When it comes to providing U.S. buyers with a wide range of high-quality choices in the compact segment, one car stands out: The 2012 Honda Civic. In fact, “the Civic is hands-down the most comprehensive compact car on the market,” according to the experts at About.com, which recently named it one of the Best Cars of 2012.

The honor is a strong proof point for the success of Honda’s “To Each Their Own” positioning for the Civic, designed to showcase the many different models available to meet customer demands, including traditional coupe and sedan body styles; the performance-oriented Civic Si sedan and coupe; the high-efficiency Civic HF, capable of 41 mpg highway; the Civic Hybrid, boasting an EPA line of 44 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined; and the only manufacturer-built passenger car in America that runs on natural gas, the Civic Natural Gas—slated for nationwide availability in 2012 and also named Green Car of the Year.

The 2012 Civic was chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), too, recognizing the car’s top performance in tests for front, side, rear and rollover crash protection.

Further, as About.com’s Aaron Gold reports, “whichever Civic you choose, you’re virtually guaranteed years of trouble-free motoring. … I wish other automakers offered this much choice in their own compact cars.”

Just remember, however, they don’t; the only place you can get this many options in the highly competitive compact segment of the market is your local Honda dealership.

Although it was introduced as a “concept,” the athletic, expressive Honda Accord Coupe recently unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will change little when it goes into production later this year—which is good news, because the show car, which previews the redesigned 2013 Accord family, had a lot to offer.

That includes a fresh new exterior design language that puts a sportier spin on the Accord’s chiseled good looks, led off by a new honeycomb-style grille, recessed multi-reflector headlights, and lower fog light spoilers featuring exquisite inlays of crystallized chrome. Strongly sculpted side character lines add a dynamic touch as well, and the car’s new appearance is cleanly finished by a bold rear fascia in which geometrically shaped, integrated exhaust tips provide a visual echo to the front’s fog light treatment.

That custom-style sheet metal then wraps up three different, all-new powertrain choices for the Accord roster, including the first U.S. application of Honda’s “Earth Dreams” 2.4-liter I4, with direct injection for enhanced fuel economy. It makes about 181 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque, and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Although the automaker didn’t mention specifics, the word is that “the new four-cylinder-equipped 2013 Accord models are targeted to deliver class-leading fuel economy.”

A re-engineered 3.5-liter V6 also will be offered in the Accord family, and this bigger powerplant will be the first from Honda to leverage a new six-speed automatic transmission; a six-speed DIY gearbox will be available, too. The result will be more power than is on tap with the 2012 V6—meaning the engine will make in excess of 271 hp/254 lb.-ft. of torque—plus, again, expected in-class fuel-efficiency leadership.

Saving the best for last, the 2013 Accord Sedan will be the first in the U.S. to boast Honda’s advanced two-motor plug-in hybrid powertrain. This system combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle I4 engine, a 6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a 120-kW electric motor and an electric CVT for optimized driving efficiency in all scenarios. The difference-maker here is that the system automatically and continuously chooses the right driving mode—all-electric, gasoline-electric hybrid and gasoline-engine only—to optimize performance depending on driving conditions.

And this includes up to 15 miles of all-electric propulsion, at a top speed of 62 mph. Per Honda, recharging the battery will take less than four hours with a 120-volt outlet and under 1.5 hours with a 240-volt charger.

Another change for the sedan: Honda engineers reduced its overall footprint to save weight, improve efficiency, and deliver nimbler proportions for quicker reflexes and upgraded handling.

Needless to say, all 2013 Accords will boast plenty of other technologies as well, including safety measures like a rearview camera system, lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning, along with infotainment/connectivity features such as Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and Pandora Internet Radio interfaces, a color “intelligent Multi-Information Display,” and SMS text-messaging support.

The all-new, ninth-generation 2013 Honda Accord lineup goes into action this fall in both coupe and sedan body styles, with the breakthrough Accord Sedan plug-in hybrid to follow next winter.

As savvy drivers know—and the experts at Consumer Reports confirm—it takes more than just a low MSRP for a car to offer high value. Factors such as ownership costs, fuel costs, reliability, utility and (at least) a competent driving experience can be just as important. And when CR took all those attributes into account for some 200 recently tested vehicles, the 2012 Honda Fit didn’t just represent a good value, it offered the best value—in the entire industry.

According to Consumer Reports, “the versatile, fun-to-drive Fit scored among the top subcompact hatchbacks we’ve tested and has had outstanding reliability,” while also posting low ownership costs. The car also showcases an affordable starting price of $15,175, which still brings drivers plenty of standard features, including:

• A four-speaker, 160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA sound system with a USB port and auxiliary jack
• Power windows/locks/side mirrors
• Air conditioning with an air-filtration system
• Cruise control
• Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control System
• Anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution
• One of the most versatile interiors in the segment, thanks to the Fit’s “Magic Seat” flip-and-fold second-row seating

Thrify EPA ratings are part of the value package as well: The Fit is capable of achieving up to 28 mpg city/35 mpg highway/31 mpg combined.

Honda also continues to work to show “value” and “refinement” aren’t mutually exclusive. Thus, for 2012, the Fit benefits from extensive new sound insulation materials in its floor, front fender and A-pillars, along with thicker glass in its front corner windows. New console-mounted cup holders and console ambient lighting have been added as well, with the result being a quieter cabin with a more upscale feel.

The 2012 Honda Fit is on sale at local dealerships now.

When it comes to challenging winter weather, the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V is a clear champ: In fact, the automotive experts at Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com website recently named Honda’s next-gen crossover one of the Top 10 Winter Cars for 2012. That’s thanks to an avalanche of upgrades to the CR-V that includes the automaker’s available Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control system.

As explained by KBB.com writers: “This smaller, lighter and quicker-responding upgrade of the previous Real Time AWD setup helps the latest CR-V cope with challenging traction conditions even more effectively.”

And notably, it does so while providing the best fuel-efficiency in its class—in all components of EPA testing. The all-wheel-drive Honda CR-V is capable of ratings of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, representing gains of 1 mpg/3 mpg/2 mpg over the 2011 model. The 2012 CR-V is as comfortable as it is capable, too, with KBB.com pointing out that: “The people side of the CR-V package benefits from a similarly well-measured upgrade regimen that includes a quieter, more stylish cabin, better ride comfort and a new rear-seat entertainment system option.”

Then, for added peace of mind in potentially slippery driving conditions, the CR-V showcases a wide range of standard safety content, along with a 2012 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Protective equipment on the spec sheet includes electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, a unique front-seat design developed to help reduce the severity of neck injuries during rear collisions, and a plethora of airbags. In addition, the CR-V is underpinned by Honda’s ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure, which is specifically designed to absorb and disperse crash energies in the case of a frontal impact.

All of which means that if you’re looking for a high-quality crossover that excels in winter conditions, the 2012 Honda CR-V is a snow-brainer.

Already a top choice for drivers who want crossover versatility wrapped up in a sleek and sophisticated package, the Honda Crosstour will add two new models for the 2012 model year, both featuring a high-efficiency four-cylinder engine. The 2.4-liter I4 powerplant relies on Honda’s “i-VTEC” variable valve timing technology to improve full efficiency ratings by up to 3 mpg city/2 mpg highway/3 mpg combined as compared to the V6-powered Crosstour models. As a result, the four-cylinder Crosstour is expected to return EPA marks of 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, while still making a peppy 192 hp and 162 lb.-ft. of torque.

In addition, Honda is making more content standard across the entire Crosstour lineup for 2012, including a rearview camera (on models without navigation), automatic dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth’s HandsFreeLink for hands-free calling and Internet music streaming, a USB port, and auto on/off headlights.

The four-cylinder Crosstour EX then fills out its spec sheet with standard equipment like:

• Projector-beam headlights
• A moonroof
• Body-colored power side mirrors with defrost
• Auto up/down driver and front passenger side windows
• Rear privacy glass
• Air conditioning with second-row ventilation
• A 360-watt, seven-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3
• Steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio and phone controls
• Easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seats
• A hidden/removable utility box

Moving up to the premium Crosstour EX-L nets customers a leather interior, heated front seats with the driver’s chair incorporating a memory function, memory-linked side mirrors that also tilt down when the vehicle is put into reverse for enhanced visibility when backing up, dual-zone climate control and an up-level sound system that boasts Kevlar cone speakers and front aluminum dome-type tweeters. The range-topping EX-L trim also includes Honda’s satellite-linked navigation system with a rearview camera with a guideline display.

Drivers who prefer to have a bit more power under the hood can still choose the Crosstour with a 3.5-liter V6, too. Leveraging its own i-VTEC technology, as well as variable cylinder management, this powerful V6 makes 271 hp and 254 lb.-ft. of torque, while still helping the Crosstour reach 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined when configured with two-wheel drive. And even with the automaker’s acclaimed Real Time four-wheel-drive system, offered only on the V6 EX-L model, the Crosstour gets nearly the exact same ratings: 18/26/21.

The four-cylinder Honda Crosstour will be built at the company’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio and go on sale in January.

Making over a vehicle that’s already one of the best-selling, most popular players in its segment is no easy task, and doing it for two vehicles in the same year is twice as hard—which must make the recent news from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com twice as nice for Honda: The next-generation models of both the CR-V and the Civic were named to the website’s list of 10 Best Redesigned Vehicles for 2012.

Of the former, KBB.com lauded Honda engineers for “adding far more style and improving every functional area in the process,” with the result that the 2012 CR-V now “boasts greater comfort, improved fuel economy and enhanced dynamics across the range.” Also on the checklist for the new CR-V is standard equipment like:

• Improved 60/40 rear seats that fold flat in a single step
• Pandora Internet radio and SMS text messaging capabilities
• Honda’s “intelligent Multi-Information Display” (i-MID) with a five-inch color screen
• A multi-angle rearview camera system with guidelines for parking assistance

The 2012 Honda CR-V went on sale December 15 with an MSRP that starts at $22,295.

The Civic, which launched earlier this year, has reclaimed its position as the top-selling compact in the U.S., and the experts at KBB.com are unlikely to be surprised. After all, the website indicated that, despite an “uninspired interior,” the new Civic earned its place on the Best Redesigned list because it was “so good in every other area. … turning in a well-rounded performance highlighted by notably superior daily driving dynamics.”

All of which bodes well for the next Honda vehicle slated for a complete redesign: The new 2013 Honda Accord, scheduled to make its premiere in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Completely redesigned for the new model year, the Honda CR-V—long one of the best-selling crossovers in America—is now on sale at dealerships across the country with an MSRP that starts at $22,295. That’s just $400 more than the 2011 model, even though the new CR-V brings a wealth of new features to the marketplace.

Right underneath the hood, for example, is a redesigned 2.4-liter I4 engine that leverages Honda’s signature i-VTEC technology to deliver more horsepower, more torque and better fuel efficiency. The ’12 CR-V banks 185 hp and 163 lb.-ft. of torque, as well as an EPA line of 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 mpg combined in its front-wheel-drive configuration; that represents increases of 2 mpg/3 mpg/2 mpg as compared to the 2011 model. The all-wheel-drive version, kitted out with an all-new Real Time All-Wheel-Drive with Intelligent Control System, now owns the best EPA ratings in its class, with marks of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined—increases of 1 mpg/3 mpg/2 mpg over last year’s model.

Other new standard features enhancing the 2012 CR-V include:

• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (formerly an option)
• A full-color “intelligent Multi-Information Display” for key vehicle systems
• A multi-angle rearview camera system
• SMS text messaging functionality
• Pandora Internet radio
• Honda’s new Easy Fold-Down 60/40 Split Rear Seat

And for the first time, the CR-V also will offer an available rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

What the new CR-V doesn’t offer, however, is a big-time price increase. As mentioned above, there is just a minor bump to the price of the base model, and the average price increase across the whole lineup is just $181—models with navigation actually see a $300 decrease to their MSRPs.

“For 2012, we’ve made critical upgrades to virtually every aspect of CR-V’s winning formula,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. “The CR-V represents an excellent value for customers with pricing remaining relatively unchanged compared to the outgoing model despite the addition of numerous new features, improved fuel economy and enhanced utility.”

The brand-new 2012 Honda CR-V already is a Top Safety Pick of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and recipient of a Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value award.

Showcasing a driving range of 123 miles on a single charge in the EPA’s city-cycle testing—and expected to net a combined-driving range of 76 miles—the 2013 Honda Fit Electric Vehicle recently made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

“The Fit EV is the next critical step in Honda’s portfolio approach to alternative fueled vehicles,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, American Honda Motor Co. “There is no other automaker on the planet whose spirit is more deeply invested in the effort to realize a cleaner, more energy-efficient and ultimately more sustainable transportation future than Honda.”

The gas-free Fit will retain the tidy dimensions and impressive interior versatility of the traditional model, but host a power train specifically designed to maximize efficient driving. The heart of the matter is a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery mated to a 92-kW coaxial motor, with the latter based on the same proven unit used in Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel-cell EV. Then, to enhance appeal even further, the Fit EV will feature a three-mode driving system adapted from the one used in the sporty Honda CR-Z hybrid.

In Econ mode, key vehicle systems are automatically re-calibrated for optimum efficiency and can deliver up to a 17 percent improvement in driving range; Sport mode adds a notable power boost to allow drivers to take advantage of the Fit’s nimble proportions. The Normal driving mode delivers an ideal mix of both characteristics.

Honda is taking a cautious approach to launching the Fit EV, and will begin by offering the vehicle for lease in the summer of 2012 in select California and Oregon markets. Availability will expand to a number of East Coast regions by early 2013, with Honda carefully monitoring customer acceptance to determine future sales plans. Pricing will start at $36,625 before any federal, state or local incentives, with lease rates beginning at $399 per month.

For more information, please visit www.FitEV.Honda.com.

Long a segment leader in terms of fuel efficiency, features and versatility—and sales—the Honda CR-V has been completely redesigned for the new model year to build on that success by offering more of everything.

It all starts under the hood, where the CR-V’s redesigned engine, along with notable improvements to the vehicle’s aerodynamics, work together to give the new model a healthy increase in fuel economy: The 2012 CR-V has achieved EPA ratings of 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 mpg in its front-wheel-drive configuration and a particularly impressive 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined when fitted with Honda’s all-new “Real Time All-Wheel-Drive with Intelligent Control System.” Stellar fuel-efficiency performance is further enabled by a new Eco Assist feature that provides instant efficiency feedback to help coach more economical driving—and is a standard feature on the CR-V—and a standard, driver-selectable ECON Mode that retunes key vehicle systems for high-efficiency operation.

But even as both versions have seen a more than 10 percent increase in highway fuel-economy alone, they also enjoy a minor bump in power, too. The CR-V’s advanced 2.4-liter I4 engine with Honda’s i-VTEC technology now makes 185 hp and 163 lb.-ft. of torque.

And while those aforementioned aerodynamic enhancements included making the exterior slightly shorter in both height and length—and delivering best-in-class aero performance—Honda engineers were still able to deliver more room for passengers on the inside, as well as best-in-class cargo area. Using that cargo space is easier than ever, too, thanks to the CR-V’s fold/tumble 60/40 second-row seats, which can disappear to create a flat load floor; there are two one-touch release mechanisms, one for folding the seats from the second-row door area and one for doing so via the vehicle’s rear cargo area.

Further, that extra interior space is kitted out with a wide range of new standard features, including Honda’s full-color intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID), a multiple-angle rearview camera, SMS text-messaging functionality, a Pandora Internet radio interface and hands-free Bluetooth compatibility (formerly available only as an option on the CR-V). Also making its debut on the 2012 CR-V: An available rear-seat DVD entertainment system that adds to a long list of available content, such as:

• The automaker’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition
• Premium audio systems, including a seven-speaker 360-watt setup with XM satellite radio capabilities
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• A power moonroof
• Heated front seats and a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat
• Automatic dual-zone climate control

Now also showcasing a sleeker, more sophisticated exterior that helps create a more premium appearance, the 2012 Honda CR-V is scheduled to go on sale in mid-December of this year.

The annual Automobile Magazine All-Stars are often picked from the upper echelons of the industry, with this year’s team including cars like the Audi TT RS, Ferrari 458 Italia and Spyder, and Porsche Boxster and Cayman—and the 2012 Honda Odyssey. And not only is the Odyssey the only minivan on the All-Star team, but it’s now made the squad two years in a row.

Plenty of credit goes to the Odyssey’s interior, which is versatile enough to hold up to eight passengers or multiple 4’ x 8’ pieces of plywood. In addition, as Automobile Magazine’s Phil Floraday points out, the 2012 Odyssey also “raises the standard” for rear-seat entertainment system. The range-topping Odyssey Touring Elite boasts an integrated setup with a 16.2-inch LCD monitor that can display output from two different sources on the same split screen, along with a 12-speaker, 650-watt audio system with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

“However, what really makes the Honda Odyssey stand out from the rest of the minivan segment is how well it drives while executing the usual chores,” according to Floraday. “Steering weight and feel are about as good as it gets for a van, as are ride and handling. Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management system enables the 3.5-liter V6 to run on as few as three cylinders, resulting in an EPA rating of up to 28 mpg on the highway.”

That’s best-in-class highway fuel economy that is a full 4 mpg higher than in the four-cylinder rival from Toyota. Also best-in-class are the Odyssey’s safety ratings, as it was the first—and remains the only—minivan to achieve both a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

“One of our drivers called our Four Seasons Odyssey ‘the best family road-trip vehicle’ in the fleet, but that’s just one of the many hats this Honda can wear, including cargo van, soccer shuttle, pulse accelerator, and sensible commuter,” wrote Floraday. “Capability, capacity, comfort, and efficiency in the same package? An All-Star, indeed.”