Since Honda began in 1946 in Japan as the Honda Technical research institute, Honda and its upper echelon brand, Acura, are names that mean quality. Honda was the first Japanese company to start selling cars in America; and by the late 90s, Honda had sold more than 1 million vehicles in America. Why is Honda so popular? Here are just a few reasons as to why Honda is so loved as well as some things you might want to consider if you think you want to buy a Honda.
Safety
You can be comforted knowing you are riding in one of the safest cars on the road when you ride in a Honda. Honda holds its vehicles to an extremely high safety standard. They consistently receive the highest safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. Hondas have consistently received four-star and perfect five-star crash test ratings and “good” (the highest rating possible). Most vehicles come with optional or standard side impact airbags, antilock brakes, and other safety features.
Reliability
When you buy a car, most people want reliability. Very few people want a car they can drive only the few days of the month they can get out from underneath it. Honda cars have a reputation for long-term dependability.
J.D. Power and Associates report the Honda CRV to be one of the top three entry level SUVs when it comes to dependability through a three-year period or longer. Another Honda car made another reliability list — the Used Car Yearbook. The 2003 Used Car Yearbook reported the Civic EX to be a reliable car, a good performer and a good buy for the long term.
Good Buy
Both Honda and Acura are on numerous lists as exceptional value used and new vehicles. One of the most impressive lists on which both Honda and Acura appear consistently is the Consumer Reports list. In 2003, the Civic, Accord, Odyssey and the Acura RL all appeared on the Consumer Reports’ list of Exceptional Used Vehicles.
Resale Value
If you don’t want to drive your car until the wheels fall off, and you don’t want to lose too much money when you sell it, you want to buy a car that has a good resale value. Kelley Blue Book chooses the top vehicles that hold their value by figuring their resale value as a percentage of the original selling price. The Civic and the Acura MDX made the Top 10 on last year’s list.
Fuel Efficient
With rising gas costs, saving money on fuel is essential. The Civic Hybrid is listed at the top of every fuel economy list. It boasts 46 miles to the gallon while you buzz around the city and an amazing 51 miles per gallon when you zip down the highway.
Expensive Insurance
Watch out for the insurance costs on Honda Civics and Accords, and Acura Integras. Because these models appear on the CCC’s and NICB’s lists for the top ten most stolen vehicles, they are some of the most expensive cars to insure. So for all the benefits that come with a Honda vehicle, high insurance and popularity among thieves is an unpleasant negative. You may want to invest in a quality security system. This will not only help prevent thefts, but will also lower your insurance.
By D. Blair Thompson