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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  Good car, some maint after 150k. - 1992 Honda Accord
  By chekster - April 12 - 10:35 pm

  Orig owner. 200k+. Adequate power but wont win Indy (later V6 address this). Mileage 22-25 city, 28-30 hwy. Ride is comfy, 4+ hr trips-no aches. Good handling in summer, only okay in snow. Typical rust in rear wheel area. Kept up with routine maint. Reliable, BUT some addl maint required likely due to age. <100k: ICU (window/elec ctrls), fan temp cable, muffler, drv door handle. >150k: right cv jnt, A/T shift cable, radiator, ac condenser, frt rotors & Ball jnts, muffler, resonator and front pipe, drvs pwr window mtr Main relay went, only time car has broken down). Hood latch sticks. Still, despite the recent bills, I trust it more then other cars @ 200k still a daily driver.

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  Not bad, very good for now. - 2002 Honda CR-V
  By franco - April 12 - 6:59 am

  Well I got this vehicle because it was the first car. My dad liked it when we visited Saturn of national city, I was trying to get the 04 trailblazer because it was more roomer but thank goodness I got the CR-V with gas price is increasing, I love the CR-V and made a lot of modification to it but, I dont like the road noises, wind noises and the bumping sound every time you hit the bumps. I hate that. I do also love the CR-V because I have it for three year now and so far no problem with it yet and I only got 60,000 mile on it and its still drive like new because I do every 5000 mile maintenance. So overall. This Honda crv is a good car for its price.

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  Good drivers car... showing its age - 2005 Honda S2000
  By cosworth - April 11 - 5:33 pm

  Great car for the money. Its design is starting to age among all the other great sporty coupes/sedans/convts out now. And, whats with the 2nd/3rd gear crunch all the time? Hope they can fix that for their next F/R setup cars.

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  Heaven to drive; hell to park! - 2007 Honda Civic
  By William Ream - April 9 - 11:53 pm

  Ive had "Spunky" for less than a year now. Blessings and curses with this metallic blue 2007 Civic sedan are the topic. Inside & outside, this car looks and feels sweet. Sporty yet business worthy, family functional yet mid-life crisis soothing, fuel efficient yet spunky -- I thought this car had it all! The blessings are exactly what Honda would have you to realize...save a buck and fly like a buck through the woods! The curses? Wheel seals to rims: constantly failing while parked on slight lateral inclines. Major cost issue (not under warranty!): the under-carriage shield/bumper assembly fails to clear wheel stops in parking lots causing it to gradually break joints and disengage. Bad!!

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  Less than 500 miles and a serious prblm - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By huntersdl - April 9 - 11:00 pm

  I love Hondas ... dont get me wrong... but I now believe the street rumors that they arent as reliable as they used to be.... My story.. on the second day of ownership... less than 100 miles I start to brake but it is doing nothing... I press harder and the pedal goes down to the max and its just barely stopping... luckily no one was in front of me... finally stopped and tested it at the next light and it worked fine... 3 weeks later it happened to my wife and again lucky no one was in front... Called honda and they agreed with me in that they think it is the master Cylinder.... We will see if it fixes it but less than 500 miles and it does this? Im optimistic it will be ok!

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  Foreign car Kool Aid drinkers - 2008 Honda Pilot
  By Carnut - April 9 - 3:27 pm

  I recently leased a 08 Pilot for my wife after seeing a great lease price. Our 06 Chevy trailblazer was coming off lease and although the Chevy was excellent, we opted for Honda due to the deal. The gas mileage claims are true. A 4,500lb., 4 wheel drive Chevy with 291 HP!, gets better mileage! The Honda will be in the shop 4 times due to the drive Line vibe issue someone else wrote about. Keep in mind I have been driving GMS mostly, and they are much smoother, a lot quieter and have knocked Honda and other foreign cars off the initial and long term quality charts recently. This certainly is not like my 1998 Accord EX coupe. I miss my Chevy. Honda does have better interior

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  DX Hatchback - 1998 Honda Civic
  By keotypes - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I purchase this car as a daily driver. It drives great and for such a small car, the ride is pretty good. I like to drive pretty hard and so far the car has taken everything Ive thrown at it with aplomb. It also gets great gas mileage, though at the expense of some performance. Acceleration is only average (especially on hills) and I find myself having to hold onto a gear during acceleration because the gears are so widely spaced, when I shift the rpms drop way out of the powerband. Overall the car drives great, and if Hondas reputation serves me right, it should for quite some time.

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  Bad gas mileage - 2008 Honda Pilot
  By Bad gas mileage - April 8 - 2:10 pm

  Been driving the 08 Pilot AWD for almost 3 months and City driving averages 13.2 mpg. Very disappointed.

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  North American 2002 Civic Si Disappoints - 2003 Honda Civic
  By RMC - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned six Honda Civic hatchbacks including this one. This one pleases me because of its design, build quality and presumed reliability, but disappoints greatly in straight-line acceleration. Honda has no right calling this a performance car when it weighs 2750 lbs, has only 160 hp, and has such anemic 0-60 and 1/4 mile times! I finally broke down and bought it as a new one-year-old car because the dealer discounted it so heavily (sales must have been poor). I do not recommend this car to anyone who is looking for lively acceleration! I will have to add my own hp improvements.

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  Good all around vehicle - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By RJS - April 7 - 9:08 pm

  Acceptable ride and comfort that is not compromised by its midsized chasis. Unfortunately, the GY Integrity tires are more design for summer driving than all season. The car deserves either a higher performance tire or a more suitable all season. Could use a bit more low rpm torque. No competition in the segment offers better interior space utilization. Now if this car could be available in a diesel or hybrid version!