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:
Showing 3141 through 3150 of 31,869.00-
Zebe Review - 2005 Honda CR-V
By zebe56 - March 30 - 1:43 pmMore room inside than I thought it would have. Solid ride. Handles the road nice although pick up could be better - sometimes feels a bit sluggish. Mileage on sticker isnt true. Wish they had a hybrid model available.
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My Upgrade - 2008 Honda S2000
By blafusel - March 29 - 12:48 pmWorth every penny! Its probably not for everyone as the ride is a bit on the harsh side. Actually harsher than my Miata (but thats probably due to the Honda feeling stiffer overall). However, the payoff comes in the first corner you take! The engine is amazing. The sound is unbelievable. The best gearbox Ive ever driven. All in all Im very happy with it, but mightve liked a variable suspension setup to soften the ride a bit in town. (Im getting old 8)
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Not quite as good as Id expected - 1998 Honda Accord
By Milford Bob - March 29 - 10:00 amBought it new and now have 94K on it. I figured it would be trouble free for at least 100K miles. Had to replace both rear wheel bearings. Check engine soon light has been going off and on for the last 40K miles (after having been fixed by dealer at 35K. Wind noise is more than it should be, but overall has been a good car. Too bad I see dozens just like it every day!
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Solid Car - 2001 Honda Accord
By kroy - March 29 - 10:00 amThis car has been good to me, not a single problem since I purchased it. It is not the fastest car on the market, but it is far from the slowest. The quality is superior, and it gets great gas milage. The car is a testiment to to Honda and their engineering driven design.
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Not as good as they say!!! - 2004 Honda Civic
By bliv - March 29 - 10:00 amCar has nice behaviour in hard breaking but i find it noisy at Hway speeds. I felt confortable but did not felt much feedback from road when cornering.
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SUV Replacement - 2002 Honda Odyssey
By John K - March 29 - 8:49 amI bought our Odyssey to replace a Nissan Pathfinder after my second son was born & we realized that the SUV was not going to cut it space-wise. We needed something that could pull our pop-up and lug all the things that a typical family hauls around for traveling together. So far the van has been excellent with no major problems and returns excellent gas mileage in comparison to our old vehicle. On one extended trip we averaged between 26 & 28 mpg. Short trips return around 18.5, which is about what our SUV got on the highway. The van drives well and at 240 hp, it has plenty of guts for merging, passing, and towing. Not as cool as my previous sports cars, but not bad and really handy.
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Not Bad But Awful Shift Points - 2008 Honda Element
By Peter - March 28 - 9:32 pmBought it for work use. Love the rubber interior features and space. Unfortunately was delivered with defective right rear hub, but was replaced quickly. More horsepower needed. Extremely disappointed with shift points of auto trans.. Cant seem to get 4th and 5th gear to shift in order to lower RPMs and maybe improve mediocre gas mileage - currently have 5300 miles on it and cant get better than 20 highway. Windshield size and angle makes it very difficult to see traffic lights. If I had realized transmission problem I might have considered the manual trans.
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Best All Around Car - 1995 Honda Accord
By Jeff Reidler - March 28 - 12:36 pmThis is the best car I have owned. It now has 100,000 miles with Honda service and it still runs and rides like new. Pretty fast with the 5-speed 150 HP 4-cylinder, and it averages 30 MPG around town and 35 MPG on the road.
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Not what it should be - 2003 Honda Element
By Ken - March 27 - 2:08 pmI got the car and thought it was the best for about a year, but since then i have had 3 windshields replaced, and 2 more chipped, because the windshield is to stright. My drives seat has had to be replaced, Honda said I wore it out, not so it is made out of bad material and they wont fess up to that. Now I have had to tune up the computer so the engine light would go out. The millage lights in the dash had to be replaced. Bottom line to many things are going wrong to give this car a good review, i wish i had some of the cars these other people are talking about.
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Three months so far - 2008 Honda Element
By TheGreatOneFan - March 27 - 2:03 pmHave my Element for three months. If you are looking for luxury, dont buy this car. Very functional. MPG as advertised. If I were to purchase again, I would.
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