2010 Honda Insight Photos and Video

Wrong. Getting good fuel economy in a reliable utilitarian car are high priorities for me. This one fails the utilitarian test.

I had a vehicle that fit in this Insight's niche, the problem is neither of them are really family cars. Loved the car, but it was only practical when there were just two of us.

And the problem remains that the fuel economy comes up really short for a vehicle that should outperform the bigger vehicle. Coming up short in both fuel economy and acceleration is hard to explain when one starts with a smaller and lighter vehicle. And one would expect the price to be cheaper for a smaller vehicle, nothing new there, but they seem to have missed on mileage. Doesn't mesh.

 

Why are you guys so focused on the Insight's smallness. Its like the only thing you guys can use as ammo to take shots at it. If you don't like it fine, but it does serve a niche, a cheap hybrid. For some people, price is a big concern.

 

Honda had three routes set up: a 111 mile route all the journalists drove meant to reflect daily driving for most people, a 'sport' rout, and and fuel economy route. The reports of 65 mpg are from the latter, and not only was it set up for low speed driving, only journalists interested in fuel economy volunteered to drive it.

Average mpg on the general route was about 45 if I remember correctly.

 

I think the Insight II will be a huge hit for Honda because it will likely fall under the $20000 psychological barrier in most cases ( before any markups ). This will attract a whole new segment of buyers that won't or can't buy a vehicle more than $20000 but they do want the best fuel economy as well. Even though it is smaller than the competing vehicles in that price range ( Matrix, Vibe, Mazda3, HHR ) it does get significantly better fuel economy than all 4 of those. So it becomes a decision for the buyer, larger or less fuel used. That's a valid choice.

Honda doesn't have a Civic-sized hatch that they could 'hybridize' so they had to use the Fit as the underpinnings. But since they were using a vehicle a class below the Civic they couldn't give it the amenities and capabilities of the Civic and then add the IMA option and still keep it under $20000. Something had to give. In this case they gave the Insight II a 'mild IMA' if you will and a new mini-Prius body to set it apart but to keep the total cost in line it had to be on a small frame.