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:

• 

  Transmission Woes!! - 1998 Honda Civic
  By StaceyKnight - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car because of its reliability record (after owning a very troublesome and expensive VW VR6). It only has 28,000 miles on it and the automatic transmission needs to be replaced because of a design defect which causes it to shift brutally hard. Unfortunately, its out of warranty and its a $4000 problem for me. Ive discussed this with more than one Honda dealer and its not an uncommon problem, so watch out!!

• 

  Nice ride! - 2002 Honda CR-V
  By VA - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Very responsive steering. Eases in and out of corners. The passengers cabin is *very* quiet. Ride is very smooth. The car just feels well built. For a so called "mini SUV" this thing has nearly as much interior leg room than the mid-size Toyota Highlander. For the money I dont think you can buy a better mini SUV. Some new CR-Vs are being delivered with a slight steering problem. Like mine, they pull to the right about 5- 10 degrees. To make a long story short, after showing the dealer some complaints from others on the net who have experienced the same problem he agreed to do a 4-wheel alignment which fixed the problem. Speakers are weak with mid-range frequencies.

• 

  12 months - 2004 Honda Civic
  By kawboy68 - April 23 - 2:06 am

  in high altitude fuel milage averages 38 for the 24k miles. poor in snow great car to own as better than previous autos and clean running

• 

  Great Car!!! Wont let you down - 1999 Honda Civic
  By Nixxer - April 22 - 1:23 pm

  I bought my car with 60XXX mi on her and in 2 1/2yrs Ive put on 110,000mi and have not had a single problem with her. great milage and I added a K&N which seemed to make her a little more perky....great car!!

• 

  Touring adds up to fun--with one minus - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By Matt - April 22 - 10:30 am

  The Touring has all the bells and whistles. I do not look forward to replacing the PAX tires in the future. Car is quiet and solid. Major gripe: hatch does not seal out water at bottom and leaves a horrid rust streak where bumper and hatch meet. This is pathetic!

• 

  Odyssey Has "Irreparable Noise"! - 2006 Honda Odyssey
  By themerc - April 21 - 10:56 pm

  I have owned an Odyssey for 6 weeks. I own or have owned two other Hondas with zero problems. After two weeks, this Honda began making funny under-hood noises. I have returned the vehicle to Honda three times in six weeks - I have been told three different stories: there is no problem, there is a "normal" non-repairable noise in the anti-lock brake system, and there is a "normal" noise in the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system. Dont worry - your brakes are fine! I have never owned a vehicle with such a problem - including two other Hondas. I believe Honda has a problem and does not yet have a fix. The noise has gone from nil, to intermittent, to every time you start and drive it.

• 

  Tows well; why passenger tires? - 2006 Honda Ridgeline
  By meanders - April 21 - 10:50 am

  We use ours for towing a lightweight Casita travel trailer. It drives like a charm with the trailer. While it is not luxurious, the interior is spacious and roomy with lots of thoughtful amenities. The negatives are that is full time 4 wheel drive which gives lower fuel economy; stiff ride; and cheap passenger tires! That is right they put passenger tires on a TRUCK!

• 

  Read This Please..... - 2004 Honda Element
  By ggelement - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I love my ELEMENT but.. BEWARE...2 ISSUES. 1. I drive on a busy interstate everyday and my windshield looks sandblasted. Other vehicles I have driven on the same highway never pitted so easily. There are also 2 cracks in each of the lower corners of the windshield that are apparently a defect in the mounting surface that HONDA published a TSB for the problem. 2. COMPOSITE PANELS WILL START TO PIT AND DETERIORATE IF YOU DRIVE IN SNOWY AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS COMMON! I washed my ELEMENT all the time during this past winter and the bottoms of the composite panels around the wheels still started to pit very badly from the corrosive rock salt!

• 

  Some Problems with Honda Accord 2004 - 2004 Honda Accord
  By jnk - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car (2004 Accord EX with manual transmission) because of its outstanding safety features. But it has been unreliable. It had two electrical failures under 1000 miles and had to be towed twice. But this problem was finally corrected by the service dept. What is much more troubling is that both the front and back bumper covers were damaged by regular winter conditions. Ive been driving in, over, and through snow/ice for 30 years in Toyota cars, and never had any front or rear end damage. The bill for the repair is over $1300. Even though I enjoy driving the car, Ill probably trade it in as soon as I can afford to.

• 

  Great....but the Buzzing will kill me! - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Justin - April 18 - 9:54 pm

  My wife and I are fairly happy with our Pilot. We have 25k miles on it now and still doing well. Great get up and go and good simple luxury items. My only problem is the buzzing that seems to come from the entire dash no matter which road Im on. I am going to have a 2nd dealer look at it, but no improvement so far. I push on the plastic dash in many different areas and it stops for 30 seconds or so... then it starts right back up. Only option is to open the windows or turn up the stereo! I have a 1996 Corolla with 206k miles on it and still no buzzing!