What makes a car brand the best?
It takes a solid lineup of vehicles that attract consumers with exceptional engineering, a compelling design, high build quality, and a strong record of reliability. There are also a lot of intangibles – such as how you feel every time you get behind the wheel.
At Honda, we take our passenger car lineup seriously. We are committed to delivering the best in affordable and attainable vehicles – most of which are assembled here in this country. The Civic and Accord sedans have been hallmarks of our business since 1973 in the U.S.A.
U.S News and World Report continues to recognize the good work Honda has put into their Civic and Accord lineups. This is why we were awarded "Best Car Brand" for 2026 by the magazine for the fifth consecutive year.
The magazine's Best Brands Award is an evaluation of the 39 nameplates sold in the U.S. towards recognizing industry-wide excellence across six key segments of the automotive market, including cars, SUVs, trucks, and luxury vehicles. These awards honor automakers with the most desirable key brand attributes that excite and attract car buyers. These winners must possess the best combination of performance, interior quality, safety, and reliability within their respective categories.
The editorial staff of U.S. News and World Report determines the award winners by averaging the overall score of all the brand's products in each award class. The vehicle scores are derived from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings, which consider a range of data points, including safety ratings and reliability data, as well as the consensus opinion of the automotive press. The brand with the highest average score was designated as the winner in that specific category.
All Civic and Accord models scored highly on U.S. News and World Report's survey for performance, interior quality, safety, and reliability. The award encompasses all variants of both models – including the Civic Type-R.
Now in its 11th generation, the 2026 Civic has been the vehicle of choice for many people. From the breakthrough CVCC engine to the VTEC system, every Civic was made to deliver great fuel economy, superb practicality, and driving enjoyment. It's no wonder that it has been the most popular compact in the U.S.A. since 1973. It remains the popular choice of vehicles for Gen Z consumers and is also the top choice for first-time automobile customers.
Entering into its 50th year, the 2026 Accord sedan has set the standard for mid-size sedans. Comfort is at the top of the list for sedan buyers, and the 11th-generation Accord delivers a choice of a turbocharged gasoline engine and a hybrid driveline. It has become the choice of Millennial and Gen-Z consumers, as well as customers across all backgrounds.
One of the attractions to both the 2026 Civic and Accord is its hybrid drive system. In its fourth generation, the system is powered by a combination of a gasoline engine and two electric motors. The result is dynamic performance while delivering exceptional fuel economy. This driveline helped earn the Civic Hybrid the 2025 North American Car of the Year.
Michael Hohl Honda is proud to offer these two award-winning sedans, designed to deliver everyday excellence with every mile. Contact us to check out the 2026 Civic and Accord lineups soon!
