Forget buying a Toyota, Mazda or a Hyundai! This brand should be on your shopping list as it's producing some of its best models in decades! | Opinion

If you’ve bought a new car recently, you’re probably aware of how insanely competitive the Australian new-vehicle market is.

Right now, there are just shy of 50 car brands all vying for your attention, and there are more on the way.

But there is one brand that’s been around a while now - since 1969 in fact - that should be on a lot more shopping lists than it’s currently on.

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Honda, the Japanese carmaker that’s gone from zero to hero to zero, is back to hero! Well, sort of.

Honda’s current crop of products is - for the most part - excellent. But it wasn’t always so.

Back in the 1980s and early-to-mid 90s, Honda had an unbeatable reputation. The cars were known for overall quality and reliability, and the brand was even seen as the BMW of Japan.

Of course, Lexus would have something to say about that, and the Toyota-owned marque has been firmly in BMW territory for a long time now.

During that period Honda sold exciting models like the Prelude, Integra and CR-X sports cars and even the NSX supercar, but bread and butter models like the Accord and Civic were also highly regarded.

But the early 2000s saw a shift away from fun and fabulous, and while the models weren’t necessarily bad, they were uninspiring. Except for the brilliant S2000 convertible, of course.

Then the Global Financial Crisis hit in 2007 and Honda made some fiscal decisions that saw budget cuts to R&D, and that resulted in some seriously average models. Again, not awful, just meh.

But I am pleased to say those days are over! My CarsGuide colleagues and I have driven the latest batch of Honda models and it is clear that Honda is back to its best.

Since Honda shifted to the agency dealer model a couple of years ago, its sales slumped, but the company says this was anticipated. After the changeover, there were fewer dealerships, and sales staff no longer had the pressure of hard targets or negotiating with the buyer on price.

At the time, Honda also dropped some models that no longer fit with the direction the brand was heading, namely the Odyssey people mover, Jazz hatchback and City light car.

Under the agency model, all stock is owned by Honda Australia and the pricing structure is set by the company. Prices are the same for all Honda models and dealers across the country. No bargaining, no throwing in floor mats, and all prices are drive-away - so inclusive of on-road costs which can add up to $5000 to a price-tag.

A lot was written about the agency model at the time of the change, and some pundits were forecasting a gloomy future for the brand, but Honda seems to have settled into this new way of doing business.

I can see a number of positives. There is no haggling when you buy. I know some people love to haggle. I hate it. It makes me - and a lot of people - uncomfortable. So I am thrilled it’s gone.

Knowing exactly how much a car is going to cost before you enter the showroom is also a good thing. And, a couple of exceptions, the standard spec in the latest models is generous.

And one of the other benefits is Honda’s servicing program. Every single model in its range - from a base HR-V to the wild Civic Type R hot hatch - is covered by a five-year capped-price servicing scheme where you will pay $199 per service - that’s it.

I know, I know, it sounds like I have drunk the Kool-Aid. But I have had a couple of years to analyse this and while there will be some people who would rather haggle, I see few drawbacks of the agency model from a customer perspective.

Anyhoo, back to the product.

As mentioned, there is some stiff competition out there, and that’s very evident in the family-friendly medium SUV segment.

I have just attended the media launch of the sixth-generation Honda CR-V, the brand’s iconic first SUV and a global favourite nameplate since the mid-90s.

The CR-V is priced incredibly well for what you get, and it comes with a long list of standard features. It’s also exceptionally well packaged inside, has loads of space, comes with a hybrid option and a couple of seven-seat grades, and is a looker. It is right up there with the best SUVs in the medium segment.

Similarly, I recently drove a ZR-V 1.5-litre petrol for the first time. That is also a damn good SUV and it’s an absolute hoot to drive - Honda calls the ZR-V its ‘dynamic SUV’, and I can see why.

It’s about the size of a Mazda CX-5 and is perfect for a small family or a couple and is also priced keenly with a lot of safety and in-car tech.

I reckon the HR-V is the most stylish small SUV you can buy and is also a delight to drive in hybrid or petrol guise.

There are some questionable inclusions, like a plastic steering wheel in the base grade (gross), and some people have an issue with the lack of centre rear seat. Yes, the HR-V is a four-seater, but honestly, who in their right mind is putting three people in the back of a very small SUV these days? The rear seat of cars like that is usually used by its owners for extra cargo and shopping space.

The current Civic hatch has been praised since its launch in late 2021, and while the entry grade is quite pricey at $47,200 drive-away, the e:HEV hybrid is quite simply one of the best small cars to arrive in Australia in years. Don’t just take my word for it - read Byron’s review.

Of course, the Civic Type R is also seen as a winner in the hot hatch segment, and this generation does away with the boy racer styling. It’s classy, but also an absolute blast to drive.

That just leaves the Accord. The current Accord sedan is fine. Not bad, not great. However, the new 11th-generation model that’s now on sale in the US, is a stunner! And it looks to be a return to form for the long-running nameplate.

Honda Australia is yet to confirm the model for the local market, but it is likely to be offered here eventually as a flagship sedan. Fingers crossed.

As you can see, there’s been a big improvement in Honda’s model range lately and that hot streak continues with the CR-V.

Something to keep in mind before you duck into a Toyota, Mazda or Hyundai dealership.