Choosing the right car often feels like trying to pick a favorite child—except your car doesn’t leave its socks all over the house. Balancing cost, reliability, and features is no easy task, but U.S. News & World Report has done the homework for you. Their latest rankings highlight four Honda models as the "Best Cars for the Money" in their respective categories: the 2025 Honda Civic, Accord, Passport, and Odyssey. Translation? These cars give you the best bang for your buck without making you feel like you just bought a clunker at a yard sale.
Honda Civic: The Compact Car That Refuses to Quit
The 2025 Honda Civic continues its reign as the valedictorian of the compact car class. This little overachiever delivers exceptional fuel economy, reliability, and a surprisingly refined interior. Whether you opt for the sedan or hatchback, you’re getting a vehicle that effortlessly blends efficiency with fun.
Let’s talk numbers: The base model gets an estimated 33 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, meaning you can drive past gas stations smugly while others cry at the pump. The Civic’s 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is plenty peppy for zipping around town, and if you want a little more excitement, the turbocharged 1.5-liter variant pumps out 180 horsepower—because why should compact cars be boring? Inside, Honda’s no-nonsense approach to user-friendly technology means you get a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety? The Civic practically wraps you in bubble wrap. Standard Honda Sensing includes collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control—helpful for those moments when the driver in front of you suddenly decides they don’t believe in turn signals.
Honda Accord: The Gold Standard of Midsize Sedans
The Honda Accord has been the responsible adult in the midsize sedan segment for decades, and the 2025 model doesn’t disappoint. It combines an elegant design, a roomy interior, and performance that doesn’t make you question your life choices when merging onto the highway.
Under the hood, the Accord offers two powertrains: a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 192 horsepower or a hybrid option that churns out a combined 204 horsepower. The hybrid variant delivers an EPA-estimated 44 mpg combined, making it ideal for those who prefer spending their money on vacations rather than gas.
Inside, you’ll find an upscale cabin with an intuitive 12.3-inch touchscreen (a significant upgrade from previous models) and a comfortable, well-laid-out interior. Road noise? Practically non-existent, thanks to Honda’s impressive sound insulation. And if you’re a parent, you’ll appreciate the built-in rear seat reminder—because nothing ruins a grocery run like realizing your kid’s lunchbox is still strapped in the backseat from three days ago.
The SUV That Can Actually Handle Adventure
For those who refuse to drive a boring SUV, the Honda Passport is here to save the day. This midsize, two-row SUV combines rugged capability with everyday comfort, making it perfect for both city commutes and weekend getaways where you pretend you enjoy camping.
The 2025 Passport comes with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, giving it enough muscle to tow up to 5,000 pounds—ideal for hauling a small camper, boat, or that over-the-top tailgating setup. It also comes standard with all-wheel drive, which is great for tackling snow, mud, or just the poorly maintained pothole-ridden streets of your city.
The interior is spacious, with up to 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space when you fold the rear seats down. Need room for your adventure gear, Costco haul, or a particularly large dog? The Passport has you covered. It also comes with Honda Sensing, because just because you’re adventurous doesn’t mean you want adventure every time someone swerves into your lane.
Honda Odyssey: The Minivan That Makes Parenting (Slightly) Easier
Minivans get a bad rap, but the 2025 Honda Odyssey proves that practical can still be cool—or at least tolerable. If you have kids, pets, or a chaotic carpool situation, this is the vehicle that keeps you from losing your mind.
Under the hood, the Odyssey packs the same 3.5-liter V6 found in the Passport, delivering 280 horsepower. It’s quick for a minivan, meaning you won’t feel like you’re driving a bus. The Odyssey’s Magic Slide second-row seats make it easy to access the third row—because let’s face it, getting kids in and out of a car is already like herding cats.
Tech features include a 10.2-inch rear entertainment system, CabinWatch (a built-in camera that lets you keep an eye on the back seats), and CabinTalk, which lets you speak to rear passengers through the speakers. No more yelling over the sound of Paw Patrol reruns. And yes, it even has a built-in vacuum, because kids are basically snack-spilling machines on wheels.
