Honda is first and foremost an engine company. People forget the vast facet of engines Honda makes, from lawnmowers to outboard boat engines, tractors, generators, trimmers, and of course, motorcycles and automobiles. In fact, if I had a question about engines, the only company's engineers I would ask would be Honda or Mercedes Benz, who's founder Gottlieb Daimler invented the combustion gasoline 4 stroke engine in 1885.
Toyota makes very reliable engines. But Honda has always been ahead of them in technology.