The 10 most successful models in Honda's history

Honda's growth from a small company in the Japanese car market to a global giant has not been smooth sailing. In the early '70s, Honda's finances were in dire straits due to a series of models that didn't sell well, with production lines mostly empty and little development money left. However, a series of successful models over the course of the decade managed to turn the company's fortunes around, not only securing its future, but also catapulting it into the global spotlight.

However, despite the record sales volume, the bosses always seem to keep in mind the company's experience on the verge of bankruptcy, never satisfied with the status quo, and always keen to innovate. As a result, even after decades of evolving competition, Honda's most famous brands remain the best in their field. In addition to the most well-known brands, Honda also has a number of lesser-known models that have been successful in other ways as well. They pioneered new approaches to design, helped define entire market segments, won the hearts and minds of enthusiasts, and sometimes all three. Here are the company's greatest names to date.

Honda Shikan

Few car brands have such global visibility as the Honda Civic. The Civic has been in continuous production since 1972, and its 11th-generation models have never strayed from the efficiency, economy, and practicality of the original. With the introduction of the Civic Type-R, Honda added performance to it, with each iteration boosting the performance of the previous generation on the road and on the track.

The car's intuitive appeal made it a bestseller in many of the world's largest automotive markets, with Honda selling more than 27 million units in the first half-century after the Civic went on the market. The latest generation was launched in 2022, and the highest-spec model in the range is the Civic Type-R. The car received a rare 10/10 score, and reviewers found little to dismiss about the car's balance between performance and everyday usability. Despite the recent shift in the market towards small cars, it's safe to say that the Civic is in good shape and arguably better than ever.

Masaaki Honda

The Accord is one of Honda's oldest brands and has been in continuous production since 1976. Like the Civic, the Accord has gone through 11 generations to date, with steady progress between each generation. While the Accord is best recognized as a sedan, it was originally developed as a three-door hatchback and was intended to be a more upscale alternative to the Civic. However, the sedan version introduced in 1979 became the preferred choice of buyers when the second-generation car debuted in 1981.

In the first few generations of the Accord, the Accord remained largely unchanged in every region in which it was sold, but with the introduction of the sixth generation in 1997, a new strategy began to be piloted. Honda has made different Accords for Europe, Asia, and the United States, and each Accord has mechanical and stylistic differences designed to appeal to buyers in the region. The Accord, which Honda produces in the U.S. market, was made in the U.S., becoming the first Japanese brand car to be made in the U.S. in 1982.

The current generation of the Honda Accord may be very different under the hood than the previous generation, now offering a hybrid powertrain, but the appeal of this car is essentially the same as before. Much like the CVCC engine that appeared in the first-generation Accord, the powertrain efficiency of the latest Accord Hybrid is consistent, while its cabin is thoughtfully designed and spacious.

HONDA Prelude

Some believe that Prelude is Honda's best-kept secret because, despite its influence and continued popularity throughout its lifespan, it is not as visible as many other brands of the brand. It got off to a slow start in 1978 – to be exact – the underpowered first generation of cars and was replaced by a second generation in 1983. Honda's second attempt was significantly better than the first, with the top-of-the-line model delivering 110 horsepower.

The third generation debuted in 1988 and featured some of the best innovations of the Honda bubble era, including four-wheel steering and the Si's 2.0L DOHC engine with 135 horsepower. The fourth and fifth generations continued to impress journalists and buyers, and by the time the sports coupe was retired in 2001, more than 800,000 units had been sold. After a quarter of a century of waiting, recent reports suggest that Honda hopes to launch a new generation of Prelude as early as 2026, although details have not yet been confirmed.

Honda CR-V

SUVs and crossovers have evolved from a fairly niche market segment a few decades ago to one of the most popular models today. Much of this growth is due to the success of models like the Honda CR-V, which has been a bestseller since it was first introduced in 1997. Honda's development team identified a gap in the market in the 90s, where buyers wanted the space and practicality that an SUV could offer, but were unwilling to compromise on sedan-like driving dynamics and comfort. The CR-V was designed to fill this gap, becoming an early pioneer in the segment now commonly referred to as crossovers.

The first-generation CR-V strictly followed the traditional boxy SUV styling that was popular at the time, but later generations gradually introduced more rounded, aerodynamic styling. The third-generation CR-V, introduced in 2007, underwent the most radical styling overhaul, and subsequent models underwent gradual changes until the sixth-generation CR-V was introduced in 2023. It comes in both pure gasoline and hybrid forms, and Honda adheres to a more cautious electrification strategy than many other manufacturers. And for good reason: the CR-V continues to be popular with buyers, so Honda has little incentive to disrupt the status quo.

Honda CR-X

The Honda CR-X has gone through several different iterations during the sale, but it has always maintained a close relationship with the Civic on which it is based. The first generation was introduced in 1984 as a sportier option for buyers who wanted the practicality of the Civic but wanted more driving pleasure. The second generation was launched in 1988 and followed the same philosophy. The CR-X Si is considered the pinnacle model for most collectors, boasting enhanced power and responsive handling, but when the car first hit the market, a lower-spec version with a standard Civic engine was the most popular choice.

The name CR-X is also used for CR-X Del Sol, sometimes referred to as Civic Del Sol or simply Del Sol. The new car, which never gained the same fanbase as the earlier CR-X models, had weaker driving dynamics, had a very serious roof leak problem, and had no successor after it was discontinued. Nowadays, the name CR-X is mostly associated with the first and second generation of cars, and some enthusiasts believe that they represent Honda's most affordable driver-focused models.

Honda/Acura Integra

While the current generation of Acura Integra has received high praise from critics, it's important to look back and see why the brand was so highly rated in the first place. It was an integral part of Acura's initial product line when it was launched in the United States, helping to introduce buyers to the brand for the first time. In the rest of the world, the Integra has been labeled with the Honda logo, which has been similarly well received, especially for the exterior of the third-generation Type-R.

Its high-revving VTEC engine is ideal for driving on country roads, and its handling is as responsive as any other front-wheel drive car on the market. Some critics even today believe that the DC2 Integra Type-R has never been surpassed. With such a rich history, it's safe to say that the resurrected Integra has high standards to meet, but the time spent driving this car in the mountains of California confirms that it's just as fun to drive as expected.

HONDA S2000

Unlike many other famous models of Honda, the Honda S2000 was not universally recognized when it was launched. Among other things, it was considered slightly less powerful compared to its competitors, and the car's F20C engine needed to be pushed to the limit to perform at its best. However, over the years, the same quirk, considered one of its flaws at the time of its launch, became one of the most praised elements of the car's design. Since then, neither Honda nor other automakers have launched similar models.

The S2000 went through two generations between 1999 and 2009, with the later AP2 models boasting more power and refined handling than the original AP1. The former benefited from a new engine codenamed F22C1, with a displacement increase of 0.2 liters to 2.2 liters. The new engine adds low-end torque, but at the cost of slightly lowering the car's redline from the original 9,000 rpm cap. Since the car was discontinued in the late 2000s, there have been constant rumors that the new S2000 is on the horizon, but so far, Honda has not confirmed any plans to reinstate the name.

Honda Fit

The Honda Fit (known as the Jazz in some markets) has never had great success in the United States. Honda discontinued the model in the U.S. in 2020 after selling only 32,000 units the year before, effectively replacing it with an HR-V crossover. However, in other parts of the world, the Fit has been a notable success. In the car's first decade on the market, Honda quietly produced more than 3.5 million units, and in 2020 launched a fourth-generation model, which is expected to sell 120,000 units a year in Japan alone.

Throughout the generations, the Jazz has always tended to prioritize practicality and safety over driving pleasure, so in some markets, it has become known for appealing to older drivers. The latest-generation model tried to shake off that reputation, but the results were mixed, but even if it wasn't considered an audiophile choice, it remained popular among drivers looking for a reasonable urban scooter, making it a staple of Honda's lineup in Europe and Asia.

Honda/Acura NSX

The initial "New Sports Car Experiment" – better known to enthusiasts as the NSX – was a milestone in the history of Honda and Japanese cars. Its handling was impeccable, so much so that Gordon Murray used it as a benchmark for the development of the McLaren F1, with styling so unique that even today it stands out from the crowd of supercars. European automakers were caught off guard by the NSX introduced in 1989 – a car that rivaled exotic cars in terms of performance, but still boasted Japanese reliability and build quality.

Its VTEC V6 engine isn't particularly powerful on paper, making 270 horsepower, but the NSX makes up for it by being lighter and more agile than the other models. However, its groundbreaking wasn't enough for Honda, and the brand continued to tweak and improve its Halo cars until it was discontinued in 2005.

The second-generation NSX has finally been unveiled after more than a decade, and its reviews have been mixed compared to its predecessor. Some believe that its performance falls slightly short, while others criticize the driving engagement it provides. However, when the NSX Type S was unveiled, testers thought the car had been improved and was as inspired as the original. Sales have remained modest throughout the life of the second-generation model, and the car was discontinued at the end of 2022.

Honda Odyssey

Today, minivans are no longer the popular models they once were, but that hasn't dampened the success of best-selling models like the Honda Odyssey. An all-family favorite for decades, the Odyssey was first introduced in the United States in 1995. It was a relatively late entrant to the market – segment-defining minivans such as the Dodge Caravan had been around for a decade – but the Odyssey quickly gained market share thanks to its refined driving experience and practical design.

Like many of Honda's best-selling models, the Odyssey's successors have embarked on a cautious evolutionary rather than revolutionary path, with each new model adding additional power, more standard technology, and greater safety. Now in its fifth generation, the van still has the same core appeal as the original model from the 90s, despite many minor improvements. While some vintage Odyssey models are better suited to buying a used car than others, the minivan's reliability has remained generally stable, and the car has been on sale in showrooms for almost 30 years with no signs of stopping.