| So, you need a new car, do you? Have you | | | | US was the Insight. Five years later it still commands |
| considered Honda? Not too long ago your choices | | | | an important part of the Honda line up. |
| were the Civic, Accord, or Prelude. Today, Honda has | | | | Odyssey - The new benchmark for minivans is the |
| expanded their line up to cover just about every | | | | Honda Odyssey. In just a few short years, Honda |
| segment going. Let's take a look at their current line | | | | transformed a Plain Jane people mover into a van |
| up and see how Honda stacks up against the | | | | with pizzazz. The Odyssey routinely competes with |
| competition. | | | | the Toyota Sienna for top honors in the North |
| Accord - Soon after the Civic entered the North | | | | American market. |
| American market, the Accord was introduced. The | | | | Pilot - A 7 passenger SUV, the Pilot is Honda's first |
| car has been so well received that it routinely battles | | | | large SUV. Competing against the Ford Explorer, |
| with the Toyota Camry for the top spot in the | | | | Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Toyota |
| American market. Every few years the Accord | | | | 4Runner, the Pilot has performed well and has gained |
| receives a complete makeover; today's Accord is | | | | respect in the tough, competitive American market. |
| available in three models: coupe, sedan, and hybrid | | | | Ridgeline - A four door AWD truck, the Ridgeline |
| Civic - When Honda entered the US market in the | | | | goes where no Honda has gone before: off the road. |
| early 1970s, it was the Civic that led the way. The | | | | Sure, other Hondas come equipped with AWD or |
| reason? High fuel economy. At that time, Detroit was | | | | 4WD, but the Ridgeline was built expressly to handle |
| primarily building gas guzzling behemoths and the | | | | hill as well as highway. The unique five foot long bed |
| American market was ripe for an affordable and | | | | has a trunk built into it; certainly the Ridgeline defies |
| economical compact car. Despite being derided by | | | | easy comparison. |
| some - pregnant roller skate was one of the terms | | | | S2000 Roadster - Honda's race car capabilities are |
| given to the Civic - the car proved to be the toehold | | | | displayed with the S2000 Roadster a two seat coupe |
| Honda needed to get established in the North | | | | that compares favorably with the BMW Z4 Roadster. |
| American market. Today's Civic bears no resemblance | | | | Ranked as one of the best wanted car by |
| to the original and it is available in three models: | | | | consumers with several leading automobile magazines |
| coupe, sedan, and hybrid. | | | | and web sites including |
| CR-V - Available in either FWD or 4WD, the CR-V is | | | | Honda's top competitor is Toyota and both now |
| Honda's compact SUV with seating for as many as | | | | have luxury brands from which motorists can |
| five adults. | | | | purchase more upscale versions of their vehicles. |
| Element - The Element defies easy characterization. | | | | Toyota's Lexus division and Honda's Acura division |
| Some call it a bread box on wheels. Available as a | | | | offer to consumers vehicles that go beyond their |
| FWD or 4WD vehicle, the Element is targeted to the | | | | standard brands. Still, you can't go wrong if you buy |
| youth set and is an alternative to Toyota's Scion | | | | a Honda, an automotive line which continues to |
| brand. | | | | expand and grow because of high quality and |
| Insight - The first gasoline-electric hybrid sold in the | | | | consumer loyalty. |