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 petrol-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 cheap to operate.

Honda's bikes quickly evolved into conveyances far more sophisticated than mere motors stuck into bicycle frames. The manufacturer's 1949 D-Type could reach speeds of up to 50 mph, and offered a steel frame as well as 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 bike 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. as part of the establishment of American Honda Co. in 1959.

By the early 1960s, the Honda had built its first automobiles for the Japanese home market and entered Formula One racing. But it wasn't until 1970 that it imported its first car, the diminutive N600, to the U.S. The automaker initially had a hard time sparking interest in American buyers, but that all changed in 1973 with the introduction of the Civic. The car offered larger dimensions than Honda's previous models even though it was still relatively petite compared to compact American cars. The Civic's 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 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, Honda continued to innovate through such technologies as VTEC variable valve timing, aluminum body construction, improved safety features and new gasoline/electric hybrid powertrains.

Today, Honda's lineup runs the gamut. Included are fuel-sipping hybrids, spacious minivans, reliable family sedans, rugged SUVs and even a pickup. The manufacturer is a standard-bearer in many segments; models like the Civic and the Accord are considered benchmarks in their respective classes.