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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  Sorry to Report - 2005 Honda CR-V
  By Royal - October 26 - 6:00 am

  I read up on recommended vehicles and chose the 05 CRV based on the Consumer Report recommendation. Also, in the past, Ive driven many Hondas and known many Honda owners that were very happy with their Hondas. Unfortunately, I ended up with an 05 CRV with the dreaded Pull To The Right (pttr) syndrome. After taking it back to Honda 3 times for reapir (that did not remedy the problem) and contacting the Honda Manufacturer directly, the Honda Manufacturer most receently stated that 05 CRVs are known to "drift." Bottom Line: I am stuck with a faulty vehicle that Honda now wants nothing to do with. Other than the pttr, the vehicle was everything I expected.

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  Worst suv I have bought - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By jim - October 12 - 6:06 pm

  Very little power and not enough joy in driving the vehicle, way too much money for the fit and finish of it when you really look at it up close.

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  more trouble than its worth - 2000 Honda Odyssey
  By hondaowner - October 10 - 10:00 am

  I had nothing but trouble with the automatic sliding doors. Had to have it declared a lemon to finally get them to replace the entire door mechanism. Drives like a car and is easy to drive and maneuver, but the finishes are cheap inside. Transmission shifts really hard. Would never buy another. Know at least 10 other owners that feel the same way - all had door troubles too. Would never recommend it.

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  Radio is crap - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Jack - September 23 - 10:19 pm

  Honda & Honda dealer do not care about you,they have your money & tough. I drive with a sign on back of car. New car radio is crap dealer says its fine.

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  Shouldve gone with my gut instinct - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By Accord lover - September 17 - 2:34 am

  Cant believe theres NOT a trunk release inside the car! If you dont think youll miss it, make yourself not use the one in your existing car and see if you miss it. Had a 1995 that even had it in there! Asked dealer (after I bought it) where it was & they said the only model that has it is the touring model. The back-up system is so generic, compared to Fords. When you back up with theirs, the visual is green (ok), yellow (getting closer) & red (youre right on top); the audio is beep beep (ok), beep, beep, beep (getting closer), & BEEP BEEP BEEP (youre right on top). Honda has no audio and bare bone yellow-no comparison. Im short and although I try not to hit my knee when I get in, Im frequently nailing it on the console below & to the L of the steering column, also hit my head a lot on the top. The radio is horrible! the buttons are SO small (& Ive got little fingers) Im constantly hitting the wrong buttons while driving, which throws the thing into la-la land; no matter how much I practice on it, its a pain & I despise it. Car doesnt do well in high winds for handling. Also sounds like the tires are out of round if it isnt driven every day. The AC and heating system take forever to cool/heat. For a $32K car, I would not buy another. I do, however, like the way the seats lie down in the back...thats what initially attracted me to it plus Ive owned Hondas since 1985; still have my 2005 Honda which I gave to my son for high school graduation as hell be using it to and from college. Feel like giving him the CRV but have payments...if I could do it over, Id buy another Accord. My husband wanted me to buy a SUV since we already had a new Taurus, the Accord and a pick up. Should have listened to my instinct and bought the new Accord!+

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  Not worth the money paid - 2007 Honda Odyssey
  By Barto - September 15 - 10:36 am

  Driver seat is for dwarves, arm rest is for people with 20" waist, the navigation is a joke. If you do not know where you are, this thing will not tell you as it has very low resolution and streets are not seen on the display, just a grid of lines nobody knows what streets they are. Icons only appear at 1/8 and 1/20, better take a look your self trough the windshield, you do not need the GPS when you can see it trough the window. Voice activated? "turn on radio" and the system will turn off the A/C. All orders are confused, seems only speaks Japanese. Air conditioner is to be used in the North Pole or so, not in Miami or the tropics (does not cools enough, in resume, no worth the money.

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  Worse new car purchase in decades - 2017 Honda Accord
  By S.E. - September 7 - 3:31 pm

  Owned for 13 months with 20K miles. I buy new cars every 3 years, this one has been the worse in a couple of decades. Honda warranty sucks, everything that goes wrong mechanically and electrical seems not to be covered plus they provide no loaner cars under warranty. Seating flattens out on any trip of length, driver door requires you to reach way out of the car to reach and shut. Inside electronics look nice but... layout is horrible taking your eyes off the road to use the few that work in operation even simple things like heat and air. This is the worse driver friendly car during operation I have ever owned plus spending over $1K in repairs the first year of warranty. Prior car was a 2013 Altima, that car was superior to the accord in all facets. it was never in the shop other that oil for $80K miles and very user/driver friendly.

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  battery keep on dying, replace relay and etc... - 2013 Honda CR-V
  By Southern California Hondar user - September 3 - 4:10 am

  Battery keep on dying, dealer is lazy(bring it in for a repair, battery died and they just jumped it) and do not want to repair the vehicle. It is as bad as it get. Many Honda dealer just put normal oil(not 0/20). It is very hard to find a good Honda dealer that know how to fix their car.

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  Great MPG... Horrible ride (Surging & Pausing) - 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By R Scott - August 24 - 8:32 pm

  I bought the new 2015 Accord Hybrid for its fuel economy, and it that aspect of the car does not disappoint. However, I was unaware of just how disappointingly choppy the cars ride would be when the its software switches between electric engine and gas engine... especially when driving faster than 40 MPH at constant speed. I failed to realize this during the original test drive because I only drove it on the freeway for about one mile (and in heavy afternoon traffic). In short, (whether using cruise control or not) the 2015 Accord Hybrid will intermittently pause and then surge whenever the electric engine disengages from action at speeds north of 35-40 MPH. This is both annoying and disconcerting since it results in a choppy ride. I took my new Accord Hybrid to the dealer service folks twice for this problem. The first time, I was told to stop using the ECON mode if I wanted a smoother ride. The second time, I insisted on speaking with the service tech. Heres the exact verbiage from the service ticket: "NFP test drove the vehicle and verified customers concern. Took snap shots during the event of the PGM-FI system... etc.. After review of all the snap shot data was sent it was determined that it is the normal operation of this vehicle." Thats a pretty poor response from Honda. Ive always be partial to Honda products... but with the Accord Hybrid: Let the buyer beware.

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  !!!!!BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!! - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By Jim Collis - August 21 - 6:16 pm

  Beware before you buy a Honda Pilot. The car has lots of peep, but that is about it. After 65 mph, the front wheel shakes like crazy ( there are hundreds of complaints on the web about this). Honda cannot find the problem. We took the car there 7-8 times!!!!! Next, after a few months, smoke began pouring out of the A.C. and could not be driven. Then a few weeks ago, an electric problem stranded my wife and daughter (who was coming home from the Doctor). The next week, the same thing happened again. Finally, the gas mileage is HORRIBLE. Just as bad as my Ford Expedition. The EPA of 17/22 is not even close!!!!!