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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  DONE BUY THIS CAR YET! - 2016 Honda Civic
  By steve russo - March 1 - 8:48 am

  I purchased this car three weeks ago and was initially very impressed , you get a lot of car for the money. Day one the blue tooth kicks me out after 54 seconds. So the next day back to dealer who sets up phone again, and 54 seconds later the phone is dropped. I have an older phone not a smart phone but it works great in our 2016 BMW and 2011 lexus. Third trip to dealer told my phone was old, but my wife i phone 6 only lasts 2 minutes. This a known problem with the civics, finally the tech guy looked at the car and said there are problems. Three weeks and under 300 miles and the radio system needs to be replaced. Skip this car for now , no loner no free oil changes just a headache.

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  Interior comfort questionable - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By John - March 1 - 7:13 am

  As a tall male, the driver seat has a # of problems. The power seat will not go low enough for good site,if seat set back to provide leg room, cant reach the steering wheel unless you lower the steering wheel and then you cant see the speedometer. The side lumbar seat cushion is so narrow that you must be extremely small of hips or you are sitting in the seat well and on the sides of the seat. Very uncomfortable for trips of more than 3 hours. Outside temperature gauge is toggled with the odometer so you can either see your total mileage or outside temperature, but not both. For some strange reason you have two( 2) trip odometers in case you cant figure out how far it is on the return trip

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  fun honda - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By kitana - February 29 - 11:30 pm

  Being the first truck from Honda, they went all out on this very user friendly, fun to drive sports truck, with its VTEC V6 engine, theres no problem getting up to the desired speed!

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  This is a awesome commuting car!!! - 2005 Honda Accord
  By Point A to B, Great! - February 29 - 5:43 pm

  This is a awesome commute car, The gas mileage is really good even though its a mid-size sedan. I was torn between the civic and the accord, but the miles per gallon isnt that much different. For few bucks more you can get a bigger, more powerful and just as economical car, the accord. I would recommend %100!!!

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  Honda Civic Problems - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Mo - February 29 - 4:53 pm

  I downsized from a 06 Audi A4 to a Civic. This car has been nothing but problems. When I bought the car, part of the bumper was scratched and the dealer fixed it. Then my struts were making a creaking noises within weeks of buying the car, the dealer replaced the struts. I complained a couple of times about the air smelling horrible when the A/C was on and they couldnt fix it (they couldnt smell it). The car started to make a ticking noise within the past week and took it into a dealer close to my work. With 31k on the car, the dealer is telling me that I have burned out the clutch and I have to pay $500 for a new clutch! This is a junk car and would not recommend this car.

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  Great truck - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By great truck - February 29 - 12:10 am

  Great truck, fuel economy is great for a truck 23-24 mpg on the hwy and 19-20 around town, better than every truck in its class in fuel economy. Rides like a car, handles like a car, has a lot of power for a 6 cylinder. The power rear sliding window is a great. Truck has a lot of storage - the trunk is bigger than most car trunks, can fit 3 golf bags in it and still have some room. Its the perfect truck for a family, can take the family along and still have room for stuff from home depot. The composite bed is nice - dont have to worry about dents or scratches.

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  I love this vehicle!!! - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Jodie Crump - February 28 - 4:53 pm

  I just picked up my Pilot on 8/3/06. I was driving a Chevy Tracker 01 before this and WOW what a change. It is so nice to drive a car that does not feel like it is going to fall apart when using the air conditioning and keeping with traffic on the highways. While driving the Pilot, I feel very safe as well as comfortable. I love it!!

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  My 0.02 cents - 2017 Honda CR V
  By Vitaliy - February 28 - 1:09 pm

  Owned it for about a month so far and Im both disappointed and impressed about different features/quirks of this car. On the positive side quality of materials and technology is very impressive for a Honda giving this thing good value. But on the driving dynamics front its a complete garbage. Acceleration is very lethargic, cvt is trash because it doesnt know what to do most of the time and theres a jerk around 25mph when you step on the gas pedal lightly. Fuel economy is around 23mpg in NYC mixed driving. Breaks are terrible and steering leaves a lot to be desired due to vagueness and sloppy response. Looking on rear exhaust it already looks like it will rust away in a season or two because welds already turning orange. My local chop shop does same quality exhausts as Honda did here. My advice if you are coming from any kind of decent driving car to this you will be terribly disappointed. It does many things well but none great. As point A to B appliance itll do and nothing more.

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  Loving our 2016 Pilot Touring AWD! - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By JAG305 - February 28 - 11:53 am

  My wife and I read a lot of reviews prior to purchasing our 2016 Honda Pilot at the end of December, 2016. There were so many reviews/complaints about the 9-speed transmission that comes standard in the Touring and Elite models, that we were completely scared off of those trim levels, at least initially. We test drove a Pilot EX model, which has the old 6-speed transmission that wed had in our older Pilot. We didnt even want to test drive the Touring model because of the 9-speed transmission. But then we did. And we loved it. And after three months and trips through the mountains, on flat terrain, in city traffic, sitting on highways in traffic, and etc... there is absolutely not a single complaint that we have about the 9-speed transmission. In fact, i can say with all honesty that it is the smoothest transmission Ive ever experienced. Up-shifting and downshifting is smooth and nearly imperceptible, no matter what the terrain. The tranny is very smooth and responsive as well. My brother in law, who knows cars well, drove our car (and knew nothing about the transmission complaints in the reviews), and the first comment he made was that the transmission was incredibly smooth and quiet. That was totally unprompted (I didnt ask him, "so what did you think of the transmission" or anything to that effect). The Pilot has loads of room for our family of five and the dog, on long trips, and has plenty of power for the mountains. The Touring model has a number of bells & whistles that we like that just dont come on the EX (including that very quiet, smooth transmission). One thing that we appreciate the most is the extra sound proofing material in the Touring that doesnt come on the EX model. Its makes our Pilot noticeable quieter than the cheaper model. Test drive both in succession and Im sure youll agree. The Honda Sensing takes some getting used to, but its really handy, especially on long trips. The braking on the adaptive cruise control can jolt if a car cuts in front of you, but i dont understand why people would complain about that. Of course the brakes will apply if someone cuts in front of you! In any event, three months and counting and we love our pilot and havent had a single issue with it, except for some Bluetooth connectivity weirdness. When my wifes and my phones are in the car at the same time, we sometimes having trouble connecting to the phone of our choice. Who knows whether thats more user error than technical glitch. As for the absence of a radio volume knob - that s no big deal. We love having what is ineffect an iPod in the dash rather than some old analog knobs. Great SUV. We highly recommend.

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  awesome - 2003 Honda S2000
  By johnw - February 28 - 10:00 am

  most fun driving a car i have ever had and that includes driving RX7s, MGB, Spitifires and Corvettes