Honda

Honda drives save the drive-in theater campaign

Like soda fountains and mom and pop markets, drive-in theaters could be the next symbol of American culture to disappear. The reason, the nearly 375 remaining drive-in theaters in the United States will be required to convert to digital projection by the end of 2013. The cost is $80,000 per theater and that expense would prevent many drive-ins from staying open. But Honda isn’t too keen on letting another symbol of Americana disappear. And to hopefully prevent the loss of the theaters, the carmaker has undertaken The Save The Drive In campaign to preserve the concept that began 80 years ago. Drive-ins date to June 6, 1933 when inventor Richard M Hollingshead, Jr. opened the first location in Pennauken, New

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Best Used Cars: 2012 Honda Civic

Introduced 40 years ago as a two-door model and soon after in a three-door hatchback, the 1972 Honda Civic included a basic AM radio, heater, foam-cushioned plastic trim, two-speed wipers, and painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut cap. A lot has changed in four decades. Now in its ninth generation and its first redesign since 2006, the 2012 Civic showcases one of the best-selling cars in history at its best. Like all Honda models, the 2012 Civic is available in numerous configurations with gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variations. The gasoline-engine lineup includes a sedan, coupe and two Si performance versions. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Like driving a Volkswagen Beetle or Toyota Corolla, test driving a Honda

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Honda Pilot, 2013: Workhorse in tough SUV segment

Nearing the end of its 12th year, the Honda Pilot is the manufacturer’s largest and only three-row sport utility vehicle. As such and after two new generations and various updates, the 2013 Honda Pilot maintains its image as the workhorse in the Honda lineup. The Honda Crosstour, which debuted in 2010, is longer. But the big, boxy and utilitarian Pilot is built with reinforced frame rails, which assist in towing and light off-road driving. It has plenty of head and legroom and a high roofline for mega hauls from the grocery store or to store camping equipment or to carry lumber to build a new backyard fence. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2013 Honda Pilot is much the same

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Best Used Cars: 2012 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is arguably best car available currently in the United States when considering its versatility. The 2013 model is the vehicle’s 20th model year. But last year’s edition, which debuted at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, is a good value as two-year–old model. Despite is “van” status, the Odyssey is a powerful and performance oriented for its class. It features a 24-valve, 248-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its has 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds and comfortable seating for seven adults. The Weekly Driver Test Drive I drove the five-door Touring Elite, the most expensive of five available trim levels. In addition to the vast list of standard equipment on the LX, EX and EX-L models,

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Best Used Car Reviews: 2006 Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic is the best-selling compact car in the United States, and the Japanese automaker didn’t arrive at this industry-leading plateau by happenstance. Yet, instead of playing it safe and leaving good enough alone, Honda redesigned the Civic for 2006. As such, with primary competitors Ford, Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen all also improving their respective offerings, the compact category is among the industry’s most competitive. Honda also knows well that plenty of choices in a leading line can’t help but be a good thing, even if it has gone slightly overboard. The Accord, for example, is available in 30 configurations; the Civic is offered in 20 varieties. (Editor’s note: With this review, theweeklydriver.com begins a new feature. We’re visiting

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Honda Civic proves small is huge in IIHS safety tests

Honda has long been known for its efficiency, reliability and resale values. And its stellar safety reputation isn’t too bad, either considering the Honda Civic just received  auto industry top honors among compact and sub-compact cars. Many of its competitors didn’t fare so well. The two-door and four-door Honda Civic have received “good ratings” front-end crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Half of the 12 compact and subcompact cars IIHS tested fared poorly and six performed well. Safety is critical in the fast-growing small-car market, with many buyers downsizing from larger vehicles. In addition to the two Civics, the Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and the 2014 Scion tC were “acceptable.” The Chevrolet Cruze

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Honda Accord Hybrid, 2014: 49 mpg

The enduring Honda Accord will likely expand its popularity this fall with the debut of the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid that will achieve a predicted 49 mpg. Scheduled for delivery to dealers in the United States in October, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid will be a close sibling to the Honda Accord gas model. The differences: hybrid badge, LED running headlights, a blue-accented grille, a spoiler and a more aggressive wheels. The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid will be available in three options in its two-motor drive: EV, Hybrid, and Engine. In EV mode, in low speeds and medium to high cruising speeds, the 2014 Accord Hybrid will utilize its lithium-ion battery to run the car on electricity. The hybrid mode

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2013 Nissan Pathfinder: best family affair on wheels

There was a time when categorizing a car as a “family car” translated into “boring car.” But that generalization, once well-founded, is now long gone. With 2013 models, including the top-rated Nissan Pathfinder, a new definition is particularly necessary. Family cars are great for families and some great family cars, like the Honda Odyssey and Honda CR-V, are so versatile, they’re ideal for families of one, too. Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the esteemed vehicle assessment site, likes car lists and one of its best annual lists is its Best Family Car list. The editors at KBB have selected the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder their No. 1 choice. The editors reported: “This year’s number one isn’t just all-new for 2013, it’s completely

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Honda Civic Si, 2013: Coupe or sedan, it’s a sports car (video)

With the 2013 Honda Civic Si, there’s no transmission choice. The coupe and sedan only have a six-speed manual transmission option, which is a good thing. It further complements the once basic, competent Civic in its transition into its current sports car-like coupe or sedan. My weekly driver was the 2-door, 4-seat coupe. In addition to 17-inch wheels, the re-tweaked Civic has a new front grille, a new rear design and a host of other more subtle upgrades, including better-constructed seats. The more handsome sculpted design is matched with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder, 201 horsepower engine. Driving the 2013 Civic is surprising since its personality — handling to acceleration — is more like its upscale relative, Acura. Which makes a lot

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2013 Honda Civic Si: New sporty look rekindles iconic reputation

Despite its lofty, top-10 perennial yearly sales status and more than 40-year longevity, the ninth generation Honda Civic was hastily introduced in 2012 among quickly increasing competition. Some critics called it a disaster, other were more kind with descriptions like ill conceived. As a result, for second straight year, Honda re-did the Civic for 2013. It’s not a new generation, but there are enough changes everywhere on the car that the Civic’s fall from grace was a one-year-and-out ordeal. The Civic is back strong and in its proper and well-deserved place among the most successful cars in history. The Weekly Driver Test Drive It’s a toss up most of the time. The convenience of an automatic transmission, particularly with continuously

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Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda in massive global airbag recall

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi combined will recall more than three million vehicles dating to 2000 and for an often-repeated, recent-year auto industry woe — defected safety equipment. The latest crisis involves airbag inflators made by Takata, the Japanese safety gear producer. Takata made the products from 2000 to 2002. It’s the biggest recall involving Takata since 1995, when several automakers called back a then-record almost nine million vehicles to replace faulty seat belts made by the Japanese company. “It looks like the cost of the recalls may be pretty big,” Satoru Takada, a Tokyo-based analyst at Toward the Infinite World Inc., referring to Takata, told Reuters. “It doesn’t seem like something that would be easy to identify and fix.

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Mazda6, 2014: Sporty, redesigned sedan challenges Toyota Camry, Honda Accord

The 2014 Mazda6 is a slickly redesigned mid-size sedan that retains Mazda’s sporting nature, while providing lots of practicality. The new front-drive Mazda has to be good because it’s in a tough market. Rivals include the well-established Toyota Camry and Honda Accord—besides the popular Hyundai Sonata and new Ford Fusion. Virtually everything about the made-in-Japan 2014 Mazda6 is new, including the body, interior, powertrain and suspension. The stiff new unibody has straighter frame rails and more high-strength steel. A really nice thing about the new Mazda6 is that all systems work together flawlessly, making the car feel “just right.” The quick electric steering is nicely weighted, and the ride is supple. Handling is sharp, helped by anti-roll bars and dynamic

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Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Sonata among top-10 best used cars

The automotive industry had a lot of surprises in 2012, not the least of which was a recent yearly record for used car sales. More than 40 million used cars sold last year, the highest total since 2007, according to a report on Cars.com. The used car totals by CNW Market Research detailed that for every new sold in 2012 , nearly three used cars sold. The numbers prompted Cars.com to rekindle its former annual list of the top-10 used cars available for around $10,000. The list includes cars seven years old or newer and selected with some safety and reliability criteria. The top-10 list includes some expected vehicles, like the always-reliable Honda Civic, and there are surprises like the

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Honda Accord, 2013: Family sedan turned luxury car

Now approaching middle age, the Honda Accord has been among the top-selling cars in the United States for nearly 25 years. The first generation was launched on May 7, 1976 as a three-door hatchback with 68 horsepower, a 93.7-inch wheelbase and weighing about 2,000 pounds. For 2013, after several manufacturers began to match the Accord’s quality and offer better warranties, Honda acquiesced and debuted a complete redesign. Among a vast array of other attributes, the Accord now has a 109.4-inch wheelbase and weighs 3,559 pounds. The Accord, available in more than a dozen configurations and as a coupe and sedan, has come a long way, including the V6 Touring edition, my weekly driver. It features a 24-value, 3.5-liter, V6 with

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Honda Civic Natural Gas: A Weekly Driver 2012 Top 10

Thirteen years after its unceremonious debut in California as the Civic GX, the rebranded Honda Civic Natural Gas vehicle turned age 1 in 2012 and it remains the only natural gas vehicle available nationwide. Honda initially marketed the car to government agencies and commercial users. But beginning in 2005 individual consumers could also lease the car. In the fall of 2011, the Honda Civic Natural Gas received its new name and was for the first time included nationally in Honda’s marketing campaigns. For nine straight years, the Honda GX and (and now the Natural Gas) have been rated first in the “Greenest Vehicle of the Year” by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. A decade ago, the EPA first

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Honda Odyssey 2012: A Weekly Driver 2012 Top 10

The 2012 Honda Odyssey continues the 19-year history of the exceedingly popular family van. The current style — a larger and wider body, lower roofline and a more sleek and modern appearance — debuted at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. Despite is “van” status, the Odyssey is a powerful and performance oriented for its class. It features a 24-valve, 248-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its has 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds and comfortable seating for seven adults. I drove the five-door Touring Elite, the most expensive of five available trim levels. In addition to the vast list of standard equipment on the LX, EX and EX-L models, the two Touring trims offer a bunch more. The Touring

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