WE LIKE
1. Affordable pricing
2. Mainstream looks
3. High levels of comfort
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Lacklustre performance and handling
2. Not the greenest car, or even hybrid, going
3. Difficult to live with CVT gearbox
The latest Honda Insight is the cheapest hybrid car on the market, undercutting its main rival the Toyota Prius by a very tempting margin.
We like the way that Honda hasn't made the Insight look so alien that it stands out as an eco-warrior wagon. Gone are the weird disc-shape aerodynamic alloys that made the last Insight look like a moon buggy. This one blends in as an everyday family car; it's the right sort of size and shape and the price means you could consider it instead of a top-spec Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra - it can seat five comfortably with room for luggage. But despite these mainstream credentials, this Insight is still very economical thanks to Honda's modern IMA hybrid powertrain. Officially it returns 64.2mpg and we had no problem achieving 60mpg driving normally in the real world on our test route. Frugal fuel economy means low CO2 emissions, but not quite as good as it could be - the Insight pumps out 101g/km in basic spec, just missing out on the lowest road tax bracket. The reason for this is that the battery only assists the petrol engine - unlike the "full hybrid" Prius it cannot drive the car alone.
Like most petrol-electric models, the Insight is only available with a CVT gearbox and this doesn't lend itself to spirited driving. But at least the car handles more reassuringly than its predecessor, partly because the heavy hybrid components have been made smaller and are mounted lower in the car.
A clever Eco Assist system helps those blessed with a heavy right foot go green. Press the Eco button and you hand over partial control of fuel-sapping systems like climate control and throttle response to the car's computer. It makes it easier to achieve higher fuel economy. But you can always switch it off again and maximum power is available at any time if you shove the throttle to the floor.
Hybrid cars still have their doubters. It's true that some diesels hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion can achieve similarly spectacular fuel consumption and should certainly be considered as a frugal alternative. But hybrid technology is at least tried and tested now - it's impossible to question the reliability as you once could. All the evidence says the Insight won't be unreliable but - to reassure buyers - it comes with an eight year warranty on all hybrid components, including the battery.
We think the latest Insight has some big pluses: the first hybrid that doesn't cost a huge premium to own and doesn't require any compromises to live with. This is a mainstream car - in fact, Honda has set up its factory in Suzuka to build a whopping 260,000 hybrids a year from 2010. On the downside, mild hybrids seem a bit half-hearted - as full hybrids get better and cheaper, we think the concept could get left behind.
Average
User reviews (11)
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NickM13 August 2009
Your rating is 4 stars for Insight and 5 stars for new Prius. But Insight has 41 stars in "overall car rating" and Prius 40... Shift paddles are available on the Insight, if you don't like CVT (e.g. in mountain roads)
Report as inappropriatejoe Bacon17 July 2010
This car is so much more of a drivers car than the Prius, which doesn't even have a tach. Steering feel is tons better, and if you want to paly around, you can use the paddle shifter. I love that the rear seats fold down so I can haul long items. I can get over 60 mpg until I load it up with human cargo!
Report as inappropriatek a lucas28 September 2010
only had car for two weeks but does everything it should do yes low on power but enough when needed ,trim a bit hard ,have average 52 around town,and got 58 on run ,very easy to drive ,quite happy with ride,and still getting use to paddles find them best to drop gear ,had two test drives before i got one one a se and other es the 16 wheels drove best .
Report as inappropriateAlexFraser27 October 2010
We have had our 1.3 ES since launch and so far it has covered 15000 + miles.Over the last 12500 miles it has averaged circa 52 mpg air con on and in ECON mode.Our best fuel consumption was 64 mpg over a 150 mile run. Considering that it is mainly used for short trips from a cold start and we live at the bottom of a steep hill I don't think this figure is too bad. The car is not for the "hurry up brigade", and indeed when driven in an enthusiastic manner it delivers a soundtrack which is different to the norm. It is interesting to note that by staying in the green band excellent progress can be made and the "hurry up" people are caught up at the next traffic constriction. To get the best from the Insight requires a change in mindset which would benefit all drivers. Needless to say this Honda has been totally reliable and is ideal to drive in the urban environment with CVT transmission, climate control, heated seats etc. OK so how do I get my speed fix? My other car is a Mazda MX 5 Montana.
Report as inappropriateSimon29 May 2011
Less harmful emission than any road diesel car (lower C02 or not). This is the way to go if you want to save money on UK high tax fuel. However 20 mpg over the standard rated consumption of your current car may be achievable if you just CALM DOWN and drive slower. Tip one: slow down before you brake (F1 cars do this when fuel is critical) Tip two: drive at 60mph max (the extra 10mph will costs you 15% more). Tip three: Use a car for longer trips (over 3 miles). Walk/cycle or get a mobility scooter.
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Bill Andrew30 October 2011
Have had quite a few Honda cars, e.g. Civic, Accord, Jazz. This car beats the i-shift models hands down, has power enough for the average driver and is undoubtedly the smoothest driver of them all (in my opinion). Drive this car responsibly and you won't need anything else. You save on road tax, petrol and insurance, and I have never felt so comfortable behind the wheel of any car I have ever driven. I miss a few things because this is a base model, e.g. auto wipers, auto lights to name but a few. I also miss cruise control, but you can learn to live without it. Over all it is worth the money. Incidentally, I am an O.A.P.
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