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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  Great vehicle w/ extremely low maintenance needs - 2005 Honda CR-V
  By G Goldberg - August 22 - 9:04 pm

  First thing to know is that the paint finish is superb. I waxed this CR-V a few times early on then never again for the 11 years. It still shines and beads water. The interior leather, 11 years later, is still in near perfect condition. I changed the tires right after purchasing because I wanted something smoother and quieter. It was a well worthwhile investment. It handles remarkably well in rain and snow. (I got a set of snow tires on steel wheels that switch to for the winter and have never had any problems.) The AWD and anti lock brakes work very well. I get 20 mpg in stop and start city driving of very short distances. I work 5 miles from home. Having this car has made finding a new one I like, very difficult. Technologically and safety wise, this car was way ahead of its time with the AWD, ABS, number air bags, a multi disk CD player, and a tilt, slide back, and view through moon roof.

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  Family fun - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Josh - August 22 - 4:33 pm

  Yes this is a family sedan that has the power and hints of a sports sedan. Highway passing is just a tap away all while pulling 26 to the gal. Around town gas mileage is not as good at 22 with a mix of city and high way.

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  Hummer Wanna Be - 2005 Honda Element
  By dave - August 22 - 12:23 pm

  first time when i was looking at this vehicle i was like " hummer wanna be" but now i own it 2005 ex awd, deale gave me great deal on it and i have the best version, so far fun to drive, huge interior, great looking interior also, i am using this truck for business, i got x5 in garage now, i love element so my bimmer will relax for a while.. :)

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  2nd 7th generation Honda Accord owner - 2005 Honda Accord
  By BamaLife518 - August 22 - 5:07 am

  Onto my second 7th generation Honda Accord, my first being a 2004 Honda Accord EX 4cyl, now bought a 2005 LX sedan 4cyl, comparatively the LX is basically the same exact car minus the sunroof and steering wheel controls, plus the LX has 15 inch steelies and the EX had the much more attractive 16 inch alloys, honestly, I could care less for the EX anymore, its just more money and possibly more problems as I remember the EX had to have the weatherstripping periodically fixed on the sunroof, which just became a hassle each time I wanted to use it (fixed myself repeatedly with a screwdriver re-aligning the weatherstripping), the LX is reliable, currently holding at 173k and as usual, it looks sporty, but its slow on take off, boring on long rides, and unimpressive in the fuel economy department, but it is visually appealing compared to a Toyota Camry of the same year, still both cars are undeniably reliable, just wish they both had better take off and were a little more driver oriented. My only real complaint is that the suspension (which has been replaced because every bump was unforgiving, is still... unforgiving) nothing has helped the horrible ride on even the smallest bumps and Im running general RT43 tires, which arent the best by any means on this car. I can say though that the accord is WAY better in the snow than my old 2002 Honda Civic EX which was almost scary and I pride myself on my abilities in snow, I recommend using Goodyear Ultra-grip tires and it transforms the Accord into a tank in the snow, I love the front end appearance of the car and love how it looks fast but its frankly not.

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  You want an honest, unbias review....read this one - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By Kris - August 22 - 12:36 am

  ***UPDATE*** The seats are not that comfortable for long drives. They arent miserable...but any rides longer than 4 hrs i find im ready to get out asap. My 2005 lincoln ls sport sedan was 10 fold more comfortable than this for comparison purposes. Other than that...everything review is the same...... Dont let any woes of the vibration issue of the 2015s keep you from a 2016. Also, dont believe any crap you hear about Hondas Real Time AWD not applying power to the rear wheels. I will break it down for you as im very picky about what I buy. Get the EX at a minimum. The bang for your buck will prevail here, as for 2200 more dollars, you get heated seats, keyless entry and pushbutton start, sunroof, auto headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, fog lamps, a larger 7 inch screen to utilize your backup camera better, you also get the passenger side lane changing camera as well with the EX, you get the alloy wheels instead of the steel wheels of the LX, and there are a few more extras you get. for me, the foglamps, auto headlamps, sunroof, and heated seats were worth the extra premium. Lets talk vibration in the 2015s. Honda was aware of the issue. As with any new design (the Earthdreams VTEC and the CVT were new to the CRV in 2015) there will be bugs that need to be worked out. Coming from older vehicles (07 Camry 4cyl) and being an automotive enthusiast, I honestly would expect some vibration from a 4cyl at idle in gear. I mean most of the issue comes from lower rpms and not the right motor and transmission mounts for the vehicle. Honda has taken care of the issue for good with the 2016. They changed some mounts, upped the idle RPM (causing a EPA estimated MPG decrease of 2 on the sticker). The end result is simply NO VIBRATIONS IN 2016. Moving on to the drive-train. This direct injection 4 banger and the CVT is the best thing since baked bread. This CRV will FLY if you want it to, or it will milk 30mpg plus (seen 33mpg on back roads already). I was a little nervous about the CVT and reliability...but this type system has been used for years in other vehicles and even farm equipment. And to add is has less moving parts, therefore if anything were to go wrong, less would break and it would cost less to repair. I love how the RPMs stay constant all the way to your cruising speed (all relative to how hard you are pushing on the accelerator). The new direct port injection engine is able to pump out 185hp at 6100 and 181tq at 3600. They are able to achieve this with higher compression 11.1 to 1. this vehicle still just uses 87 octane gasoline. Be aware the motor produces a loud tick from outside the cabin, but inside...you never hear it. this is normal for this motor. The AWD. Dunno how else to say this...but it works as it should in REAL WORLD circumstances. Yes it is FWD and the rear wheels are engaged at the presence of lost traction. But, in real world it works...and requires no engagement from the driver. It works so well that as a driver you would never notice it. Dont believe the YouTube videos you see online making the CRV look like its failing. You werent there to verify everything is as they present it...so pay no attention. It works. And if your AWD were to be having issues, a dummy light on the dash starts blinking AWD to let you know it needs service. One of the greatest features of this 2016 CRV (i think Honda has used it for years now though). The Maintenance Minder system (MM). Do away with the routine 3 or 5000 oil changes, and do away with the recommended maintenance guidelines in the back of your owners manual. The CRV and its onboard computer keeps track of how YOU drive, YOUR driving conditions (ambient temperature, engine temp, drive time, speeds...etc) and will let you know what needs to be done and when. this means you might need your oil changed every 4000 miles, or 8000...it all depends on how your driving. and the CRV is smart enough to do the work. Some of you might think this is annoying, but as far as i understand if you dont follow the MM and take it to the dealer to service, your warranty will be void on the vehicle. The dealer has a tool to reset the MM and tell the computer the service done to the vehicle. I would consult the dealer and service department for more details, but the system is designed to save you money and keep you from doing unnecessary maintenance. Im a DIYer but i am going to let the vehicle tell me when and what needs to be done. For the cons. I only have 1. at speeds of around 50mph and greater, there is a draft that comes in from the door pocket under the door handle. im sure this is purely for vehicle ventilation because things cant be airtight...but when its cold out you feel it. im gonna see what i can do to eliminate it. for now we have a towel on both doors there. not a big deal...just wrong spot to have a draft.

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  Would not buy again - 2009 Honda Accord
  By pissed - August 21 - 11:33 pm

  After 18000 miles I had to have new back breaks put on. The leather is fading inside already - car is garage kept. Noise is really is ridiculous. Got 21k on it now and would trade it in if I could and get something else. Should have just saved my money and got the 4cylinder instead.

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  Great Car -- but Insurance costs are Insane! - 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By tmariner - August 21 - 4:39 pm

  -==Love the 2015 Accord Hybrid -- drives like a non-hybrid -- which is great praise. You see the brakes throwing energy into the battery, see it turn off the engine and at times switch to battery-only mode. The ride, quietness, vault-like feel wonderful. Acceleration and handling surprising for what is a high MPG car. But ... Got the bill from Allstate today - $1,200 more per year to go from a 2011 V6 Accord to the Accord Hybrid. The purchase price was within a few dollars between the two cars -- Im paying Ferrari Station Wagon prices for an economical car?? OK, buy it if you are a green enthusiast, but ANY savings you expect from gas purchase is gone with the insurance.

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  Most satisified I have ever been! - 2006 Honda Civic
  By 71Roadrun - August 21 - 12:23 pm

  I traded in my 2005 Scoin xB and got what I paid for the ugly little thing, so it was a no brainer. I really love the driving dymamics if this vehicle. It really feels like you are driving a sports car, it absolutely handles great. The 5 sp Auto allows the RPM to stay low even @ 80 mph, this keeps the noise down in the cockpit. I really like the longer wheelbase, it helps smooth out the ride better than any other small car I have ever driven. Then there is the safety, 7 airbags, UHSS, ABS... There simply is no other car in this class that offers as much as this car does. Dont forget the resale!

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  Best Vehicle Yet! - 2007 Honda Accord
  By hondalover - August 21 - 12:03 pm

  We just bought our 2007 Honda Accord in June of 07, and honestly it is the best vehicle we have owned yet. We had never owned a Honda before, but became interested in their reliability when the 2007 Indy Car series chose to use Honda engines, and have yet to experience a single problem with them. It is amazing. The Accord itself is very sporty on the outside, yet very luxurious on the inside for such an inexpensive base priced luxury vehicle. We owned a Chevrolet Tahoe before the Accord, but do not feel squished or that we have lowered our expectations for a sedan. If anything they have been raised by our Accord! The fuel efficiency is quite close to what Honda estimates. Very Impressive.

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  Great Car - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By Jeanne - August 21 - 5:36 am

  Very good car and not bad mileage. Could be better but on a long trip I average about 29 to 31 miles a gallon. Not bad