Insight gets better MPG than Prius???

Honda is working on a full-hybrid as we speak.
Honda did not believe in the potential of hybrids, and Toyota has proven them wrong.
They focused on fuel-cell and NG. Now, the new CEO refocused the effort on a capable hybrid system. Note that Toyota has so many patents lined up along the way, Honda needs not only
invent their own, but also try to avoid those "land mines". It may take a while.

 

It may take a while but when it comes... it will be time to say bye bye to my Prius and hapily get back to my Honda-only mode!:rockon:

 

I test drove the insight because it's so much cheaper than the Prius. I traded in a Honda Accord, and I loved it... So I'm not biased against Honda. I really wanted to go with a Honda because I figured competition would drive Toyota to drop the price of the Prius.

The insight was the most uncomfortable car I've driven. The split console was dangerous. The only way I could position the steering wheel so it didn't obstruct the view of either console was with it an inch above my knees. It was also a rougher ride than the prius and there were huge blind spots.

I got 30 mpg in the Insight on my test drive. I did a decent mix of interstate and city. The engine never shut off at a stop light. It had great pick up (because the electric motor acts like a turbo charger). When I test drove the Prius I got 45 over similar terrain.

Maybe with some very careful driving you can get the insight up to 60 mpg but I didn't see it. It's basically a stripped down version of the Prius. I also didn't get the feeling anyone at the dealership knew the first thing about it. The Toyota people were very knowledgeable, and that counts for a lot.

 

Common sense would dictate that an economically driven Honda Insight would get better MPGs than a poorly driven Toyota Prius, but isn't that why we have the EPA estimates to provide consumers with a comparison based on similar driving habits?

In reality, comparing how Honda's IMA to Toyota's HSD operate is like comparing apples and oranges. They taste different, but they both provide nourishment.

 

The honda people were more easy to deal with than the toyota people. The insight had a few things that are much better than the prius - steering feel, dash board, transmission feel, suspension feel on smooth, price. But the thing is stripped. I get my updated 17" wheels on wednesday (damn shipping problem) and that should help move my prius above the hondas steering and suspension. I think I can get used to the dashboard funky transmission. That leaves only price as the main difference. I think I will own the car 10 years. The bigger storage, stronger engine, less jittery ride, ev, fuel economy made the prius a no brainer over the insight. I got mine last week and am already getting used to the funky transmission. I really like the engine off at stop lights with airconditioning or heat working well (both have been on in our funky weather over thanksgiving weekend). I doubt the insight can get close to the prius in the city mpg, and that is at least half my milage. On the highway the prius virtues are strong (longer wheel base, stronger engine) so I don't care if milage is the same.

 

I'm curious in what ways you consider the transmission "funky" and how it "feels" weird.

If you want the Prius to handle better with less body roll you might look into a TRD rear sway bar. Someone recently installed one and said it made a huge improvement in reducing body roll. 17" rims and tires won't reduce body roll.

 

I would be interested in any suspension parts that have tested well on a 2010. It seems like most of the parts have been made for the G2 priuses, and I will wait. The car definitely corners better with the 17s and feels like it rolls less, but it could be that it is just that it was more well behaved.

Transmission does not react the way a manual or normal automatic does. I have never driven a cvt. There is no linear power band feel then a shift to another gear ratio. I have a couple of hills that the cvt seems to always pick the wrong gear ratio, then spins up. On the insight you could at least pick a gear ratio. I'm sure its all to optimize mileage, but it would be nice if the transmission would pick a higher torque rpm in power mode, and allowed you to lock in a gear ratio (as the insight does).

 

I'm the kind of person who likes to be "in tune" with my car, so I get the complaints about the feel of the transmission. For me the solution was adding a small analog tachometer so that I can see what the ICE is doing in real time. It did wonders for my understanding of the system, and the visual cue instantly cured my doubts about Wth was going on in front of the fire wall. HSD makes a whole lot of sense once you can see what it's trying to do!

The tach is about the simplest gauge you can add to a Prius but probably the most useful as far as I am concerned. And I'm sure it can be done on a 2010 if you can find the ignition signal from the ECU. The ScanGauge does give you RPM but I really like the needle vs. the granular digital readout.

 

I totally Agree with you!!! Accord is a much better car!
HONDA is just much better full stop.
Shame with the insight. This is the second Toyota I've owned. I had an Acura RL before.
Actually till this day I don't know why I have a Prius.
Can't wait for the Honda CRZ out next year. I think I will trade my Prius in for the CRZ

 

I've heard opposite opinions from a lot of Japanese Insight drivers.
They are poor handling, cheap dash board, shudder CVT at walking speed, poor mpg and so on.
A rumor said Honda is trying to improve these things for next model year, one year ahead of their original plan.

Ken@Japan

 

No Wth necessary:





It mearly turns on the driver ... quantity of passengers ... road conditions and the like.

The new insight does not average better than the Prius, however the original insight DID get in the 70mpg's.

.

 

As you can tell from my sig, I have both an original Insight and a Prius. The original Insight is the king of the highway in terms of mileage. Lightweight, aerodynamic and a thrifty 1L ICE. I also get better milage around town in the first gen Insight, but I have to work at it. Not bad for a ten year old car.

The Prius shines in terms of comfort, size and "just drive it" simplicity. We've only had the Prius for a short time, but I'm impressed with the combination that Toyota achieved.

I don't have much love for the new Insight. As others have said, Honda came in few thousand dollars too high. Once they come out with a hybrid Fit, I'm not sure there's enough of a niche in Honda's lineup between that car and the hybrid Civic for the current Insight.

 

I debated between both cars for months until I test drove the Prius & really disliked it. I told the salesman it reminded me of the school bus I drove at summer camp. Huge, heavy, & slow. He chuckled.
I test drove the Insight & loved it. For me it beat out the Prius in every category except the seat. I don't remember the Prius seat, but the Insight cervical & thoracic curve of the seat is terrible.

I'm surprised the Prius became bigger. Just think of the mileage if it decreased in size, which would highly help in the looks & drive department.

I don't understand people's complaint of the Insights mild hybrid system. All the mpg tests I've seen, except the EPA, show a 2 - 3 mpg advantage with the Prius. So why does having a true hybrid matter when the mpg is that close?? The mpg is the only outcome that matters when it comes to technology. I'd drive a non hybrid in a heartbeat if it got within 2 mpg of a Prius.

 

The full hybrid will always cost more than the simpler IMA system. If Honda can engineer the IMA down to a minimal cost increase over the non hybrid , all power to them and to every mass buyer who is not a "gear head".
Not everyone has the interest or time to block grills, install fuel monitors or freeze during winter due to inadequate heating; it's all about mainstreaming hybrid tech, and there the IMA systems have a cost advantage due to simplicity.

 

I disagree w/your assessment of the 3rd gen Prius except for maybe the slow part. The Insight's even slower. And by heavy, compared to what? Look at the curb weights of other cars classified by the EPA as midsized.

I don't know where you get your "2-3 mpg" advantage w/the Prius data from. Take look at Most fuel-efficient cars for instance and Fuel Sipper Smackdown 2: Which Car Gets the Best Fuel Economy? for instance.

CR said it scored too low in their tests to recommend (CR Faults Honda Insight for Its Ride, Handling, Noise, and Rear Seat: Consumer Reports http://pressroom.consumerreports.org/pressroom/) and the writer at Honda Insight versus Toyota Prius: There's No Comparison | Car News Blog at Motor Trend felt there was just no comparison. He bought a 2010 Prius.

The Insight also lacks an electric AC compressor so the ICE must run if you want AC. Also, apparently the Insight's auto-stop when stopped doesn't last for very long and the ICE starts right up if you lift off the brake, unlike the Prius. If you're 6 feet tall or above, forget sitting in the back seat of the Insight. I wish I could find the funny photo of the 6 footer in the back of the Insight.

 

2-3mpg difference? The Insight has a city EPA rating of 40mpg and the Prius has an EPA rating of 51mpg.

 

These two comments are at odds with each other. On the one hand you criticize the Prius for being much larger, and then you turn around and talk about how the mild hybrid system isn't that bad, because it *almost* gets as good mileage pushing around a much smaller, lighter car. Put another way, think how good the mileage would be on an Insight if they used Toyota's full hybrid system.

Tom

 

Did you buy an Insight or are you still "kickin' the tires?"

The reason I ask is we don't have much engineering data about the Honda Insight. If you have one, it would be great if you could plot the "mph vs MPG" so we could compare it with the 2010 Prius.

I'm OK with whatever vehicle you prefer to drive. Although many of us share similar requirements, we apply different weights. In my case, hitting my head on the door when I tried to get in the Honda Insight pretty well squashed my interest in a test drive. But I'm a big guy and I found the Honda Insight too small for our requirements.

Bob Wilson

 

Your Comment: "Not everyone has the interest or time to block grills, install fuel monitors or freeze during winter due to inadequate heating"

Obviously you have not had a Prius, or this statement would not be made. I have NEVER blocked a Grill, no need and the new 2010 GEN III cooks, it doesn't heat..

I have been a lot warmer this winter than my predecessor 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. I froze all the time in that car...and the Winter Mileage was Horriffic..maybe 27...so far in the Prius in the cold weather I am averaging about 44, which is far better...

I too tried considered the Honda Insight VS the Prius and the Prius won hands down in my book.

I am surely not knocking your choice, but wanted to just share an opinion. I just didn't think the Insight had the "Guts" that the Prius has...it's a nice car but they are not really apples to apples...comparison IMO.

Keep us posted on your satisfaction level.