Walking around your average Honda dealer, you’re more likely to describe the vehicles surrounding you as “practical” than “exciting.” But enthusiasts know that there’s more to Honda than commuter cars and family SUVs—the brand has long been making vehicles that are aimed at customers for whom driving is a lifestyle rather than a simple method of transportation. So let’s throw practical considerations to the wind and take a look at seven cars from the Japanese automaker that are just plain cool.
#1 – S600
One of the earliest passenger cars ever made by Honda was a coupe called the S600. Produced during the 1960s, this model was one of the first to be sold outside of Japan, which meant that Honda’s international reputation was riding on its success. Though it was never officially sold in the US, it did take a tour around Europe, impressing the foreign audience with its combo of a 1,500-lb curb weight and a redline of 9,500 rpm. These strengths clearly come from Honda’s motorcycle-building expertise, and they give the model incredibly agile handling, sending out the message that Honda was ready to be a real player in the world of cars. Its looks embody the best of classic car styling and put the cherry on top of the package.
#2 – Beat
While Americans like big cars, Japan is more interested in miniature cars, being a small island with plenty of big cities where motorcycles have been the go-to form of personal transport for years. Because of this, there’s a segment in the Japanese auto market called keijidosha, aka kei cars. These cars don’t just have size restrictions; they’ve also been limited to 660 cc of displacement and 64 hp. These are the kinds of restrictions that inspire creativity and can result in glorious creations like the Honda Beat.
A product of the 90s, this tiny mid-engine roadster certainly isn’t a speed demon, but it handles like a dream and is dripping with personality. While the Beat itself is firmly in Honda’s past, it has been an inspiration to more recent entries into the segment, like the 2015 S660, which looks like a mashup between the original Beat and a 10th-gen Civic, and a concept model from the 2011 Toyota Motor Show called the EV-STER (no, seriously) that brings an electric powertrain into the mix and answers the question “What if the Honda Beat existed in the Tron universe?” It’s unlikely that a proper kei car would ever be successful here in the States, but it’s cool to see the kind of creativity that exists in this iconic Japanese segment.
3. NSX
While it was sold under the Acura brand in the States, the NSX wore a Honda badge in Japan, so we’re going to let it have a place on the list. Throughout the 90s and early aughts, this model made it possible to bring up Honda in conversations about supercars from Ferrari and Porsche without getting instantly laughed out of the room. While its V6 wasn’t the most powerful engine, the model made up for that with fantastic balance and a lightweight platform that won over fans by delivering a truly exceptional driving experience. The nameplate was even beloved enough to spark a revival in the 2010s, although this “second generation” was an entirely new design from the wheels up, merely “inspired” by the original NSX.
#4 – Del Sol
In the same era as the NSX, the Del Sol was also an open-top roadster but one that was more budget-friendly and less focused on performance at all costs. Also known as the Civic Del Sol or CRX Del Sol, this funky little two-seater is Honda’s answer to the Mazda Miata: a quirky car built for having fun in the sun. It overpowered and out-sold the Miata in the early years, but its popularity quickly hit a downswing it wasn’t able to recover from. Today, the model is mostly remembered for its removable targa top, which had to be taken on and off by hand on US models. In its day, fans praised it for being a capable sports car that doubled as a livable daily driver.
#5 – Prelude Type SH
The Honda Prelude had a long run, lasting from the late 70s to the early aughts. Some of these generations were better than others. The first, in particular, is best left in the past, a past we’d rather not use the model’s wild antenna-eque rearview mirrors to look at. By generation five, though, Honda had developed the coupe into a high-tech model with handling as sharp as its looks.
The Type SH variant in particular rises to the top of the lineup. The name stands for Super Handling, and the vehicle behind it delivers, with a smooth suspension, a trick electronically controlled limited-slip front differential, and precision steering that makes it stable and easy to control so you can focus on having fun on the road. As Honda is set to bring back the nameplate for the 2026 model year, we can only hope the company truly understands what made the original great and is willing and able to bring forth a car worthy of the Super Handling designation.
#6 – S2000
At the turn of the millennium, plenty of people were feeling hopeful about a bright future and plenty of companies wanted to show the world that they were ready to be the face of that future. This inspiring time brought us the Honda S2000. Despite the modern look and 21st century name, the S2000 also has a strong connection to the past, since it’s something of an homage to the S600. Like its ancestor, this millennial “four-wheeled motorcycle” is lightweight, weighing in at under 3,000 lbs, and can take on corners like nobody’s business. The car’s 240-hp engine redlines at 8,900 rpm, so it’s not the most exciting car to drive around town, but it absolutely shines when it gets up to speed. Together with its attainable price point, these features made the S2000 sparkle with the promise of a better future.
#7 – Civic Type R
We see a lot of nameplates getting revived these days, but rarely do these comebacks manage to outshine the originals they’re named for. The Civic Type R is one of those rare exceptions. While the late-90s hot hatch, exclusive to Japan, was certainly a fantastic street racer with a lot to love, the revival that debuted for the 2017 model year takes everything to 11 in the best way possible. You can love or hate its bold appearance, but you have to respect its powerful engine, next-level grip, and excellent handling. On top of all that, it actually provides a comfortable ride and has an interior that has enough room to bring a reasonable amount of cargo along for the ride.
The Type R is still in production today, giving modern drivers a taste of the Honda performance models of old. While the 2025 model has plenty of modern touches, from an infotainment system that offers standard wireless smartphone connectivity to a full lineup of driver assistance tools like a Collision Mitigation Braking System and Adaptive Cruise Control, it hasn’t lost touch with its roots. Not only does it continue to find a balance between track-ready power and cornering and practical daily driving, but it’s also made with a six-speed manual transmission that’s as engaging as ever. We can only hope that this revival’s success will be matched as Honda continues to look to its past to inspire its future.
