The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt: A Very Competent...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2010 Honda Insight Review

June 15, 2009

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

More distinctive and much better-looking than the current Prius
Cars.com

Looks like a cynical attempt to copy the Toyota Prius. It's not
Jalopnik

Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at home
Automobile Magazine

It's easy to write off the 2010 Honda Insight as a Toyota Prius—the two hybrids do, after all, share strikingly similar profiles—but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com indicate there's more to this 2010 Insight than you'll take in at first glance.

The 2010 Honda Insight is "an affordable four-door, five-seat hatchback," according to Cars.com, and it is currently available in both LX and EX trim levels. If the Insight nameplate sounds familiar, it is because Honda originally released a quirky-looking two-door hybrid under the same moniker back in the late 1990s, but this latest 2010 Honda is an all-new model. Comparisons to the Toyota Prius are almost inevitable—Car and Driver observes that the 2010 Honda Insight "fits almost perfectly into the Prius mold," thanks to the fact that the "body has the same high-tail fastback silhouette, surely dictated by aero drag considerations." Aerodynamic considerations definitely play a large part in shaping the 2010 Insight, and Cars.com notes that "this is one of the most efficient shapes" for pushing air aside. While the Prius has a slightly better drag coefficient, Jalopnik says, "if anything, the Honda's the better looking car, benefiting from its five year younger age, sharper lines and more refined detailing." Cars.com agrees, commenting that this 2010 Honda is "more distinctive and much better-looking than the current Prius" with a nose that "looks like Honda's growing fleet of experimental FCX Clarity fuel-cell cars."

The cabin of the 2010 Honda Insight is typical of Honda's other interiors, and indeed Automobile Magazine reports that current "Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at home." Like the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, Car and Driver says this 2010 Honda hybrid offers a few visual fuel economy aids, including the "glowing background of the digital speedometer, which varies through a range of peacock hues from electric lime green at the thrifty extreme to double-strength indigo blue at full power." Edmunds reviewers rave about the Honda Insight's "sensible gauges and superior driving position," while Automobile Magazine likewise appreciates the "effective ergonomics" and "intuitive controls" inside the Insight's cabin. The Honda Insight breaks from other hybrid options in several ways, however, with Cars.com pointing out that, "unlike most hybrids, the Insight's navigation system (available on the EX) doesn't have supplemental hybrid graphics, nor does it have a backup system." The 2010 Honda Insight also lacks the increasingly popular push-button start, but rather has a more traditional keyed ignition.

Conclusion

The 2010 Honda Insight is defined by its slippery silhouette and efficient interior.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:More distinctive and much better-looking than the current PriusCars.comLooks like a cynical attempt to copy the Toyota Prius. It's notJalopnikHonda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at homeAutomobile Magazine It's easy to write off the 2010 Honda Insight as a Toyota Prius—the two hybrids do, after all, share strikingly similar profiles—but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com indicate there's more to this 2010 Insight than you'll take in at first glance. The 2010 Honda Insight is "an affordable four-door, five-seat hatchback," according to Cars.com, and it is currently available in both LX and EX trim levels. If the Insight nameplate sounds familiar, it is because Honda originally released a quirky-looking two-door hybrid under the same moniker back in the late 1990s, but this latest 2010 Honda is an all-new model. Comparisons to the Toyota Prius are almost inevitable—Car and Driver observes that the 2010 Honda Insight "fits almost perfectly into the Prius mold," thanks to the fact that the "body has the same high-tail fastback silhouette, surely dictated by aero drag considerations." Aerodynamic considerations definitely play a large part in shaping the 2010 Insight, and Cars.com notes that "this is one of the most efficient shapes" for pushing air aside. While the Prius has a slightly better drag coefficient, Jalopnik says, "if anything, the Honda's the better looking car, benefiting from its five year younger age, sharper lines and more refined detailing." Cars.com agrees, commenting that this 2010 Honda is "more distinctive and much better-looking than the current Prius" with a nose that "looks like Honda's growing fleet of experimental FCX Clarity fuel-cell cars." The cabin of the 2010 Honda Insight is typical of Honda's other interiors, and indeed Automobile Magazine reports that current "Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at home." Like the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, Car and Driver says this 2010 Honda hybrid offers a few visual fuel economy aids, including the "glowing background of the digital speedometer, which varies through a range of peacock hues from electric lime green at the thrifty extreme to double-strength indigo blue at full power." Edmunds reviewers rave about the Honda Insight's "sensible gauges and superior driving position," while Automobile Magazine likewise appreciates the "effective ergonomics" and "intuitive controls" inside the Insight's cabin. The Honda Insight breaks from other hybrid options in several ways, however, with Cars.com pointing out that, "unlike most hybrids, the Insight's navigation system (available on the EX) doesn't have supplemental hybrid graphics, nor does it have a backup system." The 2010 Honda Insight also lacks the increasingly popular push-button start, but rather has a more traditional keyed ignition. ConclusionThe 2010 Honda Insight is defined by its slippery silhouette and efficient interior. 2010 HONDA INSIGHT STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "More distinctive and much better-looking than the current Prius" Jalopnik: "Looks like a cynical attempt to copy the Toyota Prius . It's not" Automobile Magazine: " Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The new Insight enters a segment of the new-car market long dominated by the Toyota Prius, and only the Prius. To a lesser degree, the Honda Civic Hybrid has competed with the Prius; unlike the Prius and the new Insight, the Civic Hybrid has essentially the same outward appearance as the mainstream Civic sedan models, but with Honda's IMA hybrid system to yield fuel economy ratings of 40 mpg city, 45 mpg highway. The 2010 Honda Insight has a similar hybrid system, but the rest of the package is unique, with a versatile hatchback arrangement and a more memorable look that screams "hybrid." Backseat headroom is a bit short in the Insight. Another alternative is Honda's own Fit, which returns fuel economy in the 30s in normal driving and has an amazingly vast and versatile interior, thanks to the so-called Magic Seat arrangement, along with very crisp, responsive handling. Those who plan to do a lot of highway driving will also be happy with the Jetta Sportwagen TDI, which gets similar mileage on the highway, in a big, roomy vehicle, albeit with lower numbers in the city. Then there's the Smart Fortwo, which some might consider alongside the Insight, but the Fortwo is more of a novelty. It only fits two, parking is a snap, and fuel economy approaches 40 mpg; however, the ride is very choppy, the seats are skimpy, and it's twitchy on the highway. But stop the presses! The Prius will be completely redesigned for the 2010 model year, adding interior space, safety and luxury features, and improvements to the hybrid system, resulting in even better fuel economy and a more responsive powertrain.

Next Steps:

Get a free price quote

for the 2010 Honda Insight from a dealer near you

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2010 Honda Insight

Check Financing Rates

for the 2010 Honda Insight

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2010 Honda Insight near you

See the Honda Insight in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Comments (2 total)

  1. By Carl F Thelin #1, Posted: 6/4/2009

    "Honda owners who get behind the wheel of the new Insight will feel instantly at home." That says a lot for consistent, and logical ergonomics found in Honda and Toyota vehicles. Look around the industry and see how many varieties of "cruise control" buttons and levers there are. SAE tries to standardize ergonomics but...

  2. By Bruce Clark #2, Posted: 6/5/2009

    Crash test results are now in and posted on the government website. Five star frontal driver rating, four star frontal passenger. Five star side impact ratings. Great rollover ratings too.

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy