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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  Problem with Brakes - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By John Flynn - January 24 - 9:21 pm

  Brakes pulsate when they are applied on an incline

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  Great Car - 1998 Honda Civic
  By Kris - January 23 - 8:32 pm

  My family has had this car for a while. My older brother bought it, he was the 2nd owner. Then my father bought it. After 3 or 4 years, of driving it, it now has just rolled past 173,000 miles. This is my first car. The only problems we have had with it is the AC stopped before we even got it. It still runs like new.

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  overall safety - 2004 Honda CR-V
  By bobby baisden - January 23 - 10:00 am

  great driving, good price, bad gas mileage,need over all safety rating.

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  Just Got It... - 2004 Honda Civic
  By ImNtoxicated - January 23 - 10:00 am

  All in all, its a car. Nothing more and nothin less. I had a Monte Carlo SS and totalled it. So a Civic was kind of spare of the moment. It really wasnt what I wanted. No one can complain on the gas milage of the car (BTW I just picked it up this morning). I did notice that once I break it in, I will be able to haul butt in this car, it sits at 3,000 RPM and its doing 75 MPH! Redlines about 6600 RPM. On the plus side you can drive a Honda in the ground for years and it will still run great. Two people I know own Hondas with over 300,000 miles and they still run great.

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  Great SUV for under $30,000 - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By Musky - January 22 - 8:11 pm

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife who stays home with our 1 year old son at the time. So I wanted safety number one and the ability to haul everything you must take when traveling with a toddler. The Pilot does a great job in all respects. It made the 8 hour drive to North Dakota much tolerable with its large cabin space and also large cargo area with the 3rd row seat folder down. It rides high so you would not want to make any sudden moves on the highway as it does seem a bit tippy, but on the other hand you need the clearance in Wisconsin if you are ever to make it up north. I give the Pilot props for comfort and cargo room and negative for fuel economy tippy feeling.

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  1994 Honda Civic 2 Dr EX Coupe - 1994 Honda Civic
  By Another reviewer - January 22 - 12:54 pm

  Bought used and its been reliable except just found out the quarterpanels rust out, will need to POR-15 them come summer. Other than that nothing has failed, just standard maintenance for a car with 112k miles on it.

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  Seat Belts and Honda Saved My Family - 2005 Honda CR-V
  By helspers - January 20 - 3:29 pm

  My wife and kids got into an accident where my CR-V was declared "totaled." A 2003 MDX swerved in front my CR-V and was T-boned. My family walked away with some bruised shoulders and hips, but nothing more. The safety personnel at the crash site repeatedly stated that the Honda did was it was built to do (e.g., crumple zone, and the engine dropped). Thank you Honda for a superbly built automobile.

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  Nice car; with some problems, though. - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By ECM - January 19 - 9:22 pm

  Bought 9 months ago; its been a good car so far. Theres some niggles, though; I wont sell it any time soon but I likely wont get another, either. Pros: 1. Well made, with thoughtful comfort features (other than the info/entertainment system). 2. Can be zippy off the line with enough gas pedal, not really a sporty vehicle though. I like the CVT. 3. Great gas mileage on secondary highways - I commute 70 miles on 35-55 mph roads every day, I get a consistent 36-37 MPG. *BUT* see cons below.... 4. Nice to drive. Hard to quantify, but its become the favorite car for everyone in the household, beating out the previous number one, a turbo Jetta. 5. The right lane camera is nice, now that Ive had it I want it on my other cars. 6. With real snow tires mounted, it could go ANYWHERE in the winter - here in NH, thats saying something. Cons: 1. Info/Entertainment/Bluetooth system. Good sound, but otherwise poorly thought out; have to pay too much attention to it while trying to drive to get it to work at all. Voice recognition works about as well as it does in my 2011 Odyssey - ie, not at all. Ive given up on the phone menus; I dial from my phone, its easier and less distracting - Google Voice actually works. 2. Honda iLink is only useful for iPhone, not Android; I realize iPhone has 60% of the North American market, but what about the other 40%? 3. You CAN attach an iPhone to the screen, but only if you buy a $150 cord. 4. Poor shoulder-check visibility. Good thing theres a right lane camera, but needs one on the left, too. 5. And the biggest problem, IMO: Freeway mileage sucks - I get 27 MPG on 75 MPH freeways (compared to 37 mpg on 50 MPH roads). My Odyssey, a vehicle twice as big, gets exactly the same. The engine may not be quite big enough for the vehicle at these speeds, the aerodynamics may be optimized for city driving, the AWD may introduce too much drag at freeway speeds - just guesses, though. Conclusion: - Good grocery-getter vehicle, especially if you are and AM radio type; you dont cotton to that consarned "technology" stuff, and "Blue Tooth" is something that happens after you get into a fist fight. - Not a long-distance highway cruiser; look elsewhere. The poor mileage suggests the car is working too hard at normal interstate speeds. - Honda needs to hire some human interface engineers and completely re-vamp the entertainment system interface.

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  2001 Honda Odyssey - still going strong - 2001 Honda Odyssey
  By ResIspaLoq - January 19 - 1:43 pm

  This minivan has always been fun to drive. The way this car was designed, with its tight wheelbase and good road feel made me think that Honda wanted to capture the Accord drivers and had to offer a performance car with the highest safety ratings. It was relatively expensive at the time, but if Im going to drive my kids and other peoples kids everywhere, I wanted to the safest car. At the time, we spent a lot of time driving to activities and vacations. Honda did have a transmission recall, and did the whole replacement for free. We also liked the fact that you could convert the rear seat, which is not something other vans were capable of doing at the time.

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  In the ELEMENTs - 2005 Honda Element
  By c_go_oldland - January 18 - 11:52 am

  I hated this car at first. I opted for the manual tranny. After about 6 months behind the wheel, I fell in love and have intention of letting "scarlet" go!