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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  Not what Honda said it would do - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By Vicki Maness - September 3 - 4:36 pm

  Bought 2015 Honda CRV LX February 28, 2015. Started out using ECON, but the bogging down and vibration was just too much for me, so I switched it off. I only get 23 MPG city, 25 MPG highway. The sticker says it will get 34 MPG highway. I had a 2006 Honda Civic 9 yrs. and it got 40 MPG highway, so I am extremely disappointed in the gas mileage of the new CRV. I needed more room for traveling. I also noticed there is a lawsuit to Honda for the vibration in the motor of the CRV. I hope there will be a recall in the near future for the motor.

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  BAD TRANNY!! - 2002 Honda Odyssey
  By Sarah - September 1 - 9:37 am

  Its not true, this is NOT the best minivan ever! I purchased it used at 85k, and at 175k the transmission is slipping. I would have hoped for another 100k, but not so. Already time to junk it. My 1964 Plymouth is a better car than this piece of junk. Aside from the transmission issue, the automatic doors have been a pain since day one. My dogs were letting themselves out in parking lots, the doors now mysteriously open and close on their own. One opens and just WILL NOT CLOSE. I need to muscle it closed, not easy. Before the tranny went I needed to replace the alternator (& battery), more than FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS because it took half a day for my mechanic to get it out!! This is unacceptable to me. I should be able to replace that myself if I want to. Not possible with Honda, you will pay through the nose to repair this van, and then the transmission will die, so DONT BUY IT. Just bought an 02 Chrysler, going back to my roots. :-)

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  Honda pilot 2015 - 2015 Honda Pilot
  By abraham - August 19 - 9:21 pm

  This is the first time I bought Honda vehicle and this will be the last and I will not buy any more Honda vehicles . The brake system is not good and slow pick up and cheap interior . My other vehicles are Toyota when I compare this pilot with my other vehicles I felt toyota vehicles are much more precise and responsive.

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  Constant Front brake issues - 2011 Honda Odyssey
  By Dman760 - August 13 - 11:43 am

  This vehicle has numerous front brake issues. The front rotors are too small for the vehicle so they overheat and warp about every 15,000 Miles. Honda will do nothing about it and they refuse to fix it for free. Other than this I love this van.

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  I WANT ANOTHER HONDA ELEMENT - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By schaublm@gmail.com - August 10 - 4:26 pm

  The 2015 is a terrible car, there is a vibration when you are at the stop lights, you cant see out the back window and too many blind spots. The back up camera is worthless. The black floor picks up every speck of dirt. Basically I want the Honda Element back it was an awesome car!!!

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  A great used car or just a lot of problems? - 2006 Honda Civic
  By cowsgonemadd3@gmail.com - August 5 - 5:11 pm

  I normally would not post a car review. I think my experience with my Honda has made me change my mind. Most consider Honda to be reliable. Over 3 Hondas I have found almost the opposite. Lets start off with the great things about the car. I get 28 to 29mpg consistently. For the speed the car has, I consider this good. As of 2015, there are cars that get better and are a lot faster though. Reports from actual owners say the EPA is off though. I can only speak for my car and say the fuel mileage is good. The seats, they are great. Best seats I have sat in short of luxury cars. I prefer cloth seats over backside burning leather in the summer months. The car is almost 10 years old and they have held up great. The head room is great and so is the front leg room. I am 6 3" and I can even get in the back but its cramped. Its quite a peppy car, 0 to 60 time in like 6.7 seconds. Not too bad for a 4 cylinder made now, many years ago. The bad: Honda reliability is once again(as I said I have owned 3 Hondas) just not what its made out to be. Honda had an issue with 3rd gear not working right. They finally did a recall and my car went in for the recall. Years later, 3rd gear pops out at times and has to be put in with force. No, its not the syncors. It works most of the time but can still be a problem at times. Road noise is unreasonable in this car. Mine is worse than some because of the low profile tires but it is still not good. It rides very rough. Its one of the biggest reasons I plan to get rid of the car. While it hugs the road and you feel safe, you also feel every hole in the road and its like riding on a horse and buggy to work. The back tires get eaten away on the inside. Honda did a recall for this after a class action lawsuit was filed. I had mine fixed by Honda but to this day the inside of the tires still wear faster than the rest of the tire. It has helped but did not fully fix the problem. Alignments help but it does not seem to stay in alignment long. The timing chain failed at 145k miles. I had to pay 1500 bucks plus towing fees to get a "never maintenance" issue fixed. The rear view mirror is falling apart from the inside and has areas that no longer work. Now for the biggest problem, the paint. Honda did a TSB on paint for certain colors. My color was one of them they did not offer to fix but just the hood area. I now have almost no paint on my roof and the paint on the side pillars is starting to come off. I also see areas on the trunk that look like they are starting to fail. I called Honda of America only to be told my car was too old and too high mileage. I told them how it was failing in the same areas and way in which the recalled colors were and all I got was that it was not a recall but a TSB. They would not even offer to help pay for the over 1000 dollars in paint repairs this car now needs. They said over 800 for just the roof. Might be well over 1000 now that the paint is failing in other areas. Honda knows they had faulty paint. My car now unless fixed, will have very little of that wonderful Honda re-sell value. The paint is nothing new for Honda, my 2004 accord had paint falling off of it when I sold it. I like the car but not enough to recommend it to anyone unless you get it cheap.

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  Bumpy, rough ride - 2015 Honda Accord
  By Unhappy Owner - August 4 - 10:21 pm

  I have driven Accords/Acura TL since 1985. I like many things about this car, but I regret the purchase and will trade it in after a few years. Positives are power, little engine noise, and technology. I especially like the right sided camera. The downer is the terrible bumpy, rough ride. The slightest irregularities in the road are transmitted (? magnified) to the driver and passenger in a very unpleasant manner. This is not "good road feel". The car came with Goodyear tires, 17 inch wheels. The bumpy ride gives me the sensation that the tires are overinflated (they are not) or that the suspension is faulty). This is a fatal flaw for me in an otherwise excellent car. I cannot give the car 4 stars overall or for value when I do not like it and regret the purchase. My other Honda/Acura cars have been great, and I am not going to recommend another car. I just hope they fix this problem quickly.

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  honda seats still suck after all these years - 2015 Honda Accord
  By jay - August 2 - 12:17 pm

  Owner 07/13&15 models exl leather. Great cars except for one major issue THE SEATS SUCK. How can honda consistently screw up such a basic feature ? Who the hell cares if the seats last two thousand years if you cant sit in the damn things for five miles without back ache ? I am amazed that with THOUSANDS of complaints online every year they do the same stupid thing year in and year out.....

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  Great reviews not justified - strike 2 - 2011 Honda CR-V
  By jerry king - July 28 - 6:39 pm

  I bought a 2011 CRV because we I wanted a quality vehicle before I retired. I wanted something that should last a long time with minimal maintenance. Before I retired, I want to purchase a vehicle of good quality and low maintenance. This is definitely not what I thought I had purchased. I had to replace the tires at 17,000 miles, Honda puts on junk tires just to get them off the lot. Putting on good tires on was $700 and now at 24,500 miles the airbag light stays on and I am told for $650 they can repair it. ( I also had a 2008 Accord that required new rear tires and brakes at 30,000 miles.) If I have another repair (other than normal wear and tear, brakes and etc.) the car will be going down the road. Honda is definitely not the quality vehicle that everyone seems to think they think.

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  My first bad car. - 2007 Honda Civic
  By Robert - July 28 - 3:46 pm

  The car rides good but way to many features going bad early. Have replaced the visors 3 times now, replaced the starter at 70 miles and the cost was over $500, replaced both front speakers, the interior ceiling cloth has come lose and is hanging down completely now, very loud road noise when traveling. I wish I had purchased another car now. Im sorry to say but this will be my last Honda, their quality is no longer their..