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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  Disappointed - 2007 Honda Civic
  By igord7 - January 14 - 6:23 pm

  I am very disappointed in this 07 civic lx sedan with automatic. It does not have enough power, and does not feel stable on the highway. I drove 94 and 97 civics in the past and I am disappointed in this one. The fuel economy is a LIE! This civic only gets about 29 mpg on the highway and 23 in the city.

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  Lemon i hope - 2000 Honda S2000
  By kvin111 - January 12 - 11:16 pm

  I think I bought a lemon. I have owned hondas in the past but this was a real disappointment. I know convertible tops dont last forever but this thing ripped and is so loud it gives me an ear ache on the freeway. Also when i bought this car not under warantt (ok yes i know my fault) one of the valves was broke. $2000.00 fix. My xenon bulb broke 3x i turned it on and the ride is more bumpy then my previous pick up. I love the looks and pep but reliability needs improvement.

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  CR-Vs Shortcomings and few advice - 2002 Honda CR-V
  By zrfy2003 - January 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought CRV 2002 2WD-Auto on Jan2002. It has noisy tires. Clicking noise when starting forward and reverse, and at the complete stop. Dirt makes permanent marks in interior. Seatbelt hits interior when release and makes permanent mark in material. Never pay MSRP,make your offer firmly and dealer is GOING to come to your price, DONT hasitate the walk out if they dont come to your price. KEEP in mind that there are dealers to give you good deal. Never buy in January and buy car at the end of year. 2002 is going to be cheaper when 2003 comes out in mid-summer. Sincerely,

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  Not as Good as you Think!!! - 2000 Honda Accord
  By J.C. - January 11 - 2:28 pm

  This car is appraised so much for its reliability...well its body hardware is horrible and there are better cars. There is 115k miles on mine, but still...theyre supposed to keep running...something electrical keeps going wrong...

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  After One Year - Cant Wait to Get Rid of This SUV - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By K. P. Smith - January 10 - 1:57 pm

  The Infotainment System is the most frustrating, poorly designed, inaccurate and user "unfriendly" system on the market!

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  This Honda "doesnt sell itself" - 2008 Honda Pilot
  By Chris - January 7 - 11:56 pm

  Granted we are on 9 nine years and 127k miles... however, its been one problem after another (especially with the electric/sensors). We have kept it as up-to-date maintenance-wise as recommended. The catalytic converter even went... the catalytic converter! I grew up with Hondas... this is the last one.

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  It will get you to A to B but with headaches - 2006 Honda CR-V
  By Shane B. - January 5 - 2:59 am

  I own a 2006 Honda CR-V with 180,000 miles on it. So far it has been a reliable car with a lot of headaches. First off my model had the faulty airbag that, if set off could send bits of shrapnel into your neck and face causing severe injury or death. Got the recall about a year ago in 2015 and I have been driving this car for almost 10 years. So right off the bat safety wise is a no go. Thank God I did not get into an accident that would have set the airbag off. If your interested in this car MAKE sure the one you are buying has had the airbag replaced at the dealership. I say reliable as in you can drive this car into the dirt and it will still keep on driving. Thats the only thing I like about this car after many years of driving it. Right from the start it had road noise, needed a new starter (still have starter issues), and after 15,000 miles I already had warped rotors. Now at 180,000 miles my rotors warped again and I have had wobbles and jitters throughout the coarse of owning this car. The fuel pump had to be replaced 3 times over the course of my ownership. I keep having to replace the headlights every 4 to 6 months as they burn out really fast. As an SUV type of car handling around corners isnt really great as you feel like you are going to tip over so you have to slow down. I dont drive recklessly; I drive carefully. Maybe I just got a lemon but if you dont want a car that will cause you headaches constantly dont get it. If you are willing to spend the money on replacing parts and having them go out 4 months later go ahead. Again the only thing I like about this car is that reliably; you can drive it in the dirt and keep on driving but in a car reliable to me is having a car that will drive and maintenance is a breeze. Overall its been a great car to have to run into the dirt (MPG not that great for a 4 cylinder) but Im tired of continuously spending money on problems that keep surfacing and I know the CR-V is tired as well. So Im finally selling it and getting another car. Brand new I should have bought another car, but I drove this CR-V with constant problems. Again maybe I got a lemon. The end? Im never buying another Honda; lesson learned. I mean my girlfriends dads 2005 Chevy 1,500 has not had as many problems as my car has and he has spent significantly less in repairs and maintenance over the years of owning that truck.

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  Honda Dropped the Ball - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By slaken - January 4 - 2:03 pm

  I want other owners to know that I bought a new 2016 Honda Pilot because I bought the first year 2009 Honda Pilot and drove it to 176k with no problems. I liked the old Honda and bought in to the new Honda because of the safety features and improved fuel economy. The bad I can safely say after driving the fist 2,500 miles with the new Honda Pilot, this car is garbage. The fit and finish is horrible (needed to have two of the plastic panels replaced because they warped), needed to have the entire head unit taken off of the car because of an annoying noise (first 100 miles and two days in the shop), now the navigation system doesnt recognize commands, the stereo is anemic and often crackles and hisses. The only way to stop this is to turn the car on an off. So in a total of one month the car has been in the shop for a total of four days. This in comparison to the 2010 that never had an issue. The good The safety features are great. The lane departure, lane assist, adaptive cruise and front end collision all work great. The econ also works great as I am consistently getting 30 mpg combined city and highway. That being said those are the pluses.

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  So much for Honda reliability - 2005 Honda Odyssey
  By M. Knott Happy - December 30 - 9:46 am

  Purchased 05 Odyssey in March. Drive it about 1 to 2 times/week, plus take on trips. Have had numerous problems for the less than 2500 miles. 1) Passenger door hard to close, 2) Power sliding door stopped working, 3) CD player sometimes silent on some tracks, but comes back when switch tracks, 4) engine noise/steering wheel vibration at 1500-1600rpm and 50mph, 5) battery has gone dead after sitting for 3days to a week 4 TIMES. So far they only fixed #2, said #1 was "normal" although many customers complain, and look at me like Im from another planet while they tell me "no problem found" on 3,4 & 5. Extremely dissatisfied with both vehicle, 2 dealers service areas, and Honda.

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  Very Disappointed - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By johndoe - December 29 - 3:00 am

  Well, my girlfriend and I were all excited to drive the new CRV. It looked so cool with the new design. Of course we expected the reliability and all the nice interior amenities. We were sadly disappointed and we did not let our original anticipation blind us, as some have. Cardboard thin and awkward "captains chairs" in the front. Skinny bench seats in the back. Hated the missing middle console, and combined with the "captains chairs" made us feel like we were floating around. No powerseat adjustments in any trim level. Really small gauges and a noisy and wimpy 4cyl. engine sealed its fate.