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:

• 

  Bad Quality - 1996 Honda Civic
  By A bad car - March 9 - 2:00 am

  In 2nd month, window got stuck after paying toll on NJ Turnpike, had to drive the next 90 miles in freezing cold with wide open window. Afterwards, there was a big wind noise on the driver side window. The hatchback rattled all the time. Everytime the car went in for an oil change, I had service guy check it out. Every time he claimed it was fixed. It came back again. The AC broke down in the first summer. With skinny tires, the car changed lanes on its own whenever theres strong cross wind. Little power. Dealer ate the new car survey. Sold it after 3 years. Would never buy another Civic.

• 

  Crappy Little Car - 2000 Honda Passport
  By RVT40 - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Dont waste your money on this car. It rattles and squeeks constantly. It feels like it has no shocks or suspension on any kind on bumpy roads. It doesnt "feel"safe at all.

• 

  Honda Pilot from Hell - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Larry Simms - February 21 - 9:31 pm

  The Honda from hell. Bought a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring. Picked up my new SUV from Morristown Honda and took it on a road trip the next day. It failed me three times on a road trip with computer issues to So Fla. The power steering wouldnt work along with other issues on the dash board. Needless to say, It was left at the dealership in South Fla the following morning. After 12 days left the vehicle in So Fla. Its now day 25 without my new vehicle. Have requested another vehicle since it never worked safely the day after purchase. Honda Motors and Morristown Honda have only just given me lip service on that issue. They plan to ship it to me when repaired. Today I heard from the service department of the So Fla dealership and informed me the part has come in and if the SURGERY goes well I will get a call back. Never happened. Shame on Honda Motors for not stepping up to the plate and get me a replacement Pilot.

• 

  Death Trap - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By RD - February 10 - 2:50 am

  We bought the 2016 Pilot Elite in December since we were expecting twins in July. Due to owing previous Hondas in the past we though this was the route to go. Long story short, my wife was 9 months PREGNANT and pulling the Pilot into the driveway when it lurched forward, avoiding the other car in the driveway she went down our front lawn hitting a curb resulting in all side airbags to deploy. She was rushed to the hospital for testing, luckily nothing happened to the babies but $11k in damage. When we called HONDA to explain, there response was why didnt you have it towed to the HONDA dealership instead of the body shop. We got a case open with a lady named Marion, who is a complete IDIOT, finally after arguing with her for an hour she sent a rep to the dealership near me and he too k it for a test drive with me and driving it himself saw that the car tends to lurch forward, came back to dealership and ran a diagnostics and showed me that there is an computer malfunction that they need to reprogram it, after 4 attempts realized the unit is bad and need to be replaced and as I am leaving tells me "oh we got it to work". Back to American Honda, the rep Marion calls and says we didnt find anything that was wrong from the report that we received other then a software update. I requested a copy of the error code they found at HONDA and the local HONDA rep kept avoiding the question. If anyone has had a similar issue with there new 2016 Pilot, please post so we can build up a case against HONDA, before someone seriously gets hurt in these SUVs. American HONDA refuses to acknowledge these problems until enough people come forward with it.

• 

  Cheesy Vehicle - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By Nydia Diaz - February 4 - 8:44 pm

  Cheap interrior. Horn is terrible. The rear back window poor visually. The rear Camara is not the greatest. I regret getting this car. The quality of this car is poor.

• 

  2016 Honda pilot Elite - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Martin M. - January 6 - 8:58 am

  I would not recommend for anyone else to buy a $50k+ SUV or car that is an electrical hot mess. the radio, navigation and entertainment system do not work properly even after an update was done by the dealer recently; its 9 speed transmission makes noises when changing gears specially at around 27 to 30 MPH; it also some times while driving down hill with your foot on brake wants to accelerate rather than slow down... (not sure if it just another electrical problem and the dealer told me they are not sure is the noise is coming from the transmission) the dealer has not been able to find out what the problem is after 2 days and over 150 miles of test driving it; now they have a field engineer from American Honda coming to take a look at it.

• 

  Poor customer service - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Ccar - December 25 - 2:17 pm

  Both dealership and Honda have a nasty view of their customers. Wish I could return my truck even though Ive had it for less than 2 weeks. Mirrors malfunction and makes me feel unsafe in the truck not knowing what else will fail.

• 

  A Reliable Car it is not - 2013 Honda Accord
  By P. Beck - November 29 - 4:11 am

  This is my second Accord with a major repair bill (transmission, and starter motor) before it had 60,000 miles on it. Honda does nothing to offset these repair costs (nearly a $1,000 a piece.) There are many complaints on-line re. the starter motor and yet they refuse to recall the part. They were rude and dismissive when I called Corporate to complain. DONT BUY THIS CAR!!!!

• 

  The Truth - 2003 Honda Civic
  By Chris - October 29 - 1:36 pm

  At 72k IMA goes out and they repair for free, its the law. At 130k miles CVT transmission shreds to nothing. After spending $5000.00 on a new transmission the computers and IMA LIGHTS start lighting up and now youre in a death trap with an acceleration of 0-60 in 60 seconds. HONDA COULDNT CARE LESS. You know the 3% of customers that get screwed by corporations that are too big to notice or care? Thats us!

• 

  2016 CRV vibration issue still there. - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By pjtr73 - September 23 - 12:09 am

  I can said now that I’m a proudly ex-owner of a 2016 CRV (very expensive washer machine, massage chair…you name it), it was known to happen with the 2015s( service bulletin 15-046) but honda claims it was fixed(which is a lie), so I got a new crv 2016, my mistake, I only had it for 3 months and about 1500 miles but I had enough with the vibration issue, lucky me I felt all the 3 modes described in the 2015 bulletin,. The vibration started @ about 500 miles and getting worst every day, took the car back to the dealer (2 of them) first one told me it was normal, they all vibrate and this is a “characteristic of the car”, the second one agreed with me that it was vibrating but after 10 mins., came back with the same b**l S**t as the first one, what a waste of my time, I called honda and created a case, they assigned me a case manager that called me and kept repeating that’s a “characteristic of the car”( if so, how come is not listed in the brochure?), his only goal was to get me to agree with his stupidity, which I didn’t, I will never purchase a honda again, quality went down the toilet, is not a reliable car anymore and of course their service department sucks.