Hybrid Car Review

Honda has finally let us know what the new Insight is going to cost and Honda has cut the base model price to squeak in under 20K.  At $19,800, the new Insight base model (LX) will be the cheapest hybrid you can buy.

Honda's simplified Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system combines a 1.3-liter i-VTEC(R) gas engine with a 10 kilowatt electric motor to attain 40/43 mpg.

So, the question becomes which model should you get?  The new Insight at 40/43 has been priced at $19,800.  The new Prius pricetag has not been set, yet, but the old Prius (base model) has an MSRP of $21,500.  Assuming you like the rest of both cars equally, the gas consumption is the big difference.  The new Prius was rated by the EPA to a combined value of 50 mpg.  If you drive 12,000 miles a year and get the EPA rating, you'll save yourself 46 gallons a year.  Not much of a difference at all when you consider you're saving yourself $1,700 on the initial purchase.

Of course, the cars aren't built equally, so other factors will probably help you decide.



If you want a little more from your hybrid than the base package, the price goes up to $23,100.

Model MSRP(1) City/Hwy/Combined
Insight LX $19,800 40/43/41
Insight EX $21,300 40/43/41
Insight EX with Navi $23,100 40/43/41

The EX model adds in Vehicle Stability Assist(TM) (VSA(R)); alloy wheels; cruise control; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; an upgraded audio system with six speakers; USB audio interface(3); a center console with armrest and storage compartment; heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals; and much more.

If you add in the Navigation system, you get the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(4) (6.5-inch screen) with voice recognition provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7 million points of interest within the continental United States. Models equipped with the navigation system also include Bluetooth(R) HandsFreeLink(R) for hands-free operation of compatible mobile telephones, along with related steering wheel-mounted controls for voice activation of the navigation and hands-free telephone systems.


Press Release follows:

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight goes on sale March 24 with a manufacturer's suggested retail price(1) (MSRP) of $19,800 for the Insight LX, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The distinctively styled, five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid vehicle is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist(TM) (IMA(TM)) system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC(R) gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 miles per gallon(2). The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist(TM)), an innovation that can further enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles.

"The all-new Honda Insight brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "In addition to making good environmental sense, hybrid technology is now entering a new era where it can also make financial sense for a broader range of customers."

A sleek exterior blends design elements from the original 2000 Insight's highly aerodynamic side profile with a front-end design similar to the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity, a marquee environmental product for Honda. The interior offers a roomy passenger environment with a configurable rear seating and cargo area that benefits from 60/40 split fold-down seats.

Major features standard to the Insight LX include front, front-side and side-curtain airbags; an anti-lock braking system; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); Eco Assist; automatic climate control; tilt and telescope steering column; manual driver's seat height adjustment; power windows; a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio input for external digital music players; and much more.

A more premium version of the Insight is also available. The Insight EX, with a MSRP(1) of $21,300, adds to the Insight LX features with Vehicle Stability Assist(TM) (VSA(R)); alloy wheels; cruise control; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; an upgraded audio system with six speakers; USB audio interface(3); a center console with armrest and storage compartment; heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals; and much more. Exclusively available on the Insight EX, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(4) (6.5-inch screen) with voice recognition provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7 million points of interest within the continental United States. Models equipped with the navigation system also include Bluetooth(R) HandsFreeLink(R) for hands-free operation of compatible mobile telephones, along with related steering wheel-mounted controls for voice activation of the navigation and hands-free telephone systems.

A 4-cylinder engine with intelligent variable valve timing and a DC brushless electric motor forms the foundation of the IMA hybrid system. The electric motor, positioned in-line between the engine and the transmission, adds power during acceleration and in certain cruising situations, and recaptures energy from the vehicle's forward momentum during braking (regenerative braking).

The Insight's IMA system has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed cruising conditions. It can also provide cylinder deactivation during deceleration and an idle-stop feature when the vehicle is stationary. With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range exceeding 400 miles. Models for sale in California and states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ZEV standards receive an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions rating.

The Insight introduces Eco Assist to help drivers achieve improved real-world fuel economy. Eco Assist is a feature designed to help drivers optimize fuel efficiency for their given set of driving conditions. Pressing the ECON button can further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems: throttle control, CVT operation, idle-stop duration, air conditioning and cruise-control operation (EX only). Eco Assist also provides feedback about driving style via a 3D-appearing background within the speedometer. The background changes colors from green to blue to reflect how efficiently or inefficiently the driver is accelerating or braking (green = efficient). The driver's results are continuously tracked as fuel-economy ratings are shown per drive cycle and on a lifetime basis in the form of plant-leaf graphics that appear in the Multi-Information Display (MID). Up to five leaves can be 'earned' as the driver demonstrates a fuel-efficient driving style. A real-time score is shown in the Eco Guide MID screen.

Standard safety features on all Insights include dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags; front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbag system; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD); driver's and front-passenger's active head restraints and a front body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries. All new Insights also feature Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) body structure, which provides improved frontal-crash compatibility between vehicles of different size and ride height.

Honda is a leader in developing cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, including the original Honda Insight, introduced as America's first mass-produced hybrid car in December 1999. Honda is also a leader in the development of advanced alternatives to gasoline, including the zero-emission, hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity fuel-cell car, the world's most advanced production fuel-cell automobile.

2010 Honda Insight Pricing and EPA Data

EPA(2)
Model MSRP(1) City/Hwy/Combined
Insight LX $19,800 40/43/41
Insight EX $21,300 40/43/41
Insight EX with Navi $23,100 40/43/41

1) MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $670.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
(2) Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel-economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
(3) The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA(R) or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.
(4) Insight EX with navigation MSRP $23,100. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(TM) is available on Insight EX models in the United States, except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details.