It is no surprise that more and more people are buying Hondas. Their reliability, competitive fuel mileage, and sleek design make it a go-to vehicle for people time and time again. While it is easy to settle on the Honda brand when purchasing a new vehicle, you still need to choose the model that best suits your needs. This guide will ensure you choose a Honda that does exactly this.

1. Consider your budget

Unless you have come into an inheritance or plan on using a line of credit to pay for your vehicle, you will most likely need to take out a car loan. When deciding whether you can afford a new vehicle, determine what the monthly payment will be but also be attentive to other expenses as well such as fuel, maintenance, and insurance. Most dealerships filter their financing applications through one specific lender but don’t be afraid to look into this on your own as you may be able to negotiate a better interest rate.

2. Assess your needs

Honda has many great models to choose from such as the Fit, Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Pilot. These range from compact car to full-sized SUV. When choosing a vehicle it helps to keep a few considerations in mind: how many passengers will you typically transport? Do you need all-wheel-drive? What kind of storage do you need? Will you be driving more in the city or on the highway? What kind of gas mileage do you need? Will you be towing anything? These are all things to be mindful of; you would hate to choose a car that does not meet your needs.

3. Make use of car review websites

Car review websites are a helpful resource because they are composed of reviews from people who have actually owned, or at lease driven, different models of cars. Check out these websites to ensure the car you are considering has an acceptable review and rating. For example, you would be disappointed if the car you ended up buying had a poor safety rating especially if you have younger children.

4. Lease or Buy?

There are pros and cons to both leasing and buying a vehicle. If you lease, payments are lower and you can technically trade it in after the lease has expired. On the other hand,you do not own the carand penalties at the end of the lease for damages or excessive mileage are possible. If you buy the car, it is more cost-effective in the long run and you own the car which means you can alter it if you want and you don’t have to worry about mileage penalties. Adversely, buying the car means higher monthly payments and depreciation of the vehicle is something you may have to address when you go to sell the vehicle or trade it in.

5. Take it for a spin

You like how a vehicle looks and it has all the features that you want, but does it drive ok? Be sure to take the car out for a test drive on city roads and highways to make sure it handles the way you want it to. Even if you test drove a vehicle and you think it is what you want, test drive at least two additional vehicles to be able to compare features and handling. Check over everything in the car to make sure it has everything you need. Testing the sound system is always fun but turn it down when you are actually driving to see if the engine sounds ok.