Using a rating based on an average of 345 models, Honda scored 4.0 out of 5.0 for reliability, making it number one out of 32 major auto manufacturers. The average annual repair cost for all Honda owners is $428 annually, with an average of only 0.3 trips to a repair shop each year.
Honda and Toyota are comparable in terms of reliability among affordable car brands. RepairPal identifies Honda as the most reliable brand, while Consumer Reports and iSeeCars prefer Toyota as the most dependable marque.
Honda is often considered better when it comes to standard features and quality, but Toyota is the cheaper and more reliable brand. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding which brand is better for you, so let's look at some of the big ones: price, technology, and reliability.
2004–2007, 2010–2011, 2014–2017, and 2019–2021 are the best years for the Honda Accord. But Accord buyers should stay away from the 2001-2003, 2008–2009, 2012–2013, and 2018 model years. The troubles with these Accords usually involve expensive repairs to the engine and catalytic converter.
Statistically, according to consumer reports, Mazda is the most dependable car manufacturer, followed by Toyota, with the Corolla being the most dependable car. Honda's average reliability rating did not even place it in the top 10. Mazda had an overall model scored 83 for reliability from CR.
The Toyota vehicles also consistently last longer than any Honda. According to statistics based on consumer reports, Toyota is the second most reliable automaker after Mazda, and Corolla is the most reliable model. Honda didn't even make it to the top 10 for average reliability.
All of Hyundai's models scored above 3.5 out of 5 for predicted reliability, while Honda's older models may have an advantage in this aspect. However, if we talk about new cars or SUVs, Hyundai is the clear winner.
Toyota typically wins in reliability while Honda has stronger safety ratings according to Automotive News. Toyota and Honda often rank high in the annual Consumer Reports' Auto Reliability Survey, beating out other automakers such as Mazda, Ford, and Chevrolet.
Toyota: Safety and Reliability. While Honda and Toyota are both known for their remarkably high safety ratings, Honda wins this category with a slightly higher average safety rating for its vehicles. On the other hand, Toyota wins in terms of reliability.
According to this trusted organization, the most reliable cars for 2021 are from brands such as Audi, Buick, Hyundai, and Toyota. The Consumer Reports study is based on surveying more than 400,000 people who own current-generation vehicles made within the last three years.
On average, Hondas have a lifespan of 200,000 to 300,000 miles. Hondas maintain their value well and often have many more years of life in them well past the 200,000-mile mark. Because of this, Hondas are hot in the used car market and usually get snatched up pretty quickly—at reasonable prices.
Overall, RepairPal awards Honda vehicles a 4.0 out of 5 when it comes to safety and reliability—that's number 1 out of the 32 car brands they currently survey!
The new 2022 Honda Civic offers more passenger room and cargo space than the Toyota Corolla. The Honda Civic also has a bigger engine than the Toyota Corolla and produces more horsepower. The bigger, more powerful engine in the Honda Civic also gets better EPA-estimated fuel economy than the Toyota Corolla.
Yes. Mazdas generally hold their value very well. The Mazda car brand is well-known for producing reliable vehicles, and the engines of these cars hold up well in the long term. Some of the Mazda models with the highest resale values include the Mazda 2, Mazda 3, CX-5, and MX-5 Miata.
Attention to detail makes Honda cars reliable
When designing their vehicles, Honda engineers pay attention to every detail. This team of experts goes over everything from engine and suspension components to buttons and dials. With such strict attention to detail comes an inherent level of quality and reliability.
Other differences between Toyota and Honda
Part of the reason why Honda cars are more expensive than ones from Toyota is they typically have a more upscale design. This is especially the case for the cabins, which tend to have a more premium look and feel. Also, Honda has a slight advantage for engine technology.
Compared to other car manufacturers, Mazda takes a conservative approach for manufacturing its cars. For Mazda, the secret to success is sticking with the status quo. Mazda uses many of the same components across all the vehicles in its lineup for consistent quality, including powertrains and technology features.
While Hondas from the 1980s, '90s and 2000s were renowned for their reliability, CR's annual reliability survey—by far the largest in the U.S.—shows a different result for Hondas from the last 10 years. Of the 12 models CR has tested, most exhibited reliability that was just average.
Superior reliability and quality.
Honda sets the standard for reliable, hard-working engines. Our engines are built with high-quality components designed for optimum performance in the harshest environments. But don't just take our word for it.