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 Choice - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By travelgirl - August 14 - 12:46 am

  We looked at every Mid-size SUV on the market and the 2009 Honda Pilot was at the bottom of our list. My husband test drove it first and said I should really check this car out and I am so glad I did. It is beautiful inside and out, fun to drive, easy to park, great stereo, kids love it, and it has every bell and whistle you can think of. I am extremely pleased with the new Pilot. Who needs a mini van when there is an SUV like this on the market?

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  High on Honda - 2006 Honda Civic
  By Frerd Garman - August 13 - 8:53 am

  Our fourth new Honda, previously owned Accords. Find our new Civic roomy, responsive, and well put together. Would recommend the Civic to my closest friends.

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  Honda from here on out! - 2005 Honda Civic
  By tentoto - August 12 - 10:20 pm

  Honda has done it again. Wish i could afford another one.These cars are awesome. Ive owned Honda products for 11 years, and the Civic Si is More fun to drive than any other Honda ive owned before. No more domestics for me. Oh and 18 members of the family as well. Thank you again Honda.

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  A Compact With Class - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Hawkeye - August 12 - 3:56 pm

  This ones a real gem. Plenty of options, spacious, peppy 1.8L, and frugal on gas. Average gas mileage has been 30 mpg, combination city and highway usage. Steering is tight, with good manuveurability. Excellent driver and passenger leg and headroom for a compact. The split dash is easy to read. Of course, trunk capacity is limited, but the fold down rear seat option works for two people on a road trip. Would like to have the inside climate control of my Accord EX, but what can one expect for a compact price? So far, its been a classy addition to our Honda family. I just wish my wife would let me drive it every once in awhile!

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  Overall Great Car - 2002 Honda Accord
  By dawson123 - August 12 - 3:33 am

  I bought a Honda because I drive a lot and I wanted good reliable transportation. The car has a great transmission shifts very smooth. It also has very good pickup for a 4 cylinder engine.

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  July 2012 EV Fit - 2013 Honda Fit EV
  By srl99 - August 12 - 3:29 am

  Weve tried a lot of the "working mans" electric cars and PHEVs, and this is the first one that provides us the total package. Start with the "lease", which includes vehicle damage insurance. 3 years is a reasonable amount of time, and the total outlay over 3 years isnt bad. Especially because you only need to provide liability insurance (with moderate limits). While weve only been driving the car for a few days, the first outing was approx 60 miles, mostly freeway, and we ended that with 33% charge left. [Much of the time in Eco mode, and no AC or heat]. The next trip was about 50 miles, driven more normally, some AC, and ended with about 50% charge remaining. 100 mile range possible?

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  Its a Honda - 2006 Honda Civic
  By mark - August 11 - 8:46 pm

  Traded in a 05 2 door Civic LX for the 06 4 door EX. Even though car has more ponies it will get you where you want but still seems weak on horsepower. The design of the car really caught my eye, and the materials are of the quality you would expect. The price is not bad considering you get moon roof, alloy wheels,side curtain air bags,ABS, and a sticker EPA of 40mpg hwy. I had compared the new Jetta and the Mazda 3. The Jetta was more expensive and both did not get the EPA mileage the Civic is supposed to. As I said "its a Honda". This new Civic is a good looker but still is pretty plain vanilla when it comes to driving experience. Reliability rated excellent but really have not had long enough

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By Mike Mc - August 11 - 8:10 am

  After owning a 2000 CR-V for 6 years which I loved, I wanted to find a reason not to buy another but when I drove the 2006 I was hooked! They had improved on the few items I didnt like on my 2000 and took it a few steps further...couldnt be happier with the decision to buy one again!!!

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  Safety Issues, Anyone?! - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By SARSteve - August 11 - 5:55 am

  I love driving this car, enough to trade in a low milage 2013 Pilot for it. However... I have several issues, and as others have stated, Honda rushes to close cases of complaints... official statement by Honda Corporate Customer Service: "It works as designed, there is no problem." #1 The hood on the car flexes/bends in ALL directions when passing 18 wheelers at highway speeds on windy days in the desert: I have filed a report with the NTSB. The dealer cannot duplicate this condition, so the case keeps getting closed... well see about that! #2 The Touch Screen System is Junk! Not only is it slow and hard to navigate, I have now been told from Honda that ".. you cannot connect a phone to the usb port and use the phone to place a call at the same time." Say WHAT?! The phone will only work on bluetooth, and will not do that if the phone is plugged in to listen to music that is stored on it. SO, if you need to make an emergency call, you have to unplug the phone... but good luck getting a fast connection, or any connection, without turning the car off to reboot the system. Not only that, but their system has corrupted two iPhone 6s in a row; the first one had to be replaced, and lost all data on it... A senior Tech at Apple said they have never seen a phone corrupted to this level #3 The receiver hitch is designed and built with a steep angle towards the ground in it: want to use a flat platform to move things? Watch it hit the ground on any steep driveway... and your bikes will not hang straight on a bike rack: that larger the rack, the worse it is. #4 The roof rack... is useless! My 2013 had openings in the side rails to attach straps/lines too.. where did they go? The new racks are very difficult to tie too, and the side rails also come shipped painted Silver Metallic Flake: ALL models, same color! I made my dealer paint it black to match my white cars trim. That was before finding out how useless the rack is... 8/11/2016 Update Did not drive car for four months: drove it to Arizona last week: #1 Hood still flexing in four directions when passing 18 wheelers on the freeway. #2 Touch screen completely blacked out twice during the trip: had to pull off the freeway, shut the car off and back on to reboot computer..?! Still refuses to interface with my iPhone 6, but at least it did not destroy my phones software as it did twice before... both phones had to be replaced: Apple says they have never seen this level of damage to their OS before. #3 Gas pump nozzle did not shut off quick enough, spilled small amount of gas around the filler tube and into the built in drain: entire car filled with gas fumes, had to roll down all the windows and wait a half hour to continue driving... #4 Gas fill cover does not lay flat on fender: dealer says they are all arriving that way, there is no fix! Dropped the car at the dealer yesterday, told them to keep it until it gets repaired: told them I will file a Lemon Law case against them if they do not repair it asap. Dealer has stated they have a major problem with all of their vehicles with Touch Screens, but Corporate Customer Care still claims there are no issues.

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  excellant - 2003 Honda Element
  By Gayle Donna - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I love it it is FUN, it is me!!!!!!