Honda Celebrates Award-Winning Success and Cultural Icon Status in the UK

Honda is beginning 2026 on a high, celebrating major recognition for both its current model range and its enduring influence on automotive culture.

At the 2026 What Car? Awards, the Honda Civic was crowned Family Car of the Year, while Honda itself secured the coveted Reliability Award following its top-ranking performance in the What Car? Most Reliable Brand survey at the end of 2025. Together, the accolades underline Honda’s reputation for quality, dependability and everyday usability.

The Civic’s award follows its 2025 model update, which introduced refreshed exterior styling and subtle interior enhancements to further improve comfort, refinement and premium appeal, while retaining the model’s acclaimed efficiency and hybrid performance.

Commenting on the Civic’s win, What Car? Editor Steve Huntingford said:

“The Honda Civic is one of the most spacious and practical family cars on sale. Plus, it manages to combine a comfortable ride with fun handling. Its hybrid set-up delivers gutsy performance, quiet running, and superb real-world fuel efficiency. And, if you buy on PCP finance, you get all of this for a competitive price.”

Honda’s reliability accolade further reinforced the brand’s strengths, with Huntingford adding:

“While Honda always performs well in the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, 2025 saw it move up to the top spot. For starters, it had the lowest fault rate of any brand. And on the rare occasions that problems did occur, these were put right swiftly and at no cost to owners.”

Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda Motor Europe – UK, commented:

“We’re delighted to see the Civic recognised once again, and to receive further validation of Honda’s long-standing reputation for reliability. These awards reflect the dedication of our teams, our retail partners and the trust our customers place in the brand. It’s a fantastic way to begin 2026.”

Honda Civic

Alongside its success in the new car market, Honda is also celebrating its legacy through a new collaboration with Mattel. Mattel, Inc. has announced the launch of two Mattel Brick Shop™ Hot Wheels® building sets inspired by iconic Honda performance models, marking Honda’s debut within the Mattel Brick Shop Speed Series™.

The collection features the Custom ’90 Honda Civic EF and the ’07 Honda S2000, both authentically recreated in buildable 1:32 scale. Designed for adult collectors, car enthusiasts and building fans, the sets celebrate Japanese performance heritage and ’90s tuning culture through highly detailed builds, real metal elements and extensive customisation options.

To mark the launch, the buildable models were displayed alongside full-size vehicles, showcasing their true-to-scale proportions and accuracy, from distinctive body lines to headlights, window elements and exterior detailing. The S2000 build also features an authentic windshield and spoiler, faithfully reflecting the real car’s design.

Both sets include opening doors, interchangeable wheel covers, custom decal sheets, a Hot Wheels signature metal plate and an exclusive matching 1:64 scale die-cast car, strengthening the link between the buildable models and the Honda icons that inspired them.

Ted Wu, Global Head of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel, said:

“The Honda Civic EF and S2000 are true icons of Japanese performance culture, and through Hot Wheels and Mattel Brick Shop, builders can now celebrate these vehicles by recreating them with their own customisation to display on their shelves.”

Rebecca Adamson added:

“Honda vehicles have long been celebrated for their performance, design and connection to car culture around the world. Seeing icons like the Civic EF and S2000 reimagined through Mattel Brick Shop gives fans a new, hands-on way to engage with the engineering and spirit that define the Honda brand.”

The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Honda sets will be available at select UK retailers including Amazon, Smyths and The Entertainer, as well as internationally. Both sets are designed for frustration-free building, featuring smooth resin bricks and clear step-by-step instructions.

Together, Honda’s latest industry accolades and its celebration through collectible builds highlight the brand’s unique position—combining award-winning modern vehicles with a lasting cultural impact that continues to inspire enthusiasts of all ages.

Registrations & Market Context

Honda retains a stable presence within the UK’s hybrid-focused C-segment and crossover market. Its streamlined line-up, centred on advanced self-charging hybrid technology, aligns closely with buyers seeking improved fuel efficiency without transitioning to full electrification.

While operating with a more focused model range than some competitors, Honda continues to deliver steady performance in key passenger car and compact SUV categories.

Fleet Insight

Honda’s strong brand equity and long-standing reputation for engineering durability make it a low-risk proposition for fleet operators. Its hybrid-led strategy supports reduced fuel consumption and lower tailpipe emissions, helping organisations meet environmental targets without introducing charging infrastructure complexity.

For fleets prioritising reliability, predictable maintenance costs and driver familiarity, Honda offers a stable and proven solution.