2010 Honda Insight Review: Engine, Interior, MPG, Features, and Pricing
An all-new 2010 Honda Insight is the company’s hope to re-establish the
company as the leader in dedicated hybrid cars.The original Honda Insight, built from 1999 through 2006, was the first
gasoline-electric hybrid car available in the United States. It was
almost experimental in look and character, a two-seater with limited
mainstream appeal at a fairly hefty price.
The 2010 Insight is a compact five-passenger, five-door sedan.
It’s much closer to the mainstream than the original, and it’s expected
to sell for about $4,000 less than the class-leading Toyota Prius or
Honda’s own Civic Hybrid.
Like other current gas-electric hybrids, the new Insight will run on a
combination of power from its four-cylinder gasoline engine and an
electric motor fed by an on-board battery pack.
A key to overall fuel economy for all hybrid gas-electric cars is in
what situations and how long they can run on just the electric motor,
and how well the complex electronics manage transitions from gasoline
power to electric or a combination of the two. Manufacturers are making
substantial progress in these areas. These cars can offer fantastic
fuel economy when they are able to run strictly on battery power in
heavy, stop-and-go commuter traffic.
The Insight’s 1.3-liter engine and electric motor combine for a total 98 horsepower, with a substantial 123 lb-ft of torque.
That should mean brisk acceleration in a car of Insight’s weight (about
2700 pounds). Its electric motor, though, generates 13 horsepower by
itself, which is substantially less than what the Toyota Prius motors
can generate. That means the Insight will be able to run on just the
motor only at lower speeds than Prius. Yet Honda says the Insight
package has been optimized for efficiency at higher speeds. That could
work better for drivers who spend more time on the open road than
plodding in city traffic.
The current Prius, for example, is rated higher by the EPA for City
mileage (48 mpg) than for Highway, and it’s real-world highway mileage
tends to drop substantially.
Honda projects the Insight’s ratings at 40/43 mpg City/Highway. It
could prove to be a more efficient choice for drivers who are moving
more than they’re stopped.
All Insights will come with something Honda calls the Ecological Drive
Assist System, or Eco Assist. This system includes a driver-activated
ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable automatic
transmission (CVT), engine and air conditioning to maximize fuel
efficiency. It also features a dash display with real-time guidance
intended to help drivers improve mileage. With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank,
the Insight should deliver per-tank range beyond 400 miles.
The Insight’s hybrid goodies are packed in a practical, if not
particularly original looking, car: The Honda Insight looks a lot like
the Toyota Prius.
Like the Prius, the Insight is shaped to accommodate five passengers
and luggage with minimal mileage-robbing aerodynamic drag. That may be
why, in profile, the Insight looks like the Prius, particularly through
its roofline and tall, flat rear end. It front three-quarter view, it
looks a lot like a Prius with a Honda-style grille and light treatment.
In dimensions, the Insight is shorter than both the Civic Hybrid and
the Prius, with about 11 cubic feet less passenger volume.
Still, the Insight’s battery pack and electronic control unit are
smaller than those in the Prius or Civic Hybrid, and they are packaged
smartly below the floor with the gas tank.
As a result, there’s good interior and cargo space. The rear seat
offers excellent headroom and shoulder room; legroom is a bit tight, at
least compared to the Civic Hybrid. There’s a substantial 15.9 cubic
feet of cargo space with all seats in use, and 31.5 cubic feet with the
rear seat folded.
The Insight’s dash design isn’t exactly mainstream. It features a big,
prominent wing over the gauge cluster, while switch placement is a bit
new-age. The plastics and fabrics in the show car revealed at Detroit’s
North American International Auto Show in January seemed cheap, but
they may improve by the time Insight hits production.
All Insights will come with a long list of standard features, including
a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, automatic climate control, power
windows, mirrors and door locks, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, and
AM/FM/single-CD with four speakers, 160 watts of output and an
auxiliary audio jack. The upgrade Insight EX will add 15-inch alloy
wheels, cruise control, six-speaker audio and electronic stability
control. A voice-activated navigation system will be optional on the
EX.
Safety features include dual-threshold front airbags, front passenger
side-impact airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection
System, head-protection curtains and anti-lock brakes.
Honda says improvements to its hybrid drive system (called Integrated
Motor Assist) and new, more cost-efficient production methods will
allow the Insight’s price edge on the competition. The company also
claims that this new level of affordability and Insight’s dynamic
character will attract more buyers under the age of 30. By comparison,
the average age of Toyota Prius customers exceeds 50.
We’ll see. Buyers are often older than marketing folks predict.
In any case, the Honda Insight looks to be a practical hybrid-powered five-passenger sedan.