Honda vs. Toyota Comparison
Honda and Toyota are the two biggest non-domestic automotive brands in the US market. That makes the competition between these two fierce and it might not be entirely clear which one is the better buy. That’s why our team at Germain Honda of Surprise has put together this guide, using data from independent third-party sources to show why there is only one answer to this question. We hope you find it informative.
Car & Driver 10Best
Over the last 40 years, the Car & Driver 10Best list has become an institution in the US automotive market, a yardstick for mainstream car brands. This is especially true for Honda, since it has won more 10Best awards than any other brand and it’s not even close. The Accord alone has won more than all but a handful of brands and Toyota isn’t one of those. In total, Honda has close to 100 total wins with 39 of those going to the Accord. Toyota has won significantly less and they’re mostly for low-production performance models. T Honda won three this year1 with the Accord, Civic, and CR-V each taking home a victory in 2025. Car & Driver probably said it best themselves a few years back in the January 2023 issue:
”What’s the old saying? Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Accord making C/D’s 10Best list?“
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Choice Awards
No matter if you’re hitting the road for the first time or you’re an experienced driver looking to upgrade your vehicle – it’s essential to select a brand that has a proven reputation for quality before making a final purchasing decision. In commanding fashion, Honda has been named Best Overall Brand in the annual Kelley Blue Book Consumer Choice Awards2. The team of critics at KBB base their selections on a manufacturer’s ability to retain strong brand characteristics and foster long-lasting trust with their customers. Honda was chosen for the brand’s continued reputation for durability, reliability, initial quality, and superior resale value. In fact, a total of 6 brand-level awards were received by Honda. For reference, Toyota did not manage to earn even a single brand-level award in the Consumer Choice Awards.
- Best Overall Brand: Honda
- Most Trusted Brand: Honda
- Best Value Brand: Honda
- Best In-Vehicle Experience Brand: Honda
- Best Performance Brand: Honda
- Best Overall EV/Hybrid Brand: Honda
Cars.com American Made Index
When we said in the introduction that Honda and Toyota are the two biggest non-domestic brands, that was going by a slightly outdated definition of domestic. While Honda wasn’t founded in the US, many of the Honda models sold in the US are assembled here. Cars.com does a thorough breakdown of how much American labor goes into building not just the vehicles themselves, but the components too, and ranks them according to US-made content3. Honda has more models (5) listed in the top 15 of the American-Made Index3 than Toyota (2). A testament to the brand’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and supporting the American workforce, Honda is the clear choice when it comes to manufacturing right here in the United States.
- 2. Honda Passport (Lincoln, AL)
- 5. Honda Odyssey (Lincoln, AL)
- 6. Honda Ridgeline (Lincoln, AL)
- 13. Honda Accord (Marysville, OH)
- 14. Honda Pilot (Lincoln, AL)
Winner – Honda
Honda and Toyota might look similar on paper since both make safe and reliable vehicles.When you dig into the details and get the facts from independent third parties, it really isn’t so close. Reviewers rave about Honda and they do so consistently year after year. Let Germain Honda of Surprise show you why Honda generates so much excitement.
1Source: 2025 Car and Driver – https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/trio-of-honda-civic-accord-and-cr-v-threepeat-as-car-and-driver-10best-winners-honda-extends-lead-as-winningest-brand-in-the-awards-history
2Source: Kelley Blue Book Consumer Choice Awards 2024 – https://mediaroom.kbb.com/2024-03-27-Kelley-Blue-Book-Announces-Winners-of-2024-Consumer-Choice-Awards
3Source: 2024 Cars.com American-Made Index – https://www.cars.com/american-made-index/