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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  The 99 Honda Odyssey - Poor Reliability - 1999 Honda Odyssey
  By Pat Leake - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Having previously owned a 1982 Honda Accord that ran flawlesly for 20 years, I have been very disappointed with the 99 Honda Odyssey. Continuing problems required the ignition switch to be replaced, the sliding door repaired, catalytic concerter replaced, and replacement of the engine EGR have made this vehicle a nightmare to own. Currently, the vehicle is inoperable and requires a new transmission that will cost $5,000. All of this within the first three and a half years of ownership!

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  Worst Purchase Ever - 2009 Honda Civic
  By Ayse Ozkan - June 1 - 12:40 pm

  Considering it is a brand new car, it is extremely noisy as if the windows are not completely closed. It has a very low clearance that makes you feel you are sitting on the floor and you hear and feel every grain of sand that hits the bottom of the car. The steering wheel is very small, especially for a petite person. When it is windy, I feel like I dont have a good control of the car because I cannot rest my left arm on the door as I was used to doing with my previous cars. It does not show the outside temperature. I think this feature should be mandatory for every car that is made. My husband convinced me to buy it and I regret it very much. That was my worst purchase ever.

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  Technology disaster - 2018 Honda Odyssey
  By Hsj - June 1 - 10:10 am

  Buy at your own risk, Honda blames everything on Apple, Bluetooth skips, siri does not connect, messages I haven’t seen or sent one, screen goes black and does not respond or goes blue with a loud beep while you are driving. Honda dealer wanted to just get rid of me and helped in no way after I spent 50k on a car that is most expensive in their lion. The armrest movement is put on reverse and Honda says everything is fine, instead of going down from level position, it goes up pointing towards sky. What good is it that? No car seat position can utilize that mode of armrest, don’t know who tried it? Pretty bad attitude from Honda towards customers that bought their most expensive vehicle. The AAC is a hit or miss, not consistent. The car never brakes on AAC mode but flashed for me to brake. I turned it off after that. Lane keeping does not work below 45mph and even above it misses the lanes all the time, pretty dangerous to depend upon.

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  Very Little Interior Room - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Dillydog - May 30 - 2:00 am

  The Honda Pilot is after all a Honda but thats where the benifit stops. My wife and I have 5 children, ranging from 15 to 4 years of age. The leg room alotted for the third row seating is slim to none. Head room is at a minimum as well as the over all comfort of the passengers. This would be a great 5 passenger vehicle! However, to sell it as a comfortable ride for eight people is completely ridiculous!!! My 4 year old daughters legs are cramped in the third row seat, making this, in my opinion, one of the worst "SUVs" on the market.

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  Complete Disappointment - 2008 Honda Civic
  By Chris - May 28 - 2:53 am

  I have been wanting a Civic Si since before I can remember. Now that I have one, I wish I could return it. It feels like a Cadillac with 2 doors and a 4 cylinder engine. That is, it doesnt feel fast, the suspension is terrible, it never feels comfortable, and I just cant find a good seat position. The cabin feels claustrophobic and cramped and I am not a large person (55"). If I could return it, I would. I dont think Ill be keeping this car much longer and will take my losses. Ill give 6 months max. Completely disappointed. Depressed and dissatisfied. Ill probably never get myself to buy another Honda again.

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  Transmission/Radio Issues - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Erock - May 17 - 1:07 am

  Read up on the 9 speed transmission in the touring and elite models. Acura has a TSB supposedly addressing these but none has been release for Pilot, which is frustrating since they are the same transmission. Low gears are "jerky", acceleration when stopping (DANGEROUS!) The radio; plain and simple, AWFUL. The fade that is all over the forums for FM is absolutely ridiculous. Reminds me of a "jambox" from back in the day that had old batteries - sound fades in and out. Many on the forums have said Honda has stated it has to do with cycling back and forth between stereo and mono; really Honda. In a 40+K car in 2016 you have issues with FM???!! First Honda Ive owned and unless they get these issues corrected quickly, definitely my last. Very disappointed so far.

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  FEEL CHEATED - 2018 Honda Odyssey
  By John - May 14 - 12:44 am

  No compass. Really! We wrote a check for more than $41,000 to own a 2018 Odyssey minivan that Honda purposely put on the market with no compass, a simple tool standard in every decent vehicle since about the dawn of internal combustion. Shame on them. We wouldnt have bought this van if we had known it didnt have a compass. Some people writing online say Honda is manipulative, trying to force people to pay thousands more for the most expensive trims to get a simple, cheap feature found on every car but low-end fleet vehicles. Honda may be manipulative, or have no regard for customers, or just plain stupid. The people at my Honda dealership were as shocked as me at the absence of a compass. I would trade the moon roof, which Ill probably never open, or leather seats for a compass. I really wanted to feel good about owning a new minivan with many electronic and safety features, but now I simply seen a large gray machine in the garage with no compass. Im sure Honda could retrofit this minivan to include a compass if they cared. In the meantime Ill use my old Boy Scout compass and wish I had bought a Toyota.

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  Oh how I wanted to love this CRV. So disappointed - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By Run from Honda - May 8 - 4:33 pm

  Beware! Do NOT purchase any CRV made in 2008 or later. My 2013 CR-V that is cared for per manufactures recommendations and driven moderately has been making a terrible grinding noise since about 1 year after purchase. Honda Service has diagnosed the noise as emanating from the VTC Actuator. Noise has become much worse over time and this noise occurs after every cold start. The noise is so loud that it turns heads in parking lots. What is really frustrating is that Honda has know of this issue since 2008 and still has not corrected the problem and does not disclose the issue prior to purchase. Honda simply states, "Yes there is a loud grinding noise but dont worry it is not doing any damage to the engine." This is my fourth Honda (I typically purchase a new car once every 4 to 5 years). This experience has left me resolve to never purchase another Honda. By the way three of my family members own CRV (2011, 2015 and 2016 -- two of the three make the same LOUD grinding noise when starting the engine. Toyota or Subaru here we come.

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  Dissappointed - 2017 Honda CR-V
  By Slow Rider - May 4 - 3:32 am

  I switched brands from Chrysler to Honda - based on their reliability ratings. Well let me tell you, throw those ratings right out the window. I traded in a Ram1500 and a Jeep Compass for TWO Honda CR-Vs. One is an LX, other is an EX, both AWD. The EX has already experienced a dead battery - left me stranded after only 6 weeks of ownership, something that has never happened to me before in all my years of driving, and I am 64 years old. The dealer replaced the battery, but I still feel like something else might be wrong - - the electronic dashboard keeps doing goofy things. Also, this vehicle is plagued my countless rattles. The other one - the LX, is also plagued by countless rattles, and is at times, hard to start. The only good things I can say at this time, is the vehicles are roomy, and do get good MPGs. I personally prefer the 2.4 engine in the LX, over the 1.5 turbo in the EX. For Hondas so called great reputation, I am highly DISSAPPOINTED, in these 2 CR-Vs. I wish I would have stuck with Chrysler products. My recommendation is do not buy Honda.

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  Horrible fuel consumption - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By Never another Honda - May 3 - 9:40 am

  The fuel consumption estimate on the sales sticker states 17 MPG city and 22 MPG highway. I get from 9 to 12 MPG. Dealer keeps telling me to wait for the engine to break in but as I put more miles on this gas guzzler, the fuel efficiency is getting worse.