and it sometimes requires finesse to get the car to stop smoothly. The car also jerks when slowing to a stop, usually around 10 mph, but its nothing serious. The ride quality could use some improvement, its quite harsh and violent over bumps. The leather seats in my EX-L model are quite hard and unsupportive, I often feel like Im sitting "on" the seat rather than "in" the seat. I find the overall feel of the cabin is a bit cold and utilitarian. Handling of the vehicle is adequate for the class. It has somewhat of an "old school" Honda zippy feel, but a great amount of that classic Honda feeling was lost due to government regulations and recent manufacturing standards. The bluetooth connectivity and media sources are finicky and complicated to use, the infotainment system seems to have a mind of its own. Its also unnecessarily complicated to flip through radio stations. You twist the tuning knob expecting it to just jump to the next station, but instead it brings up a menu and you have to manually select which station you want and press it using the knob, or you can use the arrows on the touch screen. Both methods are extremely distracting and unnecessary. Again, its not perfect, but its certainly far from the worst car Ive driven. Its easy to drive, and easy to park. If youre like most of America and just want a simple, easy to drive commuter car, the Accord will suit you just fine. Been over 3 years and the car has needed nothing.