Twenty Years of Honda Innovation and We’re Still Reaping the Rewards

Did you know that Honda is one of the most innovative companies in the world? While best-selling models like the Civic, Accord, Pilot, and Ridgeline often take the spotlight, Honda got its start building motorcycles before broadening its focus to automobiles, marine engines, aircraft, and beyond. As your Rochester used Honda dealer, we’re excited to show you Honda’s keen focus on innovation through three of its most popular models and how much the automaker has achieved in the last two decades. This makes investing in a used Honda a wise financial decision because you know the exceptional innovation you’re getting in the Honda brand.

Honda’s lineup for the new millennium included best-selling models like the Accord and the Civic, as well as the CR-V, Insight, Odyssey, and Passport. The dawn of the 2000s marked another wave of innovation for Honda as the automaker completely redesigned the Civic for 2001. The seventh-generation Civic was sporty, stylish, efficient, powerful, and more spacious than ever. This pushed the sedan into a class of its own and earned it widespread praise from drivers and experts alike. It was also the first vehicle in the industry to earn a five-star safety rating for both frontal and side impacts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Honda introduced the Civic Hybrid to the lineup in the years following before completely transforming the Civic once again for its eighth generation debut in 2006. Offered in America as a coupe or sedan, the Civic bid a fond farewell to its past and ushered the sedan into a future complete with advanced technology and safety features, new powertrains, and an expressive style. These updates were well received, but Honda wasn’t content to rest on its laurels.

With the debut of the tenth-generation Civic, Honda reintroduced Americans to the Civic hatchback and unveiled the first-ever Type R to reach our shores. While the tenth-generation Civic impressed with its fastback exterior design and modern technology, Honda upped the ante once again with the cutting-edge 2022 Civic that now ushers the best-selling sedan into its eleventh generation with clean lines, an upgraded chassis, and more technology than ever.

As the Civic gained more momentum in the new millennium, Honda sold its five millionth Accord in the United States and immediately set out to make the sedan safer and better. Honda engineers developed a side curtain airbag system that transformed the industry by reducing the risk of head and neck injuries in side impacts. The system debuted on the Accord, which saw another round of celebratory updates with its seventh generation debut in 2003. The 2003 Accord struck a chord with drivers looking for more power courtesy of its new 240-horsepower V6 engine, more standard safety features like anti-lock brakes, and exceptional efficiency.

The trend continued over the next several generations starting with the 2008 Accord that offered many new firsts. These included the all-new Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, active noise cancellation, four-wheel disc brakes, and the largest V6 in Accord history, delivering 268 horsepower. Technology was the focus for the ninth-generation Accord that debuted in 2013. This technology extended from Honda’s first-ever direct injection 2.4-liter engine to the newly designed continuously variable transmission that maximized efficiency and performance.

With Honda selling its ten-millionth Accord in America by 2014, it came as no surprise when the automaker unveiled the latest generation of the Accord just a few years later in 2018. This time, instead of focusing on one area, Honda completely redesigned the best-selling sedan from the ground up and from the inside out. Today, the Accord continues to pay homage to its rich legacy in the Honda fleet while showcasing a lighter and more aerodynamic design, a beefier engine, and a luxurious interior replete with intuitive technology and modern conveniences.

With the Civic and Accord leading the sedan segment, Honda answered the growing demand for a large SUV with the introduction of the Pilot in 2003. Marketed as the “Ultimate American Family Adventure Vehicle,” the Pilot offered a versatile eight-passenger design with a powerful V6 engine that made the SUV capable and fun to drive. With optional features like the Honda Satellite-Linked DVD Navigation System and the Honda DVD Entertainment System, the Pilot led the segment of family-friendly SUVs and consistently proved it could meet the many demands of the driver and every passenger in its plush three rows.

The Pilot’s popularity ushered in a new round of updates for its second-generation debut in 2009. Determined to make the Pilot more versatile and sophisticated, Honda increased the Pilot’s size, made several design updates, and added an array of standard features that added to the SUV’s remarkable value. These updates included a standard rearview backup camera and center LCD touchscreen as well as Bluetooth capability, a redesigned front fascia, and additional active and passive safety features for greater peace of mind.

Honda introduced the 2016 Pilot to widespread acclaim as the SUV marked the third generation to be designed, developed, and built on American soil. Setting the new benchmark of American innovation, the new Pilot was reengineered from the ground up to accommodate the evolving needs of drivers and their passengers. Equipped with a new body structure and a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, the Pilot also saw the inclusion of modern technology like the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assist tools. It also introduced drivers to a new level of luxury in the Honda lineup, with the Pilot Elite offering several firsts, including ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated second-row seats, and a panoramic glass roof.

Over the last two decades, Honda has continuously raised the bar of innovation and proven its position as a leader in the automotive industry. In turn, this has challenged other automakers to dream bigger and work harder. The new millennium saw the opening of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, which was the first automotive “Zero Landfill” plant in America and reflected Honda’s commitment to a greener future. Today, the plant is responsible for producing world-class vehicles like the Odyssey, Ridgeline, Pilot, and Passport.

Honda’s vision for a brighter future has always been limitless and stretches beyond the walls of its cutting-edge Alabama plant. Just as it urges its competitors to dream bigger, Honda did the same and unveiled its first fuel cell electric vehicle – the FCX Clarity – in 2007. Relying on hydrogen gas to power its electric motor, the Clarity gave drivers a glimpse into the future and was another example of Honda’s innovation.

By 2016, the Clarity made its way to Honda’s California market, where it reflected Honda’s commitment to a future of zero emissions with its promise to deliver a 366-mile range on a tank of hydrogen fuel. Today, the Clarity has been joined by a variety of alternative vehicles, including plug-in hybrid models like the Insight and traditional hybrids like the CR-V and Accord, all of which show Honda’s ongoing ability to innovate and evolve with the times.

This is what you’re investing in when you buy a new or used Honda. Whether you’re shopping for best-sellers like the Civic or the Accord, an SUV like the Pilot, a truck like the Ridgeline, or a minivan like the Odyssey, every Honda vehicle embodies the automaker’s lifelong commitment to leaving the automotive industry and the world a better place. This is what it means to join the Honda family, and it’s why Honda remains one of the best-selling automotive brands in the world.