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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  noisy, uncomfortable overpriced ride - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Bill I. - December 20 - 7:46 pm

  Had the car 8 months. The title tells most of it. The car rides like an empty 2 ton truck with similar comfort. It is so noisy at cruising speed the xm music largely worthless & not worth the money. For $30,000. I feel Ive be had. The gas mileage far below ad claims. Its being replaced ASAP

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  Faultless - 2009 Honda CR-V
  By kimberkook - December 20 - 5:37 pm

  The CR-V is my first new vehicle in eleven years and I selected carefully. No disappointments. It is comfort, utility, style and dependability rolled into a nice neat package. Shortly after taking delivery we drove "the Beaver" trans continent for a total of 11K miles and it never skipped a beat. Mileage was spot on the ratings, but the power was peppier than I expected. Finally, I delayed writing this review because I wanted to wait for a couple of "snow trials" before commenting here. The original Conti tires came off and Blizzaks went on... nothing stops the Beaver now!

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  Honda - 2000 Honda Accord
  By D Mott - December 20 - 4:43 pm

  I bought this car new and have been driving it ever since. When I had 250,000 KM on it I was told I needed a new transmission because it shifted hard and I mean hard it jolted the car and everything in it. I did some research and found that a solenoid on the transmission was to blame so I took it off and cleaned it and it fixed the problem. I havent really done anything to this car but maintenance. I now have 570,000 KM (354,200 miles). Im looking to replace it. This is my 3rd Honda and I have had great success with them and would recommend them to anyone. The car hasnt even started to rust in these cold snowy Canadian winter - thats something to say.

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  Great car - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Civic Si - December 20 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car a few months ago and love it. Sporty,looks good, comfortable,solid,and performs well for this class. Not the fastest per se, but balanced in all areas. Opted out of the summer tires because of snow, and it still handles great. Have owned Hondas for 21 years now and I dont regret this purchase at all. 2 tier dash works really well,stereo is decent and USB system rocks. Combination of size, handling, efficiency. The ride is firm, but not harsh, I dont understand all of the complaints about road noise. It is competitive with others in the class. I still love the high revving nature of Hondas,over brute power.

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  This van rocks - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By little Deb - December 20 - 9:13 am

  Had a chrysler town and country 2005 had less than 6000 miles on it when traded it in. that van had a ton of problems with it, at about 1500 miles on it the battery leaked had a maintance free battery and those cheap idiots replaced it with a very cheap battery I had to maintain? At 2500 miles had to have the fuel pump and bcm chip replaced, after being stranded twice! I HATED THAT VAN we also named it the puttermobile. Checked out the toyota and Honda and when we compared the two, Well it didnt take us to long to figure out the best deal, Quality and price hands down it was the HONDA. paid $28800 for it got EX with leather it came standard with heated seats and 6 disc player and on and on

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  Great roadster, minimal frills - 2007 Honda S2000
  By Laker - December 19 - 10:21 pm

  This is a summer use car for us (we live high in the Colorado snow country and prefer to garage the S2K in bad weather). Weve had lots of great sports cars and sports sedans, but this little Honda is really a gem. Not too expensive, highly reliable, and fast. Most of our driving is on open mountain roads, hardly any stop & go in-town sort of driving. After three summers of use, we have never gotten less than 30 miles per gallon with this car, totally unlike the experience that some others have reported. And no we dont baby it...love that VTEC zone! The trunk is big enough for two carry-on bags, a small cooler and a couple of parkas. Longest trip was 10 days, to Banff/Lake Louise.

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  Buy a different car ! - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By glow - December 19 - 7:01 pm

  Our top of the line Touring CR-V 2WD has only one power seat , only one side camera when right blinker is on .When you engage the cruise control the Collision Mitigation Braking System or the Forward Collision Warning will slow you when it senses a car in front of you and when that car drives away the car will down shift to catch up so hold on . Now remember this car has a Eco button that softens the gas pedal rate which will save gas but does not inter function with the cruse engaged. The car has electric controlled mirrors but the car wont remember your settings but has a 2 person seat memory . When in reverse the camera works but will NOT warn you if there is an obstruction in the warning area and the camera is poor visual quality . The screen and its electronics are not user friendly , When entering the car and starting the radio will come on but you have to use the steering wheel controls to lower the audio sound. Looking for fuel rangeor instant gas mileage, it wont be on the fuel screen in the center of the dash you have to select it in the center cluster . I dont even think the mirrors will fold in with a push of a button. The main screen , I have been trying to get the clock to default to if your done with say audio or your done with the navigation . The lane Departure Warning seems the best part of the car it will correct the steering to maintain its position in the lane and warn you if your getting close or it cant sense the lanes position , This is great as an autonomous feature , I just wish I could adjust the warning signal to integrate into the audio and in a louder tone . All of this in just 680 miles . I would seriously consider another car ....................BMW X1

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  Wow - 2007 Honda Fit
  By Scott - December 19 - 5:03 pm

  I used to own a 1989 Honda CRX - This thing is IDENTICAL to the 88 - 91 Civic Sis spec-wise (even down to the 109hp engine.) I knew it was gonna be great even before I test drove it. The handling is great for such a seemingly tall car. I traded in a mazda protege5 for this one and I gotta say, you wouldnt be able to tell that the mazda cost over $7000 more retail than the Honda. It is impossible to keep it slow and steady in this car, all you want to do is just red-line every gear from stoplight to stoplight - yes, its THAT fun. I look forward to the next 150000 or so miles I plan on putting into it.

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  Just Out Gas In It!!! - 1998 Honda Accord
  By Leo papagni - December 18 - 9:46 pm

  Drove this car out of the show room in 1998. Besides for regular maintenance, I have only replaced the struts and catalytic converter. It still has original parts on the rest of the car. By far the most dependable car I have ever owned. It just went over 200,000. I am going to drive it until the wheels come off.

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  Really disappointed - 2007 Honda Odyssey
  By jim - December 18 - 4:45 pm

  I purchased 2007 Honda odyssey EX-L two years ago and I got bad experience for this minivan. First it has big wind noise at highway and it shakes at 65-70 MPH. Odyssey EX-L built-in one function call VCM (it shuttle off 3 cylinders when the vehicle does not need power), this function makes vehicle drive not smooth because it often works at 3 cylinder status. Another issue is transmission - hard to shift when the vehicle at VCM status. I think all of the problems caused by VCM function. I really don’t like it finally last week I trade it to Toyota sienna minivan.