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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  After 7,000 miles - 2006 Honda Civic
  By Glen - May 12 - 5:53 pm

  I would recommend reviewing the Civic Hybrid after 6 months or so. I reviewed shortly after purchase and have a few additional comments now that I have had some time with the car. Still a great car and glad I made the purchase. Fairly comfortable on long trips but as in any car, the sitting gets a little rough. Cruise is fairly steady but deviates about one mile/hr over/under the set speed as the engine has to catch up and back off. The audio w/ navi is not really XM ready. It still needs a tuner and a couple other parts. With installation, the dealer wanted $700. Otherwise, this car is one of the best buys. Get the Navi for sure. It is excellent, especially with voice recognition.

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  Excellent Choice - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By G-Man - May 12 - 4:06 pm

  I strongly considered buying a GM product. Test drove the Pilot & I was sold. The deals Honda was offering were much better than GM. I have owned Hondas in the past and have been extremely satisfied with the reliability. The ride & acceleration are smooth. The seats are comfortable- front is roomy. Plenty of features- Honda put a lot of thought in this vehicle-mirror for viewing the backseats, MP3 jack, console with lots of room. Plenty of storage in the doors. Gas mileage is acceptable-could be better. I have zero complaints. One small drawback is the small cargo space if you are with more than 6 people in the car. However, we were able to take 7 people to the beach with room for our beach gear.

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  EX SE 4D Automatic - 2005 Honda Civic
  By katie - May 12 - 12:26 pm

  My last car was a 99 Honda Civic EX. There have been a lot of very nice changes since that model. I love the spacious feel. I also love that I have a roomy car with great gas mileage. The seat belts are comfortable. Since I am a plus sized woman, that was very important to me. The interior is a little plainer than I would have expected, but the stereo system and the moon roof easily take your attention.

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  "LUVMYFIT" - 2008 Honda Fit
  By supercore - May 12 - 12:16 pm

  After looking at everything, I decided on my fit, and I am "fit" to be tied with happiness. Mileage is excellent, in fact I just filled it up, and it took 8 gal of gas for 324 miles. Being retired, and almost 70 years of age, I can stay with almost anything on the road. It is comfortable in town and on the road. No wind noise, Cruise control works great, and since I have the "sport" model, I get compliments every day. I almost bought a Mazda 3, but then when you consider the resale value, the "fit" is the only choice. They now have some great "trick stuff" to customize your fit, and I look for excuses to drive it. Oh, I used to drive an avalanche, and loved it. Its an outstanding car, go buy one!

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  35K and still Great - 2007 Honda Ridgeline
  By Spylake - May 12 - 11:35 am

  Not a reel truck? So what. It does what most owners need with more comfort, safety and refinement than any pick-up Ive ever driven. 30 sheets of plywood laid flat? No problem. Bales of hay? NP. 1,500 lbs of concrete? NP. 40 sacks of fertilizer or horse feed? NP. Towing a 26 foot Catalina 250 (sailboat). NP. Commuting 3 kids to school, rowing etc. NP. Taking a family of five on vacation with all the toys they need. NP. REAL truck owners are just jealous of our trunk, independent suspension, squeak and rattle free interior and reliability.

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  Great overall truck! - 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  By Soua - May 12 - 8:52 am

  After doing a lot of research for the last 6 months all avenues lead me back to the Honda Ridgeline. To me, the Black Edition looks the best of all the available models. I did add the hard tonneau cover, black rugged side steps, and CD player. The cover and the side steps really completes the look of the Black Edition. It looks very sporty. I have only had the truck for about a three weeks but so far I have been really happy with the purchase. Compare to my company Tacoma and S-10, the Ridgeline is a dream in difference. The Ridgeline rides very nice without jarring around over bumps like a typical truck. It rides about as smooth and almost as quiet as my Mercedes GLC. The truck has great pick up when you step on it and the 6 speed transmission does not feel like its hunting for the correct gear. I cannot say how it performs in the snow as this has been a very mild winter. The Black Edition and the RTL-E both comes with more bells and whistles than I know how to use and I am a very techie guy. It has tons of safety features such as lane departure, blind spot monitoring, back-up camera with cross traffic sensors, and adaptive cruise control. For what I use the truck for the Ridgeline fills all my needs. I do not haul or tow for a living and I am not a mudder/off-roader. My main needs are driving to visit family, weekend household hauling, and towing my fishing boat.

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  I LIKE IT! - 2005 Honda Accord
  By IndyDriver - May 12 - 3:23 am

  This car replaces a Saturn SL1 with 146K miles, so any new car would be a major improvement. What particularly impresses me about the Honda Accord is the excellent build quality. Fit and finish are superb. I mostly drive it around town. It handles securely in ice and snow and gives an excellent feel for clean roads without imparting fatigue. Power on local roads is excellent and it has maneuvers with ease on the highway. The automatic transmission almost never "hunts." for the right gear. Other cars (the Volvo S40, Acura TSX, VW Passat). . This car handes more serenely, but is still fun to drive. I think it represents a better value than the aforementioned vehicles

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  Love our newly bought Odyssey - 2009 Honda Odyssey
  By Shania - May 11 - 4:06 pm

  We got our first minivan a few days ago after doing research between Odyssey and Sienna for several months. We finally decided to go with Odyssey because of the safety rating, the roomy third row seats and better value for the price. It is really fun driving this car. Though we never drove a big car before, we find it extremely easy and pleasant to drive this car. The whole family loves this car.

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  First MiniVan....Love It - 2009 Honda Odyssey
  By chris - May 11 - 1:30 pm

  I originally did not consider a Honda thinking it was going to be too expensive. But after comparing costs with other "less" expensive options the Honda stood out. Exterior has great stylings for a minivan and the interior is roomy and luxurious. Drives like a car. I can hardly wait for my first trip. Auto doors are a feature I never really thought about, but I love them. Whats more the wife and kids love it.

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  Smooth Operator - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By arthor - May 11 - 3:39 am

  Some people complain about the steering feel. True; there is slight vibration felt in the steering wheel at times during low CVT ratios, such as idling and slow acceleration. If Honda engineers isolated the driver from the steering feel, some people would complain about the lack of feedback. As the automobile evolves, and safety, reliability, economy and performance (CVT) are improved, the experience of driving necessarily changes. Until I have a self-driving car, I expect some steering feel and other feedback that engages me in the driving experience. The 2015 Honda CR-V hits the sweet spot of the current generation of the CR-V.