As 2009 kicks off, Honda is launching a new hybrid-only model that revives the Insight name on an altogether more practical machine. This time Honda is aiming for real mass market appeal with a price the company hopes will make the new Insight “The Hybrid for Everyone.” Honda invited us out to Arizona before Christmas to sample the new Insight and we can now tell you all about it. Read on to find out if Honda’s Insight is on target.
In many respects, the original Insight was what the EV1 might have evolved into if GM had followed some of the development paths it looked into. The parallels to the EV1 are numerous. As much as people like to mythologize the EV1, even if GM had continued to produce it, it is unlikely that it would ever have been a commercial success because of its configuration. As much as green car fans like to tout the facts that most people drive alone most of the time and don’t drive very far, the chasm between what people need most of the time and what they buy is a large one.
Part of Honda’s goal with the new Insight was to create a car that was recognizable as a hybrid. This led directly to the shape you see in the photos (check out the gallery). As both Toyota with the Prius and General Motors with the Volt, one of the keys to maximizing the efficiency is to minimize the aerodynamic drag. Hence the Insight has a shape that moves through the air with minimal resistance.
Let’s get right to the matter at hand that will be of most interest to ABG readers, the mileage. On the morning drive route I made no real attempt at maximizing efficiency beyond avoiding aggressive driving and leaving the econ mode engaged. On this route I managed a respectable 52 mpg. Even more impressive, the Insight proved to be a very enjoyable drive. It wasn’t quite up on the same performance level as the VW Jetta TDI, but the handling was easily on par with the Fit which is indeed a good place to be for a small car.
In the Insight Honda has created a compact car with outstanding fuel efficiency and all the best dynamic traits of the Fit. What it looses is some of the incredible packaging of its sibling. The lower profile means less passenger volume and the loss of the Fit’s rear magic seats. Nonetheless, the Insight has ample room for four adults and some cargo in the back. Honda expects the the Insight to score a 40/43 mpg city/highway rating for the EPA when the final numbers are in. Based on the experience I had driving in Arizona, that shouldn’t be hard to achieve in ideal conditions. We’ll be looking forward to see how it performs in colder and hotter weather.
Honda has not announced pricing yet, indicating they will wait until closer to the on-sale date of April 22. Honda spokesman Sage Marie indicated that the volatility of commodity prices like steel would make it unwise to lock down a price yet. Previously, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has alluded to a base price as low as $18,500 which is about the same as a loaded Fit Sport. Honda will likely try to keep the starting price under 20 grand. Regardless, Honda intends for the Insight to be the most affordable hybrid on the market and is planning on 200,000 world-wide sales annually, with half of those in North America. We can’t wait to spend more time with one.
Typical ABG First Drive article. Thorough, detailed, not much time wasted on what-if’s.
The car looks ideal for a small family vehicle. Sufficient performance. Terrific mileage.
200,000 worldwide expected sales?? in all honesty, that’s just a drop in the bucket. Another car that will just be a niche market car….
Never worked in corporate sales, eh? Even stolid beancounters would fall on the floor at comment #1.
Taking a proven concept – moving out into a depressed marketplace – still isn’t worth tying up millions of dollars in inventory stream. You move forward with production in reaction to what happens in the marketplace regardless of how great your concept may prove to be.
@#1: How many Mustangs are sold per year worldwide (or all “muscle cars” produced in USA)? How many Cadillacs (all models combined)?… Than talk about the niche market…
On the technical side, this is good example of what Japanese do best. Not develop the technology but perfect it in a rational way. You won’t find them aching about hp numbers and 0-60’s but usability, price and quality. I don’t see anyone rational paying more than twice for the Volt if this is on the market… Prius competitor. Volt killer.
~$20k for a sub-compact. Not bad. Still have to factor in battery replacement costs. They should have installed photovoltaic’s in the roof & hood to help with A/C usage.
Paddy-O, replacing batteries on a hybrid is never an issue!
That’s because in a pure EV car, you do deep charging and deep discharging, all the time.
(Unless you do multiple small trips and plug-in every time)
Batteries last longer if you rarely deplete below 50%, and maintain above 75% on average.
Hybrids always top off the batteries, they are just temporary storage to improve MPG of the ICE. Thus they are much smaller, and cheaper.
Expect to change a Hybrid’s battery once per 15 years if you do annually 20k miles.
Prius competitor – oh yes. I bought a Prius over the Civic Hybrid because I need cargo capacity, and the Civic H has it’s batteries in the rear seats – and thus cannot fold back for extra cargo room.
However, the Insight, has no such problem. It won’t have the bells & whistles of the 2009 Prius or the 2010 Prius, but the lower price-point will be a big deal.
I’ve met many Echo and Yaris owners, that wanted to buy a Prius, but could not afford the extra 10-15k$ and subsequent monthly payment.
I wish Ford made this car.
Car comparisons (Canada):
Mazda 6 fully equipped five speed automatic V6, one of my friends bought at 42k$ + taxes, gave a 20k$, and is paying 450/month.
Another got an Audi 4 fully equipped V4 six speed automatic, bought at 50k$ + taxes, and is paying 680/month.
Yet I got a 2006 Prius for 39k$ including taxes. While I don’t have a V6, I keep up easily with my friend’s Mazda 6, and outpace the Audi 4.
Apart from luxury comparison (that the 2010 Prius matches) I have a car that will outlast my friends.
– Cheaper to run
– Cheaper maintenance
However, if I could have had an Insight for 10k$ less than what I paid, I would have gotten the Insight, as I really like Honda.
Fugly
I see more and more cars in my ‘uppity’ Highland Park neighborhood here in Dallas using fuel efficient cards. Lots of Prius’s and even Smartcars are common.
The acceptance of hybrids, ‘unusual’ looking cars (like the SmartCar) and even scooters are everywhere and very encouraging to see. Of course, all this CHANGE is led by progressive democrats and liberals.
I must say that even stuffy Republicans are starting to come around. They are followers, but increasingly not too far behind the trends.
I thought that aerodynamically, most cars would be more efficient if moving in reverse. Look at the profile of an aircraft wing, round at the front and pointed at the back. Of course, you dont want that much lift on a car, so you flatten the top.
If I built a car it would always look like it was driving backwards – and no-one would buy it except the eccentrics
The real issue to be seen here is how the car drives. The problem with the Prius is that drives like crap. It’s just so detached from the road. The Honda has a better feel to it and that MIGHT help it sell. The combo of great gas mileage (even thought it’s a mild hybrid) and great handling is a combo that the Prius doesn’t have. all the prius has is the celebutard endorsement from Hollywood that helped ignite its sales.
I miss the days when cars were beautiful machines. Now they are cookie cutter recycling material I see littered in streets. They all look the same. I hate their bumpers painted and formed, that looks like crap. Get hit at 1 mpg and the bumper is destroyed at a cost of $1,295.00. Batteries will fail. There goes at least $3,000, instead of $59 at Auto Zone for a typical car battery. Instead of a hundred electrical connection points that can fail, you get a thousand. The generators can fail. More drive train problems can be expected “down the road” and if you get into an accident, you may sit there a very long time before being rescued as medics and fire have to be extremely careful of the danger of HIGH VOLTAGE. There are special precautions that have to be followed.
You can keep these pieces of hyped up JUNK!
How much does it cost?
They should be charging a Smug tax for these golfcarts.
Usually it is the cost that kills these things. You would have to drive hundreds of thousands of miles to recoup the higher price with gas savings.
I remember checking out an Insight when they first appeared in the late 90’s (a friend was an “early-adopter”). When he told me about how the engine flywheel does double-duty as the electric motor/generator (illustrated in the linked article), I imagined a Detroit power train engineer slapping his forehead and saying to himself, “Jeez why didn’t I (we) think of that??”.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our American technology…after all, we wrote the book on automobile mass marketing, didn’t we? Maybe we’d better come around from behind and solve the battery problems, so we can still stay on board.
Also, I commute to my job every day (appr. 15mi round trip) and I often think: “Why do I have to this with a big vehicle…a 40mph golf cart would do”.
(Yeah I know, I know…as long as everyone else has one…)
#13 – Lyin’ Mike
>>How much does it cost?
RTFA.
#6 qsabe said: “I wish Ford made this car.”
Check out Ford’s Fusion Hybrid. A bit bigger than the Insight, but I think a whole lot nicer.
Cost is slated to be under $20K.
I remember checking out an Insight when they first appeared in the late 90’s (a friend was an “early-adopter”). When he told me about how the gas engine’s flywheel is integrated with the electric motor/generator (illustrated in the linked article), I imagined a Detroit power train engineer slapping his forehead and saying to himself, “Jeez now why didn’t I (we) think of that??”.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our American technology…after all, we wrote the book on automobile mass marketing, didn’t we? Maybe we’d better come around from behind and solve the battery problems, so we can still stay on board.
Also, I commute to my job every day (appr. 15mi round trip) and I often think: “Why do I have to this with a big vehicle…a 40mph golf cart would do”.
(Yeah I know, I know…as long as everyone else has one…)
On the face of this a 50+ per gallon gas mileage is a good thing. We spend less for gas giving us more money for other things like say, a new laptop – sweet.
Although they pretend to encourage it, the government will soon torpedo this buying less gas nonsense. When we buy less gas politicians receive less tax revenue which means they raise taxes.
Soon you realize that you have fallen victim of the old bait and switch. You wonder why you are paying what you once did in cost per miles, but now find yourself driving around in an over-priced green tin can.
Those of us who have seen self-serving politicians in action certainly know the answer to that.
Electrical augmented power, rather than the Prius’ petrol augmented electric power. Personally, I like the Honda – it’s a better driver’s car, simpler and will probably be more reliable. Their technology can be easily adapted to existing model floorpans.
Ugly car. Why would anyone try to steal the Prius bodywork. Yuck, Yuck, Yuck.
When I hit ‘submit’ after writing #16, I tried to go back and make a last edit of it before confirming identity in the ‘match characters’ verification page, and then resubmitted it…oops.
readers take note: Don’t try this at home.
#21 hit the nail on the head..
when car fuel usage is cut in half or more by electric car use (ha! a pipe dream i know)
just what tax will they raise/create to continue to fund the highway system and pork projects?
(short answer: the guilt, er, Carbon Tax)
imo.. until they release the 4000 or so “energy patents” protected under the guise of national security..(another pipe dream)
the perfect hybrid would be modeled after a diesel-electric locomotive.
-a low RPM, high torque diesel hooked up to a generator powering direct drive DC motors.
you’d get a highly reliable, high
performance, extremely high mileage
car..no reason a design like this would get less than 80-100mpg..
screw the batteries. -the net effect would be the same. -only item needing perfecting is
keeping the fuel fluid in subzero..which really isnt an issue overall..
besides, i cant wait to hear the envirocries
20yrs from now about all the “Volt” batteries polluting the landfills..you know it’s coming..
all current hybrids imo, are nothing more than political dogma..
-s
#25–needswashing==Every solution creates a new set of problems–it’s called “progress.”
To each point you make, I would ask: “Whats your point/alternative?”
Taxes will always be with us and will be calculated as necessary to raise the revenue desired. Is that an argument against efficient vehicles? You do know consuming oil has more issues than the tax revenue associated with them? You post as you do (eg the Carbon Tax) and then post as if you don’t (ie–its all a political scam).
Silly Post. ((Agreeing with contempt was a big clue.))
#26 bobbo
>>Taxes will always be with us.
This is true, but the whole incentive to purchasing these overpriced death traps is the payoff of making it cheaper to get from point A to B. What’s the point if government is going to penalize you after you make the effort?
Paying more for less is not progress.
All Honda has done is reinvent the Prius and pollute the name of the Insight. Had they called it something else I would not be intending to complain to the Honda reps at the NAIAS on Saturday. Yet they’ve taken the name of a 10 year old hybrid design that *still* is king of mileage and put it on par with the Prius. And while the Prius is a good car, there are non-hybrid choices that in many cases can get comparable mileage. There was never another car to compare the Insight to as it eclipsed all of them in terms of efficiency.
While I am happy that Honda is once again producing a from-scratch hybrid, it is clear that its only purpose is to compete with the Prius and it looks like they’ve worked that very well. Put the new “Insight” next to a Prius and I guarantee that most of the public won’t know the difference.
I do like some of the directions they have taken with the new car (gauges, more aggressive IMA, etc.), but I will always object to the name. A car that is rated to get 43 MPG is a far cry from the realistic 88 MPG highway rating on my 5 speed 2000 Insight. Now owners of the new “Insight” will look at my 9 year old real Insight and think they somehow have a superior car. Four seats may be superior to some, but for a single guy in his late 20s like me, 4 seats is nothing but a waste of space, efficiency and fun factor.
I hope Honda sells a lot of new “Insights”, but I won’t be on the list. I’ll stick with my 9 year old Insight that is still vastly superior to all other hybrids on the market.
Eideard, lose, loses, spelled with one ‘o’. Loose and lose are two different words, different meanings.
Aaron, I’ll stick with my Insight too. 80+mpg today in <40F weather. This one doesn’t deserve the Insight name.
Honda are building good design today huh. I like all their cars right now. And this car got a good addition on its engine.