Consumer Reports says Honda losing design competitiveness

[namegoeshere]

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...s-laurels.html

We recently announced that the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic scored too low in our tests to recommend. Each car we test must pass a threshold in road test score for it to be recommended. It’s no surprise that such a knock against a perennial top-selling small sedan generated a lot of reaction and debate. But something has often been missed in the conversation: Consumer Reports has been chronicling a decline in Honda’s design competitiveness for the last few years.

Don’t get me wrong. For the most part, Honda makes well-rounded, reliable, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Some of Honda’s products, like the Fit, Odyssey, and Ridgeline, and Acura MDX, still are near or at the top of their respective categories.

But Hondas no longer dominate our Top Picks list; as recently as 2006, Honda built five out of the 10 Top Picks. Most of their best products (Fit, Ridgeline, MDX) are older designs. In comparison, Honda’s recent track record with redesigns of some of their key products—as well as some of their all-new models—shows some disturbing trends.

Most of these redesigns have better fuel economy than the model they replaced. They also do well in recent, more-stringent crash tests. But there are some common shortcomings:

Stopping distances are often long.
Fit and finish is declining. More cheap-looking materials are appearing. (Toyota has been prone to this, too.)
We’ve been complaining about Honda road noise for years. While it’s improved in some of their recent products (Accord Crosstour, Odyssey), it’s still an annoyance in many of their other cars.
A long-time hallmark of Honda was that the cars were fun to drive. Even mainstream models had great steering feel and body control—both essential ingredients for driving involvement. That entertainment quality has been disappearing with each redesign. The Insight has sloppy on-limit handling with too much oversteer, despite its stability control.
Honda is stingy with standard equipment and their options structure (or lack thereof) can make it hard to get what you want. Since Honda doesn’t offer options, you usually wind up paying for other features you might not want. For example, want Bluetooth or an ambient temperature display in a Civic? Hope you don’t mind paying for a sunroof in the EX model. (Honda might be listening: They added equipment like a backup camera to lower levels of the Odyssey and Crosstour for 2012.)

As Honda (and several 2012 Civic owners) responded to our recent Civic news, their cars are often reliable, fuel efficient, and have strong resale. But steady competition means that those factors just aren’t enough. The car should be a really good car, too. We’re getting the feeling that recent Honda designs aren’t aiming at being great, but rather at being good enough. Why tell someone to spend their hard-earned money on something that’s just good enough?

Maybe part of the problem is that old assumptions are becoming blurred. A Ford Fusion is more reliable than the Accord, not to mention quieter and nicer to drive. Hyundai and Kia are building fuel-efficient and well-equipped cars at aggressive prices, and they often drive like Hondas used to. Hondas are traditionally priced at the upper end of their respective segments. Perhaps the company feels the need to become more competitive requires cost-cutting, but it isn’t reflected on their window stickers.

We hope this serves as a wake-up call for Honda and spurs the company to return to its previous excellence of making fun cars with impeccable interiors. Resting on its laurels is no recipe for long-term success.

[MayorMcCheese]

imo i feel like honda is slowly turning into what toyota is.. but i feel like toyota is evolving into something better now

whatever the case is , honda is losing there touch with sportiness and is becoming dull
acura too is getting too expensive and weirdly designed

[Artema]

Its sad, I hope their other models improve. I still think the Accord Coupe V6 and Civic Si are the best in their categories, but the rest have to feed Honda money to keep those up!

[ikethegreat]

That article captured exactly what I feel. I hope honda execs are paying attention.

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by ikethegreat

That article captured exactly what I feel. I hope honda execs are paying attention.

+1

[SSMV6]

Is Honda losing design competitiveness? Sure. But so is every other car manufacturer. It's just a nasty byproduct of a bad economy. Consumers are trying to cut costs by buying fewer new cars and keeping their cars longer. The manufacturers are trying to cut costs because they want to make a higher margin per car since they are selling fewer new cars. Suppliers are trying to cut costs because they aren't getting as many orders for their parts since the manufacturers aren't buying their $100 part when company B's $80 part works almost as well. It's one vicious cycle that won't end unless there's an upturn in the economy.

I don't expect Honda or any mainstream car manufacturer to continue using the high quality parts they used to. With each MMC, or FMC, expect cheapening of materials and deletion of minor options that most people never knew existed.

[StdDeviation]

Originally Posted by SSMV6

... With each MMC, or FMC, expect cheapening of materials and deletion of minor options that most people never knew existed.

We aren't talking a piece of IKEA furniture but a 20-30k purchase. Expect it? maybe. accept it, no.

[SatinSilver]

The new CRV looks better than the previous gen imo. Looks like it escaped being hit by the ugly stick.

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by SatinSilver

The new CRV looks better than the previous gen imo.

The Crosstour front looks better than the "fat Lip" it had before.

[Dreamacre]

If this is true and the S3000 does make it to Production, then it is a step in the right direction.



http://www.autospies.com/news/New-Fu...a-S3000-35187/

[Dreamacre]

Originally Posted by SSMV6

Is Honda losing design competitiveness? Sure. But so is every other car manufacturer. It's just a nasty byproduct of a bad economy. Consumers are trying to cut costs by buying fewer new cars and keeping their cars longer. The manufacturers are trying to cut costs because they want to make a higher margin per car since they are selling fewer new cars. Suppliers are trying to cut costs because they aren't getting as many orders for their parts since the manufacturers aren't buying their $100 part when company B's $80 part works almost as well. It's one vicious cycle that won't end unless there's an upturn in the economy.

I don't expect Honda or any mainstream car manufacturer to continue using the high quality parts they used to. With each MMC, or FMC, expect cheapening of materials and deletion of minor options that most people never knew existed.

The Koreans are kicking ass in the design department. They are not afraid to put interesting new skins on their cars.

I still don't trust their drivetrain and engine, but I will give them credit for their styling.

[ikethegreat]

^^ "Only those directly involved with the next-generation S2000 project know for sure what the car will be like. We'll know for sure in 2011, after Honda releases the NSX and CR-Z."

Seeing as the NSX never saw the light of day, I have little hope for the S3000.

[SatinSilver]

Hopefully, they won't ruin it with a dumb powertrain. Like the CRZ hybrid. At a minimum a turbo 4 or V6 would be nice. Something that would raise the pulse a little.

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted by ikethegreat

Seeing as the NSX never saw the light of day, I have little hope for the S3000.

I think you maybe correct since the article was printed 9/08(very tiny print) and havn't heard a word about it lately. They better build a CRZ naturally aspirated model but I guess that's asking too much.

[Baldeagle]

These two quotes from the article say it all for me...

"A long-time hallmark of Honda was that the cars were fun to drive. That entertainment quality has been disappearing with each redesign."

"A Ford Fusion is more reliable than the Accord."