With the soaring gas prices, going green has been all the rage in the automotive industry in the past few years. The most iconic of “green” cars is undoubtedly the Toyota Prius, which has been enjoying a success that is the envy of all its peers. Not content with following, Honda is fighting back with the Insight hybrid vehicle.
The Insight’s power comes from a combination of a 1.3-liter gasoline engine and electric motors. The actual displacement of the 4-cylinder-engine is actually 1,399 cc, so it’s more like 1.4-liter. Honda is not stating the curb weight for this car, but hybrid vehicles carry a weight penalty because of the large battery they have to carry. Through various responses, this car does feel like it’s just a bit heavier than what you would expect from the size. However, thanks to the electric motors, even with just a mere 1.3-liter engine, the acceleration does not feel all that different from other sedans of this size. Both the LX and EX models are equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which makes a lot of sense to me in a car that’s designed to maximize gas mileage. The EX model also has steering wheel mounted paddle shifters which allow the driver to manually select from seven gear positions.
The interior is roomy and comfortable. The cloth seats are of good quality and offer good support without being too firm. One thing that will immediately catch your attention when you first get into the driver’s seat and look at the rear view mirror, is the horizontal bar that divides the rear window. Unlike most hatchbacks, the slope is fairly gentle, so just the upward surface doesn’t offer too much of a back view. Because of that, a portion of the rear surface is translucent to expand your back view. However, there is a horizontal bar where the two surfaces join, so the view is divided.
The trade-off for the amazing gas mileage is in the acceleration department. It feels a little slow, but the pick-up is smooth and still adequate for city driving. As an urban vehicle designed to save gas, it fulfils its purpose beautifully. The futuristic imagery and smooth behavior of a hybrid power plant, together with the display system that encourages fuel-saving driving ahbits, cleverly persuade the driver to treat this car with a different kind of thinking. This is not a car in which to seek power—but rather the virtues of smoothness and gas-saving.
Starting at $19,800 for the LX model, and $23,900 for the EX, the pricing of hybrid cars have been brought down to a truly attractive point. This buys you a well-built car with a very good interior space and very real gas savings. If you are in the market for a new car, definitely give this car a try.
2010 Honda Insight EX
1.3-L iVTEC(R) 4-cylinder with Integrated Motor Assist
98 bhp @ 5800 rpm, 123 lb-ft @ 1000-1500 rpm
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Front-wheel drive
Fuel consumption (mpg) 40 city / 43 highway
Price as tested $26,060
