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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  Best car ever made - 2007 Honda S2000
  By S2K Tommy - November 29 - 2:27 pm

  This is the second S2000 Ive owned. The first one was the 2001 version. This car is amazing. The power curve is smooth and the handling is even better. The looks of the exterior is classic. Since Ive owned it, Ive added full race suspension to it and upgraded the wheels to forged 18x7.5 front and 18x9 in the rears. The car was also lowered about 2 inches all around. The car handles so much more better although comfort was slightly compromised, the benefits greatly outweighed the feeling of having just a "normal" ride, not that the factory suspension wasnt stiff enough. Im an auto enthusiast and have owned more powerful cars in the past but this car the least say is the most fun of all!

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  Sooooo Cool - 2004 Honda Odyssey
  By Family Man - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Went to the Honda Dealership to test drive a Pilot and although a very nice vehicle, my wife and I saw the Odyssey and we immediately fell in love with it. The interior and the overall look of this van is awesome. A much more practical and roomy vehicle than the Pilot. My wife particularly likes the DVD and the leather interior. Handles like a car. Have owned Fords all of my life but when my 2000 Windstar started giving me problems with 37000 miles on it we decided to go with a Honda because of its reputation for reliability and resale value. Will not own another Ford! Considered the Sienna but it was $5000 more. Excellent vehicle. Great Value!

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  Great Family SUV - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By kzak - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my eye on these since it was introduced in 03. It was an easy decision to replace our domestic minivan with the 04 Pilot. It has easier 3rd row seat access than the Explorer and gets better gas mileage. The ride is very good, Interior is roomy and comfy, and the DVD System is wonderful. All in all its a great vehicle from a very reliable manufacturer.

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  Efficiency in motion - 2004 Honda Civic
  By Scottfox - November 29 - 10:00 am

  My new Civic gets surprisingly great fuel economy. I am leasing the LX W/5 spd & am getting 37MPG combined. I went with a lease because the Hondas have high residuals which means lower monthly payments. Also considered the Corolla, but lower residual meant higher monthly payments. Restyled this year, it looks great & the interior doesnt have that cheap plastic interior feel.

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  Value - 2004 Honda Civic
  By seal6 - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Great value for the money. Bought this car for my college bound daughter and I enjoy driving it more than her. Fun to drive,great handleing, great gas mileage. Test drove a Chevy Cavalier and was not impressed even with $5500 off price. Being 64" the honda has room to spare not so with the cavalier.

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  I wish it had been a four or five star car - 2017 Honda Pilot
  By M - November 29 - 6:04 am

  If quick response acceleration at high-speed is not important to you, then disregard this review. I test drove the new 2017 Honda Pilot Elite hoping that I could write a check on the spot for the vehicle. I wanted to love it. I feel like the design engineers failed me. The vehicle is far behind the curve on technology which is very disappointing. The Elite model should come with all of the most modern bells and whistles. It should nearly drive itself. Regardless… That is not what I was looking for. I was looking for safety in the form of acceleration… The ability to get out of trouble very quickly on the freeway. As I was test driving the vehicle, I told the sales person sitting in the front passenger seat that the next test was going to make or break the deal. I told him to count the number of seconds from the time that I said "now" until he felt the G forces of acceleration pushing him into the seat. I told him anything over 0.5 seconds would be a failure. On the first test, it took three seconds for acceleration to kick in. We perform the test three more times, and at no time, did it take less than 2.5 seconds for acceleration to check in. That is not enough time to get out of a bad situation. After we return, the sales person brought his chief mechanic to talk to me. The mechanic told me that I could have a third-party reprogram the transmission to give me what I wanted in acceleration, but it would void the warranty. Im not going to spend close to $50,000 just to have my warranty voided to bring the car up to where it should already be. Because of this, I am giving the 2017 Honda Pilot a two star rating.

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  Front End Troubles - 2005 Honda Civic
  By Dan Polson - November 28 - 7:19 pm

  Fun to drive. Most of my driving is on winding country roads. At 88,000 had to have driver side hub bearing replaced. At 96,000 had to have driver side CV joint replaced

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  Dont believe the MPG - 2006 Honda Civic
  By JP&Yolie - November 28 - 5:53 pm

  This is a fun car to drive and folks on the street are always asking about the car. However after a handful of fillups, the best weve done is 35.5 mpg on a combination of city and highway driving. Everything else about the car is great. It drive very nice and has a bigger car drive.

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  Great Value - 2005 Honda Accord
  By mikeW - November 28 - 12:48 pm

  Bought this car back in Dec of 04. Best value for my money hands down. car is up to 100K miles and drives like its brand new. all systems (electric, sound sun-roof, & leather) work beautify and never had a problem. Passengers and friends dont believe that I have 100K miles or that the car is 4 years old. I highly recommend this vehicle!

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  Honda is definitely overrated - 2002 Honda Civic
  By Brendan - November 28 - 12:05 pm

  I bought this car used from an elderly woman in Conneticut. She had replaced the rack & pinion before I had picked it up and she had a problem with the gas door not opening once closed. Instead of fixing this I would simply latch it from the trunk behind the carpet to keep it sealed while driving, its tedious but saves me a fortune than going to dealer to have it taken care of. I originally bought it with 132000 miles and got an amazing deal at $1100 but then it had frozen calipers so replaced both by myself for $200 in parts and three hours in a driveway. After that I resurfaced the drums and replaced the shoes and the front brake pads, the rotors are still original and holding up fine. The car seems incapable of holding any speed over 65 without shimmying back and forth and yet it isnt the tie rods (theyre brand new) alignment was also just done along with two matching new tires, so the problem is still unsolved. I great great gas mileage however since I commute 102 miles a day round trip and I average 31-34 mpg not bad for an automatic. Even being the EX model she seems very basic for features and nothing special, the special edition wheels bent immediately upon arrival to upstate New York since the roads are unforgiving so she has four newer steel wheels on her. Just learned she needs a new catalytic converter ($300) new windshield ($250) new bushings and control arms front and back ($500) and new front struts ($200) since I do enjoy the reliability I guess I will repair her but next tax season going to go out and buy either a GMC or a Toyota since believe it or not GMCs have been more reliable than the civic with minimal repairs, the repairs are cheap for Honda I guess thats a benefit? But seem to need more in frequency and just dont enjoy it. Good basic commuter car, its not a race car guys, sick of seeing them with loud exhausts they arent meant for street racing, 127 hp is not substantial enough except if youre racing a prius even then its almost anyones race haha.