Honda

We test and rank the best three-row SUVs for active Australian families.

This time last year we were certain we'd be reviewing a new CR-V by now, but we're not. Does age diminish the appeal of Honda's seven-seater?

The Honda Civic Type R carries a heavy legacy, but a price tag to match, but can the Hyundai i30 N better it on more than just price?

The last Honda Civic Type R was one of the most capable hot hatches around. Can this new generation shape up to the lauded reputation?

This showroom-condition ‘EG’-generation Honda Civic has – on average – driven less than 400 metres annually across the last three decades.

The 2024 Honda Elevate has been unveiled in India, with an electric version of the small SUV due in three years.

Honda is preparing to launch a new 'global' budget-priced SUV next month, and there's a chance it could come to Australia as an entry point to the line-up.

A fault in the hybrid Honda Civic electronic control unit (ECU) can eliminate fault codes without warning or confirmation.

After comparing 12 of Australia's most popular three-row SUVs head-to-head, the top pick for drivers has been revealed.

Here are the cheapest family SUVs to own and maintain over five years.

The results of Drive's latest family SUV comparison are in and the safest model for families has been crowned.

We welcome the first double-cab ute to take the overall Drive Car of the Year award. But, how did we get here?

2011 saw William and Kate tying the knot,Charlie Sheen cause enough trouble in Vegas to see him relinquish his role in Two and a half men to the very wooden Ashton Kutcher and I was killing time at the local Honda dealer while my wife was shopping. Whilst it was not necessarily love at first sight something about the glistening pearl white Odyssey caught my eye. Like a "mullet" this sleek urban sleeper was Business at the front and party at the back.Visualising the need to carry an entire basketball team on Saturdays and then enough building supplies on Sunday to build an Ark. Doing the school drop off and pick up thing in style and comfort was appealing. I negotiated a price and a decade latter this sleek chariot still delivers. Its native habitat is loitering outside schools ,cafes and supermarket car parks.It does like to amble through country roads and makes a perfect road trip vehicle. The ride is relaxed and confident but not at all sports orientated, If pushed hard it can be prone to understeer. The Odyssey produces 132kw/218nm and averages 9.1lt/100km on 91ulp, if you live your life a quarter mile at a time this car is not for you. Build quality is exceptional, no rattles and only a slight amount of wear on drivers seat. Speaking of seats these Leather seats offer more support than an old pair of speedos and are heated in the front. With just under 45,000 cup holders and storage nooks you will never be short on space. The 3 zone air-conditioner will keep the tribe colder than Scott in the Antarctic when you need it and hotter than a Turkish steam bath in winter. A blue coloured hue illuminates the angular cabin and gauges at night which adds interest to the dark coloured dash and surrounds. Materials are firm but hard wearing. Clear reversing camera ,Sat Nav, bluetooth connectivity and the ability to watch a DVD on the small infotainment screen all add to the enjoyment of this 7 seater mobile lounge room. A tasteful body kit gives the car an aggressive look but is low at the front and can get battle scars easily. Thoughtful features like puddle lamps, headlight washers and fog lamps are welcome. Like all cars it is flawed, its not quick or overly fuel efficient and doesn't have the latest and greatest in safety features but it does what is required without fuss and still looks relevant.Good job Honda.

The MY19 Honda Civic Sedan is here! With a minor facelift from it's previous Bold statement restructure in 2016. The New Civic Sedan still has the same number of standard models, 5, starting from the Base VTI all the way to the top VTI-LX, so what's changed in the new facelift Civic? Here, I'm talking about the Mid Spec VTI-L, which comes in at around From $31,795 drive away, adding $600 extra for metallic paint. One thing you will notice is that All civic sedan models will now come with the Black front grill standard except for the Base VTI, compared to the previous Civic where it was only available on the RS Model. To me, it give the styling a bit more sportiness and looks better compared the Chrome grill. The major feature that is now standard on this Model is Honda Sensing, which was previously only available on the flagship VTI-LX, this offers AEB, FCW, LDW, LKAS, ACC and high beam support assist. This is a big tick for me and for Honda, with most buyers now wanting/needing the active safety tech to now be basically standard on all models, this however is still not the case with Honda, but is has improved with now the VTI-L, RS and VTI-LX now standard with that active safety Tech. The cloth seats are really comfortable and give good support. The the VTI-L will also come with a leather wrapped steering wheel. It will get your usual front/rear sensors, reverse camera, 17inch alloy wheels and Apple CarPlay and android Auto. One of my favourite features though is Lane watch. This is a camera under your left mirror which will appear on the touch screen when you turn on your left indicator. Which is really handy, you get to see what's on your blind side without having to turn your eyes off the road, look it may not be Blind spot monitoring, but still very handy. Power from the Civic VTI-L comes from the previous 1.5LT Turbo Petrol engine, which is put together with a CVT transmission. CVT's are everyones favourites, but I think it actually works pretty well with this engine, it drives smoothly and just seems to work well together. With 127KW and 220NM of torque, it definitely gets the job done for you and has plenty of power. But with the turbo, it may get a bit noisy if you really put your foot down. Fuel consumption has risen from 6.0l/100km to 6.3l/100km which isn't a deal breaker for me, it's still pretty good for the engine size and the car itself. The steering overall is fairly good, but at low speeds it can feel a little bit heavy especially going around corners or reverse parking. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto worked well and I didn't have any complications when using it. I love the digital Speedo in the car, it clear and bright and seems to be very accurate when giving you readings. The reverse camera isn't the best i've seen and used, but it's not horrible. Now with the complications, The new MY19 Civic has had a couple of removals from some it's models, in this VTI-L spec, you'll no longer get DAB radio and paddle shifters, which look aren't deal breakers, plus your getting Honda sensing which is great, but would of been nice to keep those and add Honda sensing rather than have to compromise those to add the safety into this model. You'll also get a lack of rear USB charging and air vents as well, look the Civic Isn't the biggest Sedan out there, but it should have at least have one of those two options. The Civic is Baked with a Standard 5 year Unlimited Km warranty, which is pretty solid, no roadside assistance. You also get Tailored serving which is similar to capped price servicing which is also an added bonus. Overall the new Civic Sedan MY19 needs to definitely be on your shortlist if your looking for a Sedan, Great safety Tech, followed with a great interior and exterior styling and very good technology.

As a die-hard car nut raised on a diet of Top Gear and Gran Turismo, when it came to purchasing my first car, I was set on something reasonably quick, engaging to drive and most importantly, having a manual gearbox. After more late nights trawling through internet classifieds than I’d like to disclose, I found this 2005 Integra Type S in Milano Red, and, as luck would have it, was located in the same suburb as me! It was also the cheapest Type S in NSW, so it was just within the upper reaches of my uni student budget. For a 2005 model, the Type S was pretty well equipped. In line with performance Honda tradition, a six-speed manual transmission was the only option for shifting cogs. Leather seats, a sunroof, rear parking sensors and a 6-stacker CD player came as standard. I quickly upgraded the stereo to one with a reversing camera as the rear visibility is almost non-existent when backing up. Three and a half years later and the Type S continues to put a big smile on my face with the way it drives. It’ll do 0-100 in 6.5 seconds, which was considered reasonably fast in 2005, and still feels quick enough today. This sensation is made all the more exhilarating when VTEC kicks in at 6000rpm. The change in cam profile is very noticeable, and like most N/A Hondas, you really have to work the engine to unlock this performance. It’s tremendously addictive. The real jewel in the Type S’s crown is the way it attacks corners. This is a hard riding car, make no mistake, and the stock suspension will make sure your spine picks up everything from potholes, to speedbumps, much more than an average small hatchback. The upshot of this is an engaging feel which rewards keen drivers on a good b-road blast. Even without the limited slip diff of the Type R, the Type S gives a lot of confidence in its levels of grip when combined with ContiSport MC5 tyres. For the most part, the gearbox has a really solid feel to it. There’s a great sense of satisfaction that comes from rowing the gears when you’re out of the city. A well-known fault of the Type S’s 6-speed transmission is the shift from 2nd to 3rd gear often crunching, and my car is no exception. Forums will point to various fixes like changing the transmission fluid, but I’ve found putting effort into the shifts (i.e. driving it properly) is the best remedy. As my Type S nudges closer to the 200,000km mark, I’ve been nothing short of impressed by its reliability. It’s never left me stranded. Apart from the usual wear and tear, the only major work I’ve done is replacing the worn engine mounts to the more track-focused HardRace units. After growing tired of the front headlights becoming cloudy, I ordered a new set of Mars Performance Halo lights which dramatically improved the aesthetics of the car. I’ve attempted to install various performance parts with not much luck, with my mechanic informing me that Honda had a habit of changing parts every two or so years, so even if a part was ‘DC5 compatible’, there’s no guarantee it’ll fit or not require heaps of other supporting parts. A design flaw of the DC5 generation of Integras is the tail light gaskets leaking water into the boot. I discovered this when my spare tyre well became more like a swimming pool after a particularly brutal storm. New gaskets and rust-proofing was promptly undertaken. My main gripe with my Type S is how poorly the red paint has lasted. Honda calls the shade ‘Milano Red’, but these days it looks like ‘Milano Pink’ from fading in the sun. Unfortunately I’ve also seen the same results with Jazz’s and Accord Euro’s, so my advice is to stay away from this colour if you’re looking to buy a Honda. You might not think of a coupe as a very practical car, but the packaging of the DC5 (FWD, front engine) means the boot is surprisingly large, especially with the rear seats folded down. I’ve fitted everything from the non-folding deck chairs my mum impulse-bought on Facebook marketplace to two full-size cellos. On one occasion I was even able to give three mates a lift, and fit their luggage in the boot. I sometimes wonder what the Integra would be like if it was still made today. It would probably have a bit more power, a lot more tech, and a heavier kerb weight as a result. But, if the current FK8 Civic Type R is anything to go by, it shows Honda can still make a hardcore sports car which can appeal to the inner child within all of us. Simply put, I can’t imagine a better first car for the money.

Even for a car that’s now 12 years old, Honda’s knack for style, flair and overall quality is clear. I bought our Milano (pink, and more on this later) red Accord Euro luxury navi for a song, as a wholesale customer trade in. And you’ll be hard pressed to find more car for the money. This is my wife’s car and by 2008 standards it is loaded with fruit. Full leather, heated front seats, a pretty decent stereo, plenty of airbags, vehicle stability assist, great looking 18 inch alloys, dual zone climate control, navigation, front and rear parking sensors, and even a reversing camera. Want me to go over that list again? Try getting all of this as standard equipment on an Audi, BMW or Benz and you’ll be left wanting. The interior is a genuinely nice place to be. You sit in the seats rather than on them, with back, head/neck, shoulder and lumbar support all very good. Headroom is fine for taller drivers, although it might be slightly compromised in the back seat. At suburban speeds, the car is whisper quiet. At highway speeds, the car is still whisper quiet. It’s also very comfortable and in typical Honda fashion, the ergonomics are excellent. All the buttons are where they ought to be and work with precision. About the only complaint I can make is the rear view mirror. It just sucks. Tiny field of view. How does it drive? Beautifully. The steering feel is a touch muted, but the handling is instant and direct with very little body roll. The Euro was always the sportier variant and it shows. Give it some beans, with a twist here and there and it grips like a cat on carpet. Very confidence inspiring, just don’t go expecting sports sedan levels of performance. The 148kw 2.4L iVETC loves to rev, but the torque curve is set pretty high so there’ll be a few gear changes if you want to drive spiritedly. The cars faults? There are a couple, and both are annoying. The K20 engine’s valvetrain tensioner has developed the infamous start-up rattle. This was common among many Honda models with the same engine. It will last 1-2 seconds then stop, and only seems to happen on a cold start up. Replacing the tensioner will be very expensive, and internet searches suggest the problem may even happen again in the future. Opinions from well-trained mechanics are divisive, some rating it mild whilst others say it’s severe so definitely something to be mindful of. The other fault is Honda’s notorious Milano Red paint. Quite simply, don’t buy a red one and I can’t stress this enough. There is a flaw in the actual pigment that sits underneath the clear coat, so once it fades (inevitable), no amount of machine polishing or detailing magic will alleviate the problem. Overall, a fully specced Accord Euro is a great value long term buy. They are cheap to own and insure, extremely comfortable to drive, and plenty seem to amass big km with a minimum of fuss. Find a one owner example that’s had every service done by Honda and you’ll be laughing.