Honda

Honda Motor Company was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda, an obsessive engineer who started by bolting surplus military engines to bicycles in postwar Japan. Within two decades, Honda was the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer; within four, it was building cars that taught the rest of the industry how to make small, efficient engines that didn't feel cheap.

In Pakistan, Honda is represented by Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited, a joint venture with the Atlas Group operating since 1992 from a plant in Manga Mandi, near Lahore. The Honda Civic has long been Pakistan's aspirational sedan — the car the Corolla buyer trades up to once budget allows — while the City sits a segment lower as a popular family sedan. The BR-V and HR-V have given Honda a foothold in the compact-SUV space.

Honda's reputation in Pakistan rests on its engines. VTEC, i-VTEC, and the brand's naturally-aspirated heritage are part of the country's car culture in a way few other brands can match. Buyers who choose Honda are typically willing to pay a small premium over Toyota for a sportier, more engaged driving experience, while still getting the long-term reliability that Japanese engineering is known for.