Currently, no Honda passenger car in regular production uses rear-wheel drive. Historically, Honda did offer rear-wheel-drive sports cars, notably the first‑generation NSX and the S2000, but these are no longer in production. For two‑wheeled vehicles, motorcycles are powered by the rear wheel via chain drive, which is a different drivetrain concept from automotive rear-wheel drive.
Current Honda lineup and drive layouts
To understand where rear-wheel drive stands in today’s Honda catalog, here is a snapshot of common drive configurations across their mainstream models. The vast majority of Honda cars are front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on several sport/utilitarian models.
- Civic — front-wheel drive
- Accord — front-wheel drive
- CR-V — front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive
- HR-V — front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive
- Pilot — front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive
- Ridgeline — front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive
- NSX (current generation) — all-wheel drive (hybrid system)
- Civic/Accord family notes — no rear-wheel-drive configurations in current production
In short, buyers looking for a rear-wheel-drive Honda car today will not find one in the regular lineup; the brand emphasizes front- and all-wheel-drive setups, with the NSX offering a high-performance AWD approach rather than RWD.
Historical rear-wheel-drive Honda models
Honda did produce notable rear-wheel-drive sports cars in the past. While they’re no longer in production, they remain part of Honda’s legacy for enthusiasts who seek RWD dynamics.
- Honda NSX (first generation, 1990–2005) — rear-wheel drive with a mid-mounted V6
- Honda S2000 (2000–2009) — rear-wheel drive roadster with a high-revving inline-four
Beyond these, Honda’s lineup in various international markets included other rear-wheel-drive niche models or sport variants, but the NSX and S2000 are the most widely recognized examples in contemporary automotive history. For completeness, it’s worth noting that Honda motorcycles are not cars and are powered via the rear wheel through a chain drive, reinforcing the distinct meaning of “rear wheel” in two-wheeled versus four-wheeled vehicles.
Summary
As of today, Honda does not offer a rear-wheel-drive car in regular production. The brand’s focus is on front-wheel-drive platforms and available all-wheel-drive systems, with the high-performance NSX using an AWD hybrid setup rather than traditional RWD. Historically, the S2000 and the first-generation NSX were notable rear-wheel-drive Honda models, reflecting a bygone era of Honda sport coupes and roadsters. For riders seeking rear-wheel-drive dynamics, the motorcycle segment, where power is delivered to the rear wheel via chain drive, remains distinct from automotive configurations.