Most Honda passenger cars are front-wheel drive, with many SUVs and crossovers offering all-wheel drive as an option. Rear-wheel drive is rare in today’s mainstream lineup and largely limited to historic or performance-focused models such as the S2000.
Drive layouts in Honda's current lineup
The following overview highlights the typical drivetrain configurations available on Honda's mainstream models in the United States as of 2024–2025.
- Civic — Front-wheel drive (FWD) only; no AWD option in the U.S. market.
- Accord — Front-wheel drive (FWD) only; no AWD option.
- CR-V — Front-wheel drive (FWD) with Real-Time AWD option.
- HR-V — Front-wheel drive (FWD) with Real-Time AWD option.
- Pilot — Front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional AWD.
- Passport — Front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional AWD.
- Ridgeline — Front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional AWD.
- Odyssey — Front-wheel drive (FWD) only; no AWD option.
Note: AWD availability varies by model year and trim level; check dealer specs for the exact drivetrain on a specific vehicle.
Historical and performance models
In addition to the current lineup, Honda has built notable rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive performance cars in its history. The most famous RWD model is the Honda S2000, a rear-wheel-drive roadster produced from 1999 to 2009. The original Acura NSX was also rear-wheel drive, though the modern NSX uses all-wheel drive. These examples illustrate that Honda’s heritage includes RWD configurations, but they are not representative of today’s mainstream models.
Notable exceptions
The following historical and performance models illustrate the presence of rear-wheel drive (or AWD in current performance hybrids) outside the standard consumer lineup:
- Honda S2000 — Rear-wheel drive (RWD) sports car (1999–2009).
- Acura NSX — Original (1990s) NSX was rear-wheel drive; the current NSX is all-wheel drive.
These examples show that while Honda’s standard car lineup prioritizes FWD with optional AWD on several models, rear-wheel-drive configurations exist in the brand’s performance-focused past and distinct segments.
Summary
Bottom line: For most buyers evaluating newer Honda passenger cars, front-wheel drive is the default and reliable choice, with all-wheel drive commonly available on many SUVs and crossovers. Rear-wheel drive is not a feature of the current mainstream Honda lineup, outside of notable historical performance models like the S2000 and the all-wheel-drive-oriented NSX in its modern form.