Honda has once again solidified its position as a leading automotive brand, securing more 2025 Car and Driver 10Best Awards than any other manufacturer for the third consecutive year. This remarkable achievement underscores Honda’s commitment to producing top-quality vehicles across its lineup. The coveted awards recognized the Honda Civic and Accord in the 110Best Cars category and the Honda CR-V in the 10Best Trucks and SUVs category.
This year’s wins bring Honda’s total Car and Driver 10Best trophies to an impressive 95 since the awards’ inception over 40 years ago. This is a record unmatched by any other brand, and it highlights Honda’s consistent excellence and innovation in the automotive industry. Notably, Honda has had at least one model featured on the prestigious annual 10Best list every year since 1983, showcasing sustained quality and appeal across generations of vehicles.
Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, expressed the company’s enthusiasm: “Winning three prestigious Car and Driver 10Best awards for the third year in a row speaks to the passion our Honda engineers and production associates pour into these products for our customers. We’re pleased that electrifying Civic, Accord and CR-V has been received so well because it is a promising sign as we head into the electrified future.” This statement highlights Honda’s strategic move towards electrification, a direction clearly embodied by the upcoming Honda Prologue all-electric SUV. The recognition for their hybrid models signals a strong foundation for Honda as they expand their electric vehicle offerings, with the Prologue poised to potentially continue this legacy of excellence.
The Honda Accord stands out as the most awarded vehicle in Car and Driver 10Best history, achieving an astounding 39 wins, including a continuous streak of 27 years. This unparalleled record reinforces the Accord’s enduring popularity and critical acclaim. The Civic, another mainstay of the Honda lineup, secured its 11th 10Best award, while the CR-V earned its 6th win, and third consecutive in the Trucks and SUVs category.
Honda’s focus on efficient and engaging hybrid technology is clearly paying off. The Civic hybrid, Accord hybrid, and CR-V hybrid models are central to Honda’s electrification strategy. Currently, hybrid versions account for over 50% of both Accord and CR-V sales, and are projected to make up 40% of Civic sales. These models are equipped with Honda’s advanced two-motor hybrid system, celebrated for its efficiency, dynamic performance, and enhanced driving comfort. Tony Quiroga, Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver, praised the Civic hybrid, noting, “The new hybrid model maintains the handling and practicality all Civics enjoy, boasts the best fuel economy numbers in the lineup, and it’s as quick as the performance-oriented Si.” This praise for Honda’s hybrid technology is a strong indicator of the potential success awaiting Honda’s fully electric vehicles like the Prologue, as consumers and critics alike recognize Honda’s engineering prowess.
To be eligible for the Car and Driver 10Best list, vehicles must be new or significantly updated models priced under $110,000. Car and Driver editors rigorously evaluate each vehicle, assigning scores based on extensive testing over two weeks. The 10Best Cars and 10Best Trucks and SUVs lists are released concurrently, representing the pinnacle of automotive excellence as judged by Car and Driver.
Honda’s commitment to American manufacturing is also highlighted, with all three 10Best-winning models being built in North America. The Accord is manufactured in Marysville, Ohio, where over 12.8 million Accords have been produced since 1982. The Civic Hatchback is built in Indiana, with the Sedan produced in Canada. North American Civic production exceeds 11.5 million units, with over five million from the U.S. The CR-V is produced across three North American plants, including Ohio and Indiana in the US, and Canada, with approximately half of the 6 million North American CR-V production being in the United States. The two-motor hybrid system powering these award-winning hybrids is also manufactured in Ohio, further demonstrating Honda’s significant North American footprint.
As Honda continues to lead in both traditional automotive excellence and the shift towards electrification, the Car and Driver 10Best awards serve as a powerful endorsement. The success of the hybrid models and the overall recognition from a respected publication like Car and Driver set a positive stage for Honda’s future electric vehicles. With the Honda Prologue SUV on the horizon, these accolades suggest a promising future for Honda in the electric vehicle market, hinting at potential future Car and Driver awards for their all-electric endeavors. Honda’s dedication to quality, innovation, and adapting to the evolving automotive landscape positions them as a brand to watch in the electric era, with models like the Prologue poised to capture the same critical acclaim as their award-winning predecessors.
