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:

• 

  New owner LOVES this vehicle! - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By Joan Higginbotham - August 17 - 5:26 pm

  Weve only owned the vehicle for two months but weve already driven over 5500 miles in it! What a difference it has made on long hauls! Entertaining (DVD player, XM radio), comfortable, easy to get in and out of...we love it! Weve already been able to help with a family move with the major room it has to haul cargo.

• 

  unsatisfied - 2003 Honda CR-V
  By stymied - August 17 - 10:00 am

  front seat not made for anyone over 510. back seat for kids only very disappointing. will try to sell and recover losses for the price I expected heated front seats with more adjustments.

• 

  great car - 2003 Honda Civic
  By friend - August 17 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It is fun to drive. This is my third Honda and by far the best. I would recommend this car to anyone.

• 

  Very Good On Balance - 2003 Honda Civic
  By HondaMe - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Overall value for $15K. Honda image and Honda actual is not exactly the same. The trunk was poorly alligned to the frame... clearly visable. Not subtle. The driver seat wobbles and/or does not feel rock solid. Gas milage should be better. Its good. Not excellent. City/Highway avg is closer to 31 for mine. Car is solid, reliable and refined. Driven 6000 miles in 2 months and no big problems. Overall pleased.

• 

  AWESOME CAR - 2003 Honda Accord
  By LORRLA3 - August 17 - 10:00 am

  WHAT A FANTASTIC AUTOMOBILE THIS IS!!! I COULD HAVE SPENT 10-20 THOUSAND MORE AND WOULD NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH ENJOYMENT/FUFILLMENT THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME. MY WIFE AND I FIGHT OVER WHO WILL DRIVE IT IN THE MORNING! IT LOOKS AWESOME, TURNS HEADS EVERYWHERE I GO AND IS BUILT EXTREMELY WELL. IT HAS THE SPORTY FEEL WHICH I LIKE AND IS ECONOMICAL. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR IN A CAR? TREAT YOURSELF AND BUY ONE. YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.

• 

  Honda or Kia? - 2003 Honda Accord
  By DJS2003 - August 17 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd honda vehicle- honda civic ex, 2002 honda accord, 2003 honda accord. The build quality of my 2003 Honda Accord EX V-6 is very poor. The trim around the side windows wrinkles up no permanent fix yet. I had a leak on the passenger side i was told was a bad weld? my honda accord was in the shop for a week. I have had my disc brake rotors turned twice from warping, I had rattles and squeaks wich thay also fixed. I cant beleive no one else has had any of these annoying problems. I am totally dissapointed in Honda. I think they are getting lazy. Is this a Honda or a Kia?

• 

  Downgrade from 2014 Honda Civic - 2017 Honda Accord
  By Patricia C - August 17 - 7:16 am

  Now that Ive had a couple of months to experience the 2017 Honda Accord, i truly regret not buying my old 2014 Honda Civic instead of leasing this car. I had assumed future versions of a vehicle would be an upgrade, not downgrade. In terms of voice recognition, the 2014 was superior in every way. The Accord has very limited cellphone compatibility. My OnePlus phone was compatible with the 2014 Civic, but not the 2017 Accord. In fact, the 2017 Accord supports very few manufacturers (Alcatel, Apple, Blackberry, Coolpad, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung, ZTE), and among the manufacturers, very few models, except for Samsung and LG. I dont know why theyre favoring Korean manufacturers, but there it is. Even Google is not on the list. Unless your phone is on the list, you cant use the voice dialing feature at all. The calling process is now much more cumbersome. With the 2014 Civic, all you had to do was press the talk button and say the name of the person you are calling, then the phone would dial. With the Accord, you have to go through a ridiculous menu system, and thats if your phone is compatible. I find it easier to just connect to bluetooth and dial from the phone, making the process rather unsafe as compared with the 2014 Civic. The mileage is horrible on this car. i drive about 75% city, 25% highway, and the mpg averages 19.5. The Civic was smaller, but the mpg averaged 28, with 80% city and 20% highway. Being a larger vehicle, the Accord has a larger engine, and that shows in the added power. It is less responsive and less maneuverable than the Civic. The Civic would respond as soon as either the gas or brake pedals were engaged. it also had a fairly tight turning radius. The Accord, well... The best features of this car are the automatic headlights and heated leather seating. Automatic headlights are great for those who forget to turn on the headlights at night. While the interior is roomier than the 2014 Civic (the 2017 Civic is larger), the one item I wish they would change is enlarge the center storage console, which has been reduced in size. I use that storage area more often than I would the glove compartment due to proximity to the drivers seat. If the cellphone issue isnt restored to something similar to the 2014 Civic (all new Hondas have the same cellphone system) in the next 3 years, this will likely be the last Honda Ill ever lease.

• 

  The Most Solid 25K Sedan on the Road! - 2005 Honda Accord
  By Brad - August 16 - 8:40 pm

  This is my third Accord in 7 years and they still surprise me with innovation and design. Exterior design lacks somewhat, but there are more important things like safety, ride, features for the money and reliability. XM radio is great and all the controls are easy to use and reach. Honda is bar none the best engine builder in the world. This engine is a 3 liter engine and so powerful yet good on gas unless you punch it.

• 

  2015 Honda Odyssey Touring - 2015 Honda Odyssey
  By David Faulk - August 16 - 1:53 pm

  The car is very functunal. The only wish is that Honda would make a 4 wheel drive Odyssey like the Toyota Sieanna. My 2005 Odyssey had 228,600 miles with no major problems. It was the best car I ever owned.

• 

  CRAPPY TRANSMISSION!! - 2001 Honda Accord
  By mike - August 16 - 10:27 am

  I am on my 4th. Transmission with 186,000 miles its an ok car except the transmissions suck I have invested $8,500 in 15 years just on rebuilt transmissions 4 of them I will not buy another Honda!! Do your resarch on these cars if your planning on buying one