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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  Disappointed - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Sue - June 13 - 3:03 pm

  This is our 6th Accord and the one I like the least. We traded in our 2004EXL for this 2008. I am quite disappointed. The car is very loud! The windshield wash barely hits the windshield but I am mostly disappointed in the gas mileage. Im lucky if I get 23 MPG and 98% of my driving is highway. Arent we supposed to be making improvements in this area? My 2004 was getting 28- 30MPG. Unfortunately, I regret buying this car.

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  Just ordinary - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Joshua Williams - June 13 - 7:30 am

  Reliable transportation but little else. Starts, goes, stops just fine, and it looks okay. Absolutely terrible ride quality (harsh, bouncy, crude & unrefined), sun visor fabric is rotting away, door fabric coming unglued, hole in drivers floor mat at 5,000 miles, thin paint on thin sheet metal, crappy speakers already failing, no lock on glove compartment, no tint strip at top of windshield, no passenger door power lock button, loses power steering fluid every 6 months, too few features for the money overall. Because of this Civic, Honda has lost me as a customer for good.

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  Not the quality I expected - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By BeaD - June 13 - 7:16 am

  Very weird shifting/braking. At slow speeds, "phantom braking" causes sudden deceleration. Push start only works if Im pushing very hard on the brake. JUST INCREDIBLE to me that the car is not compatible with Apple CarPlay, a technology thats been around for years. Lack of integration makes everything clunky. Want your car to narrate incoming text messages for you? Dont buy a Pilot. Honda claiming its a hardware issue and cant retrofit, even though Accords have it. Boggling. Dash is glitchy - sometimes auto-dims at night, other times I have to open settings and manually dim it. Stupid detail, but that huge display screen tells me almost nothing. Listening to a song on the radio and want to know what it is? It will display 8-10 characters only, leaving half the screen blank. This car was not designed to thrill a driver. Vexing, yes. I would recommend people spend more time looking at the Highlander.

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  My dream car - 2006 Honda Accord
  By Si - June 12 - 2:56 pm

  Ive driven Hondas for years, but this is my first brand new car. I was pretty sure I wanted the Accord, but I did drive other cars to be fair. This car is so comfortable, gets better mileage than the sticker says. Who needs extras when everything I could want just came with the car. Im sure I will be as happy with this car in 15 years, when I still plan to be driving this car, as I am right now.

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Honda Accord
  By seahag7624 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I love my Honda. This is the most awesome car I have ever owned. We also have a 4door Camry of the same year which rivals the Honda in comfort but the Honda outweighs it in engine torque, body style and it is so fun to drive. The V6 really gets up and goes at the slightest touch. I dont have anything negative to say about this car. You cant go wrong with this one.

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  excellent - 2004 Honda Odyssey
  By baskinrobbins - June 12 - 2:00 am

  the power is good the interior is excellent the space is very good the color is excellent engine is perfect

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  Crash Survivor - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By pray4me_99 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our new Pilot with safety in mind when our new baby girl came into the world. We also have been long time Honda owners are are quite impressed with the reliability and service we have received. Recently, while heading home from working all night my husband nodded off at the wheel and we rolled our new Pilot twice. I am thankful to be able to be here to record this review and give top notch praise to Honda for the construction of this vehicle. My husband and I walked away with only minor scratches.

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  Not for comfort - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By New Honda Owner - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The seats are not comfortable at all! The Seat cushions and covers have two heavy gauge metal rods in the middle of the seat that run across the thigh. You can feel them by pressing your fist down on the stitch line in the middle of the seat. These metal rods cut leg circulation. The window lock feature locks out the driver from control of the windows thus making the feature nearly worthless. The game goes like this; the kids lower the window, you lock them out, then you try to raise their window but you are locked out too. Lastly, the cross bars whistle when properly installed. The Pilot is a great SUV that drops the ball on the one yard line.

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  Great Economy Car - 2001 Honda Civic
  By civicpam - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I got my Civic brand new my senior year in college and it has been a great car for the low budget. It is reliable and gets great gas mileage. The comfort of the car leaves a lot to be desired. Especially uncomfortable on long trips (at least in the front-I dont know about the back). But, a good car all- around.

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  Fourth Accord - 2003 Honda Accord
  By RichK - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Car handles beautifully but has more road noise than 97 Accord I traded in.Transmission very smooth.Ride well controlled.