Overview & Reviews

When the Honda Insight two-door hybrid-powered hatchback first arrived on American shores, few people knew what to make of it. Dwarfed by the day's massive SUVs, this two-seater's oddball styling made it look as if it came off the set of a futuristic movie. Little did we know that it really was the car of the future -- thanks to the volatility of gas prices in the following years, hybrids soon became prized for their superior fuel economy. However, while the original Insight was remarkably fuel-efficient, it ultimately lacked the practicality found both in "real cars" and Toyota's four-door Prius.

Years later, Honda revived the Insight name, determined to rectify the original Insight's shortcomings. Like the first Insight, the current-generation model combines a small gas engine with an electric motor that's powered by a battery pack. The current powertrain falls short of its predecessor's impressive 60-plus-mpg potential on the highway, but the second-generation Insight is a superior car in all other respects. Its convenient four-door hatchback design provides decent cargo space and a tight but usable rear seat, and it still returns around 40 mpg combined. Compared to other modern hybrids like the Ford C-Max and Toyota Prius, however, the latest Insight comes up short in fuel economy, features and overall refinement.

Current Honda Insight
The latest Honda Insight, a four-door hybrid hatchback with seating for five, is available in base, LX and uplevel EX trim. Standard equipment for the base model includes 15-inch steel wheels, antilock brakes, stability control, automatic climate control and a two-speaker sound system. The LX adds cruise control, four speakers for the sound system and an iPod/USB audio interface. The EX comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, steering-wheel audio controls and six speakers. The EX can also be equipped with a navigation system (that includes a rearview camera) and Bluetooth.

Under the Insight's hood is Honda's familiar Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. IMA starts with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 88 horsepower and 88 pound-feet of torque that's supplemented by an electric motor that kicks in when needed to add another 13 hp and 58 lb-ft. A nickel-metal hydride battery pack keeps the electric motor whirring, and regenerative braking helps keep the battery pack charged. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) directs the power plant's output to the Insight's front wheels.

In reviews, we've found that the current Honda Insight delivers on the promise of miserly fuel economy. However, that fuel economy is still below what rivals like the C-Max and Prius achieve. Other downsides to the Insight include an unsophisticated ride, mediocre rear seat room and elevated amounts of road noise.

Used Honda Insight Models
When the current second-generation Insight debuted in 2010, it was only offered in LX and EX trim levels. The base trim was added the following year. Notable updates occurred for 2012 and included refreshed front and rear styling, more sound insulation, a bit more rear seat headroom (via a reconfigured rear seat), a redesigned gauge cluster and an updated navigation system (with rearview camera). Since then the Insight has been unchanged.

The first-generation Honda Insight was produced from 2000-'06. It was powered by a 1.0-liter inline three-cylinder engine that put out 67 hp. A lightweight electric motor supported the gas engine with low-end torque and provided extra power under acceleration. Combined, the IMA hybrid system was rated at 73 hp and 91 lb-ft of torque when coupled to the five-speed manual transmission. The optional CVT dropped these figures a bit.

Available in just one trim, the Insight came standard with full power accessories and a CD player. Automatic climate control (with air-conditioning) was optional, and many Insights had a dealer-installed CD changer in the hatch area.

In reviews, we found that the original Honda Insight wasn't very practical as a daily driver. It had a small cargo area, a paltry 365-pound payload capacity, a battery pack that drained fairly easily and rather pokey acceleration. The first Insight was also plagued by excessive road noise at highway speeds, and its ride was uncomfortably stiff. With regard to maximum fuel efficiency, though, the original Insight certainly delivered the goods -- manual-transmission models were EPA rated at 52 mpg in mixed driving, and 60 mpg or more was quite feasible in highway driving.

As a used hybrid, a first-generation Honda Insight could make sense for a buyer keen on the car's high fuel economy and distinctive look and willing to put up with the car's faults. Based on our own experience and anecdotal evidence, reliability for first-generation Insights should be similar to that of other Honda products. Since the Insight didn't change much over the years, shoppers can likely pay more attention to actual condition or mileage than model year.

User Reviews:

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  I love my Insight - most fun yet - 2002 Honda Insight
  By P.A.Ewing - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I am thoroughly enjoying my new Insight. I have had many people talk to me at stop lights, etc. The technology seems to fascinate them. I have only three criticisms: Upholstery snags easily - its good looking, but I expect to drive a car 10 years. I think I may have to replace the upholstery or seats before my 10 years is up. Gas mileage is about 41-42 mpg - it may be due to the extreme heat in Texas & the constant need for air conditioning. Ill see how we do this winter. As I remember, last winter I was getting 48-49 mpg. Speakers could be a better quality.

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  Best car I ever owned - 2000 Honda Insight
  By Dave Q - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I have owned Insight for 2 and a half years now and can honestly say it has been the best car I have ever owned. I have 67,500+ on the vehicle and have zero mechanical problems. I did have to replace a tire @ 22,000 miles (hit a piece of metal in the road). I decided to replace its mate on the other side. The two I did not replace are still on the road and I can not see any tread ware on them! I am averaging 58.5 mpg over the life of the car and have gotten as much as 82 mpg out of a tank of gas. Would buy this car again in a heartbeat!

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  Stylish w/ Great MPG! - 2010 Honda Insight
  By In Mendo - July 9 - 5:03 am

  We have been driving our new hybrid for 3 weeks now after trading in our F150 clunker. The Insight handles great on our hilly country roads and we are getting 48 mpg! We will break 50 mpg on the freeways for sure. This car is stylish and has plenty of room (I am 6 tall.) We found the interior more comfortable and the dash easier to read than the Prius. The only problem is that it is my wifes car and I seldom get to drive it!

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  mileage wrong--84 mpg - 2002 Honda Insight
  By Rob Fenwick - July 8 - 2:00 am

  Drive from Southern Maryland to Northern VA everyday to work. Great commuter car. Advertised at 61-70 mpg but my lifetime mpg is 84. Mileage always better in warmer weather, but Im not sure why. 75 miles 1 way, and over 35k per year. Already over 60k miles. My guess is this baby will go well over 200k during its lifetime.

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  I love my Insight - 2000 Honda Insight
  By Parker - July 2 - 2:00 am

  My 2000 Honda Insight is a joy to drive. It is surprisingly fast, considering its main draw is fuel economy & low emissions. The aerodynamic fairing is close to the ground, and consequently I had an adverse encounter with curbing--the plastic & rubber spoilers are fairly fragile but easily repaired. I have had absolutely no other problems. When driving in daylight, turning on the headlights dims the instrument panel too much, even in cloudy weather & no cruise control is available. Otherwise, its a perfect little car & a great piece of engineering design.

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  Buy this car! - 2002 Honda Insight
  By Greg232304565 - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Incredible deals could be found on Ebay if you are looking for this car. I love it. The attention you get is amazing. I have guys in Jaguars asking about it. Be not afraid of technology. If you have a long drive to work, it is perfect. Why drive an SUV if you do not really have to?

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  Fun, zippy, and gets a ton of attention! - 2002 Honda Insight
  By jpyrz - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I didnt buy this car because Im an environmentalist. I actually am not a big fan of recycling because its a pain most of the time. However, when saving the environment can save me money, and let me drive a fun, zippy car, Im all for it. I was amazed at the get-up that this car has, I was expecting a weak little ride, but it has more power (feels anyway) than the 96 Toyota Corolla I traded in for it.

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  Changing my driving style - 2010 Honda Insight
  By Bill - June 13 - 12:43 pm

  I am 5000 miles into ownership. My MPG started at 43 and has improved with each fillup. My last tank was 51 MPG. I run tire pressure 2 pounds below the max pressure and trade a hard ride for MPG. The instruments are always in your face about your driving style and gives feeedback on your every move. I drive 65 miles a day in rolling hills and with mixed hwy/local roads. I run the AC only at cruising speed and let the cruse control take over when possible. I rate this car high for performance because I view fuel economy as its primary performance attribute. I never have a problem with entering and merging onto the highway, and typically run speed limit +5 to 10 w/AC on 90% of the time.

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  Insight is a sight to behold! - 2010 Honda Insight
  By Phyllis Ponisciak - May 27 - 1:40 pm

  My husband needed a car to commute back and forth to work. He always wanted a hybrid and had his mind set on a prius. We looked at them first but the dealers in our area would not reduce the sticker price. So we looked at the insight because they are similar in style and are a little cheaper. This car is perfect for our needs and is fun to drive. The dashboard has great displays and easily shows how the car is performing. If you are looking for reliable transportation that gets great gas mileage, buy this car. The back seat and storage area are not huge, but theres plenty of room for our small grandchildren and a big shopping trip. The car has plenty of pick-up and is easy to drive.

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  Insight Defines High Performance. - 2000 Honda Insight
  By Dolio - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I have been Driving my Honda Insight for almost a year now. Bought it used at 15K, now at 30K I average about 55 mpg as I am a rather aggressive driver and traffic here in the Seattle area can be quite "parking lotish". The Insight is quite capable of achieving 70 mpg if you are willing to drive the speed limit and keep an eco-minded feather light foot. When talking performance the Insight employs a number of advanced technologies, from the "Integrated Motor Assist" and regen breaking, to the aluminum chassis, and the lowest drag coefficient (.25) of any mass production car.