If you drive it normally it is a relatively spirited small two-seater coupe. Performance and ride are more than adequate for around town and occasional long trips. The unusual shape of the car is the result of wind tunnel testing to make it as slippery as possible for maximum fuel economy. The Insight is an interesting car to look at and talk about, but not particularly good to drive. Until then, automatic climate control air conditioning remains the only major option. The car handles quite nicely with a good ride for a small car.
It's also slow, small and light, so it feels vulnerable on a crowded freeway. Come 2018, and Honda revived the nameplate with a modern design and a new drivetrain. The brakes feel normal and firm. The long doors open wide, the seats are low, and the steering column is nearly level. A low, aerodynamic front end leads to a steeply raked windshield and a gradually sloping roofline that ends in a tall, stubby rear end. Computer geeks and gamers will enjoy all the readouts. Through a system called Integrated Motor Assist, a six-horsepower electric motor, powered by a modestly sized nickel-metal hydride battery pack, contributes when needed, assisting the gas engine during acceleration or hill-climbing and enabling a total output of 73 hp.
Hybrid gas-electric cars are currently the best, most practical answer to the question of how to conserve fuel. It has really skinny low-rolling resistance tires that make it look under-tired. A pair of lights reminds you when to upshift and downshift for best fuel economy. The Insight is about 9 inches shorter than the Honda Civic hatchback. It looks slippery and futuristic. At highway speeds, a fair amount of road noise is transmitted into the cabin, although wind noise and engine noise are well muffled. Much of the joy of driving it comes from driving in an efficient manner, using some of the same techniques a professional driver uses to maintain momentum in an 18-wheeler or in a showroom stock race car: Brake only as much as necessary, carry momentum through corners and over hills.
Honda Insight offers the environmental benefits of an electric car without the hassles. While in town the Insight feels at ease and sporty, at highway speeds the steering is oversensitive and requires frequent corrections. Carrying children is not recommended because the passenger-side airbag has no cut-off switch. Oh, and for the celebrities out there, and everyone else, we think the Insight makes a pretty strong statement. Access to the rear through the large glass hatch is good. The steering feels solid with some road feel and is not over assisted. According to Honda, it is the most aerodynamic production car on the road.
And it was the first gasoline-electric hybrid car sold in the U. Not as likely as you might think. Prices do not include manufacturer's destination and delivery charges. The hybrid Civic model will likely have a late spring 2002 introduction in the U. The engine then magically comes back to life when the gearshift is engaged. Although it costs a few thousand dollars more to buy than a regular car of this size, it is actually a bargain. The shift action is smooth and precise, and the light clutch engagement makes for easy launches.
Overall, the Insight is comfy and cozy. So, between the Prius and the Insight, which one would we take? Honda describes these displays as being like a video game. Because of this, it makes an ideal commuter car, a great runabout as a second car, and a good car for someone on a budget. The steering feel is extremely light, ideal for low-speed urban driving, while the suspension is firm and communicative, making for quick turn-in and responsiveness. The driving range is only limited by the 10.
Sporty inside Getting into the Insight feels a little bit like getting into a sports car. Rear wheel covers and low bodywork that hangs around the back end add an odd styling element. Driving Impressions This is a momentum car. At first glance, the Insight looks sporty yet peculiar. When the car is stationary, a green light indicates that the engine is in idle-stop mode. It also delivers fuel economy that leads to some decent monetary savings over time. Interior Features If the exterior looks strange wait until you get inside.
Slotted between the Civic and the Accord, the new Insight is now described as a premium sedan, mostly because it has a more elegant exterior design and more modern appointments and convenience features inside the cabin. At first, driving the car in the most economical mode is disconcerting. It is not a sports car, but it is perfectly capable of keeping up with and passing traffic. A small 1-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine primarily powers it with an ultra-thin electric motor integrated into the transmission housing to boost performance when needed. The Insight is a sporty two-seater, good for commuting, and it gets much better mileage but makes noticeable compromises in cargo space and overall smoothness.
The car is totally self-contained, so there is no need to charge the battery with an external cable. The second-gen model arrived on time, but this time as a five-door hatchback. Walkaround This car attracts attention everywhere it goes. This car is a technological tour de force in many ways. The regenerative braking phases in and out in a much smoother fashion than in the Prius The Prius brakes tend to feel jerky due to the regenerative braking function.
Honda is, no doubt, losing money on the Insight, just as Toyota is losing money on its Prius. The Japanese hybrid returns after four years! Its tail-pipe emissions are bettered only by a zero-emissions pure electric car. But did I say the Insight has a diminutive three-cylinder engine? Most of the time it seems to be running at about 2000 rpm, a comfortable engine speed for cruising. In return, however, the Insight delivers a unique high-tech experience. On the left there is an analog tachometer. Simply put, the battery supplies juice when the electric motor is being used. Honda may be losing money on each Insight sold considering the cost of the high-tech parts and the all-aluminum body structure, let alone the research and development for such a low-volume car.