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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  definitely no loser (a tad expensive tho - 2001 Honda Insight
  By snoodle - March 5 - 10:14 pm

  60 mpg for the past 6000 miles, highest mpg on trips is over 100mpg one-way and in the 80s both ways

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  Good for Commutes - 2001 Honda Insight
  By Yvonne333 - March 4 - 3:53 pm

  All in all, the Insight has done well as a commuter car. I commute 88 miles each day. Gas has been great. According to advertisements, I should be getting between 62 and 68 mpg. Reality-I get on average 58 hwy & 52 city. Warning! I fell into the California clean air trap. According to California DMV, the Insight DOES NOT qualify for carpool status for clean air vehicles. Unfortunately, California made that a rule in 2000 and didnt mention it to dealers still promoting this perk.

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  Great car, so far - 2010 Honda Insight
  By GodOfThunder - January 6 - 7:16 pm

  Ive only had it a few days, so Im sure Ill come back to this review. Im averaging about 47MPG with city driving in Florida with the AC blasting. In "eco" mode, the car is slow. That is how it is supposed to be. However, in "sport" mode, it has enough pickup to get moving quite well. The auto shutoff takes a little getting used to but can be turned off by not using "eco" mode. The ride is smooth and quiet and the car is well-made like most Hondas. The USB interface for iPods is great as well as the fuel economy screens and the plethora of information it supplies to you to improve your driving. I strongly suggest the EX for Cruise Control.

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  WOW - 2010 Honda Insight
  By EM - November 29 - 1:06 am

  All I can say is I love this car. The ride is like a much bigger, more expensive car. I keep reading about the lack of power, but I cant say that I would buy a hybrid if I was looking for power. The MPGs for me are much more than it was rated. Even if I go 75 on the interstate, I still never ever got under 47 MPG. I average 50 MPG. Love the auto A/C and the auto volume control. The only thing I am not sure about are the shifter pedals on the steering wheel. I know what they do, but I have yet to use them... All in all I LOVE my Insight.

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  Best Hybrid Buy - 2010 Honda Insight
  By JPaule - November 20 - 11:16 am

  Terrific car! Get 42mpg in our town that has stoplights on every corner! Engine shutdown feature was designed for this type of fuel mileage-robbing situations. On a recent 675 mile trip at 70 mph, we got 46 mpg. Yeah, the Prius does better, but for about $ 4000 more comparably equipped. My wife loves this car! Our dealership gave us an excellent deal, even discounting off sticker in May, one month after model introduction and giving us book value on our trade-in. We are very pleased with our first Honda!

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  2010 Honda Insight w/ Navi - 2010 Honda Insight
  By m. cobb - August 3 - 9:20 pm

  What a great vehicle! I have always liked the first generation of Honda Insights, however I was unsure of the technology. I almost purchased a Toyota Prius last year, but the price drove me away. I have own my Insight for a week now playing with different methods of maximizing my fuel economy. The best I have obtained was 58.4 mpg at 64 mph, Eco button ON, cruise OFF and the A/C ON 58! I am impressed!! My combined driving is around 40.8 mpg. It is a really nice driving vehicle, despite it being a "hybrid". I have gotten two(2) thumbs up from some nice looking ladies, so I think it is attracting some attention... LOL! Now I am looking for a nice used 2006 Honda Insight to play with.

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  Great For Long Commutes - 2010 Honda Insight
  By dogman - April 5 - 1:00 am

  My daily commute into Houston is 90 miles. It is great to be able to make that trip using only two gallons of gas! I now have driven almost 10,000 miles, and have averaged 45 mpg so far. I have only taken two trips out of town, and its mileage then was slightly better, around 47 mpg. It is quite comfortable and handles very well, much better than the Prius I was about to buy. My wife urged me to at least test drive an Insight, and thats all it took to change my mind. She likes the car too, but I have the long commute and drive it most of the time. What I find odd is that when I get into heavy freeway traffic, going 50-65 mph, the mpgs actually go up. Im very impressed overall.

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  Very Happy - 2010 Honda Insight
  By Ecofriend - March 14 - 7:50 pm

  Ive only had my Insight a week but love it so far. Its fun to drive and since I have about a 90 mile round trip commute I really love the mileage. Mine is getting 43 mpg which is right in line with the EPA. Plenty of room up front and not so roomy in the back.

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  I chose to give my money to Japan - 2010 Honda Insight
  By Lewie Tillman - February 27 - 8:00 am

  Overall, a great little car. I wish it was a "peoples" car, but I think its as close as we are going to get. The power is good, although the hesitation on takeoff was hard to take at first until it taught me that that hesitation meant more money in my pocket in fuel savings. Down here in Florida the a/c shutoff at dead stop isnt going to go over well. Nonetheless, in winter, spring and fall it will be manageable and, there again, save bucks. One reviewer said a/c stays on out of Econ mode--I will try that. My overall mileage has been around 43 mpg by the cars calculator. It has a really solid, comfortable ride and tight steering. I think I may be falling in love again.

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  Surprised I bought it!! - 2010 Honda Insight
  By richardcpa - February 25 - 9:00 am

  I had tried to make deals on infiniti g37, infiniti ex-35 VW CC, Audi A-4, but dealers were not willing to negotiate realistically. So, I gave up my 2005 g35 at lease end last January and shared a car with my wife. Test drove the insight in April and it felt good and I did not have to spend upwards of $33,000. The insight is excellent in local driving and I am averaging about 42 mpg after one month of ownership. It is peppy enough for local driving, but make no mistake, this car does not have enough pick up between 45-70 mph if you are on the highway frequently. The seats are very firm and the controls and driving positions are good. Auto shut off can be a problem when it is very hot outside.