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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  Love it! - 2015 Honda Accord
  By Andy - August 19 - 9:18 pm

  I love honda. the only downside of the coupe is the cheesy material of the seats if you dont get leather. Also the handling is not great like an audi but that is 18 grand more so. I love this car just make sure you get the leather.

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  Strong Vibrations in Car - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Girish - August 19 - 5:30 pm

  My car is 1.5 months old, bought new from dealer. I noticed this vibration problem 3 days after I bought the car. I bought it back to dealer one time with no fix. I just dont know why some cars have no vibration issue or maybe they can live with this issue. But I cant.I thought Honda should not be selling this kind of car if they know there is problem. Also I have one more Problem in car when I start car from stop I feel vibration in car for few seconds, I showed to dealer. He told me that Honda knows about that they are working right now on that issue. I spent $30,000 for a brand new car that has problem in a month. If I know this kind of issue I never never bought Honda.

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  GeeGee - 2015 Honda Accord
  By George Guarini - August 19 - 7:08 am

  Check driver and passenger seats for comfort,t hard on your back. Ride choppy on city streets and a little Jittery

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  not fit for you! - 2015 Honda Fit
  By brian - August 18 - 4:26 pm

  this is a great car if youre a young teenager and this is your first car. however - cons: 1. slow engine, loud engine really sounds like its trying to hard at higher speeds (60+) 2. front seat REALLY is uncomfortable for an hour drive 3. the side view camera is not needed in a small car and the video quality for the side view is blurry and not a clear picture. 4. the push start is not needed (for a manual) as you have to press the clutch at the same time 5. the volume control for the touchscreen is not efficient nor is there a mute button 6. resale value IS NOT good. i tried to get a comparable trade one week after i bought this car and was offered $5K LESS! 7. the fuel tank is small and i have to refill twice in a week for going over 315 miles 8. the wipers only have hi, lo, and one setting for intermittent wiping?! pros: 1. best looking wedge shaped car in the industry 2. its a honda (but really shouldnt be carrying the honda name) well see how long this lasts 3. i like the tire rims and that the rear seats fold up creating a unique way to store things

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  An Utterly Depressing Car - 2012 Honda Accord
  By E_W - August 18 - 2:39 pm

  Powertrain: Slow slow slow acceleration. No torque, with flat spots and hesitation everywhere. 5-speed manual has had a crunchy 1-2 shift since new - Im not a rookie driver. Geared for fuel economy with long jumps between 1-2 and 4-5. Falls on its face when you shift unless youre perfect. E-Throttle is absolutely atrocious and unpredictable. Once I turn the A/C on in the late spring, it stays on until October, because it takes two days to re-learn how to drive the terrible E-throttle and jumpy engine when you toggle between A/C on and off - the engine response is different to the point of multiple personalities. Engine is quiet at speed but thrashy if (when) you have to rev over 3500 RPM in search of some power for everyday acceleration needs. Be prepared for tailgaters unless youre comfortable shifting at Nascar RPM levels. Highway driving is better - 5th is just right for economy vs. not having to downshift much. Interior: Cheap materials. Ok layout and good space. I dont share the complaint about the seats, I can drive this car for 10 hours without back issues. Im 240 lbs, maybe I have a different spine than most. Road noise is insane, louder than commercial trucks Ive driven. Ive never owned a louder vehicle in my life. Honda doesnt even pretend to make an effort to quiet these cars down. The stitching on the most frequently used seats hasnt separated yet, but its looking pretty sorry. Economy: Until about 60k miles I averaged right around 30 MPG in highway-biased mixed driving with A/C on. Good real world mileage for a bigger car. 33-34 MPG fully loaded on family roadtrips with A/C on. MPG has dropped to about 26 in similar driving, but Im on factory spark plugs at almost 90k so its probably time for a tune-up. Reliability: No check engine light for 90k miles. 3rd set of rear brakes, but factory fronts - common complaint in these cars but abnormal for a passenger car. Weird popping sound when I first pull out of a parking spot after sitting - happened since day 1 and I dont hear it anymore. Uneven tire wear despite alignments and rotation. Terribly, horribly loud tires as a result of cupping and no sound insulation. Second set of tires, different brand, same result. Had to replace two lower motor mounts at 85k due to clunking, and the car still isnt right. Im afraid it needs axles although I dont know why it would after 90k of mostly highway. The boots are fine. Overall Driving Experience: MISERABLE Slow, hesitate-y, boring, loud, depressing. What seems like a smart buying decision on paper leads to disappointment. Value: I got what I considered a screamin deal on a no-option stick base model. The car feels every bit an economy car although it is economical.

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  The best car ... in the world! - 2000 Honda CR-V
  By dasagfx@gmail.com - August 17 - 8:08 pm

  Bought a 2000 CRV in 2011 with 198,000 miles on it. It was a good decision we have already put 60,000 miles on it with hardly any issues. Tire changes and oil changes. Biggest repair bill was a starter coil issue, cant remember how much it cost but it wasnt any financial difficulty and I replaced it myself. While they were figuring out what was wrong with my starter coil (this was at 227,000 miles) they discovered that one of the 4 cylinders was at 1/2 compression. Uh oh, time to get a new car? They said it would start overheating, I would get low gas mileage, etc. That was a year and 30,000 miles ago, it still gets 30 MPG in the summer (we trip-meter every gas tank, its pretty consistent). Never overheated, even going 80 MPG on the Montana highways, up mountains, etc. We drove to Missouri and back since hearing the bad news. A/C and heater still work, power windows, lights, everything. Only annoyances are the seatbelts not retracting after turning off (every vehicle Ive owned had this issue), road noise (spraying silicon lubricant on the old rubber weather seals around doors fixes it), and noise when making sharp left turns. Also, spare tire may explode if left in sun, best to make sure to keep a tire cover or park in garage. So heres whats up, get one of these. $4500 including repairs we paid for 60,000 miles of good gas mileage = 13 miles per $. Thats better than $16,000 for a small SUV that you put 200,000 miles on, and were still counting. Good in the snow, good in town, good in the highway. Small and easy to park anywhere, but seats 5 and storage.

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  Honda EX Rocks - 2015 Honda Accord
  By Kristin D - August 17 - 4:30 pm

  I guess your previous vehicle affects your view of this one. To me, the Accord EX rides like a dream and is incredibly quiet. My previous car? A 2006 Subaru Outback wagon that, quite literally, found every bump a true joy and whose road noise was so loud I strained to hear my passengers during normal conversation. This car? Quiet. It steers with ease, accelerates quickly, and is fun to drive. The main reason we purchased it, however, was the sudden growth of our 2 kids and the need for more interior space. If youre looking for that, the Accord excels. There is plenty of legroom for both front and rear passengers (we are all tall folk). The buttons and menus are easy to use and, mostly, intuitive. The rear A/C vents help to more efficiently cool the back seat passengers. And, the fuel economy, in mixed driving, has been a great 32 mpg. Our last extended trip (5 hours total) netted 38mpg overall...we had a fierce headwind going home. So far, Im loving this car. We tinted the windows, added all-weather floor mats, and will, hopefully drive it until it dies. Lets hope thats later rather than sooner.

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  ol betsy will get you there - 1996 Honda Accord
  By aaevans - August 17 - 11:28 am

  door bolts not real sturdy

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  buy this car - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Brian - August 16 - 6:29 pm

  I have a 2009 civic sedan lx 5spd manual I purchased new ...336,005 miles later it has never had a single thing break (minus the a.c. somewhat recently). Mileage was always a calculated 40mpg up until it for real old and now I get 36mpg. I just had all major suspension components replaced because I hadnt ever replaced a single thing. Didnt need to...mechanic said all were in acceptable condition. I dont know what would possess ANYBODY to buy a GM, Chrysler or Ford when you can have Honda and Toyota quality. I will buy this exact same car again. Detroit cars are fine as long as you unload them before 80k and 4 years. Absolute junk beyond that. Honda is the way to go. Period.

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  Very Nice Practical Sedan - 2015 Honda Accord
  By JerryW - August 16 - 9:53 am

  Havent had this car long enough to talk about reliability but after being a Ford lifer and having one not so good Ford experience I opened up to all non-luxury makes. I took a few months to drive and research everything before purchasing this Honda. It came down to comfort and reputation. I felt the overall comfort in this car at this price point is top notch, youll have to spend well over 30K to truly beat it. Interior space/comfort, road noise, ride, handling and sight lines are great! Styling, electronics, performance are all good and on par with other cars in this class. Pricing was fantastic, purchased during the Honda summer event, clearing out the 15s and were able to negotiate a deal for thousands less than MSRP (and nearly $2000 less than TruCars target price) and get slightly over KBB excellent condition trade-in value on our trade. So far I love the car but if I had to pick it apart the trunk is where Id start. They need to have a split back seat available for those times you need the extra cargo space plus a 3rd passenger, the trunk support arms encroach into the trunk space like a cheap compact and Honda doesnt have an automatically opening trunk were it fully opens at the push of a button on your key fob. In my opinion the closest competition you should compare if youre considering the Honda in order is the Mazda 6, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat. I wouldnt waste my time with the Chrysler 200, Nissan Altima, or Chevrolet Malibu. I almost bought the Mazda but its more of a sports car type feel instead of a well refined sedan so its all in what youre looking for, the Mazda is a very fun car to drive.