Why isn’t Honda popular in NZ? Barely see anyone driving them

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Why isn’t Honda popular in NZ? Barely see anyone driving them

NglButiLoveTechnolog

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#323167 2-Nov-2025 15:44

Hey all, I just wondering, I hardly ever see Hondas on the road here. You see tons of Toyotas, Mazdas, Mitsubishis, and even Kias and Hyundais, but Hondas feel super rare. Is there a reason for that? Are they just not importing many models, or do people avoid them for resale/service stuff? I know they’re huge overseas, so it feels weird they’re basically invisible here.

Anyone got experience with this or know what’s up with Honda in NZ?

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#3430126 2-Nov-2025 15:49

Must depends on your part of NZ. There are a lot on the road on the North Short of Auckland.

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Spyware

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#3430127 2-Nov-2025 15:50

Nonsense. I have two Hondas.

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#3430128 2-Nov-2025 15:53

Mainly because they have an agency based dealer model, so they won't negotiate on price and as a consequence they generally don't sell to fleet operators.

They also have a reasonably limited model range; currently five mainstream models plus two niche models. The Civic is the only current model with a five star ANCAP rating, so that might also be affecting sales volumes.

ps2jak2

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#3430129 2-Nov-2025 16:00

There are plenty of Honda Fit (Jazz), CR-V, HR-V and even Odysseys around NZ so its possibly down to your location? Civics exist too but they're definitely not as popular as they were.

My own example of "vehicle regional variance" is Ford Everest's. They're always relatively high on the sales chart but you just don't see them in the Wellington region (at least the parts I frequent) despite Rangers being very popular here. I saw quite a few Everest last time I was in Auckland earlier this year though.

Linux

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#3430130 2-Nov-2025 16:01

Loads of Honda cars on the road

SaltyNZ

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2degrees

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#3430134 2-Nov-2025 16:52

We had an Odyssey for a while...

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#3430135 2-Nov-2025 16:54

Not many models these days, great engines but a lot of electric issues. Accord Euros were shocking for door, window and electric seat issues

lxsw20

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#3430137 2-Nov-2025 17:02

My 98' Spec Integra Type R was the most fun car I've ever had, wish I never sold it.

MikeB4

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#3430138 2-Nov-2025 17:06

We own a 2025 Honda Jazz and considering the Honda CRV as a second vehicle to replace the Mitsubishi.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Goosey

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#3430140 2-Nov-2025 17:19

I just had a play with the nzta motor vehicle dashboard…

year to date = 10k plus Hondas registered this year as new

I think the dashboard probally best viewed on a PC..

Scott3

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#3430144 2-Nov-2025 17:51

2% of New Vehicle sales (2024)

8.5% of used imports (Sept 2024).

They are reasonably popular.

How many of them you see is likely to do what demographics you spend time in.

Their Fit / Jazz is very popular.

As are their minivans (which now only come to NZ as used imports. Odyssey, Freed etc).

Civic type R has quite a following.

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They don't have sell any Utes (in NZ or japan), off road style SUV's, or larger 7 seat SUV's to compete with the likes of the Toyota highlander (They market their current CR-V as a large SUV, Never been in one, but sure most buyers assume it is a midsize that competes with the Rav4). Accord is also gone from the line up.

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Untill recently they had no EV's, I know one household that had owned a long succession of honda's, and brought a MG as the e:N1 didn't exist at the time.

And frankly toyota has been dominating the non plug in Hybrid space.

If we compare the Rav4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid. They honda is dramatically more expensive then even the top trim rav4, is rated to use more fuel, is FWD (vs AWD on all Rav4 hybrids atm), has half the tow rating etc.

The having no EV's (untill the e:N1), and hybrids that are perceived to lag toyota, operating in segments where EV's & Hybrids are doing well puts Honda in a trick spot for retail sales.

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Honda has decided they don't want to play in the fleet game in NZ (typically fleets expect big bulk discounts on retail prices, some like europcar have an average fleet age of 7 months, basically turning their fleet super fast so they can sell near new cars at prices similar to (I assume) their discounted prices).

Private buyers only make up 35.9% (May 2025) of new auto buyers in NZ, so this puts a serious limit on the number of cars they can sell in NZ.

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#3430147 2-Nov-2025 18:02

There are plenty of grey imports coming in but Honda's current line-up of NZ new models isn't very appealing or competitive when compared to other Japanese and Korean manufacturer's. I still see them about but not in the same numbers as the other manufacturers from Japan and Korea.

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#3430201 2-Nov-2025 18:32

They are every where in Rotorua , you cant drive down the road without seeing a Honda Stream , i have one the next door neighbour has 2 Hondas mind you there isnt a electric or new car in the whole street of 40 houses, so i guess they are popular with lower to mid income people.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

farcus

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#3430203 2-Nov-2025 18:46

I spend a lot of time on the road - urban and countryside every day. I see them all over the place in Canterbury - particularly Jazz / Fit and Rav4s

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#3430213 2-Nov-2025 20:06

I have a 33 year old one 😂

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