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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  Best Kept Secret Gone From Auto Availablility - 2015 Honda Crosstour
  By Gary Jones - August 27 - 7:55 pm

  Read several reviews on auto before purchase and was aware they were not going to be sold anymore. Found my golf clubs were easy to get in and out as well as my dogs. Though wheel wells do cut down on some wide items like a 4x8 sheet of plywood, the amount of stuff one can get in is better than the Ford Escape I traded in on the Crosstour. With V-6 the around town gas mileage is better by a couple mph than my Escape Turbo and the Road mileage was 5-6 mpg better 25 vs 30). Love the car. Only con is rear visibility and seats on a little tiring on a 1,000 mile trip. Shame the car is no longer. Will be keeping mine until the wheels fall off.

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  Vibrations in a new 2015 CRV - Really!!! - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Dan Steimle - August 27 - 4:42 pm

  I Purchased a new 2015 Honda CRV about 3 weeks ago. It had only 4 miles on it. When I started driving it I noticed a vibration at stop lights. I thought maybe it was a beak in issue or maybe something was wrong with the gas in the vehicle. Well now I have around 1,500 miles on the car and the problem only seems to be getting worse. Whenever the vehicle is at a stop and idling in drive the car has an excessive amount of vibration. At times it seems as if it is going to stall out. I have a scheduled appointment with the dealership. Disappointed to see others are having the same issue with no real solution from Honda.

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  Disappointed :-( - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Veronica - August 26 - 11:50 am

  Vibrations worsening. Purchased my cr-v 2015 at the end of May this year. I started noticing Vibrations not long after purchase. I purchased this vehicle because I had been in a car accident and my 2006 Toyota RAV4 V6 unlimited (which I Miss) was totaled. I owned a Honda Prelude as a kid in The 80s (LOVED that car) and I thought Id give Honda another look expecting the quality I was familiar with. I cant begin to describe my disappointment. Every thing else in the Crv 2015 is up to par, but lets face it, the most important is how it DRIVES. I wanted to ignore the initial vibrations. After all the crap I went to due to the accident, I stuck my head in the sand. I thought perhaps it was because of the cvt transmission which is something Ive never driven before. Now I know this is NOT NORMAL. The vibrations have worsened. I sometime feel like the car is going to cut out on me and now Im feeling vibrations in the steering wheel. I noticed that there was a recall back in March of this year after I did some digging. I called my dealership and according to my PIN number, my vehicle is not part of that recall. [non-permissible content removed]. Bringing it in this Saturday to be analyzed. Lets see what happens. Car has about 3700 miles on it. Im pretty sure the dealership was aware of this problem BEFORE I purchased it. I am PISSED!

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  No problems in five years - 2010 Honda Accord
  By Mike in Boston - August 26 - 12:06 am

  Bought the car new five years (41,000 miles) ago. It has not needed a single trip to the shop except for oil changes and tire rotation/alignments. Acceleration is sufficient to merge and pass on the highway. Wont win any drag races, but at this stage of life I am more concerned with fitting three baby seats across the back seat, which is no problem with this car. I am completely satisfied. What Im dissatisfied with is this stupid edmunds.com Web site, which refuses to allow me to enter a New England ZIP code starting with 0. It highlights it in red every single time, even if I delete the leading zero.

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  Worst riding new car we have ever bought!!!!!!!!!! - 2014 Honda CR-V
  By Ronald Lee - August 25 - 9:56 pm

  We bought this 2014 Honda CR-V ELX new from Howdy Honda and have had problems since we purchased it. The radio is useless because you cannot hear it for the road noise. Brakes are bumpy when applied with an uneven brake, release, brake motion. There is a noise that increases and decreases with speed (sounds almost like a belt in one of the tires has shifted or a bad wheel bearing). The actuators on the back hatch door are bad and will be replaced. The pneumatic tire pressure indicator is always coming on. Steering is too quick ( There is no comparison between a CR-V and an Accord with the Accord being far superior. There are other makes that offer more options for around the same cost. Rough riding vehicle. We tried to tell Howdy Honda we were having problems with this car and they would drive it and say there is nothing wrong with it. Finally at my request a service manager (AND MYSELF) took the car for a test drive (he drove it) and he admitted it had problems. Bear in mind your complaints are (concerns at Howdy Honda). I also asked him how about driving a new CR-V to compare rides (mine has had these problems since the first time I took the car in for an oil change) and the service manager quickly stated it wouldnt be a good idea as the technology has changed from 2014 to 2015 (can you believe that). Honda has become a company that makes excuses for its flaws instead of standing behind them and doing what is right. On the defective hatch actuators (support arms) a service person tried to tell me I would have to duplicate the problem (the hatch has become locked in the open position twice and I thought I was going to break it if I applied more force in trying to close it). I felt like telling this individual he was an idiot and he really made me angry at doubting my integrity. I told him what was I or my wife supposed to do----drive the fifty miles to the dealership with the hatch stuck up in the air!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This CR-V ELX may have 26,000 miles on it but the problems listed have existed since we purchased it and complained during the time of the first oil change. Ronald Lee

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  Please read this review before you buy this car. - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Heather - August 25 - 8:59 pm

  I bought my CRV in May after doing a lot of research. Unfortunately, I did not come across the information regarding the CRV vibrating when the car is idle. Not only do I experience this issue with my car, but the vibration is actually getting worse, and it is very uncomfortable. Additionally, my brand new car also has a very loud rattle in the dashboard area. I will be bringing my car into the local Honda dealership to see how these problems can be resolved. Even if these issues are resolved, I predict that I will never buy another Honda vehicle. In summary, dont let the attractive aspects of this car (safety features, overall design) fool you, because the problems that go along with this car are not worth the price.

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  Nothing like it! - 1990 Honda Accord
  By Tina Yake - August 24 - 9:16 am

  I have owned this car since 1990. You got it, it was brand spanking new. After 8 years, I gave it to my mom to use. I have since gotten it back, 24 yrs later. I had a mechanic look it over before driving it from California to Kansas. The only thing it needed was a new main relay, an ac charge and 4 new tires. For insurance sake, I had him replace the timing belt and water pump. The acceleration is just like when I first bought it. Handling is still smooth. All our mechanics told us that if there was a Honda model to own, it was that. I own a 1996 Accord and a 2006 Odyssey and both vehicles, cosmetically suck. We have had more issues with the newer models than my 1990 Accord.

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  My Dream Luxury SUV!!! - 2012 Honda Pilot
  By R.W. Bey - August 23 - 6:12 pm

  Since I have purchased and driven my "luxury SUV" , I have enjoyed every moment behind the wheel. Thank you Honda!!!!

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  Honest review - 2012 Honda Civic
  By Bugs - August 23 - 6:01 am

  This is my first Hybrid car, first cvt transmission also. Bought this car for gas mpg and it has really impressed me on the mpgs. We just got back from a long vacation, 2565 miles with varies roads from Hilly, interstate, and city driving, it average 45.8.

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  My Awesome Experience!!! :) - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Lani Trinidad - August 22 - 7:44 pm

  Exceptional Reliability, Durability, and Cost.