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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  "Nice" - 2004 Honda Accord
  By Jeff - October 31 - 9:03 pm

  It just does everything you would want from a commuter car very well. The sound system is an added plus.

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  First SUV/Honda - 2010 Honda CR-V
  By First SUV - October 31 - 4:10 pm

  My first car was a VW so I am use to the German car ride performance, but I do like my CR-V. The Navigation system is very fun to use and there is plenty of cargo space. I looked at the Tiguan and it was fun and spunky to drive, but the reliability of vw having own one myself, is terrible. So I got the CR-V and am happy thus far.

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  Excellent Value - 2004 Honda Odyssey
  By jkp521 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Only 2 weeks old, I never thought Id say this but.....I love this minivan. Yes, the gas mileage is worse than my old Camry, but the room and power (engine and sliding dual doors) are awesome. I do have one complaint so far, slight sqeak in my dash, I have to get that checked out. Other than that, it is a great vehicle for people with kids.

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  Dont Waste your $$ - 2001 Honda Accord
  By slnc2001 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  There are some good things and some bad things about this car. The first 5,000 miles were great, but after that it seemed that I had to have things fixed or replaced once a month. New speaker twice, new struts, etc... Would not recommend buying this car used...luckily most of the things that needed to be replaced were under warranty. This is my second Accord, and like the previous one, the factory tires suck...I needed new tires on my 01 at 20,000 miles...really needed them before that due to hydroplaning on very little water. If you purchase this accord, plan to spend a lot on maintenance and repairs.

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  GOOD VALUE - 2004 Honda CR-V
  By PDS - October 29 - 2:00 am

  The CRV is a good value and it does what is advertised. It is meant to be a practical vehicle and it is.

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  ok family car - 1998 Honda Accord
  By Owner - October 28 - 10:00 am

  If youre looking for a no frills, good family car, good mileage and reliability, then this is your car.

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  Fun to drive, but uncomfortable!!! - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Jesse - October 25 - 11:23 pm

  I like my Accord very much, but had I known the drivers seat was so uncomfortable I would have never bought it. Its really hard to tell when you take a car for a 10 minute test drive, but now that I own it, I cant drive for more than an hour without back pain (Im only 26!). And forget the so called "lumbar support". Youd be better off putting a brick behind your back (whats in that seat, iron?). Overall, I have no other complaints about the car. I did have one experience during a winter snowstorm when the check engine light came on. Took it to the shop and by that time, it was already off and they couldnt find anything wrong with it. Fun to drive, stylish, etc.

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  Jims review of Pre-owned 2014 Honda Accord Coupe - 2014 Honda Accord
  By Jim Esposito - October 25 - 1:15 pm

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  Really there are no night lights on heat and air? - 2004 Honda Accord
  By Fishin Rod - October 24 - 10:08 am

  This is an amazing car, but no one on these reviews mentions that there are no night lighting system for heat and air buttons? If there is ? HELP??????

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  Did Honda Get the New Civic Right? - 2016 Honda Civic
  By tholemu - October 23 - 1:28 pm

  The new Civic was entirely off my radar until a week or two ago, which is somewhat odd (or perhaps a testament to how bored Id become with them) considering Ive owned only Hondas since my first car in high school, a 1988 CRX DX. Following the CRX was a 1994 Civic DX coupe, then a 2012 Civic Si Sedan, and next a 2013 Fit Sport (automatic, ugh). Id always looked forward to owning an Si after driving and modding the CRX and Civic, but was somewhat disappointed when acquiring the 2012 Si. Its departure from the old school Civic was quite noticeable, and while performance wasnt terrible, it just didnt feel like a Civic should, in my opinion. I plan on making this a long-term review, updating once a week or so. [5/4/2016] Yesterday I drove home the 2016 Civic LX coupe equipped with the 6-speed gearbox, and after a few miles behind the wheel it seemed as though finally a new Civic had a bit of the grit of the previous generations coupled with the convenience and comfort I now appreciate more than I would have 15 years ago. The driving position feels natural, as does the operation of controls, pedals, the gear shift, etc. Im quite surprised by how lively the 2.0L (K20C2) engine is, especially in the low-mid RPM range. Its not a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but for getting around town and commuting to and from work while also getting good gas mileage, I dont see how this doesnt fit the bill. The gearbox seems pretty crisp, maybe better than the 2012 Si. Theres been some speculation about which engine will appear in the Si and Type R models for 2017, and I feel as though the K20 coupled with forced induction would make a solid power plant. Im a bit confused about the actual compression ratio of the K20C2, since Ive seen both 9.8:1 and 10.8:1 reported in different places. Regardless, I am pleased with the configuration. After comparing some of the numbers between a 2000 Civic Si coupe (curb weight: 2,612 lbs, 160hp/111ft-lbs torque, 22/29 city/highway MPG) and the 2016 Civic LX coupe (curb weight: 2,739 lbs, 158hp/138ft-lbs torque, 31/41 city/highway MPG), they are actually quite close in terms of power and weight on paper. Whats very noticeable is the dramatic increase in fuel economy with the new model. Im quite pleased with the vehicle after the first couple of days, but who knows what will happen down the line. Ill continue to post updates periodically as I get in more drive time. [5/10/2016] Its been one week to the day since taking possession of the Civic and I am struggling to find anything I dont like. The vehicle, plain and simple, feels solid. It should though, right? Ive logged just about 200 miles -- shes still a newborn. So in that respect, yeah, I would be seriously concerned if there were issues or things I noticed that didnt seem right. However, compared to the ride quality and cabin noise of my 2013 Fit, the Civic far exceeds it. This could be to the numerous changes to the suspension and chassis components (new rear suspension, bushings, stabilizer bars, rear damper brackets, etc.)*, and only time will tell if the durability holds up. Regarding fuel economy, I am averaging right around 31mpg. With that said, I can say with confidence that if I spend more time babying it and trying to get better mileage it will be quite easy to break into the mid and upper 30s. Even when accelerating mildly to keep pace at highway speeds the mpg gauge hangs around 40mpg. The Fit would average about 30mpg, which always disappointed me. The Civic is far more enjoyable to drive and will almost certainly achieve more greater efficiency around town and on the highway. Prior to my Fit I always owned vehicles manual transmissions. I really, really dislike automatic transmissions, so coming back to a manual has been quite refreshing. Whats more refreshing is the satisfying feel and sound (yes, there is some degree of a nice "click") of shifting gears with this particular gearbox. It may not be as crisp as what you would find from the factory in the S2000s, but for the base model Civic, literally the cheapest Civic the dealer had on the lot, I could not be more happy. Back when I had my 1988 CRX and 1994 Civic DX coupe, I longed for a close ratio 6-speed, and to see Honda mate this gearbox with the K20C2 is quite encouraging. It feels as though the engine is allowed to work as designed by not having it coupled with a longer geared 5-speed. If theres one thing that has baffled and frustrated me a bit it would be the Bluetooth system. It could be an issue with my phone (Galaxy S4), but I have encountered pairing issues a few times. Either the phone will fail to connect over and over when the Civic seemingly rapidly attempts to connect and send a verification code, or it will only connect to phone audio and not media audio. A few minutes of trying to rediscover and pair the devices usually fixes the issue. *Source:Official 2016 Civic Coupe Press Kit