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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  Great Car - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Ed Wise - May 26 - 8:33 pm

  I am very pleased with my Honda Civic Hybrid it is better than I had hoped for. I purchased this vehicle to commute in Los Angeles traffic and it performs great - the comfort level is very good. I have been driving about 43 years and would recommend this vehicle to everyone who needs a great car at a very good price. I am considering purchasing a second one for my daughter.

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  Good family car - 2015 Honda Accord
  By B.A. - May 26 - 6:06 pm

  Overall I like the car. The inside is roomy and comfortable, I have plenty of leg room and even with a car seat placed in the middle back seat, we can still seat 2 adults behind. The ride is smooth but you can definitely hear the road on the highway. What I would say is that I am not impressed by the acceleration. That is something I will definitely consider next time I shop for a car.

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  Surprisingly great car! - 2008 Honda Fit
  By CaptainZeep - May 24 - 9:00 pm

  A job with a 30 mile commute, A big dog and and a baby on the way all conspired against my Acura RSX. My wife and I looked at a Subaru wagon but were not impressed with the fuel economy. The Fit caught our eye so we took a look. It had all the room and features we needed. After a quick test drive, we were sold. It is very fun to drive and overall very appealing. The space and flexibility of the interior is truly amazing. After waxing the Fit this weekend, my opinion continues to improve. The blackberry pearl paint is flawless. The materials quality, and finish is impressive, regardless of price.

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  Some disappointment - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By Verla - May 24 - 2:48 pm

  I was disappointed to find out Honda took away the rear quarter vent windows, are now stationary. Also, the floor is not level, theres a good 3-5" slope from the tailgate down toward the front of the vehicle, making use for camping and dog shows very difficult. Im VERY disappointed in the mpg. I typically get better mpg than the window sticker but get way below the mpg of my friends Toyota Siennas.

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  Go Green With Confidence In A Hybrid! - 2008 Honda Civic
  By SuzieQNC - May 24 - 8:23 am

  I love my 2008 Civic Hybrid! Great gas mileage 46 with combo hwy and city driving! Great handling! Good pickup - way better than the 2007 Camry I owned/endured for 6 months before getting rid of it and buying the Hybrid! The Civic Hybrid is quiet and well built. The gas engine shuts down when stopped to save gas! A major plus for traffic jams or a slow crawl in to work! Interior is spacious - only a few inches smaller than the 2007 Camry! Backseat is fairly roomy - not huge, but certainly adequate. Interior styling is nice - two tiered dash with digital mph readout, mpg calculator, outside temp, etc.

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  Good at being adequate - 2016 Honda HR-V
  By Patrick - May 23 - 5:12 pm

  I purchased a 2016 Honda HR-V LX AWD as my familys secondary vehicle which I occasionally use for work. I had previously owned a Jeep Renegade that I absolutely loved and my wife had a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek. (we traded in both our Renegade and a Subaru Crosstrek for a Jeep Grand Cherokee as we wanted something bigger and I had a company car at the time - then I switched jobs and lost the company car, so we needed something ASAP). My primary reason for getting the HR-V vs. the Renegade or Crosstrek was that for an equally equipped Crosstrek, I was looking at about $25,000, and for an equally equipped Renegade about $27,000. The HR-V came in at $22,500 sticker price. I liked the styling of the HR-Vs I had seen on the road, went by the Honda Dealership and got a great deal on a left-over 2016. I am now about 3,000 miles into owning the vehicle and my experience has been ... adequate. There is nothing overly exciting about the HR-V. It isnt a bad looking vehicle, but it isnt an eye catcher. It just kind of is what it is. I enjoy the handling of the HR-V, it is great for tight parking lots, around town and city traffic driving. There is a zippy, go-cart feel to the HR-V, reminiscent of driving around my old 1987 Honda Prelude I had in college. It is also surprisingly solid on the highway and has a solid, upright seating position that feels surprisingly like a real SUV (vs. complaints I always had with my wifes Crosstrek which felt unsecure on the highway and I felt like I was sitting on the floor). I have never had an issue with acceleration. I constantly see complaints about acceleration in other peoples reviews. Ok, if youre looking for a sports car, this isnt it. But one thing I feel everyone overlooks is that if you want better acceleration, there is a "sport mode" you can put the HR-V in which gives you just that at the expense of some MPG. The cargo / storage versatility of the vehicle is its high point as there is a lot of cargo space when the seats are down. The "Magic Seats" are a cool car showroom gimmick but I honestly have never used them nor do I see a need to. I have not yet had the opportunity to drive in bad winter conditions. Ok, now to the negatives: The MPG is not at all what I had hoped for. The Renegade I had averaged about 26 MPG mixed use, and my wifes Crosstrek averaged about 31. I am in 3000 miles right around 26 with 90% highway driving, sport mode off and eco mode on. I will get 30-31 on a straight highway trip, but I am not impressed considering the Renegade got that, and in the Crosstrek we would be at 40+ mpg with straight highway driving. I did not have either of those vehicles long enough to "break them in" either (both had around 10,000 miles when we traded them in, and I was getting that kind of gas mileage from the start). So I would say the HR-V falls short in terms of MPG. Also, the back seat is just plain awful. Yes, there is good leg room and head room (awesome actually), but the seat design is uncomfortable. The head reads fold down into the seat to provide the driver with better rear views. If you have someone sit in the back seat, you have to pull the head rests up. The seat back is still very low with the head rest providing most of your upper back support. It has a jump seat feel to it .. it might work for kids, but as a 510, 200 lb. adult, I found it to be very uncomfortable. Another complaint is that there are cheap materials throughout the vehicle. The deck of the cargo area is practically felted cardboard. I purchased the OEM cargo trey/liner which was not any better. The carpeted floor mats the vehicle came with are cheap so I purchased weather tech mats. My number 1 complaint is that with the LX non-leather version I have, the door sills are upholstered with fabric instead of a wipe able surface. This means that if it is raining and you open the door, it gets soaked. Since its fabric, it holds the moisture. I had to exit my vehicle in a parking lot downpour and the door became completely soaked. I am concerned how this will hold up over time. I also feel that Honda could have done better with the ground clearance. I bought a crossover AWD vehicle to handle NE Ohio snowstorms, beach driving, and the occasional camp road or muddy event parking field. With 6.7" ground clearance there is no chance for beach driving. Yes, I knew this going into buying the vehicle ... but considering the HR-Vs competitors all have 8+" of ground clearance, I feel like they missed the mark. I have scraped the underside of the nose on some parking space curbs - in my opinion that shouldnt happen with a crossover. Hopefully with the next generation HR-V, Honda will have made these small little tweaks which would turn an adequate crossover into a great one. By then, Ill probably have traded it in for a Renegade or Crosstrek.

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  Holy Grail for 2007 Buying advice - 2007 Honda Odyssey
  By Rajan - May 22 - 8:20 pm

  Be sure you need a van, the bulk gets to you after a while. On HWY and/or snow, its unbeatable.On hills & low speed it is not great. If you do town driving and like good MPG then buy something else. MPG will get better after 15000. Transmission droning sound especially at 1500 RPM which is where it likes to stay is true, > or <1500 RPM gets rid of the drone. Pay extra for rear parking assist. VCM works well but the 08 model had 3,4 or 6 cyl operation.

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  Happy Honda Owner - 1999 Honda Civic
  By Love my honda - May 22 - 1:26 pm

  This is our 4th Civic and has been a low cost car to operate with a reliable engine and transmission. We bought this one new and replaced brakes, tires exhaust and alternator by 150K. Repaired electric locks but drivers door is manual since repair is too expensive. With an A/T hill climbing is tough with the A/C on or with a full load of people or luggage. A/C is weak. It has more rattles and noise than our other cars developed and dings easily. There is no trunk light. The trunk opening is poorly designed and tends to channel rain into the tail lights and into the trunk. Cup holder design and location is poor as is charger location. Small items that irritate after 9 years.

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  I like it a lot. - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By SandraP - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned it since January 2003. I purchased it when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. It is very comfortable in traveling with people and children. I test drove every SUV in its class and this one was the roomiest. I recommend it.

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  White Pilot - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By Dadbo - May 21 - 5:09 pm

  We are Honda family and the Pilot is my 4th. I purchased it for towing my 3500 lbs boat and it does a great job. The height and width of the vehicle is great larger than I expected. If I can keep it on "ECO" it will do fine.