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2008 Honda Accord EX-LHonda Accord - enlargeHonda is a Japanese manufacturing company that produces automobiles and motorcycles, among other things. Its present vehicle lineup starts with the 2008 Honda Accord, which is available in sedan (MSRP $20,995 - $30,895, Invoice price $19,092 - $28,038) and coupe (MSRP $22,495 - $28,795, Invoice price $20,448 - $26,141) versions. It competes with other popular mid-size passenger cars like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Ford Taurus. Available engine choices are a 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine; a 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine; and a 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine. Both five-speed manual or automatic transmission are available, plus a front-wheel drive system.
Next is the 2008 Honda Civic (MSRP $15,645 - $30,135, Invoice price $14,462 - $22,029), also available in both sedan and coupe versions. The Civic competes with the Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3, Nissan Altima, Scion tC, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Volkswagen GTI. Available engine choices are a 140-horsepower, 1.8-liter I4 engine (mated with a 5-speed manual transmission) and a 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter, I4 engine (6-speed manual transmission).
The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid compact sedan follows. This model is available in Base (MSRP $23,235, Invoice price $21,423) and Hybrid with Navigation (MSRP $24,985, Invoice price $23,028) trim levels. It competes directly with the Toyota Prius, but also can be cross-shopped with the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid. The Civic Hybrid features a 110-horsepower, 1.3-liter I4 engine, a nickel-metal hydride electric motor battery, a regenerative braking system, deceleration fuel cut-off, an engine auto stop/start, and a permanent magnet motor system. This hybrid sedan also comes with continuously variable transmission and a front-wheel drive system.
The last sedan on the list is the 2008 Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) compact sedan (MSRP $25,225 - $23,809), which competes with the Toyota Prius. This model "looks like a Civic, drives like a Civic, and runs on clean, domestic natural gas."1 It comes with a 113-horsepower, 1.8-liter I4 engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission, a front-wheel drive system, and "was named Greenest Car of 2005 by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy."2
Up next are the Honda sport utility vehicles (SUVs), starting with the 2008 Honda Civic CR-V sport utility vehicle (MSRP $21,335 - $29,035, Invoice price $19,892 - $27,033). This crossover vehicle model competes with the Acura RDX, Mazda CX-7, 2008 Nissan Rogue, Nissan Rogue, Saturn VUE, and Subaru Forester. The Honda CR-V is equipped with a 166-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, and comes in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
Then there is the 2008 Honda Element compact sport utility vehicle (MSRP $19,615 - $24,210, Invoice price $18,297 - $22,558), another crossover vehicle. It competes with the Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Chrysler PT Cruiser, and Toyota Matrix. The Element is equipped with a 166-horsepower, 2.4-liter I4 engine and is available in both manual and automatic 5-speed transmissions.
Rounding out the Honda SUV list is the pricier 2008 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle (MSRP $28,230 - $36,280, Invoice price $25,630 - $32,905), which comes in base Value Package, EX, Special Edition, EX-L, EX-L with Rear Entertainment System, and EX-L with Navigation trim levels. This model competes with the Acura MDX, Buick Rendezvous, Nissan Murano, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Toyota Highlander, and Volvo XC90. The Honda Pilot is equipped with a 244-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6, engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission, and is available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.
Next is the 2008 Honda Fit five-door hatchback (MSRP $14,585 - $16,705, Invoice Price $14,088 - $16,123), which competes with the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio5, Nissan Versa, Scion xD, 2008 Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen New Beetle. The Fit is equipped with a 109-horsepower, 1.5-liter I4 engine, 5-speed manual transmission (5-speed automatic transmission is optional), and front-wheel drive system.
Then there is Honda's entry to the minivan/van segment, the 2008 Honda Odyssey minivan/van (MSRP $26,495 - $41,245, Invoice price $24,062 - $37,391). This model competes with the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, and Toyota Sienna. The Odyssey is equipped with a 244-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission, and a front wheel drive system.
Up next is Honda's pickup truck, the 2008 Honda Ridgeline (MSRP $28,635 - 35,725, Invoice Price $25,996 - $32,403). The Ridgeline is equipped with a 247-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine, an all-wheel drive system, 5-speed automatic transmission, and rear locking differential. his model competes with the Dodge Dakota, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Isuzu i-370, Mitsubishi Raider, and Nissan Frontier. The Ridgeline is Honda's intended first foray into the North American pickup truck market.3
Rounding out the Honda vehicle lineup is the 2008 Honda s2000 compact convertible/roadster (MSRP $34,935 - $37,935, Invoice price $31,689 - $34,400). This model competes with the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, and Chrysler Crossfire Roadster. The s2000 comes with a 237-horsepower, 2.2-liter I4 engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, a rear-wheel drive system, and a rear limited slip differential. Launched in April 1999, the car was created to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary and continues in the tradition of the company’s previous lightweight roadster "S" cars, the S500, S600 and S800.4
Honda was founded by Soichiro Honda, a mechanic, in 1948. Post-World War II, he saw the need for basic transportation even though Japan suffered from financial and fuel difficulties, and set about creating economical products. At present, Honda "also produces a long list of other products: trucks, scooters, robots, jets and jet engines, ATV, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical and other mobile technologies."5 Honda's line of luxury cars are branded Acura in North America and China. More recently they have ventured into mountain bikes.6
A look at Honda's reliability ratings (ConsumerReports.org) showed that the Honda Accord I4 received Excellent ratings for engine, transmission, audio, drive, fuel, climate, and electrical systems, suspension, brakes, exhaust, paint and trim, and power equipment; and Very Good ratings for squeaks and rattles and body hardware. The Honda CR-V SUV also received satisfactory ratings - Excellent ratings for engine, transmission, drive, fuel, climate, and audio systems, suspension, brakes, exhaust, paint and trim, squeaks and rattles, and electrical system trouble spots; and Very Good ratings for body hardware and power equipment.
Hondas are also equipped with security features and have been tested and proven safe. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reflect that the 2008 Honda Civic sedan and coupe both received five stars out of five in frontal crash tests; five stars out of five (driver) and four stars out of five (passenger) in side crash tests; and four stars out of five in rollover tests. A look at the 2008 Honda s2000's safety ratings showed that this model received four stars out of five in frontal crash tests, five stars out of five in front seat side crash tests, and five stars out of five in rollover tests.
A 2008 Honda Civic sedan's base trim level MSRP of $15,010 falls lower than that of the 2008 Nissan Sentra sedan's base trim level MSRP of $15,830 and higher than the 2008 Toyota Corolla sedan's base trim level MSRP of $14,405. Depreciation wise, however, this model is more competitive. Case in point, a 2006 Civic (MSRP $14,560 - $20,290) currently has a resell value falling within the $13,725-range. In comparison, a 2006 Sentra sedan (MSRP $13,200 - $18,300) currently has a resell value falling within the $10,925-range, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla (MSRP $14,105 - $17,880) now has a resell value falling within the $13,150-range.
Honda buyers may also customize and accessorize their vehicles. On its website, those looking around for a Honda can also access the Owner Resources area, where they can get a clearer idea of warranty, parts, and service help available to Honda owners. Upcoming Honda vehicles to watch out for are the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell, hydrogen-powered vehicle, the 2010 Honda Hybrid, the 2009 Honda Pilot, and the 2009 Honda Stream tall wagon.
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