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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  glad to own one - 2013 Honda Fit
  By derek c - February 13 - 11:13 am

  bought this car earlier this month. finding city mileage to less than listed, surprised that road noise is louder than expected (though I knew it wouldnt be stellar). on the other hand, i like the storage space, front seats are comfortable, it handled the surprise snow we had in town like a champ (where other folks were failing, we stayed on the road). the visibility is good and it is a fun car to drive.

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  Best Honda Ive ever owned - 2013 Honda Accord
  By nchondaguy - February 13 - 6:27 am

  What a great car. Traded my 09 Accord Coupe EX-L V6 for this car. Opted for the 4 cylinder CVT, and Im not missing any power. Its super quiet and comfortable. Feels like Im driving a much higher-end car. Didnt get the NAV, 2k more for it and salesperson advised because she said eventually AHA is going to offer it. And I have an iphone so whats the point. Gave me a $3500 off bc I traded in a honda for a honda, same dealership too. Didnt like the previous sedan model appearance at all, so I thought I would have to get the coupe, but I love the sportiness of the sedan. Great product and great company

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  Im loving it! - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Phyllis Sather - February 13 - 1:49 am

  This is the first time in 27 years that Im driving anything but a van. My son picked this out for me and he made a great choice.

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  My Coupe - 2017 Honda Accord
  By Bugs - February 12 - 1:13 am

  Own the V6 Coupe Auto for 6 months now. Only 4k miles so far and no problems or compliants and gas mpg and power is awesome. Safety technology on this car is great.

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  Drove Them All.. Bought An Odyssey - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By dc_driver - February 11 - 10:53 pm

  When me and my wife decided to buy a minivan (let me state that I was pretty opposed to the thought in the beginning), we drove them all. Our main concerns were safety, performance/handling, reliability, resale, and features/functionality. After doing the research, I thought we would get either a Sienna or Odyssey, and the Odyssey ended up being a clear winner over the other three vans we compared (Toyota, Kia, Chrysler). The Odyssey is the most fun to drive and the EX-L had all the features we were looking for. The verdict is still out on gas mileage (our van has the VCM feature), but even on the first tank it gets better gas mileage than the car we traded in for it (Nissan Altima SE).

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  2014 Accord Hybrid Great Ride - 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By dave - February 11 - 8:58 pm

  I purchased when Accord Hybrids were new in fall of 2014, in Wisconsin. Sticker price 36k with navigation. Purchased for about 33k. Not a great discount but nobody had them in stock. Thats OK. First wave buyers accept that. Mileage is about 43-44 in nice-moderate weather. Drops to 38 in winter cold. Now that the car is over a year old, I thought Id share my impressions. Im glad I bought it! It drives better than I expected. It has excellent pick up, handling AND BRAKING! The trunk is medium sized due to hybrid- no problem, I could see that before I bought. Its fun to drive which is nice. The car is plenty big for four adults- which is why I wanted Accord vs Prius or Civic. Its a pleasure to go to the gas station half as much as I used to. I realize with the purchase price of the car vs gas price, you dont win financially necessarily. But you dont have to refill as often. Ive had absolutely no problems with it- just 2 oil changes. With elderly parents 100 miles away, on a moments notice we can get the 911 call. Its nice not to have to take the time and anguish to gas up when youre in a hurry to get there. We can do a round trip with 1/3 tank. Big surprise- my wife loves to drive it. She has never really "liked" a car before. Just transportation. But she enjoys driving this one. I highly recommend the Accord Hybrid.

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  Great Car - 2008 Honda CR-V
  By fun14 - February 10 - 6:06 am

  I chose this car after looking at many in the category over the past year. Specifically the Toyota Highlander and Acura RDX were the other contenders. This car has most features I was looking for at a better price and with better fuel economy. It looks nice and drives well.

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  Impressions after 2 weeks - 2005 Honda Accord
  By GeoP - February 10 - 4:56 am

  Ive had the car for only two weeks now, but have formed some initial impressions. Pros: Quiet engine and smooth ride, almost no wind noise at highway speeds; gorgeous interior styling and color coordination (in Ivory leather); tilt/telescope steering wheel; comfortable, highly adjustable, heated drivers seat; fantastic satellite radio with controls in steering wheel; plenty of power at higher RPMs. Cons: questionable sales tactics by Honda dealer; just adequate power at lower RPMs; nasty creak/squeek at base of windshield over sharp bumps; a couple misaligned plastic pieces in console; tinny sounding when little rocks thrown up by tires hit underbody; high-pitched sound when playing CDs

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  Feels Cheap - 2003 Honda Accord
  By Esmond Leblanc - February 10 - 4:10 am

  I bought the 2003 Accord LX with 27,000 miles on it. Now it has 30,000 miles on it, and I am regretting my decision. The car as a whole seems cheap. The dash has a loud rattle. The glass in front of the gauges is not glass but cheap plastic. The material used for the entire exterior of the car is very thin and goes in with even the slightest pressure.

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  Front Seats Make it Un-Buyable - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Case - February 9 - 8:23 pm

  Just came back from driving a 2016 Pilot and I feel completely dejected and defeated. After a ton of research and considerations regarding a new 3-row vehicle I put the 2016 Pilot at the top of the list but now have to settle for less [Santa Fe or Sorento] because of the Hondas front seats. And BTW, where the hell is Edmunds on this issue? No mention at all, truly no credibility for them at this point. The front seats of the pilot are quite literally like a childs car seat, yes even in the Elite level trim. If all you need the armrest for is resting the tip of your elbow to sip tea then you should be fine. If you expect to use it to shift your weight, alternate body positions, get comfortable for a long-haul, you know ANY of the things you do to find and maintain a comfortable position, then forget it. The armrest is a fold-down plank thats [again literally] closer in size to a ruler than to a center console armrest. And on top of that its flimsy and wobbly in exactly the same way that the fold-down armrests on our childrens car seats are. And yes, Im sorry to be so freaking dramatic but I do mean this literally - they are child sized and child grade weight/feel/strength. Its truly shocking that Hondas effort to "upgrade" the interior design and materials quality but make such an egregious catastrophic fail on the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT element of an interior - the front seats ability to keep the driver comfortable. Truly stunning. Unless and until this is resolved [aftermarket retrofit?] the new Honda Pilot is, wait for it, literally un-buyable. PS - Equally stunning is that the Edmunds review doesnt inform us about this. For something that Honda deserves to be completely eviscerated for, theres not even a mention of it. Considering how often minor issues are amplified into concerns/cons, Edmunds silence on the Pilots shameful and distressingly abominable front seats leaves no doubt that something shady is going on.