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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  You need a EX-V6 6-Speed! - 2003 Honda Accord
  By 2flywguy - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Good power copmbined with excellent gas milage. What can I say - its a Honda!

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  Great All Around Vehicle - 2004 Honda Accord
  By jwass - October 24 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a great coupe at a great price and for reliability, look no further. The Honda Accord Coupe is one hell of a car. Even with the 4cyl it still performs well. I have had mine for 6 weeks now and i wish maybe the time could go by slower, i look forward to getting up everyday and driving to school and work.

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  Love this baby! - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Patrick - October 23 - 10:46 pm

  I bought this car for my wife. After driving this car, I hate driving my old 2k civic. I always drive it when we both go out. Road handling is excellent. I dont care about the road noise. Good build. Outside looks are gorgeous, looks similar to a BMW 5 series. Interior is spacious, including the trunk.

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  Good Decision - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By Baloo - October 23 - 10:00 pm

  I was thinking about buying either a Rav4 or a CR-V and decided on the CR-V maiinly because I owned and recently desposed of a 1995 Accord. Im glad I chose the CR-V. The CR-V is a fun car to drive. It is very nimble and peppy without losing a supple and comfortable ride. The fit and trim is the same quality that Honda is known. The seating is comfortable especially in the rear seat. I purchase the cargo cover and I now have a trunk as large as any Ive owned. This is a quality vehicle at a very reasonable price.

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  Superior to every other small SUV - 2017 Honda CR V
  By Willster - October 23 - 5:45 pm

  Let me start by saying that I own 2 Honda generators a 928 snowblower, lawn mower, weed-wacker and rode a Honda Magna for 6 years, so I am familiar with their bulletproof reliability and owner satisfaction. After test-driving the Ford Escape, Volkswagin Tiguan, Toyota RAV-4 and the CR-V, I narrowed it down to this and the RAV-4. Even though the Toyota dealership offered me 0% financing and $100 below invoice, I felt the CR-V was the superior vehicle in many ways. The Honda is definitely more comfortable and roomier in both the front and back seats. Plus the interior design feels more elegant and refined whereas the Toyota appears cheesy and generic. The Tiguan was nice, but definitely more expensive and has confusing controls and displays. Escape was pushing 30k for a mid-level trim. I am glad I made this purchase and can now understand why the CR-V is the #1 vehicle in this class.

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  Did Honda Get the New Civic Right? - 2016 Honda Civic
  By tholemu - October 23 - 1:28 pm

  The new Civic was entirely off my radar until a week or two ago, which is somewhat odd (or perhaps a testament to how bored Id become with them) considering Ive owned only Hondas since my first car in high school, a 1988 CRX DX. Following the CRX was a 1994 Civic DX coupe, then a 2012 Civic Si Sedan, and next a 2013 Fit Sport (automatic, ugh). Id always looked forward to owning an Si after driving and modding the CRX and Civic, but was somewhat disappointed when acquiring the 2012 Si. Its departure from the old school Civic was quite noticeable, and while performance wasnt terrible, it just didnt feel like a Civic should, in my opinion. I plan on making this a long-term review, updating once a week or so. [5/4/2016] Yesterday I drove home the 2016 Civic LX coupe equipped with the 6-speed gearbox, and after a few miles behind the wheel it seemed as though finally a new Civic had a bit of the grit of the previous generations coupled with the convenience and comfort I now appreciate more than I would have 15 years ago. The driving position feels natural, as does the operation of controls, pedals, the gear shift, etc. Im quite surprised by how lively the 2.0L (K20C2) engine is, especially in the low-mid RPM range. Its not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but for getting around town and commuting to and from work while also getting good gas mileage, I dont see how this doesnt fit the bill. The gearbox seems pretty crisp, maybe better than the 2012 Si. Theres been some speculation about which engine will appear in the Si and Type R models for 2017, and I feel as though the K20 coupled with forced induction would make a solid power plant. Im a bit confused about the actual compression ratio of the K20C2, since Ive seen both 9.8:1 and 10.8:1 reported in different places. Regardless, I am pleased with the configuration. After comparing some of the numbers between a 2000 Civic Si coupe (curb weight: 2,612 lbs, 160hp/111ft-lbs torque, 22/29 city/highway MPG) and the 2016 Civic LX coupe (curb weight: 2,739 lbs, 158hp/138ft-lbs torque, 31/41 city/highway MPG), they are actually quite close in terms of power and weight on paper. Whats very noticeable is the dramatic increase in fuel economy with the new model. Im quite pleased with the vehicle after the first couple of days, but who knows what will happen down the line. Ill continue to post updates periodically as I get in more drive time. [5/10/2016] Its been one week to the day since taking possession of the Civic and I am struggling to find anything I dont like. The vehicle, plain and simple, feels solid. It should though, right? Ive logged just about 200 miles -- shes still a newborn. So in that respect, yeah, I would be seriously concerned if there were issues or things I noticed that didnt seem right. However, compared to the ride quality and cabin noise of my 2013 Fit, the Civic far exceeds it. This could be to the numerous changes to the suspension and chassis components (new rear suspension, bushings, stabilizer bars, rear damper brackets, etc.)*, and only time will tell if the durability holds up. Regarding fuel economy, I am averaging right around 31mpg. With that said, I can say with confidence that if I spend more time babying it and trying to get better mileage it will be quite easy to break into the mid and upper 30s. Even when accelerating mildly to keep pace at highway speeds the mpg gauge hangs around 40mpg. The Fit would average about 30mpg, which always disappointed me. The Civic is far more enjoyable to drive and will almost certainly achieve more greater efficiency around town and on the highway. Prior to my Fit I always owned vehicles manual transmissions. I really, really dislike automatic transmissions, so coming back to a manual has been quite refreshing. Whats more refreshing is the satisfying feel and sound (yes, there is some degree of a nice "click") of shifting gears with this particular gearbox. It may not be as crisp as what you would find from the factory in the S2000s, but for the base model Civic, literally the cheapest Civic the dealer had on the lot, I could not be more happy. Back when I had my 1988 CRX and 1994 Civic DX coupe, I longed for a close ratio 6-speed, and to see Honda mate this gearbox with the K20C2 is quite encouraging. It feels as though the engine is allowed to work as designed by not having it coupled with a longer geared 5-speed. If theres one thing that has baffled and frustrated me a bit it would be the Bluetooth system. It could be an issue with my phone (Galaxy S4), but I have encountered pairing issues a few times. Either the phone will fail to connect over and over when the Civic seemingly rapidly attempts to connect and send a verification code, or it will only connect to phone audio and not media audio. A few minutes of trying to rediscover and pair the devices usually fixes the issue. *Source:Official 2016 Civic Coupe Press Kit

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  Luxury Family SUV - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Angela - October 23 - 12:35 am

  This car is a great compromise for the big family that doesnt want to go "minivan". My 7&10 yo kids love the 3rd row & can get in/out without assistance. 3rd row access for adults is not terrible for the smaller physically fit, but more challenging for the larger or not so athletic (like getting into the back of a 2 door coupe). But once youre there leg room & comfort arent bad for a 3rd row. If wanting to seat adults in 3rd row, I still suggest minivan with 2nd row captains chairs. Also, since the 2nd row does not offer captains chairs or removable center seat (unless you go Elite trim $$$) its a bench with a 60:40 split. So if you put 1 car seat in 2nd row, you can access the 3rd on the opposite side. If you put 2 car seats in 2nd row, you cant even get to the 3rd row because you cant fold the seat forward with a car seat on it. So just keep that in mind if you have lots of littles. My 2 are just using the 3rd row, leaving the 2nd for guests. & they have folded the 2nd flat & use it for a foot rest or game surface (cards, battleship) for trips. My kids are happy to have AC vents & controls in the 2nd row, but have been complaining of low air flow in 3rd row vents. I have to crank it on extreme High to get any air into those way back vents. But it has been 100F this month so may just be a summer thing. Overall we absolutely love our Pilot EX. And our insurance rate went down with all the safety specs, despite the hefty purchase price! A very welcome surprise 👍🏻

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  Honda Fit Review - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Diane - October 22 - 2:30 pm

  Very cheap carpeting! Freeway road noise more than I would like. Gas mileage in town is poor- 27-29. Hwy 36 with Sport A/T. (I drive very carefully!) Wish seat was a couple inches higher off floor and I really miss passenger armrest. Seems to be great variance in mpg among Fit owners from online chat rooms. Mine idles at 9-10 mph consistently. Was told thats correct. Very short on small storage spaces.

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  Beautiful Beast - 1995 Honda Accord
  By Kp VtecFuZiOn - October 22 - 10:00 am

  I just recently got this car from my sister, but Ive been with it ever since she got it brand new back in 1995. From then to now, the reliability of this car amazes me. There havent been any engine malfunctions ever since the day it was off the dealership. Theres over 100,000 miles on my Accord right now and it still runs just as good as the day my sister got it. A great car!

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  Love my van! - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By Cindy Mac - October 22 - 10:00 am

  I went from driving a 1995 Suburban to my new Odyssey, and I couldnt be happier with this van! Its like driving a sports car for moms. My two kids and all their stuff fit great. Even my husband, who is six-foot, two- inches tall, can fit in it comfortably.