Which honda insight review

Despite developing the first production hybrid car with the truly innovative first-generation Insight in the late s, and before that pioneering clean and efficient petrol engines, the environmental limelight has been well and truly hogged by arch rival Toyota. When the Insight was launched in , sales of the Prius had sailed past the one million mark , whereas sales of Honda hybrids of any description languished well behind at just , units.

The second-generation Insight lacks the space-age looks of the original Mark Tisshaw Editor. Although not as ground-breaking as either the original Insight or the second generation Prius , the Insight boasts a simpler approach to hybrid technology in a familiar five-door bodystyle and a much lower price. The Insight is offered with just the one powertrain option — a 1. When launched, the Insight was the cheapest hybrid on the market. Will they? It falls short of revolutionary, though.

Log in Register. Newsletter sign up. Mobile navigation. Find a. Car review Used car for sale. Seat bottoms for all the backseat positions are on the thin side, though. The rear seats fold neatly forward so that you can easily bring that floor lamp back from Ikea without having to strap the trunk lid closed.

That—including a bounty of active-safety features—add up to a 9 for safety. The only thing that keeps the Insight from being a perfect 10 is the lack of a surround-view camera system. Every Insight gets blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and traffic sign recognition.

The Insight looks and feels like a premium sedan, especially in its top Touring version. The lack of options holds it back a point—although, admittedly, it does help keep the bottom-line price under control.

Even before the cancellation of the former base Insight LX, we recommended the mid-range Insight EX as the best value.

For the money, the feature list is strong, including an 8. Basically, what you see is what you get with the Insight. Not all versions earn that, though. The Insight Touring, with its bigger, inch wheels and slightly heavier curb weight, rates lower at 51 city, 45 highway, 48 combined.

The Prius also rates up to 56 mpg combined and the Hyundai Ioniq rates up to 58 mpg combined. Research By Category Body Style. Start a Loan Request Form Today! New Cars. By Make. New Accord Civic Clarity. Odyssey Passport Pilot. Element Fit Prelude. New By Year. Used By Year. Consumer Reviews. Shopping for a new Honda Insight? See exclusive deals in your area. See Your Price. Likes Handsome, upscale look and feel Spacious enough for four adults Top-tier mpg Impressive safety scorecard Robust list of safety features.

Its combination of a gas engine and electric motors provides a combined horsepower, which motivates the Insight from zero to 60 mph in 7. It can run on its electric motor alone for roughly one mile at lower speeds but request brisk acceleration and the gasoline engine will kick-in seamlessly. You might notice the engine getting loud under hard acceleration, but the Insight's powertrain is otherwise quiet and refined.

The Insight is an exceedingly pleasant vehicle to drive. It is quiet, comfortable, and refined, and it handles confidently. That's no wonder, considering it's in many ways mechanically similar to the Civic sedan, which shares those attributes. Although it's not overtly sporty, the Insight has a nicely controlled ride and solid handling. Its supple suspension soaks up bumps well, and its quick steering helps it change direction responsively.

The predictable and progressive brake pedal in the Insight suffers from little of the clunkiness that plagues the brakes of other hybrids. The Insight's brakes feel just as confident as a traditional, gas-powered vehicle's. Honda provides two EPA ratings for the Insight: 55 mpg city and 49 highway for the lighter EX trim and 51 city and 45 highway for the Insight Touring, which is better-equipped and comes with larger wheels-and-tires. But the Insight Touring achieved 47 mpg on our real-world highway test , 2 mpg better than its EPA rating.

Drivers who spend more time in stop-and-go driving can expect even better results; hybrids typically are more efficient in city driving conditions than on the highway. For more information about the Insight's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. The interior's features and finishes occupy a well-judged middle ground between bargain basement and premium. The Insight feels a bit more upscale than the closely related Civic, and it measures up well to other hybrid competitors.